“I hardly know the man, but I think not.”
“Truly, Mrs. Darcy, would he want the newspapers to print a story that shows him in such a bad light? After all, he was part of the elopement plot.”
“He has no reason to fear for his reputation, so having his name in the papers would not worry him. I do not think his wife – my youngest sister – knows of his history with Miss Darcy, but I do not think he much cares if she knows or not.”
“So there is no way to work upon him.”
“I think not.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“She has really changed,” Jane informed her husband.
Mr. Bingley cocked a questioning brow. “Are you so certain she is not playacting?”
Jane shook her head firmly. “She is not playacting. Caroline has become a kind and thoughtful young lady. Oh, I see your skeptical look, but if you could have seen her face when she understood I was –“ And here Jane stopped, and a rosy blush suffused her face.
“Yes, dear Jane?” Mr. Bingley said, grinning. “Were you about to say ‘with child’? Were you planning to eventually tell me, or just Caroline?”
“I was waiting to see how long it would take you to figure it out!”
“Oh, I knew two weeks ago!” Mr. Bingley laughed. “I was waiting to see how long it would takeyouto figure it out!”
They embraced joyfully, laughing at each of their attempts to fool the other.
“When?” Mr. Bingley asked.
“September.”
“Well, we must return you to Netherfield as soon as may be. You know London air is not good for infants,” Mr. Bingley declared.
“It is a mere three hours to Netherfield, and our mission here is not yet accomplished,” Jane reminded him.
Mr. Bingley shrugged. “Lord Russell is no longer a contender, but she is certain to accept Mr. Lindsay as soon as he proposes. He has been here three times a week, has he not? And invited her to drives, and the like?”
“He has, but –“
“P’raps I should hurry things along by asking him his intentions.”
“No, no, Charles. She does not love him.”
Mr. Bingley’s struggle was visible on his face. He looked first surprised, then confused, and then irritated. “But the goal was to get Caroline out of the house, was it not? We had a plan, and it was a good plan. I do not see that love or lack of it should get in the way.”
“I say again: she has changed. As she is now, I would welcome her continued presence at Netherfield.”
Mr. Bingley argued vehemently against this, citing Jane’s condition. Jane argued just as vehemently, stating that she would have no part in encouraging Caroline to tie herself to a man she did not love.
***
“Do not accept Mr. Lindsay,” Jane said to Caroline the next morning.
“But –“
“No. You do not love him. This Marriage Game that Mrs. Annesley speaks of is a very serious game indeed, Caroline. You are tied to your husband for life. Your body is his to do with as he pleases. I see you blush, and I must beg your forgiveness for such frank speech, but what I say is true. Your life is in his keeping; you must listen when he speaks, and obey his commands. If you are fortunate enough to have a love match, your days – and nights! – with him can be quite pleasurable. But if not, your life can become very unpleasant indeed.”
“I do not think Mr. Lindsay would mistreat me,” Caroline protested.
“No, he would not. But would you be happy to see his face across the breakfast table, day after day, month after month, year after year? Would you be pleased to welcome him into your bed, day after day, month after month, year after year? Caroline, if you do not find love this Season, we will return next year. You will always have a home with us.”
