“It matters little,” said Charles, not giving them a chance to respond. “I have decided and will not move from my purpose. Miss Bennet is the most generous soul alive, but I can tell you right now that you will need to earn her forgiveness and trust.”
“Why we should concern ourselves with such matters I cannot say,” groused Caroline.
“Because, Caroline,” was her brother’s stern reply, “a person of moral character acts to make amends when they misstep. Further discussion on this subject is fruitless, for I will not listen. Yet you should know that your involvement in our lives will depend upon your good behavior and your ability to offer sincere apologies. If you refuse, you will exist at arm’s length, never trusted with intimacy again.”
“But Charles!” gasped Caroline. “You are responsible for me! I must live with you!”
“No, Caroline,” replied Charles, as pitiless as the predator he now resembled. “You are of age and may have your own establishment paid for with your own funds.”
“I could never live in the same style!” cried Caroline, horrified by what he was telling her.
“No, you could not,” replied Charles agreeably. “Yet you would live commensurate to your means. If you wish to continue to benefit from my largesse, Caroline, you will make amends. Miss Bennet is not so proud as to require it, but perhaps you should start by groveling and see where it takes you.
“One matter further,” said Charles while Caroline was attempting to assimilate what he told her. “I am not so blind,Caroline. It is no less than obvious that you wish to rescue your campaign to entice Darcy to offer for you. If you wish to avoid humiliation, give it up now. Not only does Darcy not want you for a wife, but he has his eye on another.”
“Mr. Darcy willneverturn his back on his noble heritage by proposing to Eliza Bennet!” spat Caroline, forgetting every measure of restraint.
“Had you seen them yesterday,” said Bingley, “you would not be so certain.
“Regardless, I do not mean to further discuss it beyond this one warning. Leave Darcy be. He will not have you.”
Would that Caroline had listened to Charles and accepted it! Little though she had believed him then, it was now clear that everything he had said to her was the truth. Mr. Darcyhadreturned to Hertfordshire for Eliza and had put everything aside to make a fool of himself for that little baggage. How Eliza Bennet, of all people, had worked on him when Caroline had failed, she could not say, but the truth was now staring her in the face. There was little left to be done but to slink away and nurse her wounds away from this humiliating spectacle.
In the morning, she would speak with Louisa. Though they had informed their family of their change in plans, Caroline knew they could return to York, regardless. There, she could recover from the setback and plan what she would do in the future. There must be someone who would see her for what she could bring to a marriage.
Charles could stay and court his mousey little doxy if he wished—Caroline would not stay to watch as he ruined all their father had struggled to provide for his children. Caroline would hold her head up higher than this.
“Well, Darcy, it appears your course is now set.”
Darcy nodded, holding his glass negligently in one hand whilehe stared into the flames. After dinner and the rest of the company retired, Bingley had invited him to his study for a nightcap. It was just they two, for even Hurst and Fitzwilliam had retired.
“It is the perfect solution if you consider it,” mused Darcy. “Mrs. Bennet has been better behaved since our return, but her questions tonight prove her suspect behavior. At Pemberley, I will have Miss Elizabeth away from her mother, and if her relations are as excellent as I suspect, they will be no impediment to my designs.”
“You will only have her there for a short time,” replied Bingley. “If they tour the principal sights on their way to Derbyshire, they will stay only three or four days at Pemberley.”
“That may be so,” acknowledged Darcy. “Yet I hope I can persuade them to hasten to the north. There are some worthy sights to see, but extra time at Pemberley visiting the scenes of her youth will be a powerful lure to Miss Elizabeth’s aunt.”
“Mrs. Gardiner,” said Bingley. “I asked Miss Bennet the name of her relations at dinner tonight.”
“I should have thought of asking myself,” mused Darcy.
“Yes, you should,” said Bingley. “If you wish to retain her good opinion, I suggest offering every measure of civility in your power.”
“I plan to do no less.”
“Good. I hope you will use your time wisely.”
“It may not be possible to secure her consent to an engagement before she returns home,” said Darcy. “But I mean to make a serious go at it.”
“What of Lady Catherine?”
The merriment in Bingley’s voice was not conducive to Darcy’s good humor, though it was not his friend’s fault. Having Lady Catherine nearby when he engaged in his courting was not even close to ideal, even if she had not harbored the hope of hismarrying Anne for many years. There were a thousand ways she could offend Miss Bennet or the Gardiners, so many that Darcy did not even wish to consider it. She might even do it hoping Darcy would “come to his senses,” as she might say.
“Perhaps it would be best to ensure she understands the consequences of misbehavior,” reflected Darcy.
“That depends,” said Bingley. “The consequences must be severe enough to make your aunt pause, and undesirable enough that she would not wish to provoke you.”
“The cessation of any intercourse between us would do the trick.”
