“I suppose I now havemyanswer for you regarding the concern that prompted this whole line of conversation.”
“Oh? I confess I begin to forget where we started,” Elizabeth replied.
“You must decide. You must decidefor yourselfhow you shall relate in the future to Caroline.”
“That is wholly unhelpful.” Elizabeth grinned at him. “For I knew that from the first.”
Papa smiled at her. He rose from his seat, ruffled her hair, and with a yawn excused himself to bed.
In the end Elizabeth wrote a simple letter to Caroline:
Dear Caroline,
I miss you.
Still your devoted friend,
E Bennet
Chapter Sixteen
It was only early in March that Elizabeth heard anything from Caroline, shortly after Caroline’s twenty-first birthday.
The response came in the form of Caroline coming directly from London to call. This was nearly her first action after achieving her majority, gaining control of her own fortune, parting with mutual satisfaction from Aunt Matilda, and heading straight to the capital to meet with her banker and establish matters for the regular payment of her quarterly income.
When her carriage arrived Caroline sent her card ahead, rather than coming to knock at the door — and this when it used to be a standing matter that she could enter their house without any announcement at all.
Mrs. Hill delivered Caroline’s card and the small, folded note to Mama, even though it was addressed to Elizabeth. There was a dismissing sniff from Mrs. Hill, who had never known Caroline except as the occasional supercilious visitor after the family had reoccupied Longbourn. “That sister of Mr. Bingley, the one who went bad, is waiting in her carriage for your response, Ma’am. Mr. Bennet. Might I send her off?”
“Lord! Poor Caroline? Charlie said nothing about her coming — dear,” Mama said to Papa, “whatever shall we do — we must invite her in. It is quite cold today. It ought to be warmer in March. However I do not know if it would be such a good thing for the younger girls to still associate with her. But what does the note say — ah, Lizzy, it is for you.”
So saying Mama handed it over without hesitation.
The creamy woven paper was familiar — it had a watermark of the Bingley family crest, a smooth feel beneath the fingers. It was the sort of paper that shouted about the woman who used it: “I am possessed of an ample fortune”.
On the front, in Caroline’s fine, drilled, practiced, and feminine looping hand was the words:For Elizabeth Bennet
She opened it, aware of the little crowd, that is to say Papa, Mama, and Kitty all watching her. At least Mary was in the breakfast room, making her extracts.
Dear Elizabeth,
I only was given your note three days ago, when I reached my majority. Please, I miss you too — if you will still speak with me and see me, I am still your devoted friend as well.
C Bingley
Elizabeth rushed out.
It was nearly the coldest March that Elizabeth could remember. Snow was still on the ground from an unexpected blizzard a few days ago, and Elizabeth felt her throat swell up with emotion when she saw Caroline stepping out of the carriage to greet her.
For an instant the two girls stared at each other.
And then Elizabeth rushed forward to embrace her, and Caroline embraced Elizabeth.
“Come in, come in.”
“Are you certain? Mr. and Mrs. Bennet do not mind? I can—”
Elizabeth grabbed her friend’s arm and dragged her in. “Come in.”
