Caroline closed her eyes briefly.
Thomas brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "But then I saw you beside Miss Bennet’s bed. You were exhausted and frightened and still trying to hold everyone else together. I knew she was there. Not unchanged," he said. "Neither of us is unchanged. But you were never only the girl upon the beach, and you are not only the woman London believes you to be."
Her eyes began to burn again. "Then who am I?"
Thomas reached up and touched her cheek, his fingers warm now against her still chilled skin. "That is what I came to discover."
Chapter Nineteen
Thomas, October 1811, Netherfield, Hertfordshire
Thomas had spent fifteen minutes examining Jane Bennet that morning, and the next hour assuring every member of the household, separately and more than once, that she continued to improve. Her fever had not returned, her pulse was stronger and she had managed a little breakfast without difficulty. She required rest and freedom from the almost constant questioning of Charles Bingley, who appeared to believe that asking how she felt every few minutes might somehow hasten her recovery.
By the time Thomas left her room, Caroline was waiting for him at the end of the passage. She had dressed simply in dark green wool, with her hair gathered into a loose arrangement at the back of her head and a pair of simple gold earbobs enhancing her creamy skin. She looked so beautiful that it stole his breath. At first glance she appeared entirely serene, but her hands betrayedher. One worried at the seam of her glove while the other tightened around the folds of her skirt.
"How is Jane?" she asked.
"Much improved. She has eaten and her fever has not returned."
Relief passed over Caroline’s face. "And Charles?"
"Still convinced that his presence beside her chair is essential to her recovery."
"Then at least we know where to find him."
Thomas looked towards the door behind which her brother had disappeared only moments earlier. "We need not speak to him today if you would rather wait."
"No." Caroline drew a breath and released the seam of her glove. "If we wait, I shall spend the whole day imagining every objection he might make and by tomorrow they will have multiplied into several hundred."
Thomas offered his arm. "Then we shall face them before they have the opportunity to breed."
Caroline slipped her hand through his arm, and together they went towards the small sitting room beside Jane’s chamber. Thomas felt the pressure of her fingers through his coat and placed his hand over them briefly before opening the door.
Charles sat beside Jane’s chair near the fire. A tray had been arranged between them, though most of its contents remained untouched because Charles was engaged in breaking a piece of toast into increasingly smaller fragments while asking whether Jane felt chilled. Jane assured him that she did not, just as she had assured him several minutes earlier when Thomas was still in the room.
They both looked up as Thomas and Caroline entered. Charles’ gaze settled first upon his sister and then moved to her hand upon Thomas' arm. His expression became uncertain. "Caro," he said. "Dr Parodi."
"Charles." Caroline glanced towards Jane. "I hope we are not disturbing you."
"Not at all," Jane said before Charles could answer. She looked tired, but there was a quiet brightness in her face which had not been there the previous day. "Please come in."
Thomas led Caroline farther into the room before releasing her arm. She remained beside him, close enough that the sleeve of her gown brushed his coat.
Charles looked between them again, his gaze lingering upon Caroline’s hand where it rested against Thomas' sleeve. "Has something happened?"
Thomas had meant to approach the matter with greater delicacy, but the alarm already gathering in Charles’ face made any long introduction seem unkind. "I have come to ask for your blessing to court Caroline."
For several seconds, Charles said nothing and blinked rapidly. He looked first at Thomas, then at his sister, as though waiting for one of them to explain that he had misunderstood. When neither did, he drew a slow breath. "You wish to court my sister."
"Yes."
His gaze moved towards Caroline. "You wish this?"
"I do." She looked up at Thomas and a smile bloomed across her face. "Very much."
Thomas saw the moment recognition began to form in Charles’ expression, though it was accompanied by considerable confusion. "This is the gentleman from Scarborough," he said slowly.
Caroline’s chin lifted. "Yes."
