Page 21 of The Marriage Game
The Bingleys were invited to Darcy House for dinner soon after the Lindsay tea party, giving Caroline the opportunity to tell Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy the details of Countess Matlock’s timely intervention at Gunter’s.
“I am not surprised at all,” Mr. Darcy declared.
“Are you not?” Elizabeth asked. “For I confess that I am quite astonished!”
“My Aunt Eleanor’s younger sister had a mishap herself many years ago,” Mr. Darcy explained.
“I did not know that she had a younger sister,” Georgiana said. “Certainly I have never met her.”
“She died before you were born, Georgiana. Her name was Anne – my mother was named for her, in fact – and she attempted an elopement with the doctor who had been treating her for a prolonged bout of influenza.”
“Heavens!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I presume she did not die from the influenza, if she eloped with her physician?”
“No; it was far worse. Aunt Eleanor’s father learnt of the elopement and rode after the couple. In their haste to escape, though, the couple’s carriage overturned and they were both killed.”
Tender-hearted Jane was now pale and teary-eyed, her hand over her mouth in horror.
“So that is why the Countess was so eager to support Lady Alicia,” Caroline said, softly.
“Precisely.”
“When you next speak with her, I hope you will tell her how very grateful we all were for her intervention,” Caroline continued.
“I certainly shall,” Mr. Darcy said.
Elizabeth changed the subject. “We still have to get through the presentation – and I will thank Heaven when it is over! – but I am beginning to plan for Georgiana’s ball. Jane, Caroline, are there any people you would like me to invite?”
Caroline demurred, saying that she would not want to impose on Elizabeth in such a way.
Elizabeth stared at Caroline in astonishment for a moment, but then said, “It is no imposition, Caroline. There will be hundreds of people here, and I think you will be ever so much more comfortable if you are already acquainted with some of them.” Caroline was properly dressed for a small family dinner, had not pushed herself forward in any way, nor had she bragged about her new friends. Now she was being ever-so-polite to Elizabeth. Was it possible that Caroline had really changed? Or was this a ruse of some sort?
Caroline finally said, “Well, Elizabeth, if you are certain, I would be delighted to have some of my school friends included. I know they would be grateful for the invitation. May I send you a list tomorrow?”
“Of course, Caroline. It is no trouble at all to include them.”