Miss Davies shook her head. “She was always too proud by half!”
Caroline, remembering her new manners, said, “Well, let us hope that all is well with her.” She decided not to repeat the gossip she had heard at her earlier tea party.
It was Miss Johnson who chose to share the gossip about their previous schoolmate. “As it happens, I know why it is that Lady Alicia is declining invitations. She almost eloped with a Navy captain. Happily, the plot was discovered in time by her father. But several servants overheard the whole thing, and you can imagine the result. She has not been seen in public since.” Miss Johnson spoke with compassion.
“That is dreadful!” Miss Taylor said. “I am so sorry that happened to her! Yes, she is very proud, but I do not wish such a fate on anyone.”
Privately, Caroline thought that Lady Alicia deserved her fate for being so very stupid, but the thought made her feel uncomfortable. Caroline was then struck with an idea. She quickly said, “Ladies, let us all visit her together, as we are her past schoolmates, and refuse to leave until she sees us. Then we will reassure her that we all make errors, and the important thing is how we handle ourselves afterwards.”
Her guests stared at her in surprise, so Elizabeth said, quickly, “What a wonderful idea, Caroline!”
The other ladies hastily chorused their agreement, and settled on a day and time for the visit.
Miss Johnson said, “Let us speak of happier things. Miss Darcy, is this your first Season?”
Georgiana blushed at being addressed, but managed to say, “It is, yes, Miss Worthington.”
“Your gown is quite charming; I suspect your aunt, the Countess of Matlock, introduced you to her own modiste, Madame Lanchester. Am I right?”
“You are; your eye for fashion is acute indeed!” Georgiana said in astonishment.
“Ah, Madame Lanchester’s style is not to be mistaken.”
This led to a rousing discussion of current fashions, the latest issue ofLa Belle Assemblée, the appearance of Beau Brummel at a recent ball, and other such subjects as were always of interest to young ladies. By the time the tea party was over, Caroline and Georgiana found themselves the recipients of invitations to a party, a rout and even a Venetian breakfast.
In parting, Miss Taylor said to Caroline, “I wish now that we might have been friends at school, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline replied, “I wish so as well, Miss Taylor.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “I hope you will call me Caroline.”
“And I am Charlotte,” was the kind reply.
Miss Johnson and Miss Davies chimed in as well, and Caroline was now on a first-name basis with three ladies that she had always considered nobodies.
With only the Darcys now remaining in the drawing room, Elizabeth turned to Caroline with an arched brow. “Was I wrong, Caroline?”
“You were not,” was the quiet response. “I did not know – did not understand –“
“I know you did not,” Jane, ever the peacemaker, said. “But now you do.”
“Thank you, Jane and Elizabeth,” Caroline said. Her tone was not humble, but it was sincere, and that was good enough.
***
Over dinner that night, Mr. Darcy enquired about the tea party at Bingley House.
“It was most surprising,” his sister replied.
“Indeed? How so?”
“Caroline was everything polite to her guests!”
Elizabeth nodded, saying, “One of their schoolmates is the target of some unfortunate gossip, and Caroline actually suggested that they all visit her to offer their support!”
“You surprise me,” Mr. Darcy observed. “I had not thought Miss Bingley capable of changing her ways.”
“Lizzy gave her some good advice before the party started,” Georgiana explained.
Elizabeth shrugged. “I hoped to make her see that having been snubbed by the guests at the earlier tea party, she needed to behave better if she wished a different outcome.”
