Page 27

Against all odds, even against her own better judgment, Caroline had grown fond of Colonel Fitzwilliam since returning to Netherfield.

In essentials he was unchanged - determined to tease and bedevil her - but her better understanding of his disposition had rendered his vexing impudence rather endearing.

She supposed that Elizabeth deserved some credit for teaching her how enjoyable such playful mischief might be, particularly when she found herself just as capable of wicked raillery.

“I was so occupied in keeping that odious parson away from Elizabeth this morning that I had no chance to speak with her and discover what she and Mr. Darcy spoke of - they were alone together for long enough that he might have accomplished a great deal,” she mused as they strolled through the garden arm in arm.

He answered her unspoken question, for he had strolled off to discreetly peek around the corner of the house and spy on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, but had no private chance to tell her what he had seen. “I believe they have quarreled.”

“No! Even though Miss Darcy apologized?”

“Apparently Darcy managed to stick his foot in it again somehow - shocking. Truly, Miss Elizabeth looked very cross.”

Caroline’s face crumpled with disappointment. “Oh dear.”

“Come now, we are not entirely without hope of uniting them in the end. I really must commend your good sense, for they are eminently well-suited.”

She waited for him to tease her, but he only smiled. Caroline nudged the colonel. “Are you really complimenting me without any caveat?”

“I am not all flirtation and chicanery - might I not speak rationally with you, and take notice of your merits as often as I choose?” At last he gave her one of the devilish smiles she had come to find nearly handsome.

“By all means, as often as you like! I have many fine qualities you may yet discover.”

“Such as modesty, perhaps.”

Caroline leveled a sardonic gaze at him. “You have no patience for modesty and reserve - I would never bore you with such tepid charms.”

“And wisdom, too!” The colonel laughed and drew her nearer on his uninjured arm. “I ought to tell my cousin that to woo a lady he need merely to describe her , and she will be in his thrall before he can get down on bended knee!”

“An abominable scheme! Lizzy has not my vanity.”

“Then we may yet have to consider some other scheme, if we are to succeed.”

Caroline peered up at him with an assessing gaze. “I have my reasons for wishing to make a match between them, but I wonder why you are so keen to assist me.”

“Perhaps I wish to remind you that I am capable of following orders,” he said with a wink.

“I find I quite enjoy being in your good graces, and since injuring my arm I have been wanting a purpose to make me feel useful. I daresay you would not believe me if I told you that I am a romantic, in my heart, and wish to see my cousin in such a state of wedded bliss as to produce a dozen little Darcys for me to dote upon. Of course, it may only be the Fitzwilliam impulse to meddle as much as I can, just as Lady Catherine does. That scheme, by the by, seems to have failed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wrote to my aunt in Kent to inform her of what a fine time Darcy and I have been having here in Hertfordshire, with so many fine ladies to admire. I was sure she would turn up the very next day full of righteous indignation.”

Caroline looked warily at him, shaking her head. “I am glad that option failed, then, for it could hardly have been helpful!”

“Ah, I forget that you have never experienced a lecture from Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She enrages Darcy constantly - there is no surer way to make him do something than for Lady Catherine to forbid it.”

“Oh!” Caroline bubbled with laughter. “So she would demand that he marry his cousin, and he would run straight to Lizzy!”

“She would go further than that; she would likely pay a memorable visit to Longbourn, and your friend would laugh in the face of her tantrum.”

“And run straight to Mr. Darcy?”

“Exactly. But alas, it seems my aunt has sent her henchman Mr. Collins in her stead.”

“I am not sure he is fixed on Lizzy, happily. But his visit was planned a fortnight ago, so I cannot think it related to your scheming. And how did you manage to write to your aunt?” Caroline gestured as his right arm, tucked close against his waistcoat.

“My father thought it a lark to never correct my use of the left hand.”

“Ah! That is why you are a devil!”

“Science explains all,” he drawled. “But I think you must invite Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth to Netherfield. Surely the courtship of one couple must inspire the other.”

Caroline smiled at her brother’s happiness. “I do not know why he must shilly-shally about with courtship, when he might have just proposed. I fear Louisa may yet work some mischief. But I shall invite them - one of them.”

“Miss Elizabeth.”

“No - Jane. Tonight their aunt is having a card party - you must remember Collins droning on about what a fine diversion it is for young people, as if it was his first day turned human after living as a frog. I will tell Jane that I quarreled with Louisa and desire the solace of my friend. I shall say that the gentlemen are dining out. If Lizzy has quarreled with Mr. Darcy, she will make the excuse of wishing to watch over her sisters around the soldiers at the card party, as I have often seen her minding them like a mother hen.”

“I do not follow your logic at all, but I have faith you will come to the clever bit yet, Miss Bingley. We do want Miss Elizabeth to come to Netherfield.”

“Yes, and we shall require some finesse, you brute,” she chided him.

“She may prefer to avoid your cousin if he has given her further offense. Lord, to think I once fancied him! Well, there is one thing that will get her here. She told me when they dined here that they had stayed away during the rain, for going out in such weather always makes Jane ill. And if Miss Elizabeth was willing to walk to Netherfield to bring me medicinal herbs when I was feeling poorly, she will surely come if she hears that Jane has taken ill.” For emphasis, she gestured up at the darkening clouds.

“But you would not make Miss Bennet ill, surely!”

“I am not so heartless! If the Bennet carriage is otherwise occupied, I shall send my brother’s to collect her.

But I need only to say that Jane is sick, that we walked in the garden after supper and were caught in a downpour.

Jane may not like the deception, nor causing her sister alarm, but she must be uncomfortable with any discord between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy - she will want to help me.

Lizzy will come in the morning, and then I must only find some means of keeping them captive for a few days. ”

“And if the gentlemen must dine out, I will send a note to Colonel Forster. I wished to speak with him about a certain matter, anyhow; I can bring Darcy and Bingley with me.”

“Excellent; then it is settled.”

They walked on for awhile longer, chatting of other things, until the first droplets of rain began to fall. They were returning to the manor when Miss Darcy fled the house and came running toward them, and Colonel Fitzwilliam hastened to her. “Georgie, what is the matter?”

Caroline hurried after the colonel, for the girl appeared to be crying. “Miss Darcy, are you unwell?”

“I… I…” she glanced nervously between the colonel and Caroline, who understood that Miss Darcy wished some privacy to speak with her cousin. She was wounded, but resolved not to be angry. She began to step away, when the colonel seized her hand and drew her back toward him.

“You may speak freely in front of Miss Bingley, dearest.”

“I fear you may not wish it. It is about Mr. Wickham and - and Mrs. Hurst.”

Caroline was still reeling from the colonel’s display of trust in her, and jolted as he cried, “What?!”

“What has my sister done? Miss Darcy, I will not allow her to importune you in any way.”

“I fear it is too late. It cannot be prevented,” Miss Darcy said with a shrill wail of lament.

Colonel Fitzwilliam squeezed Caroline’s hand before releasing it, though his cousin was too distraught to notice. He seemed to be struggling to control himself as he moderated his voice. “Tell me everything at once.”

“He came to Netherfield last evening, after seeing you and William at the ball and believing me to be here alone. A footman caught him sneaking in through the servant’s entrance and sent for Mrs. Hurst. And then he…

he told her, Richard. She came to me when we returned from Longbourn and said that I must compel Mr. Bingley to marry me, for no other man shall have me, just as I feared!

She says that we must compromise him, and if I do not, she will tell all the world of my shame! ”

The colonel laid a hand on Miss Darcy’s shoulder and gave her a gentle shake.

“You are still a maid, are you not? You must never say such things of yourself. And I will not allow either of those two self-serving monsters to say a word against you, whatever truth or exaggeration they wish to twist of it.”

Miss Darcy nodded, still sobbing, “I do not want to do it, I swear I do not! Really, Richard. I am done trying to catch him, but it is as if she guessed my greatest fear.”

Without thinking, Caroline wrapped her arms around the weeping child. “She has a talent for it, I am sorry to say. But she must be stopped - I have demanded already that she give up the idea of uniting you with our brother, for he is attached to Miss Bennet - they are actually courting!”

Miss Darcy clung to Caroline, who held the girl as she wept, though the rain had begun to fall harder now. “I am such a fool,” she lamented.

“Young ladies are often fools at sixteen - I even indulged in a few extra years of delusion, but I am no worse for it now,” Caroline drawled. “Take heart, my friend. You have sensible protectors.”