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“Your leaving will not serve me, and surely it would disappoint Lady Vanessa. Have you considered how your quitting Bosley will affect her and what it must certainly mean for your future?”

“My life will not be dictated by something that might never come to pass.” As Elizabeth was not designed to suffer low spirits over her own misgivings, she added a note of playfulness to her speech. “From everything I have learned about my aunt, she will outlive us all.”

Lord Holland chuckled. “I will not argue your point. You know your aunt well.” His conciliatory tone gave Elizabeth to know there were no ill feelings as a result of her avowal. As for Lady Vanessa, she might understand—she might not. She might find another person upon whom to heap her benevolence and her fortune, but it did not matter. Elizabeth could not remain in a place that held such bittersweet memories when what she desperately needed was to return to the one place that offered her solace—Longbourn.

CHAPTER 11

NO HUMOUR AT PRESENT

Darcy and his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh were embroiled in a heated debate. Vexing woman! It took all the control he could muster to remember it was his elderly aunt to whom he was speaking. He took a measured sip of his drink to compose himself. “You cannot be serious about wishing to part with Hercules. He sired five of our family’s prize-winning bays.”

Her ladyship jutted her chin. “What use must I possibly have for such a possession?”

To Darcy’s surprise, her ladyship had invited many of their family to Kent, ostensibly to attend the horse race: his uncle and aunt Lord and Lady Matlock, his young sister, Georgiana, and his cousins Lord Robert and Richard. All of them save his cousin, Anne, Georgiana, and Richard were gathered in Rosings’ palatial parlour.

Lord Matlock, who was thought to be napping, sat up and cleared his throat. “What is it that you are saying about Hercules?”

His wife, Lady Ellen, said, “Have you not heard? Lady Catherine is considering selling Hercules to the highest bidder.”

“Catherine, how could you? Hercules was our father’s favourite possession. You were determined father should give him to you when, by all rights, he should have belonged to me.”

“You need not be overly concerned,” said Darcy. “I suspect her ladyship has no intention of parting with Hercules at all. This is her thinly disguised attempt to bend me to her will.”

Lady Catherine reared her head. “I will not have the two of you speak of me as though I am not in the room. I will have my share of this conversation.”

“Is what Darcy says true?”

“I have given him the first right of refusal. He simply has failed to meet my terms.”

“How much has he offered you?”

“My terms have nothing to do with money! I have more than enough money. If Darcy wishes to own Hercules, he knows what he must do to satisfy my demands.”

“Is this about Anne? My God! Do not tell me you are using your own daughter as a bargaining chip.”

“And what if I am? It is not as though Darcy and Anne are not meant for each other. From their cradles, they were destined to be married. It was my sister’s as well as my own favourite wish. I am simply making this young man an offer he cannot refuse merely to speed the process along.”

“I contend what you are proposing is ludicrous and completely unnecessary. This young man is eight and twenty, and he has yet to choose a bride. There can be but one reason. He knows he must marry your daughter to satisfy his obligation to the family. He is simply biding his time.”

“In the meantime, Anne is not getting any younger. Neither am I. I wish to have my grandchildren benefit from my guidance and counsel while I am able to bestow it.”

Darcy had heard enough. “Listen to the two of you going on and on about my obligations. Your wishes do not obligate me. You and my mother did your part in planning the union. Its execution depends entirely upon others. I do not consider myself engaged—at least not to my cousin.”

Lady Catherine’s face twisted into a tight grimace. “What on earth is that supposed to mean?”

“You will know when the time is right.”

“This is not to be borne! Who is the young lady who has usurped my Anne’s rightful place as the next mistress of Pemberley? How is it possible that such a thing could have escaped my knowing?”

Darcy had no intention of satisfying his aunt’s curiosity. Darcy swirled the liquor in his fine crystal glass and then took a sip.

Lady Catherine banged her bejewelled mahogany cane against his velvet cushioned chair. “I insist upon being satisfied.”

Startled, but far from intimidated, Darcy met his aunt’s ferocious stare with one of his own. “I have said all I intend to say for now. I am not at liberty to say more.”

“But what about Anne? What about Hercules?”

“If Hercules’s fate depends upon my marrying Anne, then I suppose you had better put him down.”