“I have no more notion of what she is thinking than the devil. I want no notion of what she is thinking. And I will gain no notion of what she is thinking — I saw her off by post carriage, packaged with her maid and a manservant shortly after dawn. I have sent her to Aunt Matilda, forherto have the control of that… woman. For my part I cannot bear the sight of her, nor the sound of her voice. Caro has likely ruined forever the dearest friendship I had. Though it was in part my own failing — I should never have believed her over Darcy for an instant. I know both their characters, and I know whose character is superior.”
“But… you simply sent her off?”
“It was better than she deserved. Another three months and it will be her majority, and none of us will have any obligation to her at all. I eagerly awaitthat.”
“Charlie.”
He shook his head. “Lizzy, she acted wrongly.”
And that was that. Charlie would say nothing else about Caroline, no matter how much Elizabeth asked.
It seemed that he reallywasdone with the matter.
Elizabeth sighed.
As soon as Papa came to the room, Charlie said to him, in a quite serious voice — very unlike his usual light tone, “Mr. Bennet, there is a matter I meant to speak about to you last night, but… events intervened.”
“They did. But I am certainly at liberty to discuss any matter of business with you at present.” He smiled warmly at Charlie. “I certainly am.”
Jane’s eyes followed them eagerly as they left, and Elizabeth, even though she still thought it was absurd, thought she also knew what business Mr. Bingley wished to speak with Papa about.
After fifteen minutes, Charlie returned to the room, and warmly smiled at Jane who stood and went over to embrace him. She then turned to all of them and said, “Mama, Lizzy, everyone, Charlie and I have determined to marry!”
So Caroline had been right. Elizabeth suddenly felt rather like a fool to not have noticed the clear attraction between the two earlier — in no way had it been hidden.
At least this was something to be happy about for them even if Elizabeth really could not imagine Charlie as anythingbuta slightly obnoxious, teasing brother.
The next morning when Charlie came to call on Jane — and the rest of them, of course, but Elizabeth was nottoooffended by her firm conviction that Jane was a stronger incentive than she was — Colonel Fitzwilliam provided him accompaniment, as the officer wished to say his farewells.
“Eh, don’t want to overstay my welcome,” he said to them all. “Even if I can’t feel the sensation others describe of being in a place they ought not be — I always feel as though I belong, especially on the battlefield — I am fully aware that at a certain point in time one ought to remove oneself from a situation.”
“Nonsense,” Charlie replied. “Only because… well. I confess it is odd. After all, the two of us never were as close as Darcy and I. But you still are aFitzwilliam. So—”
“No, no, no — Icannotreplace the Christian named Fitzwilliam with my family named variant.” Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled at Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth. A hopeless situation. Hopeless. Besides I’ve achieved the tasks that the general gave me to help Colonel Forster with. It is time for me to set off for other corners of the country.”
“We shall be sorry to see you leave.”
“Parting is such sweet sorrow. But I tell you, we shall meet again — at least if the French do not do for me. But I think they’ll not succeed at that.” He turned to Jane and bowed. “Miss Bennet, congratulations. Real congratulations to you. The two of you seem well matched, and Mr. Bingley is an exceptionally lucky man.”
“Thank you,” Jane replied with her soft sweet way.
“Have you heard from Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked.
“No. Nothing — I would notexpectto have heard from him. He is no doubt quite annoyed with me.” Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. “Capital cousin, but Pemberley has gone to his head.Orderingme to leave a place? I’d dare say he’s more than a little annoyed with me for damaging the dramatic exit. ButIwas not offended in the way he was.”
Elizabeth grimaced.
Charlie hung his head and said, “You do not think he shall… no. No. He will not forgive me. Nor ought he.”
“Eh,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “I wouldn’t say that.”
“Oh?” Charlie’s head shot up. “You think he will forgive me?”
With a small shake of his head, Colonel Fitzwilliam dispelled that enthusiasm.
“Oh.”
“I suppose it won’t make you feel better that I consider my cousin to be quite unreasonable in this matter. But, eh. So it is—” He clapped his hands together twice. “Miss Elizabeth, might I speak with you a little?”
