Page 26 of Suddenly Married

The morning after his return to London, he sat at his desk to review the accumulated letters.

The first he opened was from Mr. Darcy, written the day before his wedding.

In it, Darcy informed him that he would marry Elizabeth, that they were both in love, and that he was doing so to protect her from the misfortunes which her father's death would inevitably bring.

Darcy also stated, in the most unequivocal terms, that he would assume financial responsibility for Elizabeth's family, yet would have no contact with them.

'Darcy, how can you be so selfish at times, when you are, in truth, such a good and generous man?

' Mr. Bingley was astonished. In the letter, Darcy asserted that Elizabeth Bennet loved him.

Mr. Bingley recalled her manner towards his friend, which had never struck him as that of a woman in love.

She had never sought his attention, as Caroline and so many other ladies of the Ton had done, and often appeared displeased when he persisted in contradicting her.

Moreover, Darcy's declaration that his wife would have little contact with her mother and sisters was difficult to reconcile with the image of a young woman who had once walked three miles through the mud to nurse an ailing sister.

'Darcy, I once took your advice and abandoned the woman I love.

You may know much, my friend, but you know nothing of women.

At last, I see what I must do. I shall not allow anyone to separate me from my beautiful angel.

' In the drawing room, Caroline continued to repeat what she had been declaring since learning of Mr. Darcy's marriage to Elizabeth Bennet.

Louisa and Mr. Hurst, thoroughly wearied by her tirade, scarcely attended to her.

"The only way a woman like that could marry a man like Mr. Darcy," Caroline declared, "was by compromising him.

Poor Mr. Darcy! What he must be suffering, condemned to live with such a woman…

" Mr. Hurst, usually silent, could bear no more.

"Caroline, Lady Lucas made it perfectly clear that it was Darcy who compromised Miss Bennet.

She told us he pursued her the entire time they were in Kent and visited her at her cousin's house daily.

When he learned of Mr. Bennet's illness, he offered to marry her in order to protect her.

I cannot imagine why you are so surprised.

During the five days she stayed at Netherfield, Darcy could not take his eyes from her, and you know it very well.

" "Caroline, Lady Lucas explained that the rumours—" Louisa began.

"I shall not waste my time listening to you repeat that woman's lies," Caroline interrupted sharply, and left the room in high indignation.

Seeing his wife's expression, Mr. Hurst said reassuringly, "Louisa, do not trouble yourself.

If she refuses to accept the truth, that is her affair.

" "I understand, my dear. But you know how insufferable she can be when she is thwarted," Louisa replied.

"All the more reason to ignore her and not permit her to plague us with her grievances," Mr. Hurst answered with sincerity.

Louisa, though concerned, said nothing further, for she knew he was right.

Caroline, deeply affronted by her sister and brother-in-law, went to her chamber to continue her rant before the mirror.

'It is not true; it cannot be. Mr. Darcy is mine!

This is only the beginning, Eliza Bennet—curse you!

A handsome and distinguished gentleman will never be happy with a woman like you.

' In that moment, Caroline formed a resolution.

She no longer cared for the title of Mrs. Darcy—she wanted the man himself.

She would have him, and she was willing to do anything to achieve her aim.

She desired revenge, and she intended to punish Elizabeth for having ruined all her carefully laid plans and deprived her of what she believed to be her well-earned happiness with the gentleman of her dreams.

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