“She is definitelynotin love with Mr Wickham,” Kitty asserted while handing her brush to Mary to attend to her. The three girls were busily helping one another undress as Sarah, their housemaid and sometimes lady’s maid, was busy with Jane and Lizzy. “She refused to stand up with him.”
“She did?” Lydia asked with surprise.
“Well, in fact what she did was stop him before he could ask her. Vastly clever of her! Because otherwise she would have had to sit out. So she held up one hand and said, ‘Mr Wickham, I pray you would not importune me by asking me to dance,’ and then he said something I could not hear and she said, ‘if you do not want certain personal matters bandied about in this room, I beg you to leave me at once.’ What personal matters do you think she meant?”
“Nothing, I am sure,” Lydia replied dismissively. “What could she possibly have on Mr Wickham? Any way, it does not signify, for she did not dance with Mr Darcy either, and we shall need at least that much for them to kiss.”
“They walked in Kent,” Mary reported. “In the mornings sometimes. Lizzy thought it was all the perverseness of mischance, but I wonder?”
“You think he tried to meet her intentionally?” Kitty asked.
“I understand that Rosings Park is quite large—larger even than Netherfield. It seems a small chance they would continually encounter one another by accident.”
“Then perhaps we ought to try and make them meet each other on walks,” Lydia said slowly. “Mary, you should go to her now and see if you can persuade her to go on an early morning walk with you.”
“Having me there defeats the object.”
“Well, I know that, of course!” Lydia huffed loudly. Lord, but her sister neededeverythingexplained to her. “When morning comes, make some excuse—too tired, could not sleep, throat hurts, anything! Then she is off alone and hopefully will meet Mr Darcy!”
“Of course.” Mary nodded. “While I cannot like lying to her, sometimes it can be needful.” She slid off the bed and went to the door. “I shall go and speak to her about it now.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“I heard a report of a most alarming nature.”
Charles’s blue eyes were fairly sparking with rage. Louisa Hurst glanced uncertainly between him, her sister, and her husband, wondering whether Caroline had done something wrong at the assembly the evening prior. Probably not—Caroline seemed to have a pious air about her. Her husband was unperturbed.
“What is it?” Hurst asked.
“I have learnt that there are wagers all among the regiment about Darcy and the colonel chasing after Elizabeth Bennet. And that you, Hurst, are a party to them.” Charles drew himself up, and Louisa was reminded of how he had been as a child—small, sweet, and undeniably adorable on the few occasions he was roused into indignation.
“I think it is disgusting,” Caroline said primly. “I refuse to believe Mr Darcy would willingly involve himself in such a thing.”
Louisa smothered a smile. If the wager had not involved Mr Darcy, Caroline would have been right in the midst of it. The very gown she wore that morning was purchased with her winnings from gambling at Lady Farnworth’s last card party.
Hurst shrugged. “You know how it is. Two men, one lady—everyone wants a hand in how it might turn out.”
“But her reputation!” Charles said angrily. “What of?—”
“What of it? Pursued by two men above her station?” Lord Saye had entered the breakfast room. “Forget reputation, she will have renown.”
That made Charles appear unsure. His lordship sank into a chair and Caroline immediately rose to serve and dote upon him.You do not stand a chance, Sister, Louisa thought,no matter how much coffee you pour him.
“One of them is sure to propose, you know,” Lord Saye added.
“Impossible,” Caroline declared. “Perhaps the colonel? But no, surely not.”
Charles scratched his head. “I must agree with Caroline. I did not think Darcy even much liked her.”
“Then it is a good thing I put your money on the colonel.” Hurst smiled genially and gave Louisa a little sidelong glance.
“You did?”
“He did not wish to leave you out,” Lord Saye reported from his chair. “So your money is on my brother for now, though you might change it if you wish to.”
“Do not change a thing, Charles,” said Caroline. “I am quite sure that Mr Darcy?—”
“Strange of Darcy to be mixed up in this sort of thing,” Charles said thoughtfully.
