Caroline peered at her brother very closely. “Why not? What have you done? I sincerely hope I shall not hear of any more maids being dismissed without reason.”
He jumped slightly and looked at her wide-eyed, though whether in affront or alarm she could not be sure.
“I have not done anything!”
“Then why is she displeased with you?”
“Would that I knew! Perhaps if what you say is true, it is because she is not yet with child.”
“Then for heaven’s sake get one on her!”
He pouted. “It is not that simple.”
She clenched her teeth. Throwing something at him was becoming more and more of a temptation. “I have heard it is.”
“That was not my meaning!” he cried, colouring deeply. “I meant—blast it, Caroline, I do not know that I wish to…to—we are not even speaking!”
“I know! For six whole days, I have had to look out of the window to discover what the weather is doing.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind it. Would that you only cease blaming her for one trifling little spat and make your peace before you become the laughing stock of the world.”
“You are quite alone in thinking this a trifling concern, Caroline.”
“In this house, I am generally alone in thinking, but do surprise me.”
“Darcy has excluded Jane from all his houses.”
Caroline’s heart lurched into her mouth. “What? Why on earth would he do that? What is it to him if his wife has words with hersister? Imagine if Mr Hurst banished me from Farley House every time I squabbled with Louisa!”
“Yes, well, as Darcy himself informed me, one does not slap the mistress of Pemberley and remain welcome there.”
Caroline stared at him for a moment then threw her arms in the air. “Tremendous! I do not believe I could conceive of a better way to ensure we become social pariahs, except perhaps if we were to contract leprosy and begin moulting limbs on the dance floor at Almack’s.”
Her brother opened his mouth to speak, but since it was exceedingly unlikely he meant to say anything of value, she shouted over him. “Debarred from Pemberley! Have you any idea how low we shall sink in the eyes of the world if this is discovered? Remedy this! Before anybody learns of it!” She span on her heel to leave but turned back when he called her name. “What is it, Charles?”
“Are the servants talking about anything else?” He looked excessively conscious.
“Why? Is there something else for them to talk about?”
“No, I was only—no, nothing. Would that I had listened to you and never come back to Hertfordshire!” He dropped his head into his hands—which was fortunate, for it meant it was marginally better guarded when, in the next moment, a pin cushion, replete with a full contingent of pins, was violently flung at it.
Sunday 11th October 1812, Kent
Elizabeth’s week at Rosings had never promised to—and had certainly not—delivered any significant improvement in relations, but neither had it been without its small advancements. With Mrs Montgomery, she had formed the beginnings of a tentative understanding that, with a good deal of time and an even greater measure of patience, might eventually become something approaching a delicate sort of friendship. Darcy and Mr Montgomery were steadily rekindling the familiarity they had enjoyed before one went abroad, and Elizabeth could not but be pleased to have gained such an amiable, steady gentleman for a cousin.
Lady Catherine still looked on her with the utmost disdain, but she had mostly given over casting aspersions about her abilities in favour of not speaking to her at all and observing her with disconcertingapplication. Darcy was convinced it was to find fault. Elizabeth was more hopeful, choosing to believe she was searching for something of which to approve, though if she had met with any success, she had not yet admitted it.
Elizabeth and Darcy’s happiness only increased. Every day was punctuated with blissful private moments, shared jokes and all manner of discussions from edifying to teasing. Of Mr Montgomery’s son, Master Jonathan, they had both grown very fond, delighting in his sweet antics whenever he was brought down from the nursery and secretly anticipating the time when their child might play with his or her new cousin.
Thus, though Elizabeth was not sorry to be leaving on the morrow, neither was she sorry to have come, which was a better frame of mind than that with which she had departed Netherfield a week earlier.
“You are very quiet,” Charlotte said as they emerged arm in arm from the church. “Nothing is the matter I hope?”
“No, I was only thinking of everything that has happened this week—well, and since I was here in April, really. I have endured the worst and best moments of my life in these few short months. I never dreamt my life should end up so… altered.Oh, do not look so worried. I am the happiest creature alive, but I cannot deny it is overwhelming at times.”
“I am not surprised you feel that way. Every woman experiences some change when she marries, but rarely so vast or challenging an adjustment as yours. You are bearing it with remarkable fortitude though.” She patted Elizabeth’s arm. “You endure his family’s incivility with far more forbearance than they deserve. I should hate to see you lose heart now.”
