His deep voice, with its rich timbre, made her inner parts tremble. That dark hair, the way it curled just a little over those expressive eyes! She imagined running her fingers through it as he exerted his marital rights. A shudder ran through her. No unpleasant duty would it be to tolerate his attentions! She could almost feel his heat, his strength. That firm mouth, those sensual hands and powerful shoulders….
The carriage jolted as it left the rougher roads and entered the cobbled pavers of the city. Caroline swallowed, ashamed of her scandalous musings. London was closing in upon her, but she was no nearer relinquishing her designs on Mr Darcy. There had to be some last option available to her!
It is a well-known fact that despair does not often make one wise, and so it was with Caroline Bingley. Her anguished mind dredged up a succession of ideas, most of which she dismissed as impossibly gauche. At last, a thought took seed and blossomed in her mind.
She rapped on the outer door of her carriage, summoning her driver’s attention. “Daniels, I should like to pay a call before I return to the Townhouse. Take me to Grosvenor Square.”
Chapter 23
“MissGeorgiana,istheresomething I can bring for your present relief? A glass of wine? Can I get you anything at all?” Bingley stood helplessly outside her bedroom, arms twitching randomly as though they itched to be of some service but had no direction.
Georgiana shook her head miserably. Bingley cast a plaintive glance to Jane, who wrapped an arm comfortingly over her shoulders. “Come, Miss Darcy,” she gently suggested. “Let us help you get comfortable.” Bingley stood back in agonized resignation, and Jane closed the door.
Jane and her maid helped to ease her into her bed, still fully dressed. Jane brought her a damp cloth to freshen her face and, with a quiet look, dismissed Georgiana’s maid. Jane herself remained in staunch support, neither pressing her for words nor abandoning her to face her feelings alone.
Georgiana swallowed painfully. “You must think me dreadfully wicked!” she whispered.
Jane laughed gently. “Miss Darcy, I have four younger sisters, at least three of whom are regularly capable of far more shocking behaviour than yours!”
Georgiana tried to smile, even to make reply, but all she could manage was a sob. Jane soothed her kindly, sweeping the wisps of hair out of her face and cradling her head—just as Elizabeth had done two days ago. Georgiana’s dry heaves turned to anguished tears. How she had hoped such sisterly affection was not all a fantasy!
“Miss Darcy,” Jane’s voice was sweet but brooked no arguments. “I fear there must be some dreadful mistake. I understand you are quite undone by something, but I believe if you speak to me of it, we can begin to set things right and clear up any misunderstandings. I would not wish you to cause yourself more pain than necessary.”
Georgiana sniffled and endeavoured to bring herself under regulation. It was some minutes before she had composed herself enough to form an articulate sentence. Jane waited patiently, offering a handkerchief when it was needed. At last, she drew a shuddering breath.
“Did… did Miss Elizabeth tell you anything about… about me?” She raised timid eyes to Jane’s face.
Jane blinked, hesitating before making a reply. Her reluctance was plain.
Georgiana began to sob once more. “I th-thought I could t-trust her!” she mumbled tearfully.
Jane placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “There were some things that Lizzy told me in the strictest confidence, and only because she was in some deep perplexity regarding her previous understanding of Mr Wickham, as well as Mr Darcy. I know she told no one else—not even our aunt, in whose discretion I would have the utmost confidence. Lizzy would never hurt you, Miss Darcy, and nor would I.”
“Wh-why w-would L-lydia say s-such things? How did she hear th-them?” Georgiana’s features contorted, and her voice rose in pitch as she strove mightily against her tears and the gasping hiccoughs interrupting her speech.
Jane narrowed her eyes. “What did she say?”
With much agony, she listened as Georgiana struggled through the details of what Lydia had related. She pressed her lips together in angry silence. She had absolutely no doubts of Elizabeth’s secrecy, but things did look rather damaging to Georgiana’s trust in her. And this poor girl! Her reputation would be in shreds!
“Miss Darcy, who else could have known of these things?”
Georgiana gulped. “Not even my maid knew! It could only be my brother and Richard… Colonel Fitzwilliam. And Mr W—you know,him.”
“I see.” Jane gazed thoughtfully at the closed door of the bedroom. She turned her eyes back to the sniffling girl and stroked her hair behind her ears. “Can you rest alone for a little while? I should like to see what I can learn.”
Georgiana assented numbly. Sleep sounded heavenly.
“Atlast!Wherehave you been, James? I summoned youhoursago!” Lady Catherine remained seated, gesturing regally to the chair opposite herself. She had no intentions of hurrying to make herself amenable to her brother.
“Summoned, eh?” James Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock, snorted as he entered the room. “I am not your toady, Catherine.”
“You owe it to decency, to honour, to come at once! I am your last living sister, and I required your presence hours ago!”
“I see. Well, then, as it is quite too late for that, I shall be going. Come along, Richard.” The earl did an about-face just before taking the indicated seat, drawing his son into step with him.
“You shall do no such thing!” Lady Catherine’s eyes sharpened upon her nephew. “Fitzwilliam! Have you brought me my niece?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam tilted his head curiously. “My sister remains at the townhouse with my mother, Madam, but I will be sure to convey your well wishes.”
