Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh had been in Bath since the preceding winter, as her brother, Earl Hallendale, had selfishly chosen to stay at his nephew Darcy’s for Christmas with all his family, instead of remaining at-home with his wife to receive the de Bourgh ladies. The expression of Lady Catherine’s continued bitterness over the Darcy’s marriage had not been softened, even after ten years’ time, with the result that, by general agreement, she was not welcome at Pemberley. Her stated preference for removing to Bath was a slight feeling of fatigue; her unquestionable motive was that Miss de Bourgh had seen yet another unsuccessful season in London, and her mother was grown apprehensive of her daughter finding an acceptable suitor. The relative retirement of Rosings afforded few eligible men, and Anne’s long having attained her majority meant that time was not on her side. As always, Anne de Bourgh made no objection to any such plan; revenge being more akin than resistance to her philosophy, and, like her father, what she lacked in goodness, she atoned for with a surfeit of sufferance, and the firm belief in eventual gratification. Accordingly, they decamped to Bath, taking a creditable suite of apartments in the Grand Parade. In a matter of hours, Sir William Elliot had arranged to make the acquaintance of Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh.

Upon Sir Walter’s untimely death in a fall from the pavements some years earlier (principally owing to his walking out in inclement weather in his court-shoes), his heir, Sir William, had secured his baronetcy and the estate of Kellynch. He was exceedingly proud of both his baronetcy and his person, and, with the exception of some acquaintance necessary to his business in the shares, kept only the best company and was seen to patronise only the most fashionable of routs, salons, and soirées. His good looks had, if changed at all, improved with age—-he looked only more distinguished—-and the illustrious circle with which he socialised knew only that he was a widower of good fortune; that he continued to keep his mistress, Mrs. Clay, was known only to his few particular friends.

Whilst taking the water one day in the Pump Room, Lady Catherine temporarily abandoned her daughter in order to pursue a slight acquaintance with one of the titled families with whom she had contrived to secure an introduction in the first week of their arrival. As her lapse in vigilance lasted only a few minutes, she was quite surprised to find, when she returned across the room, Anne engaged in conversation with an handsome and fashionably dressed gentleman unknown to herself. Having no scruple as to interrupting this tête-à-tête, she demanded an introduction.

“Anne, dearest,” began Lady Catherine in her most gracious tones, “who is your new friend?”

“Mamma, may I present Sir William Elliot, an acquaintance of Arabella’s?” and turning to Sir William, said, “My mother, Lady Catherine.”