Frowning, Caroline turned to look through the marginally larger casement behind her, unsurprised to discover the sky every bit as dreary in that direction as the other—which fairly well epitomised the entire trip thus far. She returned to her work without comment.
“I thought it might begin to before long,” Charles persisted. “The clouds were not so dark this morning as yesterday.”
“Aye, nor the air so frigid.”
“I must say, I had forgotten quite how unsettled the weather in the north could be. Still, the wind has dropped, and it is no longer raining. Shall we all walk out? We could take up Cousin Helena’s invitation to join them for tea.”
“Oh, yes—” Jane began.
Oh, pray, no!“Surely, we have visited enough relations to justify the trip now, Charles?” Caroline interrupted. “How many more afternoons of drinking revolting tea in cramped, unfashionable parlours must we endure in order to satisfy your notion of a wedding tour? May we not enjoy some more refined entertainment for the remainder of our travels?”
“Caroline!”
“Well really, Charles! Is it imperative that you lay claim toeverydistant relative of ours who is still in trade? Are we to journey to Nova Scotia next for a tour of the hole you have sponsored my cousin to dig?”
“Our family’s condition in life is neither here nor there. I wished to introduce my wife.”
It vexed Caroline to observe Jane visibly preen at this. The woman was as obtuse as her husband. “Very quixotic, I am sure, but goodness knows Jane has enough unfortunate relations of her own to consider without ferreting out every one of yours as well. God forbid any of my friends should learn I passed my summer traipsing through the dockyards and woollen mills of the north. Or yours, Jane! What would Lady Ashby say?”
Jane’s eyes widened. “Would she disapprove?”
“Of course she would!”
How this could surprise her, Caroline knew not, yet clearly, it did, for she paled and addressed her husband in alarm.
“Perhaps it would be wiser not to advance these acquaintances if it will injure our reputation.”
That only made Charles pout. “There is no reason to think the injury to my reputation will be any different presently than it has been these past three-and-twenty years.”
“Precisely!” said Caroline, maddened by his stupidity.
“I am sure they are all respectable people,” Jane pressed, “but is it quite proper that we should visit their homes?”
“If Lizzy did not consider it improper to receiveyourrelations at Pemberley, I daresayyoushall survive the degradation of visiting mine, for you cannot believe you are superior to your own sister!”
Jane flushed livid red. Caroline sighed inwardly. She had never ascertained what Jane knew of Charles’tendrefor Eliza Darcy, though her dismissal of thefacsimilemaid made it probable she harboured suspicions. In any case, she required no further cause to suspect, for it was foolish to hope that, if Jane discovered the truth, she would not tell her sister—and inconceivable that, if Mrs Darcy discovered it, then her husband would not. Caroline shuddered to think what Darcy would then do. A hasty recovery was required.
“Yes, well, Jane is in possession of a little more sophistication than her sister. You ought to be grateful for her attempts to save you the same indignities Darcy is suffering.”
“What reason have you to suspect Darcy is suffering indignities? I cannot imagine Lizzy is giving him cause to repine.”
Caroline closed her eyes. You could lead a horse to water, but her brother would always be an incurable idiot.
“And yet she is,” Jane said coldly. “Only this morning I received a letter from her in which she owned to quarrelling with him already.”
“What? Why? What about?” Charles jabbered.
“By her own admission, she is driving him distracted. Which I can well believe, for she does the same to me! Excuse me, I would write to my friend.” With that, Jane stood and flounced from the room.
Caroline glared at her brother, shaking her head. “I had thought your foolish infatuation with Mrs Darcy was done with.”
“It is! I was only concerned that she and Darcy have been arguing.”
“Married couplesdo!”
“Jane and I do not.”
“True, but then what is there about which to disagree when all youever discuss is the weather? The Darcys’ marriage is none of your business, and you must not attempt to make it so!”
