“I am delighted to hear it,” he replied. “If you come to me directly for your fabric, you will save a good deal of money on your clothing.”
“Truly?”
“Yes, of course; the dressmakers buy the fabric from me and then double the price for customers. That is one way that modistes make their money.”
“But that is – that is –“ Caroline was shocked.
Mr. Gardiner shrugged. “It is the way business is done.” He poured some wine into her goblet and then into his own. “One of my ships just docked last night; it will take us a few days to unpack her hold, but I expect there will be a great number of new fabrics to tempt you, Miss Bingley. If you will send me a note telling me when you are coming, I will make certain that you receive the family discount that I give to Jane and Lizzy.”
“That is very kind of you!”
He smiled at her, and then changed the subject. “I was fortunate enough to seeMacBethat Covent Garden last week; have you been to the theater of late?”
“Not yet; did you enjoy the play?”
“I generally prefer comedies, but I admit that it was very well done. The witches were quite terrifying!”
Caroline nodded. “I prefer comedies as well.”
They spoke about the theater, the opera, and the latest exhibition at the British Museum. Caroline was baffled. How had she ever thought this gentleman unworthy of her time? He was kind, well-spoken and very – well, verygentlemanly! Unlike certain other men at this table, who would not be mentioned.
Dinner was finally over; Caroline rose when Elizabeth did, and followed her hostess into the drawing room, nodding to Mr. Gardiner with a warm smile, but not bothering to give Colonel Fitzwilliam so much as a glance.
The Colonel had spent the past several minutes speaking to Mrs. Annesley, who was on his other side, but his mind was not on the conversation. Instead, he was wondering what it was about Miss Bingley that led him to behave so very, very badly. Had he actually said that her self-worth was low, and she used arrogance to compensate for it? He suspected that this was true, but to say such a thing to a lady at a dinner? What was the matter with him?
As Elizabeth led the ladies into the drawing room, she wondered what onearthwas happening between Caroline and Richard? They seemed to be having a conversation that could only be described as intense, and then she had suddenly turned away from him and began to speak in a very friendly manner with Uncle Gardiner, of all people! To the best of Elizabeth’s knowledge, Caroline had never before bothered with so much as a good morning to either of the Gardiners, let alone a twenty minute conversation.
She sent an enquiring glance to Jane, who was walking beside her, and Jane replied with an almost invisible shrug. Evidently Jane was equally baffled.
The ladies arranged themselves on the various chairs and sofas in the drawing room, and then waited politely for the highest ranked lady – the Countess – to speak first.
“Dinner was delicious, Elizabeth,” she said. “And I thank you for complying with my seating arrangement request.”
Aha, Caroline thought, so the Colonel had been right; it was his mother’s doing. But this meant that the Countess thought that sitting beside Caroline was apunishment! Caroline felt like weeping, but of course controlled herself.
“Georgiana, would you entertain us?” Elizabeth asked.
“Of course,” Georgiana replied, and then looked at Caroline. “Would you care to play a duet with me, Miss Bingley?”
Caroline rose. She and Georgiana had indeed practiced some duets together, and they had a respectable repertoire. And anything would be better than sitting here, wondering what she had done that was so very, very wrong!
The Countess watched Georgiana and Miss Bingley sit down together, and play. Why, the music was delightful! No one had told her that Miss Bingley was so accomplished at the instrument. And now that the Countess looked, she could see that Miss Bingley was – for once! – properly dressed for the occasion. Was it possible that the girl had truly changed? When the piece was finished, the Countess rose and complimented both young ladies on the performance.
***
Taggart arrived with a fine bottle of brandy, and the gentlemen were soon enveloped in a pleasant alcoholic haze, complementing the haze of smoke from their cigars.
“I say, Bingley,” Mr. Darcy began.
“Yes, Darcy?”
“Is your sister seeing that Lord Russell?”
Lord Russell? Mr. Bingley was momentarily blank before recollecting what Jane had told him. “Oh, yes, I believe he visited Caroline and they went for a drive. Yes, that is right, a drive. Caroline said something about matched horses.” He shrugged.
“He is known to be a gambler,” Mr. Darcy observed.
The Earl, who had been staring into his empty brandy glass, wondering if he should ask for more, looked up. “The man is deep in debt; it is no secret that he looks to marry a young lady with a dowry.”
