About the lip-reading. About the assembly. About Lady Anne. About Georgiana.
Then came Darcy's account of the efforts he had made to learn more about Elizabeth's hearing before introducing her into Georgiana's circle.
At that moment, understanding dawned.
Caroline suddenly recalled Elizabeth's visit to Netherfield. The maid standing beside her with the soup ladle. The delay. The confusion.
Miss Elizabeth was partially deaf.
The discovery sent a thrill through her.
Caroline pressed a hand against her mouth to prevent an audible laugh from escaping.
So that was it.
All this time Elizabeth Bennet had mistaken Darcy's attention for personal interest, when in reality she had merely represented something else entirely. A resemblance to his mother. A connection to Georgiana's fears. A curiosity born of circumstance.
The notion was so satisfying that Caroline smiled.
Yet before she could enjoy it fully, the conversation shifted.
Darcy began speaking of Elizabeth herself.
Not her hearing.
Not Georgiana.
Elizabeth.
Caroline listened as he described his admiration for her. Then came the matter of a Mr. Wickham, a gentleman whose identity meant nothing to her but who had evidently altered Darcy's opinion considerably.
That, at least, was gratifying.
Darcy sounded wounded. Bitter.
She found she preferred him that way when speaking of Elizabeth Bennet.
Once, she wished Colonel Fitzwilliam would cease his absurd attempt to defend the woman. The man seemed determined to insist that Darcy reconsider his conclusions, and Caroline found the advice increasingly tiresome.
At last the conversation drew towards its end.
Caroline remained in the corridor until prudence asserted itself. A servant might pass at any moment, or worse, one of the gentlemen might emerge unexpectedly.
Reluctantly, she stepped away and continued down the corridor.
No one had seen her stop.
No one had seen her listen.
No one had seen her leave.
And no one knew that Caroline Bingley now knew Elizabeth Bennet's secret as well.
FIFTEEN
20thNovember 1811
Lucas Lodge
