Page 38

Charles nodded vigorously. “Yes, Darce—you have apologized repeatedly and from the heart, in addition to repairing the situation when you became aware of your mistaken assumptions.” Bingley shared a look with Elizabeth and they both grinned a little, recalling their odd conversation at Derwent House the previous spring.

After enjoying a moment of levity, Bingley’s demeanor turned serious again.

“I accepted Caroline’s apology, even though I knew it was insincere, and she has demonstrated no real contrition.

I’m sorry to say it, but I can no longer forgive her behavior,” said Charles decisively, turning to his wife for support.

Jane hesitated for a long moment, but then glanced at the letter in Mr. Darcy’s hands. Squaring her shoulders she nodded to her husband. “I suppose I must agree. Caroline’s behavior has been very bad, and I can’t say that she has shown any true attempt at reformation.”

Bingley exhaled in relief. “Good… excellent. Her birthday is in February and she will no longer be allowed to live with us after that. From Louisa’s letter, I believe it unlikely that the Hursts will take her in, either.

” He turned to the other couple. “And of course, none of my family will take offence if you haul her from her bed and eject her from Pemberley this very instant and never invite us back. I will perhaps offer her a carriage, although I’m tempted to give her far less… perhaps a donkey?”

Everyone chuckled at Charles’ obvious pleasure visualizing such a scene. Even Darcy smirked and offered, “I’m not sure the estate can spare a donkey, Bingley, but I am certain that we could find a spare sheep.”

“Would she prefer an ewe or a ram, do you think? Sheared or unsheared?” teased Elizabeth. “The former would undoubtedly be more comfortable to sit upon, but there are so often fleas…”

It was some time before their laughter began to quiet.

Mr. Darcy felt slightly uncomfortable laughing at a lady (though he had no sympathy and little respect left for Caroline) and so eventually he cleared his throat and spoke in a more serious tone; “Bingley, may I suggest that we formulate a plan before speaking of this outside our present company? I’ve asked for Allen to come; he should be able to give us an idea of how many letters Miss Bingley has posted. ”

Elizabeth’s expression became more serious and she nodded, understanding his purpose immediately. Before either of the Bingleys might venture a question, however, there was a knock at the door.

“Mr. Allen, thank you for coming so promptly,” began Darcy. “A rather sensitive problem has arisen regarding some letters that Miss Bingley has been sending and we would appreciate your assistance,” he said carefully, assured that the man would pick up on the subtext.

“Of course, sir. I brought the franking log, as you requested,” the butler responded, offering the ledger.

Darcy took the volume and began paging backwards through the weeks that the Bingleys had been in residence.

Beginning to get a sense of what was needed, Mr. Allen added, “Sir, Martin has not yet left with today’s post. Shall I have him bring it here?”

Darcy gave him a grim nod. “Yes, that would be wise.”

The others waited while the butler went to pass the request and Fitzwilliam finished skimming the ledger. “I count only five letters sent by Miss Bingley that are likely to be what we are looking for, but Bingley, you may recognize the names of her friends and family more readily.”

Bingley received the book from his host with a grimace. “We are fortunate that your position gives you the privilege to frank the post, and that you track its use; I wouldn’t be able to say the same.”

“It has proven useful on more than one occasion.” Darcy’s clipped tone discouraged any further questions on the subject, although from his grimace, Elizabeth suspected it might have something to do with one of Mr. Wickham’s schemes.

To change the subject, Lizzy resumed questioning the butler. “You pick up the letters left in the salver in the hall and frank them yourself, do you not, Mr. Allen?”

“Indeed, ma’am.”

“Do you know if Miss Bingley has used any other means to post her mail? Perhaps sending her maid into the village or something of that sort? We don’t expect her to be very sly, but it appears that she has been acting rather… irrationally recently.”

“I wouldn’t think so, ma’am. With all the snow this month, no one has been out to Lambton or Kympton without a good reason, else it would be noticed.

And I’m afraid that Miss Bingley’s maid isn’t much cared for below stairs—she either turns up her nose at the country girls, as she calls them, or tries to pump the maids for gossip about the family which, of course, no one here will put up with.

However, I will check around, ma’am.” Seeing the look on Darcy’s face, the butler added, “Quietly, of course, sir,” which earned him one of the master’s rare smiles.

A knock at the door brought Martin with the day’s outgoing post. Mr. Darcy flipped through it quickly and extracted one letter before returning it to the man. “Thank you, Martin. These may be sent.”

While the servant departed, Will simply handed the letter to Bingley who had only to look at the address in his sister’s loopy script to leave him wishing he could sink entirely into the cushions.

Jane looked read it over his shoulder. “Well, that’s not so bad, is it? Madame Claudette is Caroline’s modista; I’m sure she is just writing with instructions for her spring wardrobe… she does take fashion very seriously, you know.”

Charles smiled wanly and murmured something about his wife being an angel. Elizabeth however, rolled her eyes and told her sister bluntly, “You can’t possibly believe that, Jane.” Fitzwilliam wisely remained silent.

Meanwhile, Bingley had cracked the seal and begun skimming the letter.

When his wife protested that they should not invade his sister’s privacy, he only shook his head.

“No, Jane. She has forfeited that right—reread the letter she wrote to Lady Bettencourt again if you do not agree with me.” Faced with such direct evidence, Jane found that she could no longer gainsay his actions.

Meanwhile, Charles finished reading his sister’s letter and handed it to Darcy so that he and Elizabeth might read it.

“She is sly, I’ll give her that. Had I not read her other letter and Louisa not written about what she and Hurst had heard in Bath, I might have excused it as merely a discussion of the dresses she wishes to order, interspersed with some overly frank comments about her current hostess.

That she repeats the same points, and often exactly the same phrases, however, shows her true purpose. ”

Elizabeth found her humor leeching away the further she read and by the end of the letter, she could not even laugh at the description of a ridiculous sounding turban that Caroline was requesting from her modista.

Mr. Darcy thought carefully for a few moments and finally turned to Mr. Allen.

“In the future, any correspondence Miss Bingley has for the outgoing post should be turned over to her brother. We might as well do the same for her incoming mail, as well. Mr. Bingley shall determine what is to be given to her. And Allen, for the time being, it would be preferable if Miss Bingley remains unaware of what is happening.”

“Of course, sir.”

As the butler excused himself and moved toward the door, Mrs. Darcy called after him. “Mr. Allen? Could you have some tea and biscuits sent up for the four of us? I believe we could all use a bit of a treat.”

After the servant bowed his acknowledgement and departed, shutting the door behind him, Darcy turned to his wife and rolled his eyes.

After smirking back at him, Lizzy turned to catch puzzled expressions on the Bingleys’ faces.

She gestured at the door and whispered, “Mr. Darcy believes that Pemberley’s very serious butler has a crush on me, with the result that my requests are more likely to be fulfilled before those of the master.

Now, shall we return to the subject at hand? ”

In the end, a strategy was settled upon that gave little satisfaction to any involved.

The Bingleys were saddened to cut their visit short, but Charles was firm that the Darcys should not be required to host his sister any longer.

Although he would have gladly sent Caroline to London alone, he feared what trouble she might cause unmonitored, given the opportunities available to her in town.

Finally, after refreshing themselves with tea and biscuits, a servant was dispatched to fetch Miss Bingley to her brother.

Although the Darcys offered to excuse themselves in order to allow the family privacy, Charles insisted that they remain.

“For some time now, I’ve considered the two of you to be family, and Caroline increasingly less so.

She herself has involved you in this particular mess, and I believe it only right that you be present when she is held accountable for her actions. ”

Miss Bingley was quite irritated by her brother’s summons, but then reasoned to herself that perhaps he had reconsidered her suggestion that they spend the remainder of the winter in Bath rather than dreary old Netherfield.

Surely even Charles could recognize that there was no society worth knowing in Hertfordshire. In Bath , however…

Caroline had just begun to imagine the wardrobe she would need for the trip when she arrived at the library.

She was not at all pleased to discover Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were there as well, for she was becoming increasingly aware that her brother and sister-in-law were far less easily manipulated in the other couple’s presence.