Chapter 21: All in this Together
Elizabeth had decided it was easier if they were all in one place, they could keep an eye on each other, they could keep each other entertained, as well as keep an eye on their parents, just in case.
She was regretting that, purely because her mother was driving her insane, one of the security retail men was insanely good looking, and her mother was trying to line him up as a husband for Lydia or Kitty, predominantly Lydia.
Admittedly Carter Sinclair was a good-looking well-built man, but personally Elizabeth preferred her men more intellectual, taller, darker with crazy dark curls.
Elizabeth shook her head, were did that come from?
"Carter, don't you want to go and check on Lydia for me please." Elizabeth watched as her mother pretended, she was cooking up a storm for all the visitors. Elizabeth and her sisters would step up later and do the actual cooking.
Lydia and Kitty had sequestered themselves in Lydia's room, judging by the music Kitty was practising her ballet and who knew what Lydia was doing. But Elizabeth did not think it was a bad idea that someone check on them regularly. She highly doubted Lydia was Carters type, especially as he was part of the extraction team that rescued her. And at this stage of Lydia's recovery, no man was her type.
Mary and Jane sitting out in the garden with Denny and Harriet, the rest of their security detail, they were discussing the merits of kindergarten versus home schooling. For some reason Denny seemed to know a lot about childcare and parenting; they had established quite early on that Denny did not have children, he was not even married. Harriet had two children at grade school.
Jane walked a bit way from the group and took a phone call, by the way her face lit up Elizabeth guessed it was Charles. The conversation was short but as Jane ended the call she looked up and saw Elizabeth, she waved her over.
"Lizzy, Charles and Caroline have invited everyone to come over to their place and stay a few days, I think they have a similar idea to yours about safety in numbers." Jane was glowing. "It will stop us getting frustrated with mom and dad, and each other."
"Let's see what everyone else thinks, especially Lydia, she might not be up to it." Elizabeth was in two minds; she was already irritated with her parents. And she was wondering how long they were going to live like this, she had a business to run, a life to live.
Everyone, including the security detail, but excluding their parents trooped up to Lydia's room, Elizabeth was relieved to see a bit of colour in Lydia's face as she chatted sedately to Kitty, who was stretching her body in a way that made Elizabeth hurt just watching her.
As Lydia noticed them all standing in her doorway she said, "Whatever it is, I did not do it." Her eyes widening as she spoke.
"We know Lydia!" Elizabeth reassured her sister, she almost started teasing her youngest sister but the look on Lydia's face stopped her.
Surprisingly enough Lydia actually agreed to the idea, Kitty was not so sure, but all things considered she did not want to stay alone at home with her mother, even if Carter was going to stay to ensure their parents were safe.
Mary was the one person who was not keen to go, but she did not want to stay at home alone with her parents either and reluctantly agreed they should all go.
Carter had chosen to stay with their parents, he said that their mother reminded him of his mother, who had passed five years ago, so he was quite happy to let her fuss around him.
They piled into Elizabeth, Mary and Denny's cars and drove in convoy to Charles house, on the other side of town. Elizabeth thought the whole convoy idea was overkill, but it made Lydia happy and that was something.
Charles, Anne, and Caroline were waiting for them as they drove down the rather grand driveway. It was not as majestic as William Darcy's house, but it was a far cry from their parents' house.
"Welcome, welcome!" Charles greeted everyone but his attention was fully on Jane; Caroline and Anne herded everyone up the stairs and into a very comfortable but stylish lounge, there were snacks on the coffee table, Caroline started take tea and coffee orders as everyone found a place to sit.
The groupings happened quite naturally, the younger two girls made themselves comfortable on the window seat, with Harriet sitting on a nearby ottoman regaling the girls with stories of her days at boarding school; Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Denny and Jacky, one of the securities assigned to the Bingley's, arranged themselves on the sofas as Anne started to tell them what had gone down at her apartment.
Jane and Charles had taken the two occasional chairs and moved them closer to each other, no-one could hear what they were talking about.
Caroline walked back into the room, and headed towards the sofas, placing herself gingerly on the edge of the one Anne and Jacky were sitting on, the only one with space. She could not help it but her eyes were drawn to Mary. She was looking good, she had cut her hair, it framed her face beautifully.
Mary on her part was avoiding making eye contact or even looking in Caroline's direction. But she had noticed the moment they arrived that Caroline had changed, not just her appearance but almost everything about her was different, not that there was anything wrong with her before, but this was a whole new person; someone softer and more at ease with themselves.
The only one who noticed the strange dynamic between Caroline and Mary was Elizabeth, everyone else was involved in their conversations, after Annes story Elizabeth was reflecting on Anne being William's cousin, when she saw Caroline's longing glance at Mary, and although Mary was an introvert, there was more to her avoiding looking at Caroline than just being socially awkward. Did Caroline and Mary know each other?
Mary could barely contain herself, she thought she could see Caroline without reacting or feeling, she thought she was over it but now seeing Caroline, especially this softer improved Caroline, she was battling. And she had not missed the looks she was getting from Elizabeth either, she got up and wondered over to the window, her thoughts whirling around in her head.
How did she miss the Charles Bingley – Caroline Bingley connection? Did she know Caroline's surname? She thought back to when she met Caroline, they did not give each other surnames, they were discussing the architecture of the buildings on Campus, getting to know each other, falling in love, or so she thought. And then when she met George Wickham, posing as Charles Bingley, he obviously did not speak about his sister because he was no Charles Bingley…but still, surely she should have known?
"Mary?" she heard Caroline softly call her name; she had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts she had not heard Caroline approaching her.
"Caroline, I am sorry, I did not make the connection until I saw you, I did not mean to make this awkward." Mary felt she had to explain.
"No Mary, please do not feel that way, I am pleased you are here, I have been wanting to talk to you, to reach out, but I was afraid of causing you more pain. This has presented me with the perfect opportunity." Caroline reassured Mary, reaching out and touching her arm.
"Reach out to me? Why?" Mary asked, look at Caroline's beautiful face.
"No in front of everyone, lets go to my office." Caroline said, but her face was uncertain, as if she was afraid that Mary would decline.
But Mary nodded slowly.
"I have sketches of the original architecture of the house, they are in my study if you would like to study them?" Caroline said aloud, gesturing to the door.
With that Caroline and Mary left the room.
Their exit was not unnoticed, both Elizabeth and Anne watch the interaction between the two women, they were too far away to hear what was said, but the look on each of the departing women gave them hope for their loved one. They looked at each other, smiled and then joined the lively conversation in the room.
