Page 31

“No,” said Bingley in a stern tone. “Should you and Hurst wish to depart, you are welcome to take your carriage and go, but Caroline will journey north in my equipage and with my servants accompanying her. After all, should she travel with you, you will take her to London and allow her to continue overspending her pin money and making a fool of herself. No, she will return to Scarborough, and you will not intervene. Do I make myself clear?”

Mrs. Hurst crossed her arms over her chest. “This is unfair to her! She is your little sister. How could you treat her so?”

“Between overspending her allowance and the servants she has mistreated, she has cost me tens of thousands of pounds since my father died. I shall not continue to support her mean-spiritedness and shallow disregard for those she considers beneath her.

“Should you leave, I have made arrangements for the ball to continue as planned. Your departure will have little effect on my hopes or plans.”

“You will continue to court Miss Bennet, even after learning of her connexions to trade.” Mrs. Hurst had always been as ignorant as her sister.

Bingley gave an incredulous guffaw. “ We are from trade! Your contempt for their uncle is laughable considering my father was a tradesman! I am so relieved he is not here to hear you and Caroline speak. He would be heartbroken. He saw you educated and married to a gentleman in an effort to make you more than him. He did so because he loved you. And this is how you repay him.”

Mrs. Hurst opened her mouth, but Bingley held up a hand.

“No, not another word. I do not care to have you here any longer. You will be leaving on the morrow as well. I care not where you go, but Caroline will be going to Scarborough. Should you defy me, I shall take the funds Caroline has overspent from her fortune, and you will be forced to support her until she weds, and you will never find her a husband who will take her for the sum that remains.”

Fitzwilliam’s eyebrows shot up. Miss Bingley was six and twenty and had come out at seventeen. Nine years of overspending would be a substantial amount.

Mrs. Hurst’s lips twisted for a moment, and he stiffened.

She stood there for a moment, then swivelled around on her heel and departed.

What a relief! Bingley had never in his life stood up for himself as he just had.

If pressed, would Fitzwilliam have relented?

He would have likely done no more than allow Miss Bingley to accompany the Hursts, but the plans now were a much better solution.

Bingley crumpled into the nearest chair. “I always suspected standing up to them would be exhausting. I was right.”

“Yes, but now that you have done so, they will not challenge you as much; but you cannot falter. You must remain steadfast if you are to regain control of Miss Bingley’s spending and behaviour.”

“My aunt has said she will take Caroline to some of the village events. Mayhap she will find a suitable husband.”

After schooling his expression, Fitzwilliam cleared his throat.

“Miss Bingley would never accept someone from the country, but her behaviour has ensured she will never marry for the wealth and connexions she desires. You may have to resign yourself to forcing her hand in the matter or being responsible for her for the remainder of her lifetime, or yours.” He would not lie to Bingley. His friend deserved better.

Bingley grimaced. “You are not improving my mood.”

“Then let us visit the ladies at Longbourn. I believe seeing Miss Bennet would improve your spirits.”

His friend chuckled as he rose. “Do not make this about Miss Bennet. I know you want nothing more than to gaze at Miss Elizabeth like a mooncalf.” A mooncalf! He was insulted!

“If only I could have an artist paint your countenance when you gaze upon Miss Bennet. Then, we would see who is the true mooncalf.”

“She is an angel,” said Bingley, his expression already that of a besotted pup.

“No, she is a lady—and a gentle one at that. You do have a propensity to fall in and out of love. All I ask in this circumstance is that you do not toy with Miss Bennet’s feelings.”

Bingley clapped a hand to Fitzwilliam’s shoulder. “I assure you, Darcy, my intentions are honourable.”

“Then I shall welcome you as my brother when the time comes.”

Elizabeth lifted her head and let the book she was reading fall to her lap. A familiar creaking of the floor was coming from the hall. Her gaze met her father’s, and he lifted his eyebrows.

As soon as the creaking disappeared, voices rose in the parlour for a moment and the noise in the house diminished. Only the louder effusions from Lydia and Mama carried through the hall.

Elizabeth placed the book on the desk and rose.

After muttering a tostaich incantation, she opened the door to the library and crept to the long table along the wall.

On the salver was a thick letter. Her cousin had written another.

With careful fingers, she lifted the missive.

The direction was to Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park.

She could not be surprised. This was not the first.

After a swift glance towards the parlour, she took the letter and hastened back into her father’s sanctuary. As soon as she closed the door, she said the counter to the previous incantation and strode to the desk.

She handed it to her father. “Are you going to read it?”

Her father chuckled as he broke the seal.

“Of course, I am.” He glanced along the pages and sighed.

“Although I doubt I need to read every word. Our cousin is as loquacious in his writing as he is in person. He has given a thorough detailing of every event we have attended and every conversation. Good Lord!”

Papa’s brow remained creased while he continued to look over the missive.

“Just like the previous letters, he has mentioned your disappearance in the mornings and his suspicion that you are meeting Darcy. You are shameless it seems.” He chuckled, but then sat up with his expression dark.

“It also appears as though your mother’s plotting has played into his plans. ”

Her insides gave a sudden jump. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Lady Catherine apparently insisted you be the wife he brings to Hunsford. Your engagement to Darcy has him panicked. He begs for his patroness’s aid with the matter as well as Miss de Bourgh’s.

‘I have attempted to put an end to the engagement between them, but naught has been successful. My attempt at ruining Miss Elizabeth last night was a failure. Her bedchamber door was impenetrable; not even Mrs. Bennet’s key worked; it would not even slip into the keyhole. ”

A shudder ran up her spine. “Since his arrival, I have placed a dothreáite charm on my door and windows before retiring; even on the cupboard that connects my bedchamber to that of Jane’s. ”

Papa placed the papers on the desk and steepled his hands in front of his mouth.

“If she had received this, Lady Catherine might reason out why your door could not be breached. Mr. and Mrs. Hill know to separate out his post and bring it to me, but I do have concerns of him walking into town to send his letters should he come to suspect us. Lady Catherine may also wonder at the long absence of correspondence from her clergyman.”

“Should we amend his words and let it go out?” It was the simplest solution.

He placed the letter flat on the desk. “I believe that is exactly what we should do.” He traced his finger along certain passages while he made a humming sort of sound.

Certain phrases disappeared, others rearranged, and some appeared in Mr. Collins handwriting until all traces of Fitzwilliam and their engagement disappeared from the page.

Her father’s abilities were so effortless. She loved watching him perform those simple bits of magic that showed off his true skill. Would she ever display such ease with her power?

When he was finished, he took great care in folding the paper in the same way Mr. Collins had then fixed the seal.

“Ring the bell.”

Mrs. Hill came promptly, and he handed her the adjusted missive. “I still want all of Mr. Collins correspondence brought to me, but ensure this one is sent. We do not want his patroness to become suspicious.”

The housekeeper took the letter, curtseyed, and bustled back to the kitchen.

“We shall surely need to do that again before we can rid ourselves of him. I intend to put it about that you are in London visiting your aunt and uncle after you are wed. No one need know the truth until we are prepared for what is to come. ”

She crossed her arms over her chest and hugged them tight. Would they be ready? All glimpses of the person that was coming indicated they had substantial power. As much as she and Fitzwilliam practiced, was it enough?

At a knock on the door, she started. Mrs. Hill entered and stepped to the side. “Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley have arrived and are in the parlour with the ladies and Mr. Collins.”

Papa rubbed his temples. “Come, Lizzy. We must join our guests. It would not do to leave Jane to control your mother for too long.”

“Mama becomes agitated whenever Fitzwilliam is here.” Her mother seemed to believe she deserved nothing good. Mama had always been that way, so why did it still hurt?

With a hand to her back, Papa guided her into the hall. “I believe you need your betrothed to lift your spirits. I know it is difficult, but do not take too much of your mother’s behaviour to heart. Much of it is her illness.”

As soon as the door opened and Fitzwilliam came into view, her heart lightened a bit. How was that possible from a mere glimpse of him?

Fitzwilliam came forward, kissed her hand, and led her to sit beside him on the sofa. As the conversation flowed around them, he leaned near her ear.

“I do not know if I can wait seven more days to marry you.”

Her cheeks warmed and she could not keep from allowing a small smile. “Are you saying you are weak, Mr. Darcy?”

His low chuckle vibrated through her. “Only when it comes to you, Elizabeth. Only when it comes to you.”