Page 234 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“I married the woman I love, Aunt. I care nothing for fortune or connections. Elizabeth is a gentleman’s daughter, and her family has held Longbourn for four hundred years. Her birth requires no defense from me.”

Lady Catherine's mouth tightened. “And what of your duty to your family? From your infancy, you and Anne were intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of your mother, as well as hers. While you were still in your cradles, we planned the union. Have you no regard for what was expected of you?”

“I have always reserved the right to choose my own wife. Neither you nor anyone else had the right to make that choice for me.”

Anne sat near the window, her embroidery untouched in her lap, watching her mother and cousin argue.

Lady Catherine looked toward her daughter. “And now Anne must suffer the consequences of your selfishness. She has been deprived of the marriage she was raised to expect.”

Anne set aside her embroidery. “I never expected to marry cousin Fitzwilliam, Mamma. I knew he did not love me, nor have I ever loved him.”

“You were children. Affection would have come.”

“No. I do not want to marry a man who wishes he were married to someone else. I can think of few things more horrible.”

Lady Catherine sat straighter. “You speak as though you have some great number of alternatives. You are nearly eight-and-twenty, Anne, and you would do well to remember it. Since I first received Henry’s letter announcing Fitzwilliam’s marriage, I have been attempting to secure your future, and Sir Vincent has indicated that he would consider you as a wife.”

Anne's fingers closed around the back of her chair. “Sir Vincent is nearly sixty, and everyone in Kent knows he begrudges every shilling spent in his household. I will not marry him.”

“He is a baronet with an excellent estate and no surviving son. You would have a fine house and every comfort. At your age, you are in no position to be so particular.”

Anne looked at her mother. “Then I would rather never marry.”

Fitzwilliam shifted beside Elizabeth, but her fingers tightened around his. Anne rose from her chair and faced her mother.

Lady Catherine also stood.

“You will do as you are told.”

Anne's face had lost its color, but she did not retreat.

“No, Mamma. I will not.”

Lady Catherine stared at her daughter. “You will not?”

“I will not marry Sir Vincent, nor will I marry anyone else because you command it.”

“You have lived at Rosings all your life. Everything you have, every comfort you enjoy, has been provided for you here. You should consider what your life would be without those comforts before you defy me.”

“I have considered it. If remaining at Rosings requires me to marry a man of your choosing, I will leave.”

Lady Catherine's expression changed. “You would leave your mother?”

“I will not stay at that price.”

Lady Catherine looked toward Fitzwilliam. “And I suppose you intend to encourage this?”

“Anne is of age and has made her decision.”

“Do not pretend you have had no part in it. You come into my house with that woman as your wife, and suddenly my daughter believes she may disregard every duty she owes me.”

Fitzwilliam rose, bringing Elizabeth to her feet with him. He kept her hand in his.

“You may be angry with me, Aunt, but you will speak of my wife with respect.”

Anne crossed the room and stopped before her mother.

“This is not Mrs. Darcy’s doing, Mamma. It is my decision.”