“And she took your advice?” Mr. Darcy could not conceal his astonishment.
“She did; there is reason for hope, I believe.”
Chapter Nineteen
As the day for the planned visit to Lady Alicia approached, Caroline began to have doubts about her well-meant idea. What if Lady Alicia refused them entrance? In fact, what if they werepubliclydenied entrance, and this waswitnessed? It would be everything dreadful, would it not, to have that story spread about?
Jane encouraged her to see the plan through. “Kindness is never wrong,” she insisted.
Thankfully, Caroline’s friends – yes, she now had friends, and they had come to visit her more than once since the tea party! – had agreed that they should all arrive together. A show of force, Miss Johnson had said. They met at Miss Johnson’s house, and had then taken the large and rather showy Johnson carriage to Lindsay House.
“No butler seeing this carriage would deny us entrance,” Miss Johnson had insisted.
As it turned out, she was quite right. The butler took one quick glance at the obviously costly equipage and admitted them at once.
“We are here to see Lady Alicia,” Miss Johnson announced, removing her hat, gloves and coat as if there could be no doubt of her welcome.
The butler shook his head. “Lady Alicia is seeing no one.”
“She will see us,” Miss Johnson insisted. “Tell her that Miss Johnson, Miss Taylor, Miss Davies, and Miss Bingley are here to see her.”
A voice spoke from behind the butler. “Jamison, what is it?”
The butler turned and replied, “There are several young ladies here to see Lady Alicia; I have informed them that Lady Alicia is not receiving visitors just now.”
The gentleman who had spoken stepped forward and said, “May I take the liberty of introducing myself? I apologise for my forwardness, but there is no one here to do the honours. I am Gregory Lindsay, Alicia’s brother.”
The ladies quickly curtsied and introduced themselves.
“My Lord,” Miss Johnson murmured.
“No, I am the second son, so it is just Honourable,” he told them. “Doubtless you have heard of my sister’s misstep. Alas, I think all of London has done so.”
Caroline replied, “We have, yes; but we are here to offer her our support. We were at school with her.”
“How very kind, Miss Bingley! She has locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone, but I think that to be the very worst thing for her.”
“Indeed, she should show herself to everyone,” Miss Johnson agreed. “And she should simply laugh at her own foolishness; that way the gossip will die down.”
“I hope you will convince her of that,” Mr. Lindsay said, sincerely. “If you would wait in the drawing room, I will – well, I willforceher to come down! It may take some time, so I beg you to be patient.”
Upon being assured that the ladies would be very patient indeed, Mr. Lindsay directed the butler to escort the ladies to the drawing room and have refreshments brought at once. And it was well that they had been directed to exercise patience, as it was a full hour before Lady Alicia appeared, her brother behind her. She looked very ill; her face was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes. She had lost perhaps a stone, as her gown hung on her.
Her guests rose at once and curtsied. She did not curtsey in return; instead, she stood in the doorway and said, “You have come to gloat over me, I take it.” Her tone was dull.
Her guests gasped. “Of course not!” Miss Johnson replied at once.
“No, indeed,” Caroline added. “We have come to offer our support.”
Lady Alicia shook her head. “What support can you possibly give me?”
“Friendship,” Miss Taylor returned, simply.
Lady Alicia’s face suddenly crumpled. “I have no friends,” she said, her voice breaking. “All my friends deserted me when they heard of my disgrace!”
“Then they were not true friends,” Miss Taylor said, firmly.
Mr. Lindsay now spoke. “Alicia, please. Sit with these ladies for a time. It would do you good.”
