“Mr. Lindsay, I find myself feeling rather tired; would you very much mind taking me home?”
“Of course not, Miss Bingley; I am sorry you are not well.”
***
Later that day, closeted again with Mrs. Annesley at Darcy House, Caroline asked: “Is there a graceful way to turn down a marriage proposal?”
Mrs. Annesley smiled. “One rather hopes to subtly discourage a suitor before it reaches that point, but if one has not been successful in doing so, then something like this: I am highly sensible of the honour you do me in asking me to be your wife, but I do not feel for you that peculiar regard that I think is required to make a marriage successful.”
Caroline stared at Mrs. Annesley, who smiled and added, “It is rather a mouthful, I agree. But you want to make certain the gentleman knows that you appreciate his sentiments. It is, after all, quite a difficult thing for a gentleman to propose marriage, not knowing what the lady’s reaction will be. He deserves consideration.”
Chapter Forty
When Caroline returned to Bingley House, she found the Colonel waiting for her in the drawing room. Jane was speaking with him in a low voice. When Caroline entered the room, the Colonel sprang to attention. He cleared his throat nervously, and then looked to Jane.
Jane said, quickly, “The Colonel hopes to speak with you privately, Caroline. I told him that I would allow the two of you fifteen minutes alone, here in the drawing room. The door will remain open, of course.” With that, she rose and left the room.
Alone for the first time, the Colonel and Caroline could hardly look at one another, and could think of nothing to say. Finally, the Colonel began, “Miss Bingley, you will scarce believe me when I tell you that I – I love you. I love you and I hope to spend the rest of my life with you at Elmstree. If you do not like horses, that does not matter; you need have nothing to do with them. We can go to Town every single week to enjoy whatever entertainments you like; I will be happy to be with you. I beg you to be my wife.”
And then Caroline astonished them both by bursting into tears.
Upon her return, Jane found them seated together on a sofa, hand in hand, smiling delightedly at one another. “All is settled, I take it?”
Caroline, face alive with joy, replied, “Oh, Jane! Look, the Countess gave Richard her mother’s ring to give to me!”
“Caroline was afraid that my mother would oppose the match; nothing could be further from the truth,” the Colonel said, grinning from ear to ear. “And she hopes that Caroline will come for tea tomorrow.”
“I am so very happy for both of you!” Jane said. Then she added, “Caroline is of age, but nonetheless…”
“Yes, of course; I will speak with Mr. Bingley as soon as may be,” the Colonel said.
“This is like a dream,” Caroline said. “And I pray to never awaken from it! If I could just see my friend, Georgiana, as happy!”
Richard’s grin faded. “What ails Georgiana?”
“I shall not gossip about her,” Caroline replied. “But I do know that she is heartsore.”
“I am her guardian,” he insisted. “I have a right to know.”
“You certainly do,” his betrothed agreed. “But I do not have the right to tell you.”
***
Mr. Bingley came home soon after, and the Colonel was able to get his future brother-in-law’s hearty consent to the wedding. He was invited to dinner, but he refused, saying that he had promised to go to Darcy House for his evening meal, but that he would return to visit with Caroline the very next day and escort her to tea with the Countess.
He then went home to Matlock House. His mother was waiting for him in the drawing room. “You took your time,” she observed.
“One can hardly win a bride and then leave her side ten minutes later,” her son protested.
“So you were successful?”
“I was, and she was delighted to know that she had your approval.”
“Did she like the ring?’
“Very much! She wept when I proposed, and then she wept again over the ring.” His jocular words were in keeping with the enormous grin on his face.
“You are happy.” It was a statement, not a question.
