Page 2 of The Marriage Game
“I think it best coming from you, Charles,” Jane insisted.
“It was Lizzy’s idea and she wrote to you, not me,” Mr. Bingley replied immediately.
“What difference does that make?” his wife demanded. “Caroline is your sister, is she not?”
“Well, dash it, Jane, I am sure to make a mess of it!” Mr. Bingley threw his hands into the air.
“A mess of telling your sister that we are going to London for the Season? I think she will be overjoyed!”
“She is so unpredictable,” Mr. Bingley groaned, bringing his hands down to cover his face.
In the end, they decided to face the dragonette together. When the three of them were settled in the drawing room after dinner, Jane began. “Lizzy tells me that the Darcys are going to London for the Season.”
Caroline’s cup stopped on its way to her lips. “Has poor little Georgiana finally overcome her shyness enough to be in company?” Her tone was sarcastic.
“Miss Darcy,” Jane replied, emphasizing the name with a slight frown. “Is to have her come-out and be presented to the Queen.”
“Thanks to her aunt, the Countess, no doubt.” The envy in Caroline’s voice could not be missed. She sipped her tea, frowning mightily at the cup.
Jane threw her husband a look, clearly begging him to step in.
Mr. Bingley took a quick breath and said, “I thought we might go to London for the Season as well.”
The change in Caroline’s countenance was immediate and marked. “Oh, Charles, do you mean it? I shall need a new wardrobe, of course! Our carriage is too old to be respectable, it should be replaced immediately. And the drawing room at Bingley House has not been redecorated for at least three years; I shall attend to that the moment we –“
Mr. Bingley interrupted the flow of words. “We will discuss a budget for your new clothes. The carriage is one year old, Caroline, it does not need to be replaced. As for any decisions regarding redecorating Bingley House, that will be determined by Jane, not by you.”
Jane added, “Caroline, Lizzy says that you will be invited to a number of events that she has planned for Georgiana, but only if you are well-behaved.”
“Well-behaved? Indeed! Eliza Bennet will lecture me on behaviour?”
Jane’s voice was now steely. “Caroline, my sister is Mrs. Darcy, not Eliza Bennet. I will remind you that she does not wish to be called Eliza, and that she has made it clear that the Darcys will cut any connection with you if you do anything that she considers offensive. Do you understand me, Caroline?”
Caroline’s mouth fell open as she stared at Jane. Then she carefully set her teacup down on the little table beside her chair, rose, and left the room without a word or a backward glance.
Mr. Bingley and Jane sighed in unison.