All the occupants of the drawing room looked up when the butler announced a new arrival. “Sir Lawrence Pembroke.”
Elizabeth was gratified when the gentleman entered. He had said he wished to see her again, and here he was. Perhaps they would form an attachment, and she, too, would end up happily married. Sir Lawrence bowed over Mrs. Gardiner’s hand with polished courtesy, exchanged greetings with the Bingley party, and then turned with undisguised eagerness toward Elizabeth.
“Miss Bennet, I say again that it was happy fortune to have met you last night at the theatre. Pray, tell me, how long do you plan to stay in town? May I hope for the pleasure of paying my respects to you often during your stay?”
Elizabeth replied happily, “Sir Lawrence, I expect to remain for some months here in my uncle’s home, and it would please me to receive you.”
His eyes lit, and he was satisfied. “Then I shall call again. I have a new phaeton, and if you please, I will collect you tomorrow ateleven and drive you to Hyde Park, and then we shall have ices at Gunter’s.”
Hearing these words of invitation, Darcy’s frown was immediate and pronounced, but he said nothing, knowing there was nothing he could say. Instead, he moved nearer to Elizabeth, as though to stake a silent claim. The gesture was not lost on Sir Lawrence, who chuckled. With easy confidence, he took Elizabeth’s hand and led her to a settee where he could sit close beside her. The others arranged themselves in little groups, some enjoying genial conversation, but Mr. Darcy and Caroline Bingley were not among those.
Eventually, after looking her fill, Caroline leaned toward her sister and said hopefully, “Perhaps Sir Lawrence will fix Elizabeth, and Darcy will be freed for better prospects.”
Louisa raised her brows. “Better prospects, meaning yourself, I presume.”
At which point Mr. Hurst, roused from his habitual silence, muttered just audibly, “That will not happen in this life, or the next one either.”
Louisa smothered a laugh behind her handkerchief while Caroline, fortunately, heard nothing.
Mr. Darcy’s possessive air toward Elizabeth was impossible to ignore, and Caroline was humiliated by it. Louisa saw that her sister was suffering, and she took pity. She had received an invitation to a ball for the following evening and persuaded Mr. Hurst to escort them.
The event was crowded with many titled and wealthy guests. Caroline was delighted at the turn in her fortunes when ViscountDunwich, a young and handsome gentleman, asked her to dance.
His manner toward her was very gracious. He bowed low. “Miss Bingley, I must beg the honor of your hand for your next available set. I have rarely seen such elegance in the room. You eclipse all others.”
Caroline accepted with more eagerness than was proper, and once they were upon the dance floor, his remarks took a bolder turn.
“You carry yourself with distinction, my dear, and your fine figure must command admiration from all who see you. I assure you, no man could be insensible to charms as intriguing as yours.”
His blunt remarks took Caroline aback, but she smiled, choosing to interpret his words as a flattering gesture of gallantry.
As the dance progressed, he continued in the same strain, his remarks straying closer to impropriety than Caroline had ever experienced. “There is no need for diamonds when Nature herself has been so generous. A gentleman might forfeit his very soul to worship at such an altar as yours, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline laughed too loudly at his coarse remarks, but she somehow convinced herself that at last she had secured a man of consequence.
In the carriage with her family, she spoke long and proudly of her new conquest. “Viscount Dunwich was all politeness! I declare, Louisa, he did not look at another woman the entire evening, and it seemed to me that all eyes were upon us. He was most attentive, and as I think more upon it, I am certain he admires me sincerely.”
Mr. Hurst gave a dry grunt. “Sincerely? My dear Caroline, Dunwich is a rake of the first order. I know of two debutantes who carry the proof of his attentions, and there may be more. He is deeply in debt from gaming and requires a dowry of at least fifty thousand pounds. He will never settle for less than a duke’s daughter. He may admire you, but he will not marry you.”
Louisa turned grave at once. “Caroline, you must heed your brother. You must keep your distance from such a man.”
Caroline would not listen to her sister. “You do not know of what you speak. If you could have heard his compliments, or seen the admiration in his eyes, you too would know that he is sincerely attached to me.”
Louisa and Mr. Hurst exchanged a look of real alarm.
Hurst said, “The man is a hunter, and tonight you were his prey. Do not allow him to turn your head. That rake is well able, with his wealth, his charms, and his address, to do so; but mark my words, Caroline, he will ruin you if you permit it.”
“Sister, you will attend to me where it concerns this Viscount. You must snub him at the first opportunity and never speak or dance with him again. Your reputation could be ruined merely by being seen in his company.”
Caroline would not be moved. “Nonsense. The gentleman was perfectly sincere in all his dealings with me.”
Mr. Hurst gave up trying to convince his sister-in-law and shook his head in disgust.
Chapter 21: Jane’s Courtship
Mr. Bingley’s daily visits grew longer and longer, until one day he took breakfast with the family, and that evening, since he was still in Gracechurch Street, they invited him to remain for dinner.
Caroline only accompanied her brother twice. During the first visit, she went, hoping to break the couple apart if possible, but her efforts were futile. Her brother did not heed her strictures, and Jane could not be touched with her insults. Caroline returned home that afternoon and complained to her sister, but Mrs. Hurst only shrugged and said, “You take this too much to heart, my dear. What will be, will be, and nothing you say or do will change the outcome.”
