Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman by Maria Hamilton

Jane go for her. At first, her mother rejected the idea out of hand because Jane had to be home to receive Mr. Darcy as well. Elizabeth, however, continued her campaign, noting that it might be good for Mr. Darcy to have to wait for Jane. It would break him of his habit of assuming that he could return whenever he chose and expect Jane to be here waiting for him. Mrs. Bennet immediately saw the wisdom of the plan and bade Jane leave to go. When Elizabeth began to depart as well, Mrs. Bennet informed her that she was needed at home. Elizabeth realized that her momentary willingness to discuss the best strategy for Jane to snare Mr. Darcy had made her appear a desirable companion, a position she did not often merit with her mother. Resigned that she had at least managed Jane’s escape, Elizabeth settled down to pay the price for Jane’s temporary freedom.
    After a brief interlude, Elizabeth was startled by the sound of a carriage. Kitty looked out and announced that the chaise was unfamiliar but quite fine. Mrs. Bennet determined that Mr. Darcy probably owned so many fine carriages that it was no wonder she did not recognize them all. Anticipating Mr. Bingley’s return, Elizabeth immediately regretted her plan to afford Jane a reprieve from their mother. She knew that nothing would salve Jane’s wounds better than Mr. Bingley’s return. She would have to convince him to wait. Jane had already waited for so long; Mr. Bingley could forswear a few hours more. She knew that once they were reunited, they would have much to work out. Jane’s concern over his family’s obvious objections would require sensitivity on his part. Despite the obstacles, she felt confident that all could be resolved if the couple were only given the opportunity. She suddenly dreaded her mother’s inevitable confusion over Mr. Bingley returning, rather than Mr. Darcy, but hoped her mother’s usual vice of flittering from one idea to another would actually prove a virtue in this situation.
    As her mother barked commands at Kitty and recriminations at Elizabeth for having talked her into letting Jane go, the door opened and the visitor was announced. To Elizabeth’s shock, it was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. To her further amazement, her mother was temporarily stunned into an unaccustomed silence.
    Lady Catherine entered the room with an air that was more ungracious than usual and made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head. She then sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship’s entrance, though no request of introduction had been made.
    â€œI hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother.”
    Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.
    â€œAnd that, I suppose, is one of your sisters.”
    â€œYes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine. “She is my youngest girl but one. My eldest, Jane, whose name you have probably heard mentioned, is unfortunately on an errand for me. I know she would want to meet you.”
    Lady Catherine stiffened at the mention of Jane’s name, but Mrs. Bennet, oblivious to her reaction, continued stoutly on. “May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins in good health?”
    â€œYes, very well. I saw them the night before last.”
    Elizabeth now hoped that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the most probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared.
    Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment, but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating anything; and said, “You can be at no loss, Mrs. Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. I wanted to speak to Miss Jane Bennet, but in her absence, you will do. You must know why I have come.”
    With a broad smile, Mrs.