It was Richard who answered. “Caroline foolishly admitted to eavesdropping on a private conversation and selfishly using the information to her advantage.”
Hurst nodded his head. “Sounds about right. Would anyone else like a glass of brandy?”
“Answer Darcy, Caroline.” Bingley’s look was as stern as his tone.
Miss Bingley glared at him, but her brother did not back down.
“Tell him, or I swear on my life, I shall send you to live with our aunt in Scarborough.”
She huffed. “By chance, I overheard Mr. Darcy tell Colonel Fitzwilliam that you would make a safe match for his sister, that he would not discourage it.”
“Where did you overhear this conversation?” Bingley pressed.
Miss Bingley jutted out her chin and clasped her hands together. In a small voice, she replied, “Outside his study.”
“What were you doing outside Mr. Darcy’s study?”
She fidgeted on the bench.
“Caroline, unless you tell me otherwise, I must conclude that you were listening to a conversation you knew you had no right to hear.”
She did not deny it.
Bingley rubbed his hand over his face. “All this going on under my nose, and I was oblivious. I have been the worst fool. That you would take this ill-gained intelligence and use it against an innocent young lady you called your friend… it is despicable.”
Georgiana peeked out from behind Serafina. When she saw Darcy hold his arm open, she jumped up to bury herself and Serafina in his side. Darcy held her tighter. To have her disappointment exposed so openly was cruel.
He knew the role he played had hurt her, and Darcy had no desire to add to her distress. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “Come, Georgie. Let us away so we may speak.”
He turned her away, but Bingley stopped them. “Please, one minute more. There is something I must tell you.”
“We have heard quite enough from you, Charles,” Miss Bingley said with a sharp sniff, her voice nasal.
Bingley’s eyes gleamed like Richard’s did when he was about to parry a sharp retort. “Oh, but Caroline, this involves you. I was going to tell Darcy and the colonel what happened to Mr. Collins the night of the ball. Now I believe it better for you to know too. Hurst, do I have your attention? You would do well to stay awake for this one.”
Hurst raised his glass of brandy.
“Mrs. Nichols was deeply distressed that two rooms in the residential wing had been left unlocked during the ball. You already know one of them was the study. What you do not know is that someone”—he looked directly at his younger sister—”had told Mr. Collins to go to there in order to free herself from his unwanted company.”
Miss Bingley clenched her jaw and sniffed again.
Bingley continued, “What you did not know is that Mr. Collins got lost in the hall. Instead of going inside my study, he stumbled into your bedchamber. He was accidentally locked inside it for well over an hour.” He paused.
Richard burst, “You mean, you have had the perfect scandal to hold over your sister’s head, and you have not used it?!”
“Not until now.” Bingley turned to his ashen sister. “If you behave in a manner I do not consider appropriate, you will find yourself saddled to a lowly clergyman and mistress to the very estate you ridicule.”
“You would not dare!” Miss Bingley jumped to her feet, positioning the bench between herself and her brother.
“Do not tempt me, Caroline. I am not in a forgiving mood. I can supply witnesses in a blink of an eye. Now you will forever have to depend on the discretion of the friends you have abused to ensure your freedom to marry someone other than Mr. Collins.”
With a huff, Miss Bingley crossed the room. She was too vexed to see the kitten twitching his tail and staring at the fringe on the bodice of her gown. With a mighty leap from the couch, the cat landed on her bosom.
“Rudy!” Bingley ran to the kitten’s aid.
“Get him off me!” Miss Bingley screeched and flailed, slapping at herself, her gown, and anyone else nearby.
“Stop it, Caroline! You will hurt Rudy!” Bingley pulled the little hunter away from where the pet hid in Miss Bingley’s coiffure, a tassel dangling from his mouth.
