Page 152 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Mrs. Jenkinson touched her arm, but Anne did not retreat.

Caroline looked toward Bingley. “Charles, this is absurd. Mr. Darcy received a message, I came to tell him the party approached, and the dog created a disturbance.”

Hurst looked through the open doorway at the motionless branches beyond the window. “The wind closed the door, I assume.”

Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “It may have.”

“Violent weather.”

“Enough,” Bingley said.

The word carried more force than his usual anger. He entered the summerhouse and picked up the ribbon.

“Why did this come loose?”

Caroline held out her hand. “Give it to me.”

His hand closed on it.

“It caught when I stumbled.”

“On what?”

She looked toward the remains of the table.

Hurst followed her gaze. “More dangerous by the moment.”

Louisa gave him a warning glance, but her attention returned to Caroline.

“Did you send the note to Mr. Darcy?”

“No.”

“Did you instruct the maid to mislead his sister?”

“No.”

Bingley looked at the ribbon, then at Darcy’s sleeve. “What happened before the door opened?”

Caroline answered first. “Nothing.”

Darcy’s expression hardened. “She placed herself between me and the door. When Sarah barked, Miss Bingley caught my sleeve and told me not to open it.”

Georgiana drew in a breath.

Caroline turned toward Darcy. “I was startled.”

“You were not.”

“You cannot know what I felt.”

“I know what you did.”

Caroline looked at Elizabeth and saw that she understood.

“You brought the dog here.”

“Miss Darcy invited her.”