“No call for that,” Sir William said, suddenly sobered. “No, let's not talk of duels. We never have duels in Meryton.”
“Of course not,” Charlie said. “No need for that sort of talk. But Darcy, you need to… everyone has seen this scene. Surely you see that something must be done.”
Darcy made no reply.
His jaw tightened a little more.
“I can’t just let you kiss my sister, without saying or doing anything. It just isn’t done. You know that.”
No reply.
“Just isn’t done, Darcy, you have to… make this right.”
Caroline desperately looked between Darcy and her brother, and Elizabeth had a terrible fear. A terrible fear of what she might say next in her desperation, now that her scheme had accomplished nothing but to tarnish the reputation of all involved. Surely Charlie would not challenge Mr. Darcy to a duel.
“Charles, you must make him marry me. He kissed me, he knows what his duty is and that he has—”
“Liar!”
It shocked Elizabeth almost as much as everyone else to hear her own voice roar out.
“You lie! Caroline, liar — you said he lured you here with a note. I sat in the servant’s closet, and I saw him enter the room, frowning at a note. Then a moment later you came here, andyouentered the room after him.Thatis what happened. You lured him here for this scheme.”
Like how the flood swept away a dam after the top was overflowed, and the water rushed in to drown everyone — so it happened to Caroline’s flimsy story.
Sir William looked at Caroline with a vicious smile. For all his politeness, he had never liked her supercilious manners. More of the guests had gathered around the entrance to the library, to see what had occurred. When they heard Elizabeth they all pointed and whispered to each other.
Mama and Papa looked at Caroline with disappointment, Louisa stared at her sister with what Elizabeth thought was feigned shock.
Charlie looked at Caroline with real shock, his mouth falling open.
The only two in the room who seemed to have no sensation of surprise at Elizabeth’s speech were Mr. Darcy, who looked at her with an intense, passionate, and deeply unsettling gaze that she felt in her soul, and Colonel Fitzwilliam whose disappointed gaze at Caroline had not changed at all.
“Damn you, Caro! You — you… want to force my friend to marry you!” Charlie shouted at her. “Force him? Is it true?”
“No! No! Eliza, tell them — you are my friend. Tell them you didn’t mean it that way… it — Eliza, why did you say that? You are my friend. You shouldn’t betray me. Is it because you want him for yourself? Is it! Well Eliza! Answer me!”
Elizabeth could barely see through her falling tears. “I cannot help you do wrong.”
“Matters are now clear to everyone,” Darcy said. “However, Bingley, if you still insist on a duel, I am still available — No? Send my belongings to the inn at Meryton, the people there will send it on. Our connection is at an end. Goodbye.”
“No, wait, wait! Darcy, let’s speak further about this! Wait! — Caroline how could you! — Darcy, not so quick, we are still friends, and—”
“We are not.” He turned around and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Richard. Come. We are leaving.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam ended his frowning perusal of Caroline Bingley, and he flapped his hand dismissively. “Go along, Darcy. I am in no mood at present to decamp in the middle of the night.”
“Richard.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed without humor. “You must go on without me, else you will ruin your dramatic exit.”
The two cousins stared at each other, and then bowing at his waist, first to his cousin, then to the assembled crowd, and finally to Elizabeth, Darcy took his advice and left.
Charlie went after him. “Darcy, Darcy — no. No… I didn't mean to… I care greatly for your friendship, and—”
“You have lost it.”
“Darcy, but Darcy — I shouldn’t have believed Caro, but Darcy, she is my sister. Darcy, be reasonable, don’t leave so suddenly.”
