Mrs. Hurst clapped her hands. “I am so glad you took Louisa’s suggestion to plan the fair. It will do this town such good to have a fair again.”
“Indeed. The tourism it brings will be a boon for the local economy,” Mr. Hodge added. “I have heard that people from all across the country are flocking here to take part in the fair. Every inn and public house from here to Filey Brigg is filled up, I am told.” The fair was to take place over four days. It was far shorter than in medieval days, when the fair used to last forty-five days, but given that its success under the present conditions was unknown, Lord Connally had felt it best to be conservative.
“I, for one, cannot wait to try out all the foods!” Mr. Hurst exclaimed over a mouthful of fruit tart.
“A fair ought to be a veritable cornucopia of culinary delights,” his mother agreed. “I remember last time we had the fair, there was a man selling roasted pork. Best pork I ever tasted!”
“What are you looking forward to most, Miss Bingley?” Mr. Hodge asked.
“The entertainment, surely. I am most curious to see the jugglers and acrobats!” Caroline answered.
Discussions about what they each looked forward to at the fair continued throughout tea. Louisa confessed a desire to shop for local handicrafts, while Lord Connally’s wish was to view the horses and livestock. Mr. Beaujean hoped to sample the beers and ales. Mr. Hodge said he most looked forward to the music and the dancing.
Afterwards, Louisa suggested a stroll through the gardens.
Mrs. Hurst declared she would retire to take her nap and took her leave of them. While she was being taken back to the house by her footmen, Caroline saw Lord Connally speaking to Louisa in a low voice. Louisa came over to her.
“Lord Connally has asked for a private audience with you,” she whispered. “I am so pleased for you! All our hopes are coming true at last.”
Caroline panicked. How could such a thing be happening? She expected Mr. Hodge would be the one to ask her to marry him, after their kiss that morning. Before she had time to collect her thoughts, Lord Connally shut the door to the conservatory behind him. The others had already gone ahead to view the gardens.
“My dear Miss Bingley,” he began. “I am certain it can be no great surprise to you what I am about to ask you. Almost from the moment we met, my attention towards you has been too marked to be mistaken. Your qualities as a gentlewoman recommended you as the perfect candidate for a wife, and I am certain that with you as Lady Connally, my happiness shall be complete. All that remains is for me to ask you to name the day on which I am to become the happiest of men.”
Caroline gulped. “Sir, I am deeply honored by your proposal.” Her sister’s face flashed before her, the look of eagerness at the thought of having a sister who would be a baroness. They had countless conversations about the elevation in society it would bring to their entire family, about the fabulous pin money and carriages and gowns she would possess, and about how delightful it would be to have a sister living next door when she and Mr. Hurst took possession of Fairclough one day. Her resolve faltered.
“I require time to consider your offer. If you will excuse me,” she curtsied, then rushed off, hurriedly. She ran inside to the house, upstairs to her room, and shut the door. A short while later, her sister barged in.
“What do you mean by not accepting Lord Connally’s offer of marriage!” she bellowed. “Are you an imbecile?”
“I require time to consider. That is all,” Caroline said uneasily.
“What more is there to consider? Lord Connally is as rich as Midas, with a grand estate, a peerage, and a good education and upbringing. What more could you possibly want?”
“I do not know! Love, I suppose?” Caroline wailed.
“Love!” Louisa scoffed. “Love is fool’s gold. It glitters and shines at first, but the moment one possesses it, they realize it is a forgery. Only money and status provide happiness and stability.”
“As you have found happiness?” Caroline scoffed. “Tell me sister, is your marriage everything you hoped for, everything you desired?”
Louisa seethed. “My marriage was an advantageous match in every way. It elevated me in society, provided me with ample security, and in fact is the very reason we are even acquainted with Lord Connally!”
“But you are not happy,” Caroline pointed out. “If you were, you would not be seeking your comforts elsewhere.”
“That is irrelevant!” Louisa screamed.
There was a cold silence. Then Caroline asked, “Does Hurst know?”
“He does. And he does not care. That is his problem. He does not care about anything, except for eating and sleeping. I am invisible to him.”
Caroline thought she saw a tear roll down Louisa’s cheek, but she quickly wiped it away.
“Have the gentlemen gone home?” Caroline asked.
“They have. I suspect Lord Connally felt too embarrassed to remain any longer. How dare you treat him this way! At the fair tomorrow, you shall give him your answer, which, in case there is any doubt in your mind, is to be a resounding ‘yes.’” Louisa stormed off, leaving Caroline to her tears.
S
Theo felt angry. He took Miss Bingley for the sort of girl who could make up her mind, without a doubt. He hoped, given their encounter that morning, that her feelings for him were strong enough that she would be willing to turn down such a tempting offer from ‘Lord Connally.’ But even if she proved to be mercenary, he thought she would have given an answer straight away. None of this “needing time to consider.”
