“Ihave come on a matter of some urgency directly from Hertfordshire! It is imperative that I speak with Mr Darcy’s housekeeper at once. Kindly excuse me!” Caroline turned to go.
“Hertfordshire?” the woman stalked nearer with imperious haste. “What is your name? You cannot possibly be that wretched Elizabeth Bennet!”
“Hardly!” Caroline glared sulkily. “How dare you insult me so?” she scowled. “I am Caroline Bingley, and my family has enjoyed intimate ties to the Darcy family for years!”
The noblewoman straightened, and Caroline recognized the calculating gleam in her eye for what it was. “Forgive me. I can see thatyouare no crass strumpet. Tell me, Miss Barnley, has my nephew made an offer to that odious Bennet person?”
Why, she can’t even remember my name! The woman is senile!Caroline realized. Still, she had a purpose in coming here and would not see it suffer by an old woman’s insulting memory. “Impossible, your ladyship! Indeed, I believe he has quite been taken the fool, and it is my intention to spare his reputation such an unlucky smear if at all I can.”
“It is as I thought! This charade must be stopped instantly before more harm is done! Tell me, Miss Bramley, how is it you arrived here all alone? I do not approve of young ladies travelling post-chaise.”
“I am not alone! My brother has supplied me with a carriage and a man-servant at my disposal. Once I have seen to my private affairs, I shall be retiring to my townhome in Piccadilly.” She placed a little extra emphasis on the name of her neighbourhood.
Lady Catherine snorted with great delicacy. “Only upstarts and nouveau riche claim that as their residence,” she sneered, enjoying the flush on the haughty vixen’s face. With swift decision, she turned a commanding air on this little pretender. “We are departing at the stroke of dawn for Hertfordshire to set this matter straight. You look to be a woman of some sense and decorum, and perhaps your influence may prove valuable. You may attend us if you wish.”
Caroline gave herself pause. Better still than her plan of involving Darcy’s staff in her undertaking was the prospect of allying herself with his family. Lady Catherine certainly had her own objectives in mind, but Caroline had no fear for any competition from Anne de Bourgh. Darcy would never consider marrying his sickly cousin—the man needed an heir, after all! The aunt, however, might just prove a powerful enough opponent to the match with Elizabeth Bennet that he would be forced to give her up.
She drew herself to her full regal height. “What an excellent idea, my lady,” she inclined her head graciously. “I would be most pleased to accept your offer. I shall have my coachman provide my address. What time shall I expect your call?”
“I, call for you? Nonsense,” the peeress huffed. “The country roads are dirty at this time of year. I cannot spare my carriage for such abuse. We shall travel in yours.”
CharlesBingleyhadissuedswift instructions immediately after his private conference with Jane. None of the staff were to go into Meryton, and no callers whatsoever—even the tenants—were to be received. Netherfield was locked down. Louisa would whine plaintively when she discovered her hothouse flowers could not be got, but he would not be shaken.
He called for the carriage to take Jane home while he himself rode next to it. Winter darkness was already settling over the frosted landscape, but it was not difficult, after about a mile, to recognize the rider galloping pell-mell in their direction. Bingley ordered the carriage to halt. “Darcy!” he beckoned.
Darcy, who was at that moment approaching the turn which would take him into Meryton, reined in his mount. “Take Miss Bennet home,” he instructed his driver. Jane offered a parting gesture of her fingers through the shutters as the carriage rattled off.
Bingley caught up to his friend. “I thought we would call at Colonel Forster’s first.”
Darcy stared, he and his mount still breathing heavily. He considered in silence for a moment. “Thank you, Charles,” he yielded at last. “I should be most grateful for your company.”
They set out together in a brisk trot, giving Darcy’s horse a breather after his two-mile gallop. “What do you intend to do?” Bingley asked.
“What I should have done long ago,” Darcy growled between clenched teeth. “I am going to call that blackguard out!”
“Darcy, you cannot! Think of the risk!”
“It is high time he is stopped. I can defeat him at any weapon of his choice!”
“Yes, and spend the rest of your days in prison, if you are lucky!” Bingley retorted. “There can be no victory in that. Georgiana deserves better, to say nothing of Miss Elizabeth!”
The bluish silhouette in the darkness suffered a moment in silence. “I am sorry I never told you, old friend.”
Bingley glanced to his left in some surprise. “I would not have expected you to. No, Darcy, do not be sorry. You must know, though, that Georgiana is like a sister to me. I would have protected her just as you and Fitzwilliam have.”
“How much have you heard?”
“Only what Jane knew—that Wickham tried to use Georgiana to revenge himself on you.”
Darcy set his teeth. “It seems this time he may have succeeded!” He screwed his mouth shut in sudden rage, then, without warning, lashed out an epithet to the darkness.
Bingley regarded him mildly. He had witnessed more emotion from Fitzwilliam Darcy in the past four days than in as many years before. If it was true that still waters ran deep, Bingley began to worry for the devastation which might be unleashed when the fathoms were at last stirred. “Do you know the substance of the rumours?” he asked cautiously.
“Yes,” was the simple reply, and apparently, all the answer he was getting. After another moment, “I need Richard.”
“What does Fitzwilliam have to do with it?”
“I thought once that Wickham’s jealousy was confined to me. I was a fool. He is trying to destroy everyone connected with me.”
