“I am so very glad William is home again. We missed him greatly, did we not?” Mrs Philips said.
“We did, and it shall break my heart once he moves. It is such a good thing he was given a living,” Mrs Bennet replied.
“There is no young man more deserving.”
“He is a good boy, and it is such a relief he will be my son-in-law. I knew he would do the right thing and choose one of my girls as soon as I met him.”
“Anyone who has seen them together as I have this last year or two knows how it would be. They are perfectly suited to each other. Oh, how we shall all celebrate on the happy day they marry!”
Mrs Philips’s voice rose too high for her sister’s liking. Mrs Bennet leant closer to her and held a finger across her lips.
“Hush. I agree, of course, but you know we must not speak of it. Mr Bennet has forbidden it until everything is properly settled.”
Mrs Philips nodded. “As it will be very soon!”
Both ladies chuckled, and Darcy’s stomach churned, sending bile into his throat.
He did not attempt to broach the subject of Mr Collins with Miss Elizabeth again. Towards the end of the evening, when he next saw her alone, he refused to go to her, despite the fact that it seemed she was searching for him. His only interest was in returning to Netherfield as soon as possible so that he could be alone.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Caroline felt like hours had passed since she last talked to Mr Darcy. When she did not see him in the drawing room, she wondered whether he might have stepped onto the pitifully small balcony for fresh air. It would be just like him to avoid social intercourse by hiding thus, despite the cold night. Caroline approached the door, thinking that if he was there, she would join him and control her shivering as long as possible just to be alone with him.
Instead of Mr Darcy, Caroline was startled to see a couple engaged in a passionate kiss. They heard her gasp and looked in her direction. Wide-eyed, Caroline stepped backwards, closed the door, and quickly sought an unoccupied spot in which to calm herself.
Biting her lips together to stop herself from erupting into laughter, she thought,It is true! Mr Collinsisgoing to marry his cousin!
When she was certain she could greet Mr Darcy without betraying her amusement, Caroline resumed her effort to find him. Finally, she spied him in a dark corner, a sour expression on his face, which could only be an indication of how displeased he was with the soirée. He had only himself to blame; after all,hehad insisted on attending. It mattered not. Caroline would soon cheer him.
Alas, before she made her way across the room, he scurried off in another direction, even though she was certain he observed her moving towards him. Jaw clenched, and wishing she had something she could punch, Caroline went to the retiring room before she acted imprudently. It was not a place she could remain, however, given the presence of several other ladies, and as she was walking down the corridor to return to the drawing room, her brother found her. He led her to where they could speak without being overheard.
“School your features before someone else notices. I know you despise being here, but—” Bingley muttered.
“It is notthat. It is Mr Darcy! I swear, I am beginning to hate the man!” she hissed. Her bitter words were fuelled by disappointment. Was his disinterest in her because of Miss Eliza? How could he prefer that girl to herself, who was so clearly superior?
Her voice had been a little too loud, and Bingley squeezed her arm in warning. Caroline took a deep breath before continuing, but it was not enough to cool her temper.
“Once we are married, I shall make him suffer for every look he has given Eliza Bennet, every occasion he spoke to her when he should have been paying attention tome, every insufferable suggestion he has made about what we should do at Netherfield—attend the Philipses’ party, host a ball, have these people or those to dine, invite friends from town. Why can he not see that I am right here, under his nose, the very lady he needs as his wife? I would be so good to him and his sister! Shall we have to spend the winter here, and convince him to remain or come back again if Miss Darcy insists he spends months at Pemberley with her? What fun can he possibly have there? The girl is not even out. If she is capable of ever being amusing.”
“You are speaking of my future wife, your dear sister-in-law.” Bingley’s tone was part mocking, part humorous, which almost made her smile. She took a calming breath and nodded to show she had regained control of herself.
“She will bedearest Georgianato me on that happiest of days when I can call her sister, even more so when she becomes Mrs Bingley. Forgive me, Charles. I am exasperated.”
He gestured towards the crowd of guests. “Look. People are beginning to depart. We can make our escape now that we shall not be the first. Let us go find your future husband and say our farewells to the Philipses.”
“Yes, please! Once we are alone, Imusttell you what I saw earlier.”
The return to Netherfield was as efficient as possible. As soon as they were in the house, Mr Darcy bid them good night, and Caroline and her brother retreated to the privacy of the study. There, she told him about the couple she had interrupted on the balcony.
“I could hardly believe it,” she said.
Bingley poured himself a large glass of wine and sat beside her on the sofa. “I heard Mrs Bennet mention Mr Collins marrying and asked Miss Bennet about it. Usually, she is only too happy to tell me whatever I want to know, but she was remarkably silent about it. There was something in her manner that confirmed they do expect he will not be alone when he goes wherever it is he has a living.”
“I shall use this to ensure Mr Darcy realises he must give up his fascination with Miss Eliza. Oh, how I loathe her! I know she is to blame for his failure to offer for me.Yet. He will, no matter what I must do to bring it about! It is the future I planned for myself, and I shall not be denied!”
“I am confident you will succeed.” Bingley held up his glass in salute, and Caroline felt a rush of affection for him.
“I wish something would occur to provide us with an excuse to cancel the ball. Incessant rain would do the trick. Perhaps an infectious disease will strike Longbourn, and the Bennets will be unable to attend. Since I doubt we would be so lucky…” She gave her brother a pointed look.
