Desperate
"what are you saying?" Julia could also not believe his ears. He expected her(lady Catherine) to have been angry at most if she does not believe his words, then he will find a walk to make her calm down and forgive him.
In the past two years of their marriage, this has been the case. Lady Catherine would get angry when he did something wrong, then he will manage to convince her otherwise.
Julia was very good with words but nothing had prepared him for this reaction. He had many possibilities in mind but this was not one of them.
He knew he lost one arm, so he would have to be patient with her but looking at the situation he was at loss.