Page 79 of Master of Himself

After he had dressed for supper, he admired his reflection in the looking glass; the blue floral waistcoat suited him to perfection. What’s more, Mr Henderson had happily obliged his request to tie his cravat in the mail coach style.

Ready to consign his troubles to the past and spend an enjoyable evening with friends, Charles accompanied his family to the local assembly. Thanks to Henry’s earlier outburst, Caroline conducted herself with remarkable restraint as they entered the hall. Previously, she wouldn’t have hesitated to voice her opinion of the fashions or behaviour of the other attendees, good, bad, or indifferent. However, she wisely chose to keep those sentiments to herself.

“I hope you won’t mind taking charge of Caroline when I return to Hertfordshire,” he said as he and Henry waited for the ladies to emerge from the cloak room.

Henry kept his voice low. “If it means finally being free of her, I’ll take her to every wretched party in town.”

When they escorted the ladies further into the hall, Colonel Fitzwilliam approached and warmly greeted Charles. The colonel wore a finely constructed coat, plaid waistcoat, intricately tied cravat, and a confident smile.

“How was your day, Colonel?” he inquired, knowing he and Darcy had successfully executed their plan.

“I couldn’t have asked for better,” he said, gleaming with mirth. “What’s more, I had the pleasure of seeing my old friend off on the northbound stage.”

Knowing that the colonel had successfully planned and executed every detail of Wickham’s departure, Charles had a new respect for the man’s skills. He would do well to aspire to that same level of competence.

Upon meeting Colonel Fitzwilliam and learning that he was Darcy’s cousin, and Lord Matlock’s younger son, Caroline inched closer and hung on his every word. Unlike his merry, irreverent jokes on the previous night, the colonel conducted himself admirably, allowed no hint of any knowledge of Caroline’s poor behaviour, and requested dances with both ladies.

Caroline’s friends, Mr and Miss Grantley, approached and greeted Caroline. “Miss Bingley, how I’ve missed you. How was the country?” Miss Grantley said.

“Quite diverting,” Caroline said in a pleasant tone, “but I’m pleased to be home again.” She then introduced her friends to the colonel, who secured a set with Miss Grantley.

Her brother secured a set with Caroline, and the pair wandered off to greet other friends.

“Ah, there is Miss Destiny, appearing even lovelier than I recall,” Caroline said, glancing in the lady’s direction.

Charles couldn’t deny that Destiny was in her best looks that evening as she and her aunt approached and greeted Charles and his party.

“Will you make a long stay in town, Mr Bingley?” Miss Destiny inquired.

“No, indeed, I have come to attend to a few business matters and shall soon be off again,” Charles said. “Miss Destiny and Miss Haversham, please allow me to introduce my friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

The colonel made his bow, then secured the fifth set with Destiny. “And will you allow me to claim a set with you, Miss Haversham?”

The lady blushed charmingly but demurred. “No, indeed. I thank you most sincerely, Colonel, but I haven’t danced in years.”

Destiny took instant exception to this refusal. “Oh, but you must, Aunt Theo. I shall be devastated if you sit out all night again,” she said in an urgent tone, then turned to the colonel. “Aunt Theodosia is an excellent dancer.”

Undeterred, the colonel persisted. “I shan’t press you, but I do hope you’ll allow me the honour,” he said with an irresistible grin.

With all eyes fixed on the lady, she relented.

“What do you think of our assembly, Colonel?” Charles inquired after the two ladies had moved on.

“Such magnificence gathered into one room,” the colonel said, watching the Havershams chat with friends at the refreshment table.

With the Fitzwilliam family connections, Charles was certain that every door in the highest circles was open to the colonel, but he appeared fairly transfixed by Destiny’s aunt.

Charles introduced the colonel to his other acquaintances until they had both secured dances for the entire evening.

Charles led Caroline to the floor for the first set. “You’d be a fool to let Destiny get away, but perhaps you prefer Miss Harper, or Miss Yardly,” Caroline said. “Both are still unattached.”

“You should concern yourself with your own match,” he said, to which she offered that false smile that he knew so well. “Do as you please, Caroline. I shall be off soon, so it’s of no consequence to me.”

“I shall get on perfectly well, I assure you.”

Considering her bold, yearlong campaign to attract Fitzwilliam Darcy, Charles doubted that her abilities to secure a match were as advanced as she supposed. Hopefully, she would learn from her mistake and employ a less forward approach.

At the end of the evening, Charles could honestly say that he had no regrets about his decision to return to Netherfield. Indeed, no London lady had inspired him to linger in town, or for that matter, to consider matrimony. He knew without question that Jane Bennet was the only woman for him. If she felt the same about him, he would be the happiest man alive.