“Very much so. Thank you, Mother.”
“I did nothing,” she said.
“On the contrary, you did a good deal. And I suspect you had something to do with Elmstree. But I see you will not speak of it.”
“You are right. The main thing is that it has all come out right, and you will have work that you love, as well as a woman that you love by your side. Truly, Richard, this is a day I will always remember.”
“But speaking of that, there is evidently something that isnotcoming out right for Georgiana.”
The Countess winced.
Her keen-eyed son said, “Ah, so you know something of it.”
“I do, yes.”
“I am her guardian; I should be told.”
“So your Miss Bingley did not tell you?”
“She indicated that she wished her friend Georgiana could be as happy as she is, but she said she would not gossip about her friend.”
“Most commendable.”
“That is all very well, but I insist on being told the difficulty.”
The Countess sighed. “She is in love with Lord Fane, and he with her, but she cannot marry him.”
He recalled the discussion at Georgiana’s ball. “So she is truly in love with Fane? Elizabeth said they hoped she would lose interest in him.”
“She has not lost interest, and nor has he. But she is prepared to give up her hope of marriage to him in order to protect his family name.” She then explained the Darcy’s fears of Georgiana’s mishap at Ramsgate becoming widely known.
“Well, I shall deal with this once and for all,” the Colonel said, determinedly.
***
That night, there was great celebration at Bingley House. Mr. Bingley was delighted that his sister would be out of his house at last, and Jane was even more delighted that Caroline, who had turned out to be a fine person after all, would have her own happy-ever-after.
Chapter Forty-One
The next day, Caroline, Jane and Alice spent two hours deciding what Caroline should wear to have tea with her future mother-in-law. It was a very nervous, white-faced Caroline, beautifully but simply dressed, who was handed into the opulent Matlock carriage by her future husband.
Matlock House was as grand as Caroline had imagined, and her hand trembled on the Colonel’s arm as they walked up the steps to the front door.
“Caroline, there is no need to be nervous,” Richard said, for thehundredthtime. “I tell you, my parents are delighted. Come now, this is the time for you to develop some real confidence, not that fake superior look you used to wear.”
Before she could respond – also for thehundredthtime – the front door opened, and they were ushered into an enormous drawing room. Caroline was too nervous to do more than form an impression of the room – high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, marble fireplace – and the formidable Countess of Matlock was then before her, wearing as wide a smile as Caroline had ever seen.
“My dear Caroline – I may call you Caroline, I hope?”
Caroline could only nod.
“Thank you. For now, please call me Eleanor, though in the future, I hope you will call me Mother.”
“I – I thank you, my lady – Eleanor.” Falteringly, Caroline added, “I should like to have a mother.”
“Ah, I know you have not had one for a very long time; but now you shall.”
Tears formed in Caroline’s eyes, and it took all her strength to blink them back.
