“Wait a moment. Are you telling me that you have decided to seek a love match?”
She thought about this for a moment. Darcy had certainly intimated that she wasn’t capable of one, so it seemed like an obvious goal. Anything he had declared she couldn’t do, she damn well would do. Rubbing his stupid, handsome face in her success would be the crowning glory on top of her own happiness. “Precisely. I am determined to fall in love.”
Georgiana stared at her, then blinked. “Caroline, if that’s what you want, then I have no idea why you require my assistance. You move in many lauded circles in society. You are constantly surrounded by men. Surely, one of them can be easily induced to fall in love with you, and you with him.”
“But I have too many flaws,” Caroline cried. “Your brother said as much. He said I must try to correct them first before anyone will even want me. You must teach me your ways—your modesty, your grace, your sweet disposition.” She paused. “How long do you think it will take? Four days? Five?”
“Oh, good grief. I’m going to get up early just to shake Fitzwilliam so hard his teeth will rattle.” Georgiana pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re not going to give up this idea, are you?”
“Your brother also called me stubborn,” Caroline supplied helpfully.
Miss Darcy sighed.
“A character once formed can be changed, can it not?” Caroline pressed on, sensing weakness. “Isn’t that what is always happening in those novels you like so much? I simply want to be seen as—I mean,” she corrected, as Georgiana’s eyebrow arched, “I simply want to try to be as good and kind as yourself and Miss Bennet. I think it is high time that I acknowledge that perhaps...” Even saying the words out loud made her want to grind her teeth again until they were nothing but powder. “Perhaps I have not always embodied those tender characteristics for which young ladies are most prized. I am eager to learn how to be a better version of myself. No, not better—the best version of myself! I must not settle for anything other than the loftiest of ideals. I shall become the best woman you have ever met, in every single respect, and I shall land a gentleman of equal geniality. Do you not want that for me, Georgie? Do you not want to see me happy?”
In fact, Georgiana looked as if she did not know whether to laugh or to cry or to fling herself out the window, but Caroline plunged on regardless. “And you are considered such a perfect young lady. Many would call you the most perfect young lady of their acquaintance, in fact. Therefore, you are the ideal teacher to—”
“I am far from perfect. I—”
“Nonsense, nonsense,” Caroline said, cheerfully barrelling over Georgiana’s protests. “You are the embodiment of everything that society deems wonderful, and thus, are the ideal person to teach me. But...” she trailed off, her smile becoming cunning, “if you do not agree with the list of faults your brother provided, then do say so, and I will consider myself remedied with no need for further application to amend my character.”
Miss Darcy bit her lip in a manner that was very reminiscent of her brother. Clearly she did agree but to do so out loud would mean confirming that Caroline was in need of tutoring.Caught between a rock and a hard place, Caroline thought triumphantly.Or perhaps the other expression suits better: between the devil and the deep blue sea?
“Well...” Georgiana began. “If I agreed to help you in some way—”
Caroline grabbed her by the shoulders and squeezed hard. “Thank you, my dear Georgie! Thank you!”
“Hold on, I said ‘if’! If I agreed to teach you,” she repeated, extricating herself with some difficulty, “then you would have to agree to my terms.”
“Terms?” Caroline repeated, a faint echo of suspicion sounding low in her gut. “What terms?”
Georgiana held up three fingers. “One, that you must not waste my time.” She put down a finger. “Two, that you must do everything I say.” She put down another finger, rendering the hand a clenched fist. “Three, that you must be open to all new experiences.”
“Why, those seem no trouble at all. I am perfectly open to new experiences.”
Miss Darcy levelled a long-suffering look over the top of her now closed fist. “We shall see.”
“You shall not regret this,” Caroline promised, squeezing Georgiana again.
“On the contrary, Miss Bingley,” came the reply, muffled as it was against Caroline’s bosom, “I rather think I shall.”
