Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on our journey as the Austen Variations authors post the events of 1811 in real time on the date they happened – 214 years in the future.
Lady Catherine’s Scheme
March 25, 1811
The situation was pressing, so the apothecary, Mr. Lyford, attending at the parsonage, did not take the leisurely half-mile walk down the lane and across the fields to Rosings, but made all possible haste in his carriage. Lady Catherine de Bourgh noticed the hurrying vehicle through the parlor window and arose for a better view.
Her daughter Anne, and their companion Mrs. Jenkinson, asked no questions. They knew Lady Catherine would not leave them wondering for long. Anne had not taken more than one stitch in the embroidery work that usually sat in her lap, untouched, and Mrs. Jenkinson was observing her anxiously to be sure she had enough light, when Lady Catherine commenced her observations.
“Why! That is Mr. Lyford’s carriage, to be sure. What possible motive can he have for such haste, using his horses merely to come from Hunsford? Surely that trifling indigestion of Mr. Hoxton’s cannot signify. I sent Lyford to see him as a precautionary measure, and he is quite right to report, but why this sort of speed?”
“Perhaps the rector is more ill than he expected?” Mrs. Jenkinson ventured to suggest.
“Then he would better stay and dose him, rather than come to me to complain.”
“He may hope for advice from you. Every one in the neighborhood knows of your own medical knowledge, your ladyship.”
Lady Catherine nodded. “That is true. All my excellent experience visiting the cottages has given me what some have praised as a regular physician’s education.”
“Didn’t you cure old Mrs. Carr’s deafness, Mama?”
“Yes – I advised her to scrape out the ear and insert oil of almonds on a cotton ball. She said it helped a very great deal. Unfortunately, after the oil was used up the deafness recurred and she is as silent as a stone in both ears now, but Mr. Lyford said it was the best cure he ever saw.”
“And he is quite the best apothecary in Kent, very widely praised.”
“Yes, from a famous medical family. Well, let us see what he has to say about Mr. Hoxton.”
The apothecary, a brisk man of middle age and slightly less than medium height, was announced, entered, made his bow to Lady Catherine, and lost no time in informing her that the rector was seriously ill.
“Why, how can you say so, Mr. Lyford? It is true that he had that gravelly hoarseness when he preached last Sunday, and he could hardly partake of his dinner when he ate with us on Wednesday. I knew something was wrong when he would not stay to play cassino. That is why I sent the order for you to visit him. So you say he is not doing better?”
“Worse than that, my lady. He is so low now, and in such pain, that I suspect an apoplectic attack.”
“Apoplexy! How can you tell such a story, Lyford? Why, he is not forty years old and moderate in his habits. His cook at Hunsford makes him very fine stews and soups. I know, I engaged her myself.”
“The attack does not seem as a result of his diet, but of a palsy in his head. If I thought there was time, I should suggest summoning one of the best physicians from London. I can give him laudanum to ease his pain, but further consultation might procure different medicines.”
“You don’t mean that his condition is that grave? I can send a messenger to London tonight to summon Mr. Robinson, who waits upon my brother the earl.”
“I think it advisable,” agreed Mr. Lyford. “I will remain with him at Hunsford and administer the laudanum together with a teaspoon of wine every hour.”
“That will be best. Jenkinson, give orders to the messenger.” She turned back to the apothecary. “Dear me, Mr. Lyford, all this is most inconvenient. Why did Mr. Hoxton get himself ill at such a time. He knew very well that my two nephews, Mr. Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam, are coming to Rosings for Easter, barely more than a week away. I need to consult with the rector about the sermon – nothing too lengthy, my nephews are neither of them very patient – and who should be invited to the dinner.”
“It is unfortunate, very unfortunate, to be sure,” the apothecary condoled with her, as he knew he must. “We must hope that Mr. Robinson can restore him before Easter. Now I must return to my patient.”
He departed as swiftly as he came, and as Mrs. Jenkinson was out of the room arranging for the London messenger, Lady Catherine was left, alone and disgruntled, with her silent daughter. Anne had accomplished two more embroidery stitches, and stared down at the sewing-frame looking very cross.
“Our Easter will be entirely spoilt,” Lady Catherine lamented. “And I wanted to make this visit particularly pleasing for Darcy and Fitzwilliam.”
Anne unfolded her lips. “Why this visit, Mama? They never seem to enjoy being at Rosings much. They always are looking for outdoor sport.”
“Pooh, pooh. They are young men, who like their pastimes, but they set great store by Rosings, and I am sure they positively worship me.”
“Then why are you worried, Mama? All should go well, and truthfully Mr. Hoxton is not much of an addition. He is so dull.”
“Really, Anne, you must know I have been worried by Darcy’s last letter. I have a plan to save that situation, which now may come to nothing, if his visit is not made as pleasant as possible.”
Anne was mystified. “But what is the situation, Mama? I saw you had a letter, but you never told me what was in it.”
Lady Catherine was exasperated. “Of course I did not, as I feared it might make you nervous. But the fact is that your cousin Georgiana dislikes being at school, and has begged to be taken away.”
“Why should that make me nervous, Mama? I never see Georgiana from one year’s end to the other. She is somebody I never think about.” Anne bent to her work and tugged on another, single, silk stitch.
“Well, you ought!” Lady Catherine expostulated. “Do not you see, if she leaves her school now it would offend the very people who will be arranging her London season in a year or so – and she can’t be immured at Pemberley for all that time, with only a much older brother who has no idea of how to deal with her.”
“For all that, she is much better off than many girls,” Anne observed. “Cannot you think of any thing else that might be done?”
“Indeed I have,” Lady Catherine nodded vigorously. “Darcy must marry. It is in every way the right thing for him to do, and this the right time. I have invited him to bring her here, so that he may observe how perfectly you would perform the office of companion and sister to Georgiana. There is nothing Darcy will not do for her good, and their residence here will show him the wisdom of selecting you to be Georgiana’s sister, his wife, and the Mistress of Pemberley.”
Anne’s mouth fell open with the breathtaking notion. After a few moments she ventured to ask, “it would be an excellent plan if you could arrange it, Mama, but what is the obstacle? What difference does Mr. Hoxton’s illness make?”
“Oh, no difference really if he lives or dies. The trouble is Georgiana.”
“Georgiana?”
“Yes. My invitation to Darcy to place Georgiana here, so important to my plans, was returned by him with a refusal. He acknowledged that Rosings would be a most suitable residence for the girl, but that she stubbornly resists my munificent offer. Can you credit it?”
“So much the better,” said Anne, pulling her shawl closer around her shoulders with an indifferent shrug. “We don’t need her company here.”
Lady Catherine regarded her daughter incredulously, and gave a disdainful sniff. “If Darcy’s sister does not come here,” she intoned emphatically, “then how do you expect him to see the wisdom of his marrying you?”
Anne, unaccustomed to deep thought, looked lost, but after a moment she tossed her embroidery aside and leaned languidly back on the sopha. “I cannot at all imagine, Mama, what can be done. It seems quite hopeless.”
Lady Catherine rapped her knuckles onto a small round mahogany table with pie-crust edging, with such force that it swayed dangerously. “Foolish girl,” she said, gritting her teeth. “I shall write to Darcy again, and make him bring her.”
Anne’s expression did not alter. “I never heard that Darcy was persuadable to any thing,” she murmured, almost to herself. “But wait. I know! You can ask Mr. Hoxton for advice – Oh. I forgot.”
“No, that’s well thought of,” said Lady Catherine, looking at her daughter with some approval for the first time. “If Mr. Hoxton dies, as seems to be expected, I am sure my nephews will be softened with sympathy for my plight, and comply with any little requests that I should make.”
“Mama,” said Anne, with a look of respect. “You are clever.”
“I always told you I was, my dear,” answered her mother complacently.
Read all the scenes in Prelude to Pemberley here!
1 comments
How inconsiderate of Mr Hoxton to become ill when Lady Catherine needs him! 😱. I’m also surprised at Georgiana’s reluctance to visit Rosings? Especially with such congenial company awaiting her 🤔 and such expectations! 😳. (Although if Darcy could see into the future he would no doubt have taken her and maybe even left her there? 😉🥰)