“I do not know,” he replied, helplessly.
Emma had watched them from a distance. She could not hear their conversation, of course, but she now felt uncomfortable, seeing how they were staring at one another. They were attracting curious looks from other pedestrians. This could not be permitted to continue. Walking quickly, she caught up with the pair. “Miss Bingley, let us continue our stroll,” she said.
Caroline awoke from what had felt like some sort of trance; she blushed furiously and said, “Perhaps we should return to Bingley House.”
The Colonel bowed and offered his arm. He did not speak again, nor did she, but both were very aware of her arm on his. At Bingley House, the Colonel very courteously took his leave of both ladies and left the house as quickly as manners would allow.
“Heavens, Caroline, what did you do to the poor Colonel?” Jane sputtered as soon as the door had closed behind their guest.
“I do not know,” Caroline said, slowly. “But – oh, this is all wrong!”
“What?”
“I think – I think Ilikehim. It is too dreadful!”
“I think you like him as well,” Jane said at once. “But there is nothing dreadful about it!”
“How can you say that? He insulted me at our first dance, and then at dinner at Darcy House, he said such terrible things about me! They were all true, but nonetheless!”
“Do you recall Mr. Darcy’s first words to Elizabeth?”
“Oh, that she was not handsome enough to tempt him? He did not say that to her directly, as I recall.”
“No, but he said it within her hearing, and she left that assembly thinking him the least gentlemanly creature alive, and the very last man on earth she would ever marry!”
“Yes, but –“
“But nothing. I simply want to point out that the things he said at that first dance should be forgotten.”
“And his insults at Darcy House?”
“If they were all true, then that shows that heknowsyou, Caroline. He has, whether he knows it or not, spent considerable time thinking about you.”
“I still think he does not like me,” Caroline said.
“He sends flowers. He danced with you at Almack’s. He rescued you from a terrible situation just in time, which tells me that he was watching you a good deal at Almack’s. These are not the actions of a man who does not like you.”
“Do you really think so?” Caroline’s voice held a whisper of hope. “But his parents! The Earl and Countess would never approve of me!”
“You may be right about that,” Jane admitted. “But I have heard from Lizzy that the Countess very much hopes he will leave the Army, which can only happen if he finds a wife with a substantial dowry.”
“Another fortune hunter!”
“Hardly. A fortune hunter does not begin his campaign by telling the lady that he does not like her,” Jane replied, drily.
***
The Colonel returned to Matlock House in a state of deep confusion. He hoped to escape to his room without encountering his mother, but it was not to be.
The moment she heard the front door open, she intercepted him in the entryway. “How is Miss Bingley today?” she enquired.
Her son frowned at her. “How did you know where I was?”
“Do you think me a fool, Richard?”
“Of course not.”
“Then I ask again: how is Miss Bingley today?”
