He had the most charming way of managing their parents of all of them, and it was a consistent fact that when Charlie was the one making their excuses for ruined dresses and annoyed neighbors that the punishment was milder.
Mrs. Bennet’s wisdom in ordering them to take the carriage was proven when they had not been on the road a full five minutes before the threatening gray sky proved that its threats were not idle, and that its soaking bite was worse than its tin-colored cloudy bark.
Jane looked out the window of the carriage and pressed her hand against her head. “I confess that I am happy that I need not ride in that weather. I have a slight headache today.”
Upon arrival, they rushed into the entry hall. The footmen held big round umbrellas over them as they ran, and as soon as they reached the safety of the house, all the girls embraced each other.
“I’d have had some anxiety for you both when this rain began,” Caroline said to Elizabeth with a laugh, “if I had not known that you’d use the slightest touch of clouds as an excuse to take the carriage rather than riding.”
“My wisdom is boundless,” Elizabeth replied, grinning. She had been made to learn to ride, and ride well, but she never preferred the exercise.
“And yet, I did not mean to compliment, but rather to censure,” Caroline said. “A decision must be judged by its quality, not by its outcome.”
The four of them went to the drawing room, and happily engaged in general conversation about general subjects for half an hour. Louisa pronounced her opinion on their new visitor, Colonel Fitzwilliam, that he was a very officerly man, and thatshedid not mind at all what friends of Charles and Mr. Darcy joined them.
From Caroline’s sour expression, it was clear that Louisa meant to distinguish herself from her sister, who had such an objection.
Before Elizabeth could pursue further her curiosity about Colonel Fitzwilliam,ason oftheearl, Jane began to appear very pale and ill.
At the expressions of concern from the others she confessed herself to not feelwhollywell, and then she soon admitted a headache with more than usual severity. They all encouraged her to lie down and drink some tea. The tea, more than the lying down, had a salutary effect on Jane, and gave her the strength to follow her disclosures of weakness with the avowal of a sore throat. Close upon this came the final revelation when Louisa placed a comforting hand on Jane’s forehead. “Oh dear! Darling Janey, you are quite fevered.”
Elizabeth worriedly pressed her own hand on Jane’s forehead, and was relieved to find that while her sister certainly was feverish, she was not burning up with heat.
The offer of a bed was immediately made to Jane, and it was easy to convince her to attempt to rest. The other three remained in Jane’s bedroom and spoke to each other quietly, to ensure that the invalid would have anything she wished, until the time became advanced, heading towards when Elizabeth and Jane would have otherwise left.
Elizabeth and Caroline stepped out and returned to the drawing room, and Elizabeth said slowly to her friend, “Perhaps we ought to leave presently since—”
“No, no. We cannot send dear Jane home — not until she feels better by far. And you must stay with her too.”
Elizabeth smiled and took Caroline’s hand. This had in fact been what she had hoped Caroline would say. “Thank you.”
With a smile Caroline added, “It will be so very like it always was — we must play cards and maybe sardines or blind man’s bluff.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I am not sure that we could make up a sufficient number for a good game of either without Jane, and—”
“Well yes, we must see Jane betterfirst. But promise that you will be in no great hurry toleaveafter Jane has recovered.”
“Nowthatreally would be like it always was,” replied Elizabeth, her eyes smiling. “All four of us — five including Charlie — in one house.”
Caroline lowered her voice, “I have an additional incentive for being happy that you are to be here. Mr. Darcy’s cousin did not just come for the morning — he is to stay here for the next few weeks, and—”
“No, no! I’ll not marry him just to encourage Mr. Darcy in his marital ambitions.”
Caroline laughed. “Lord! No! I would not push him upon you, not even if it would aid me. He is quite horrid.”
“This is the son oftheearl?”
With a flush, Caroline waved her hands. “Not every well-bred man is well bred.”
“I must disagree, the statement is tautologically correct.”
Caroline frowned at her, hands on her hips. “Eliza! You always insist that a word can contain multiple meanings, not I.”
Grinning, Elizabeth raised her hands. “A score, a veritable hit. A proper round of grapeshot — but what then do you hope me to do with this Colonel Fitzwilliam?”
“Distract him! For God’s sake, carry on about him. Flirt with him — convince him to find a new object of his empty gallantry. The whole time we were at breakfast he hung about me, talking and talking. I could not stand it — not while Mr. Darcy watched us. What if Mr. Darcy gains the notion that his cousin has a serious interest in me? Can you imagine?”
“You hope for me to make a pretense of interest in this horrid colonel?”
