Page 54 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

Mr. and Mrs. Hurst arrived before luncheon on Christmas Day.

Louisa inquired of Charles, “Where is our sister?”

“She has not left her rooms this morning,” he replied, “and she refused a tray.”

Louisa went upstairs to Caroline’s chamber and found her kneeling next to the commode chair, vomiting into the chamber pot. She lifted her head and looked at her sister.

“My stomach is empty,” she groaned. “There is nothing left to bring up.”

Louisa stood frozen in the doorway, her face paling as the truth became undeniable.

Louisa shut the door behind her and crossed to where Caroline lay slumped beside the commode. She drew a chair near and spoke quietly.

“Caroline, you are with child. Is it Lord Dunwich’s?”

Caroline buried her face in her hands and began to weep. “Yes. I told him, and he laughed at me. He said there were wagers laid at every club in town as to how long it would be before he ruined me.”

Louisa swore softly. “He is a wicked, cold-hearted man. Did he refuse you outright?”

Caroline sobbed harder. “He laughed, bowed, and walked away. That was his answer.”

Louisa slipped down from her chair to kneel beside her sister.

“I am sorry he has proved such a monster. He has a handsome face that deceives women, and he will continue to deceive them. But now we must consider what needs to be done. Charles must find you a husband. One of our cousins, perhaps. With your dowry, someone will take you.”

Caroline shook her head. “I am too far along. No gentleman nor tradesman will want another’s child as his heir.”

Louisa rose. “If there were a widower with his heir secured, perhaps. Yet I know of none. I will speak to Charles. He may know of some gentleman in straitened circumstances who would accept you with child for the sake of your fortune.”

Her steps down the passage were brisk, but her thoughts were dark.

Caroline had made her life miserable since she was a young girl.

Blessed with a fine figure, bright copper red hair, and a lovely alabaster complexion, Caroline had drawn the attention of men since she was fifteen, and she had taken every opportunity to belittle her shorter, heavier elder sister.

She had mocked Louisa’s marriage to Mr. Hurst as if it were a poor bargain.

“Well, sister,” Louisa muttered to herself, “at least I have a husband, and one day he will inherit.”

By the time she reached Charles’s study, her anger was hot.

She entered without ceremony. “Charles, Caroline has got herself with child. Lord Dunwich is the father. We warned her. Hurst told her plainly that wagers were laid at White’s on the loss of her virtue, but she would not listen.

Now she is already showing. She must be married.

Unless you know of a widower in straightened circumstances whose heir is secured, she must be given to one of our cousins.

One will take her for her dowry, if nothing else. ”

Charles stared at her, stunned. “I shall take her to Yorkshire and find her a husband among our relations. Louisa, will you come?”

Louisa hesitated, then sighed. “Yes. She says she is sick every morning. You will need to ride, Charles, to give her privacy. I will stay by her in the carriage. We should leave tomorrow morning.”

That same afternoon, Darcy arrived at Netherfield. He had ridden the last twenty miles for relief from the tedium of the carriage, and he entered the house wet from a light rain and travel-worn. Charles met him at the door. “I will send hot water, Darcy, so that you can warm up in a hot bath.”

Darcy nodded. “Thank you, Bingley. I am cold down to the bone.”

After he had bathed, Darcy came down to Bingley’s study, where he found his friend pacing.

Darcy’s eyes narrowed. “What is it, Charles? Is all well with you and Jane?”

Charles looked grave. “Jane and I quarreled this morning. I injured her when I defended Caroline’s rudeness.

Yet that is not the worst of it. Darcy, Caroline is with child.

Lord Dunwich is the father. Louisa tells me it is widely known that he has already compromised two other gentlewomen and refused to marry them.

There were even wagers laid in the betting books at White’s as to how many days would pass before he ruined her.

Caroline knew all this, yet believed he would make her his wife.

Now she is with child, and I must find her a husband. ”

Darcy was grave. “There are too many like him. Wealthy, handsome, and charming. The very sort of man Miss Bingley has always pursued.”

Charles gave a short laugh. “Yes, a man like you.”

Darcy stiffened. “Not like me. I would never...”

Bingley raised a hand quickly. “Forgive me. I did not mean it so. I meant only that you are rich, well-born, and admired. That was all.”

Darcy inclined his head, and Charles went on. “We leave tomorrow for Yorkshire. I will marry her to one of our cousins. It is the only way. Will you remain?”

Darcy shook his head. “I can remain only tonight, perhaps tomorrow. Then I must return to Kent. Richard requires my assistance. But Charles, I am sorry. She is your sister, and this must weigh heavily upon you.”

Bingley’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “If I can find her a husband before scandal breaks, she may have some semblance of a respectable life. She does not value what she is about to lose. She thinks herself undone because she will not marry an earl, yet she does not see how near she stands to disgrace. I can only hope she will learn from this and change for the better.”

Darcy went upstairs to bathe and dress for Christmas dinner. Charles sat down to brood.