With those words, Caroline turned on her heel and stalked from the room, leaving Louisa with the distinct wish she would be free of her sister for some time. Outside her rooms, Louisaheard her sister giving orders to the staff and knew Caroline would depart as soon as she could. Charles had left his carriage for their use—Louisa knew she could deny Caroline the carriage if she wished, but if she did that, it would lead to an explosive confrontation that would make their previous argument seem like a mild spat in comparison. No, there was a better way to handle it.
“Martha,” Louisa said to her maid, “please go down and have Mrs. Davis attend me at once.”
Though it was clear the girl did not wish to leave the safety of Louisa’s chambers, she departed at once. Within moments, the housekeeper arrived.
“You sent for me, Mrs. Hurst?”
Louisa, who had been sitting at the escritoire in the corner of her room, nodded, continuing to write a brief letter to her husband. “Please arrange with Mr. Lawson to send a footman to engage an express rider at once. I have a letter that must be taken to my husband in Hertfordshire without delay.”
Mrs. Davis appeared to understand, and of more importance, she had never liked Caroline or the way she had often attempted to usurp Louisa’s authority in her own home. “I shall speak to him, Mrs. Hurst. When your letter is ready, have Martha bring it to me. The letter will go out the moment it is complete.”
Louisa thanked her, and Mrs. Davis left the room after curtseying. As it was just a short missive to warn her husband of Caroline’s departure and her mood—though Gerald could guess himself—Louisa had written it within five minutes. When her maid departed from the room, Louisa rose and went to the mirror in her chambers, inspecting her arm.
Caroline’s grip had been of sufficient force to bruise, and Louisa’s wrenching it away had done her no favors. She would sport a mark for several days, though she knew it would fade. That Caroline had lost her mind enough to lay hands on Louisaat all was enough to fill her with anger for the sister consumed by ambition and conceit.
For some time after, Louisa remained in her rooms, listening to Caroline command, exhort, and scream orders at the poor servants, but Louisa knew the best way to restore order was to allow Caroline to depart as expeditiously as possible. Though it might be improper for an unmarried woman to travel with only her maid, Caroline’s mind was made up, and Louisa would not argue with her. Eager to depart though she was, it took a lot longer than her demands of haste would suggest, for Caroline would not leave without all the possessions she deemed necessary.
Let her go. Louisa suspected Charles would not long endure her, and Mr. Darcy would set her straight in a manner Caroline would not appreciate. What would happen to her after depended on how Caroline behaved. For Louisa’s part, she would not support a sister who had grown unworthy of her devotion. Perhaps Charles would arrange for Louisa to join him in Hertfordshire—if he settled the management of the house on her, that would infuriate Caroline, but it would bring greater peace to his home. Maybe it would even teach Caroline a lesson.
THAT DAY, DARCY EXISTEDin bliss, though only because he remained ignorant of the storm brewing on the road from London. The morning had passed with a visit from the Bennet ladies—Hurst had chosen the same time to visit Longbourn; the carriages passing on the road between the two estates suggested a guiding hand or at least communication about the ladies’ plans for that day. Darcy did not begrudge Hurst his interest in visiting his friend instead of enduring the chattering of the ladies or Bingley staking his claim on Miss Bennet’s time. For his part, Darcy had been only too happy to remain, for even if theyoungest Miss Bennets and their mother grated on his nerves, seeing Miss Elizabeth made all the difference.
After a visit, heartened by Miss Elizabeth’s response to his overtures, he found himself alone with his sister, Bingley and Hurst elsewhere in the house. Darcy had not been so blinded by Miss Elizabeth’s charms that he had not witnessed his sister’s conversation with Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia, though the notion that the girls were attempting to mold her into a version of themselves would not leave him. Had Darcy possessed any less trust in his sister, he might have concerned himself with her friendship. When Darcy was not taking Miss Elizabeth’s time and making it his own, Georgiana had turned her attention to the second-oldest Bennet, and that in itself was enough to calm any reservations he might have held.
“I am pleased you introduced me to the Bennets, Brother,” said Georgiana as they discussed the morning’s visit. “I like Lizzy very well, and Kitty and Lydia can be great fun too.”
Darcy was caught between wanting to know what Georgiana thought about the woman he admired and the girls with whom she spent much of her time. Uncertain what to address, he responded on a different subject altogether.
“It pleases me to see you getting on with them so well. I do not recall when I have seen you so animated.”
“They are easy ladies to esteem, especially Miss Elizabeth.”
“You like her?”
“As you told me before introducing us, I cannot imagine anyone disapproving of her.”
“Unless your name is Caroline Bingley.”
Georgiana made a face. “Yes, well, Miss Bingley does not approve of you speaking withanyyoung woman, but I am certain you care little about her opinion.”
Darcy nodded. “You are correct.”
“Miss Elizabeth,” continued Georgiana, “is a young lady possessing many virtues. She is witty, intelligent, confident, and so many other superlatives that I cannot name.”
“And yet,” replied Darcy, feeling rather wry, “you have known her for only a few days.”
“It is enough.” Georgiana grinned. “If you did not take so much of her time, I would know her better, though I do not begrudge your wish to be in her company.”
“Then you approve of her.”
“Yes, Brother, I believe she will make an excellent sister. That is the most important point, is it not?”
The rumble of laughter built in Darcy’s breast, and he did not think to suppress it. “Then I shall take your praise under advisement. What of the youngest Bennets?”
Georgiana shrugged her indifference. “As I said, I enjoy Kitty and Lydia’s company, but I am not blind to the deficiency in their behavior.”
“Nor did I suppose you were.”
The nod Georgiana offered was regal enough for a queen. “It is well, then, that I believe they are beginning to emulate me a little.”
