But they had to wake to get in the house, and then they were swarmed by the children, all of whom pestered Caroline for the story of what had happened to her, and they all demanded that Elizabeth tell about the man she was supposed to marry.
Elizabeth said to Caroline when Mrs. Gardiner at last had mercy on them and herded her herd out of the room and back to their studies, “I suppose we ought stay awake till after dinner — if we sleepnowwe shall wake in the dead of night, unable to nap another wink.”
“Wholly right. And now answer the important question: How didithappen?”
Elizabeth grinned back. She knew exactly whatitCaroline wished to learn about.
“I kissed him,” Elizabeth replied, “a practice I have found that I highly enjoy.”
Caroline squealed, “Before he asked you!?”
“He had already asked meonce,” Elizabeth replied, attempting to sound prim and modest.
She failed.
“Sly girl!” Caroline laughed. “Very sly.”
“You do not mind… truly, not at all?”
“Certainly not to any great extent,” Caroline replied. “At all?”
She frowned, a very serious expression, and looked past Elizabeth to study a painting of a rolling landscape on a wall. “No… I am simply happy to see you happy. And also happy that your happiness will not destroy our ability to remain friends. I had feared it would.”
“I would never let anyone keep me from you! We’ve been as close as sisters our whole lives.”
Caroline looked at her with a sidelong smirk. “I will not insist that you name one of your children after me, as you had planned.”
Elizabeth giggled. “Darcy would hate that.”
The two sat quietly for several minutes.
Happiness.
This was what happiness really was. Everything had worked out well in the end.
Like a fine painting Elizabeth recalled the moment she’d seen Caroline — alive, sobbing in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arms.
“When you say that your affection for my Mr. Darcy is gone—” Elizabeth asked slowly, and she grinned, “I wonder what factormighthave achieved such acompleteeviction.”
Her friend blushed quite red.
“Perhaps it may even have been a different cousin?”
“Whoever might you mean?”
“Sly girl! I am not the only sly personhere! You’ll not slither away from me! I see too clearly how you looked athim.”
Caroline pressed her fingers together and looked down shyly. Her face colored becomingly. “Do you mean Colonel Fitzwilliam? Oh but I hardly know. I certainly can have no hopes with anyone. Certainly not withhim. Not after I—”
“Do not be so sure ofthat. He certainly admired youbefore. And from what he has said… he never judged you so harshly as Mr. Darcy. His expression when he rescued you — that gentleman has a very dashing manner about him.”
“Did he look at me in any particular way? — oh, but that was such a moment. One cannot judge uponthat.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You ought to have seen him interrogate Charlie! The instant that he heard it wasyouwho needed to be rescued he was the most efficient, decisive, commanding presence I have ever seen. Wrung all the pertinent details from Charlie — did not allow him to meander at all. Then ordered the carriage and brought us all out. He spent the first hour in the carriage writing pencil notes in a half decent hand despite the shaking to be sent to the Bow Street Runners and the colonel of a regiment in London to provide soldiers. He sent them off by express at Bromley, and then just fell right asleep.”
“Sleeping at a time like that?” Caroline giggled. “That is surely not a sign of deep feeling.”
“I think it more is a sign of the capacities of a military man.”
