Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1)(41)

When she finally focused on the face of her abductor, she grew puzzled. “It’s you!” she sputtered.

The enigmatic and elegant woman from the night before sat arrayed in silk and brocade on the seat across from her. She wore a spectacular feathered hat with a fine veil over her face, but it was unmistakably the lady who lectured her on the impossibility of second chances, marriage markets, and choice.

“You’re following me,” Lizzie stated.

The woman raised an eyebrow. “I’m not following you.”

Lizzie took in her fine clothing and the sumptuous velvet of the carriage’s seating and amended her statement. “Fine, you’re having me followed.”

“You’re a most intriguing young lady, Miss Bennet.”

Lizzie noted the use of her name right away and felt fear clench her body, but she tried not to show it. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I caught your name.”

“Oh, if you insist.” The older woman extended her hand to Lizzie, who shook it. It was covered in the finest black lace gloves that Lizzie had ever seen. “I’m Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Lizzie replied out of habit. “But you already knew that.”

Lady Catherine gave no response to Lizzie’s dig. “Now that we have that out of the way, I thought we might continue our conversation from last evening.”

“Now?” Lizzie couldn’t understand how idle talk about the opportunities for women was so important that it required stalking and kidnapping. “You could have called, Lady Catherine.”

“You’ve caught my attention, Miss Bennet.”

“And why is that?”

“You are an active sort of young lady. You’re not highborn, but you have good manners. You’re . . . useful.”

The words were spoken in a complimentary tone, but Lizzie wasn’t planning on letting her guard down. “I like to keep busy.”

“You’ve kept yourself busy in your father’s firm. He’s not a very good barrister, is he.”

Family pride flared in Lizzie, and she simply said, “Papa doesn’t care much for society.”

“And your mother?”

“My mother has five daughters,” Lizzie said with a laugh. “She has to care very much.”

“Five! And all of you are unmarried?” Lizzie confirmed with a nod, and Lady Catherine shook her head. “How unusual. Pray tell, how old are you?”

Lizzie had been followed and abducted and was now being questioned about her personal life? Oh, no. “With three younger sisters out, Your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it,” Lizzie replied, unable to hide her irritation.

“Do you wish to marry, Miss Bennet?” Lady Catherine asked, ignoring Lizzie’s waspish tone.

Oh, she loathed this question! The person who asked it always expected one unequivocal answer: yes. But it was not quite so simple for Lizzie. She knew she was supposed to want to marry, and the concept itself didn’t seem terrible if she could marry a man who encouraged her to pursue cases, who did not try to limit her . . . well, it was no use dreaming up such impossible dreams. Such a young man did not exist—or rather, none such a young man that her parents would consent to her marrying.

Lizzie was tempted to snap out a quick response, but something made her hesitate. Lady Catherine’s gaze was appraising beneath her expensive veil, and Lizzie had the strangest feeling that this was what Lady Catherine really wanted to know. But why?

Instead of answering, Lizzie mustered up her sweetest society smile. “I wish to be useful.”

“Hmm,” Lady Catherine said. “You remind me of myself when I was young. I would recommend putting off marriage for as long as possible. It’s a tool to keep women from wielding any true power or autonomy.”

“I thought the opposite was true,” Lizzie said. Never had she heard any woman advise to not seek a husband. “I thought marriage was the opportunity to be one’s own mistress.”

“That’s the biggest lie we tell ourselves,” Lady Catherine responded with a harsh laugh. “You wouldn’t be your own mistress, you’d be mistress of your husband’s household, and you’d spend your days tending to his house and children and social status. If that’s freedom, it’s not the sort that women ought to pursue. I learned that too late.” She paused, and Lizzie wondered if she was expected to offer condolences. Considering she’d been kidnapped, she chose to pass over this particular social nicety. “Now I make it my business to advise other useful young ladies in pursuits that, while not marriage, may prove to be fulfilling.”

“And how do you go about that?”

“I know a good many people, my dear. Marriage was not completely without its advantages. I’m wealthy and connected. I’m in the position to help young women with particular talents achieve the freedom to look after their own interests.”

“How very kind of you,” Lizzie said, but she remained cautious. If a person’s behavior was a manifestation of their moral character, then Lizzie ought to not forget that Lady Catherine had her followed and then shoved into a carriage against her will—all when she could have simply invited Lizzie to tea or orchestrated a more appropriate introduction.

“It is,” Lady Catherine confirmed, and the edge in her voice put Lizzie on notice.