Elizabeth readied herself as quickly as possible considering the early hour and the fact that she had not yet even risen for the day. Silently she chided herself for choosing this day, of all days, to stay indoors at an early hour. A monsoon outside could not be more unpleasant to face than the formidable Lady Catherine.

"Try not to say anything you will regret later," Charlotte told Elizabeth in an undertone as she led her friend to the imposing lady's presence. "Her concern is for her family's reputation; if she is aware of Mr. Darcy's offer to you she will not wish to advertise it to anyone."

"How could she not be aware?" Elizabeth asked in return, "or else, why would she be here?"

"Then tell her that you declined, and this may blow over quickly."

Elizabeth sighed heavily, resigning herself to an unpleasant interview, as they entered the room where Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins waited. Charlotte made a polite curtsey and then swiftly left.

"My dear cousin," began the ubiquitous Mr. Collins, "You have been honored with a request for an audience with Lady Catherine herself!"

Lady Catherine cut him off. "Leave us." Mr. Collins' face flushed violently red as he bowed and abruptly made his exit.

"Good morning, Lady Catherine," Elizabeth said as calmly as possible, curtseying and making her way to a seat across from her noble visitor. "I understand that you have asked to speak with me."

Lady Catherine took her seat heavily, fixing a resentful eye on Elizabeth as she did so. "We will say nothing until tea is served. I wish for no one to overhear us."

"As you wish."

An uncomfortable silence ensued. Elizabeth would make no effort to please someone who had come with so evident a desire to be unpleasant to everyone around her. Lady Catherine stared at her disapprovingly as Charlotte entered the room once again. She carefully arranged the cups and poured silently, although she caught Elizabeth's eye expressively several times when Lady Catherine could not observe her. Elizabeth had no doubt that her friend, and probably Mr. Collins, would be stationed just outside the door to the room, listening to every word between her and their noble guest. When Charlotte had left again, both ladies took up their tea cups ceremoniously. Her ladyship began the conversation.

"Miss Bennet, my presence here can be no surprise to you."

"You are mistaken. I cannot at all account for the honor of your attentions."

"You will not pretend innocence with me. I was recently, just last night, given a piece of correspondence which I believe belongs to you." Lady Catherine withdrew a page from her reticule and laid it on the table, none too gently. Elizabeth saw, with a sinking heart, that it was indeed her own missing page. Lady Catherine glared at her while Elizabeth merely looked at it on the table. She did not immediately reach for it. "Well, what have you to say for yourself?" her visitor finally demanded.

"Your ladyship is all consideration, to take the time to return this to me personally. I thank you."

"Miss Bennet, do you mean to trifle with me?' Lady Catherine asked, looking at her severely.

Elizabeth remained coolly composed. "I mean nothing more than to thank you for your prodigious care for my reputation. If you know that that is a letter to me, then you must know that it was addressed to me by a gentleman, and I can assure you that I have no wish to make either the letter's existence, or its contents, more generally known. It is a relief to have the letter back in my possession, where it may be protected from unfriendly eyes."

Lady Catherine looked at her angrily.

"Miss Bennet, I am not ignorant of the machinations of young women of no fortune! That letter is from my nephew! You knew that one of my servants would find it, and give it to me. Your name was on it as the recipient, and you must have realized I would recognize Darcy's handwriting. Surely that was your plan, to ensure that everyone knows of his letter to you, so that you can entrap him into a marriage?"

Elizabeth's mouth nearly hung open at this unexpected and unwelcome interpretation. For a moment she struggled between dismay and outright laughter. "I can assure you, Lady Catherine, that I had no such thought. The letter was dropped by mistake. I am glad to have it safely back in my keeping, and am only sorry that you may have read it, and misconstrued what you read."

"Normally it would be beneath my dignity to read a letter taken from another gentlewoman," Lady Catherine said condescendingly, "or to reveal its contents to anyone else. I would not stoop to such measures. But of course I had to understand what was given to me, when my servant said he saw your name on the page. Do I understand correctly, that my nephew made you an offer, and that you refused him? Is it true that you found both his sentiments and his offers disgusting?"

"With all due respect, your ladyship may ask questions, which I may or may not see fit to answer. The letter is a private matter between Mr. Darcy and me."

"You will not hide such a thing from me! It is clear from this page, Miss Bennet, that Darcy made you an offer of some sort, and between an unattached gentleman and an unattached gentleman's daughter, there is only one offer to be made."

"I repeat, madam, that this is a private matter. If you wish to know more, you will have to apply to Mr. Darcy."

"But Darcy is in town, and you are here. I insist on knowing everything at once. Tell me now: does an understanding exist between you and my nephew?"

Elizabeth debated with herself briefly. She had no desire to give Lady Catherine the satisfaction of an answer, thus rewarding her impertinence, but telling her the truth of his proposal, and her refusal, might convince her that she need not impose on Elizabeth any longer. At length she admitted, reluctantly, "If you have read that page, then you know what happened without applying to me. I was made an offer, and I chose not to accept it. Mr. Darcy, I am sure, would be very willing to reassure you that there is no understanding between us, nor is there ever likely to be. That is all I have to say on the subject, and I beg your ladyship to importune me no more."

If Elizabeth had expected her declaration to make Lady Catherine decamp at once she was sorely disappointed.

"I do not know which circumstance could be more shocking or appalling; that my nephew would condescend to make an offer to the likes of you, or that you would have the temerity to turn him down! But perhaps I should not be so surprised. I am told it is the custom nowadays for fashionable young ladies to decline suitable proposals at least once before accepting it, in order to fan the ardor of their suitors. Turning him down now may be a part of your strategy. You may be trying to entice him into a better offer. Tell me at once if this is your desire."

Mr. Collins had stated much the same idea, when Elizabeth had refused his proposal. It was clear, now, who had put such a strange notion of female behavior in his head.

"Upon my word! I assure you that I have never heard of such a practice among fashionable young ladies, and if it is in existence, then please do me the honor of thinking me less than fashionable! I have no such strategy, towards Mr. Darcy or any other man. It would be a strange tactic indeed, to take such a chance as declining an eligible offer in the hopes that the gentleman in question might renew his addresses later."

"It would seem very strange, to a person of good breeding," Lady Catherine retorted. "But among your class, no doubt such stratagems are more common."

Elizabeth felt her anger rise at this, but before she could think of a suitable reply, Lady Catherine continued. "Tell me, Miss Bennet, how did you manage to attract Darcy's attention? Your looks are well enough but they are nothing out of the common way, and your connections and fortune do not add to your charm. Your family in particular are nothing to impress. You must be much more clever than I first gave you credit for."

"I made no effort to attract his attention, your ladyship," Elizabeth answered, indignantly, but determined to outlast this onslaught of demeaning remarks. "I had no such desire."

Lady Catherine looked at her incredulously. "Surely you realized what an alliance with my nephew would mean. Any young woman in your situation would gladly accept him. I flatter myself that there could scarcely be a more eligible man in all England than Fitzwilliam Darcy. His family fortune is splendid, and he comes from an ancient, though untitled line. Your own situation in life would be decidedly improved by such a connection. The entail on your father's estate would mean nothing at all in the face of such a change in circumstances, and the benefit to your sisters would be immeasurable. And you mean for me to believe that you turned all of this down?"

Elizabeth was sorely tempted to tell Lady Catherine that Darcy's manners were too much like his aunt's for her to accept, but having abused Darcy so abominably to his face, she found she could not now criticize him to his relatives. Suddenly inspired, she spoke with absolute solemnity. "I was tempted to give my consent at first, but I realized very quickly, madam, what your ladyship would think of such a connection."

Lady Catherine looked at her with a puzzled expression. Elizabeth continued.

"The advantages of a marriage with your nephew could never outweigh the disapproval of his family. Without your approbation, we would be outcasts from society. Even you, as devoted to him as you are, would never speak his name again. Such a degradation would be insupportable, and even when weighed against the material advantages you have mentioned, the greater exposure to society, and all the other benefits of such a union, I found myself unable to accept him."

Lady Catherine pursed her lips, and appeared to look at Elizabeth with a very different expression. "You appear to be a sensible young lady, Miss Bennet," she said after several moments, "and much more reasonable than I had expected to find. I am gratified to find that you know your place in society, and have no wish to quit it." Elizabeth nodded gravely in acknowledgement but said nothing.

"Doubtless you were also thinking of all the attentions I have paid to you in the last six weeks, and the benefits of exposure to the superior society in which you have been placed. Certainly you were grateful to me."

"Your attentions have indeed been remarkable, your ladyship," Elizabeth agreed, with impressive gravity.

"Then too, you remembered that Darcy is destined for my Anne, and you had no wish to interfere with their union."

"I have no desire at all to interfere with their marriage," Elizabeth answered, even more solemnly than before. "I believe she will make Mr. Darcy a very proper wife. I will gladly wish them all possible happiness upon their marriage, when that day comes."

Lady Catherine nodded, seeming mollified, now, by Elizabeth's words. "You will, of course, speak of my nephew's offer to no one," she added. "It is imperative that nobody else know of his offer, or of the existence of his letter. The letter, especially, invites inquiry and speculation. It could be interpreted the wrong way, and taken as confirmation of a liaison between you. It could compromise you utterly. You will destroy it at your earliest opportunity."

Irritated by her manner, Elizabeth instantly resolved that she would never destroy the letter. But she made no outward objection.

Lady Catherine continued without interruption. "It is imperative that Darcy not be exposed to you again. He will make the proper overtures to my daughter, if he does not have you to distract him. It is not likely that you and he shall meet again, but if you do, you must avoid his company at all costs."

"A most convenient directive," thought Elizabeth.

"Under no circumstances are you to allow a private audience with my nephew again. You must do nothing to invite his further attentions, so that his good sense may quickly overcome this temporary lapse of judgment. And if he does manage to make his addresses again, you will convince him how utterly unsuitable you, your family, and your entire situation are for such a role in life." Elizabeth stiffened, feeling her good humor fading, but Lady Catherine continued.

"Lastly, you must remove yourself from Hunsford at once. Darcy is in town now, but there is no way to know when he may return here, and he should not be exposed to your influence again before he has had a chance to escape it. My coach shall deliver you to your uncle's as soon as you are packed."

At this last insult, not just to her but to Charlotte, Elizabeth felt her indignation flare. Interruption was now absolutely necessary. She set her cup down on the table, and then took up the page of Darcy's letter which lay beside it, folding it carefully before speaking.

"Your ladyship, I have been as accommodating as I possibly can be, probably more accommodating than you would find most people in these circumstances. But please allow me to say that your efforts to unite Mr. Darcy with your niece are ill-considered, overbearing, and very likely to fail. I am merely one acquaintance of Mr. Darcy's, one of many women he has known or may know in the future. Do you truly believe that I am the reason he has made no offer for Miss de Bourgh before now? If he sees me no more, do you think he will suddenly settle on someone whom he could have chosen years ago, if he so desired? I have no desire to accept him, but behavior such as this is not likely to recommend your daughter to him."

Lady Catherine at once recovered all her former anger. "He was on the point of making an offer, until he met you!" she cried. "You, with your cunning tricks and stratagems, have made him forget his duty!"

"By what authority do you believe that I employed any tricks or strategies? If Mr. Darcy is determined not to marry his cousin, why should he not choose another? And if he decides to choose another, why should I not be that one?"

"So I was right!" Lady Catherine looked more triumphant than indignant. "You, with your inferior breeding, your lack of connections, and your miserable fortune, are determined to have him after all!"

"You have insulted me in every way possible, madam," Elizabeth said, angrily, "and you have chosen to humiliate me further by casting me out of my friend's home, when I have done nothing to deserve such treatment. My only possible offense can be that I received an offer of marriage from an eligible gentleman. I must beg you to allow me to end this interview. We can have nothing further to say to one another."

"Not so fast! You will answer my question first. Are you determined to marry Darcy?"

Elizabeth debated with herself briefly. "I am not," she answered firmly.

Lady Catherine breathed a sigh of relief. "And will you promise me, never to enter into an engagement with him?"

"I will do no such thing." At Lady Catherine's indignant gasp, she continued. "I am determined not to marry Mr. Darcy, your ladyship. At present I can think of few men I would rather marry less. But I am determined to act in a way that will prove the most likely path for my happiness, without any reference to you or to anyone so completely unconnected to me."

Lady Catherine rose and marched to the other side of the room before turning to face Elizabeth with a look of utter disdain. "What else did Darcy write in his note to you? This was only the first page, I take it. Where is the rest of it?"

Elizabeth's breath caught. "You have said it would be beneath your dignity to read a gentlewoman's correspondence."

"And so it would. But you can hardly be called a gentlewoman, with such behavior as this. I will see it destroyed, the entire letter, before I leave this house."

"Then you will have to do so without my assistance." Elizabeth said, standing in her turn so that she could face her ladyship on a more equal footing. As angry as she was, she realized that Lady Catherine must be completely desperate to even consider such a drastic step. Would Mr. Collins cooperate with his patroness to such an extent? She thought he probably would. But Lady Catherine had reached the limits of how far she would abase herself.

"Very well, then, I shall know how to act," she said. "The letter can easily be explained as the foolish concoction of a mercenary young woman, should you choose to publicize it."

Elizabeth nearly rolled her eyes, but Lady Catherine continued. "You will be ready to leave this house within the hour. My driver will wait outside to take you as soon as you are packed. If I were not so desirous to be sure you are gone, I would not even give you that much attention. I will extend no compliments to your family and give you no invitation to return. I am most seriously displeased with you."

Her ladyship began to make her exit, but before she left she turned to make one final statement to Elizabeth, drawing herself up to her full height. "You say that you are not engaged to Darcy at this moment, and I can only hope that is true. But if I ever find that an engagement does exist, rest assured I shall do all in my power to prevent such a marriage from actually occurring."

With that, the great lady left the room, and Elizabeth heard her gain the front door and go through it with remarkable speed. To her relief, the door was not slammed. Her nerves could not have taken one more upsetting event.

"My dear friend," Charlotte said compassionately, reappearing in the room with such speed that Elizabeth knew her earlier suspicion was correct, and giving her a sisterly embrace. "I am so sorry this has happened to you. Are you quite all right?"

Elizabeth drew a shaky breath. "I am well. That conversation went better than I thought it would."

"Better! How could it possibly have gone any worse?"

"The missing page could have been found by someone else, by someone who would not care about its effects on me and would be happy to spread gossip. Lady Catherine was insulting, but at least we know she will not speak of this to anyone else, and since neither of us wishes for me to marry Mr. Darcy, my reputation is as safe as it can be, even if she does not believe it! She has no reason to publicly tie me to Mr. Darcy in such a way, and the letter, the entire letter, is now back in my possession. We can be sure, now, that the worst is over."

This story has now been published on Amazon and will be available for sale starting October 12, 2015.