“Come, Caroline,” he said, with a consoling smile. “Do you think that none of my fellow students at Cambridge ever tussled with one another under the sheets? I didn’t personally indulge, of course, but I certainly had offers enough. Why, Jane has even told me in confidence that one of her sisters—” He broke off, then cleared his throat. “I mean, sometimes these things happen between men and men or women and women. Though I confess I am surprised to hear you say it, since you always seemed so—”
“Concerned with men?” Caroline suggested.
“Detached,” he finished, looking apologetic.
“Good heavens, did everyone think me made of ice? I do have feelings, you know.”
“I can see that,” he said gently, pulling out a handkerchief and passing it over. “Some of them are leaking out of your eyes at this very moment. And you love her?”
“Completely and utterly.”
“And she loves you?”
Caroline couldn’t help smiling, though the question brought on a fresh flood of tears. “She does.”
“There!” Charles exclaimed. “What more can you want?”
“Spoken like a man,” she chided him. “Have you forgottenthat without Mother’s approval, I have no wealth to speak of? No dowry, either. I cannot give Georgiana what she deserves.”
“I do not think any Darcy needs our money,” he said, smiling at her fondly. “She will not want your dowry. And if she does, I shall provide it myself.”
Her sobs took a while to subside, but he bore it patiently, patting her on the knee until she was able to speak again. “I do not deserve you. You are the very best of brothers.”
“I’m sure I don’t deserve such praise.” All at once, he looked uncomfortable. “Speaking of brothers, I now understand why Fitzwilliam bade me ride like blazes to find you.”
Caroline’s relief turned to dread in an instant. “Georgiana said she would write to him, but she did not say she would reveal our affair. I had thought she’d wait until he was present, and I had returned, so that we could do so together.”
“I do not know what she wrote,” Charles admitted. “All I can tell you is that he came down to breakfast holding a letter and told me to ride to Hadley Hall at once.”
“He did not say why?”
Her brother shook his head. “I dared not ask any more. Not when he looked like that.”
“Like what?” Caroline asked, though she had never wanted an answer less.
“By Jove, like absolute thunder.” Charles swallowed. “Take heart, dear sister, for I fear whatever conversation you just had with Mother is about to look like child’s play in comparison.”
Caroline had imagined that her return to Pemberley would be triumphant, if tinged with grief. She’d imagined running into Georgiana’s arms, holding her close, and having time to discuss how they might best present their case to Mr Darcy in order togain his—well, if not his blessing, then at least his agreement to leave them be. She hadn’t expected three days of panic and dread, only to be greeted on the steps of Pemberley by the man himself, his expression a perfect storm of rage and betrayal.
“I must speak with you immediately, Miss Bingley,” he snarled, then whirled on Charles. “And I must do so alone.”
Charles backed away at once, looking alarmed. “Er, well, I’m not sure that seems entirely—”
“It’s fine,” Caroline muttered. “Go forth. I shall see you shortly.”
“My study,” Mr Darcy said. “Now.”
Ordinarily, Caroline would have met his temper with her own but now did not seem to be the best moment to begin the fight. “Lead on,” she said, watching as he turned and marched away without a backwards glance.
