Elizabeth lowered her face towards her bowl, but Caroline saw the smile she was attempting to hide. Mr Darcy appeared similarly absorbed by his soup, though the gentle movement of his shoulders suggested he was chuckling to himself.
Charles was silent for a few minutes after that, chatting gently to Jane, who Caroline noted was looking a little pale. The poor woman was probably mortified by the turn the conversation had taken. Caroline knew better than to hope he had abandoned the matter. His enthusiasm had been checked, not extinguished. When the servants removed the soup and began bringing in the next course, he leaned forwards once more.
"Ashdown is only a few miles from here. We ought all to visit once Miss Bennet is recovered."
Jane looked up from her plate and said that a visit to Ashdown would be very pleasant. Her voice was softer than it had been when they entered the room, and Caroline noticed that she was pushing her food around her plate but eating very little, though Charles seemed to hear only the encouragement in her answer.
"Exactly," he said, warming to the subject at once. "Mr Goulding could show us the estate, and Caroline might inspect the stables."
Caroline turned her head towards him with slow disbelief. "Why are you so determined that I should inspect Mr Goulding’s stables?"
"I am not determined," Charles said, though the speed of his reply suggested otherwise. "I only thought you might enjoy them."
"You have mentioned them twice in as many minutes, and we have already established that I possess no particular fondness for horses."
Mr Goulding leaned a little closer, his expression perfectly solemn despite the amusement in his green eyes. "I could have them removed before your visit."
Caroline looked at him. "That may be safest."
"The stable too, perhaps, if its presence would cause offence."
"I should not like to put you to so much trouble," she replied, and found herself fighting a smile.
His smile deepened, and Caroline found herself irritated by how easy he was to speak to. She had expected a vain, silly man—like so many of the men she encountered in London—or at the very least a little wounded pride when she resisted Charles’ efforts. But Mr Goulding met her sharpness without offence and returned it with dry humour and kindness. The truth was that he would probably make someone a fine husband, but not her, never her. Her heart was held by another and she realised in that moment that it was irrevocably lost to him—whether she ever saw him again or not.
Jane coughed, and Caroline looked towards her in concern. She began to ask whether she was quite well, but Charles had already pressed a glass of water into her hand and was fussingover whether she ought to return upstairs. Jane assured him that it was only a dryness in her throat, and after watching her for another moment, he reluctantly allowed himself to be reassured.
Unfortunately, his attention then returned to Caroline. "Mr Goulding also has an excellent library at Ashdown," he said. Apparently, he was set on his course, and whatever Caroline, or even poor Mr Goulding, thought was irrelevant.
Louisa closed her eyes, while Caroline laid down her napkin and looked at her brother with gathering disbelief. "Charles, you have already attempted horses. Must we now proceed through every room of the house?"
Mr Goulding glanced towards her with a twinkle in his eye. "We might skip directly to the cellars, if that would bring matters to a swifter conclusion."
Mr Hurst looked up with sudden interest and asked whether they were good cellars. Charles, missing the point entirely, assured him that he had heard very good things.
"That was not an invitation to continue," Caroline said, turning back to her brother. "You cannot march me through Ashdown room by room until I surrender."
Charles’ expression tightened. "He is a good man, Caro. I only thought you might allow yourself to see it."
"I do see it," she said, her voice rising in exasperation. She stood and placed both hands on the table, glaring down at her interfering brother.
Caroline turned towards Mr Goulding, who had borne the entire evening with more grace than anyone had a right to expect. "You do seem to be a very fine gentleman, sir, and I am sorry that my brother has placed you in such an uncomfortable position. You have been patient and good-humoured, and I am certain you would make some fortunate woman an excellent husband."
Something in Mr Goulding’s expression softened as he looked at her. "But not you."
Caroline swallowed. "No."
Charles shifted in his chair. "You cannot know that after one dinner, Caroline."
She turned towards him, speaking slowly and deliberately. "I know it because my heart was lost many years ago, Charles, and no meeting you contrive, however fine the gentleman or high his position, will bring it back. It resides on a beach in Scarborough and there it shall remain."
The words fell heavily into the room. Louisa went still, Elizabeth looked towards Caroline with open sympathy and MrDarcy’s expression shifted as though some earlier mystery had finally begun to make sense.
Mr Goulding gave a small nod. "Then I shall trouble you no further, Miss Bingley."
"You have not troubled me."
Despite herself, Caroline smiled faintly. Mr Goulding returned it and added, more gently, "I hope we may still be friends."
