As the carriage came to a halt, Caroline felt her stomach tense uneasily. She had conversed very little in the short carriage ride, leaving her two companions to prattle away upon topics she cared none for; preferring to concentrate on her own private thoughts. She had, for the most part, already decided exactly what she intended to do. How she was to put her plan into motion without raising any suspicion from her cousin was another matter entirely.
Upon entering the foyer, she was informed her brother was still to be found breaking his fast within the morning room. The day was still early, yet so much had already happened. The day may still be young, but she knew there was little time to prepare.
With her guests at heel, Caroline headed for the morning room, hardening her resolve, for she was certain to find cousin Alfred also present within. Unease bubbled in her stomach, leaving an almost metallic taste upon her tongue. For all his faults her cousin was unlikely to say anything defamatory in front of Miss de Bourgh and Lord Colville; yet the thought of seeing him, knowing he knew the worst part of her, made her uneasy.
She held her chin defiantly high as she strode into the room with a purpose fuelled entirely by well practiced bravado. Her brother raised his head from a plate piled high with sliced roast beef and boiled potatoes. A genuine smile of relief spread across his face upon seeing his sister.
"Caroline, thank heavens you are here for we have been..."
"Where have you been?" Alfred interrupted, the annoyance in his voice painfully evident. "If you insist on behaving like some uncouth, ungrateful..."
"The fault is mine," Anne spoke firmly, interrupting the cousin before he could finish his intended slur. "Do not scold Miss Bingley when her absence is entirely my doing. Apologies, for I should have at least thought to send word of her retained presence in my company. For this I must be the one to receive such censure, Mr Bingley, but I am afraid I was rather preoccupied. You see last night I injured my ankle at the Masquerade and was quite unable to continue; Miss Bingley was kind enough to come to my aid and escort me home. Naturally we then began to converse as woman are so inclined to do, thus resulting in my most sensible of decisions for Miss Bingley to spend the evening with me at Grosvenor Square."
Charles stood from the table moving forward quickly. "Oh, Miss de Bourgh I do hope your ankle is quite well this morning, please do sit, do not stand upon ceremony. How fortunate that my sister was present to offer you comfort, for there is nothing worse than leaving a ball early due to injury. Caro, do you recall that ball at Queen's buildings the summer before last? Dreadful business, poor Miss Saunders has never fully recovered, to this day she is still unfortunately heavy footed upon the right. But who can blame the girl, for Mr Cartwright is a rather large fellow in possession of two left feet. The outcome was rather inevitable."
"I think you will find she is now Mrs Cartwright, so the outcome was more than satisfactory. One can easily live with a broken foot if it secures ones footing within such a family. I would not be surprised if she orchestrated the whole affair."
"Oh, Miss Bingley," Anne laughed; "how can you be so ungenerous."
"Quite easily I assure you."
"Miss Bingley is all quick wit," replied Alfred austerely. "For who better to judge the actions of another woman than one of their own sex?"
He was eyeing her warily, taking in all aspects of her appearance. Clearly he was not so easily convinced of her whereabouts as her brother seemed to be.
Anne took the offered seat, she felt uneasy. The look upon Alfred's face was quite unreadable, yet the concentration upon his expression as he watched Caroline was nothing short of predatory. Sensing the tension Lord Colville began;
"Mr Alfred Bingley, I was rather hoping you and I would have a chance to discuss a small private business proposition. As you are aware Miss de Bourgh and I will soon be wed. I would love nothing more than to present her with a wedding gift befitting to such a union. For any man can simply buy his bride a pretty bauble, I intend to secure her an empire. "
"A private matter you say?" Alfred replied turning his face from Caroline to look upon the Viscount. He drank in the exquisite appearance of the gentleman before him, from his expensive dress coat to his ruby encrusted cravat pin. Old money was a wonderful thing, often in possession of those who simply did not understand its full potential. He bowed his head; "then I am at your disposal my Lordship."
"If you will but excuse me," Caroline spoke firmly; "but I really must go and dress. Miss de Bourgh was so very kind to allow me free reign of her wardrobe, yet I really do think I shall feel much more at home in one of my own gowns. I shall return in but a moment."
She left the room quickly, praying that Lord Colville would be successful in hoodwinking cousin Alfred into believing his proposed business opportunity. She hoped rather than believed he would accept the offer to stay with the Viscount a few more days in London. Caroline was certain that although Alfred may be persuaded to extend his stay, he was unlikely to remove himself from the Bingley home. She shivered at such a prospect.
Upon reaching the sanctuary of her own rooms, she sent a chambermaid down to the kitchens to seek out Simon, while her lady's maid helped her dress. Removing the awful plain gown she felt herself relax slightly, suddenly feeling much more at ease. Raising her arms she allowed the maid to pull a gown of dark copper satin over her head. She stood with her arms out, allowing the girl to button and faff with the fabric until everything was perfectly in place.
"Miss, would you like me to restyle your hair?" the maid asked gesturing towards the ostentatious marble vanity. A faint knock upon the door refocused Caroline's attention.
"No Mary, that will be all. My hair shall need to make do as it is. Would you take the gown I was wearing previously and have it wrapped ready to return to Miss de Bourgh before her departure? I shall call for you again shortly. You may leave."
The maid bowed quickly before turning to quit the room, upon opening the door she found young Simon standing in the hallway.
"Do not just stand there boy, come in," Caroline called. Upon seeing Mary still hovering in the doorway, she barked; "You are dismissed Mary, away with you."
Simon entered the room, he had never seen a room so beautifully decorated; with dark green velvet drapes, gold detailing and a carpet of pale moss green. These were the private rooms of his mistress, a space he had no right to be within. He looked at his feet, twisting his cap nervously within his hands.
"Simon do not be afraid, I sent for you. In truth I need your help. I know I can trust you wholeheartedly."
"I would do anything you ask of me Miss," the boy all but exclaimed.
She smiled at his response. "You are a good boy. Now Simon, I want you to listen very carefully to me, do you think you can do that?" He nodded at her in response. "I need you to go to our stables upon Maiden Lane and secure two horses alongside the traveling chariot."
"The traveling chariot?" he asked confused.
"Yes it is the large carriage with folding panels. It is not one which is used, hence why it is perfect for my intended purpose. I need you to then secure a driver, any man of good character from the stables will do. Inform him he will be paid handsomely."
"Why can I not ask Mr Jenson?"
"Because my brother would miss Mr Jenson's presence. Simon this needs to be our secret operation, is that understood? I wish you then to take the driver and the carriage to Mr Montague's residence. You must do this immediately, there is no time to waste. You will accompany Mr Montague to Yorkshire and stay with him until his return to London. Anything he asks of you I wish you to do. I am counting on you to watch over him."
She smiled at him, he really was a sweet boy. She was rather fond of him.
"There is one more thing in which I shall need your assistance. Before you leave London there is something I wish for you to collect." She handed him a small piece of paper. "Give this to Mr Montague, the item will be waiting for you when you depart at this address. Now away with you. Oh, and send Mary back in, for there is still much to be done."
Alfred watched from the drawing room window as Lord Colville and his little docile bride departed the Bingley residence. He was not sure what to believe. Such a scenario seemed too good to be true, yet the gentleman had appeared most sincere in all his looks and manner. The prospect of going into business with such a man, a man clever in securing himself a bride with useful connections, was a tempting position he would be a fool to ignore. Yet something about the whole exchange felt too convenient, too perfectly thought out. Something simply felt off.
He sat with the paper, awaiting his cousin to return. In truth he found the whole exchange, from the injured ankle to the link with the West Indies trade route, all a little too convenient. He was still furious following his interruption by Mr Montague the evening previous. He had still yet to discuss the matter in less, shall we say, heated terms with his fair cousin. He had never before been a man much invested in the opposite sex, woman were easy to come by, yet his young cousin had become almost an obsession. He could not explain it, his over whelming desire to control and tame such a woman. She thought herself so superior, but he would show her; she would submit to him willingly.
He looked up from his paper as she entered the room, dressed in a satin gown of rich copper. Now, here she was once again in all her glory, dressed like an empress with the ambition of a viper. She was his mirror image, if only he could get her to see how advantageous their union could truly be; his ambition was only equal to her own.
"Where is my brother?" She asked pausing at the other side of the room, keeping a safe distance from Alfred.
"That I do not know. I have little interest in your brother, as you are well aware. He is but a pawn in a much larger game of chess."
"Stratagise all you want, but the Queen always possesses more power than the King."
"Yes but once the game is over, do not all pieces end up in the same box?" He held her gaze before continuing; "speaking of games, what part did you play in Lord Colville's sudden interest in my textile endeavours? You must think me a fool if you thought I would believe the idea to come from him alone."
"Lord Colville is a very astute gentleman. You do not give him enough credit."
"Oh but you do? I think I have seen quite enough of your behaviour with regards to the opposite sex. Or did you forget our little tête-à-tête?"
"How dare you."
"Do not act the outraged female with me, dear cousin. We would not like to repeat our little conversation. I would hate for poor Charles to hear anything untoward. I am correct, am I not, in my thinking he knows nothing of our families past? I could read it from your expression."
"You are a hateful, unkind, vindictive little man..."
"Temper, temper cousin. That is no way to speak to your future husband. I shall ask again; what was your role?"
"Who do you think you have to thank for bringing such an opportunity to the attention of his Lordship?"
"I thought as much, but I wish to know why?"
"You may have forced my hand but you have not broken my spirit. I have always intended to marry well cousin, an ambition that even in marrying you I will not easily forgo. If you were serious in your admittance last night then I insist you do all in your power to elevate your situation to the heights I so desire. Given some effort a knighthood is not nigh on impossible. If I can make nice with the dull Miss de Bourgh you can at least do your part in securing the confidence of his Lordship. Do you really think I would be happy simply the wife of a Yorkshire local merchant?"
She stood steadfast, her chin held high in defiance. It took all her strength not to physically revolt from the sardonic grin which slowly spread across his face.
"Every inch your mother's daughter. Did I not tell you that you and I are but the same. I knew as soon as I met you, your ambition was equal to my own. I dare say our union will be most advantageous for both of us."
"Do not speak of such a thing," she snapped. She saw the anger flash in his eyes as his jaw tightened at her outburst. Changing tact, she softened her voice to a purr.
"What I mean is, do not speak of such a thing... yet." Indeed I am ambitious; I want what I deserve, I always have. However you are a fool if you think my brother will allow a betrothal between myself and you. You made a great mistake Alfred, in showing your hand too early. Charles is many things but he will not knowingly give his youngest sister away to a man who for all intents and purposes has threatened him with legal action."
He stood watching her, clearly her words had caused him to pause. She moved forward, closing the distance between them. She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm. This would be her greatest performance.
"I turn of age in but three months. In three months I will have the power to marry whom I so desire and access to my inheritance. If you are serious of your intentions, you have three months in which to secure me."
He pulled free from her hand. "Secure you! As we discussed last night cousin, I do not need to chase you. I rather hoped you would come willingly. After all we would not want anyone to hear anything unpleasant now would we? Ton gossip can be very cruel."
"That is exactly my point." She replied in a tone she hoped came across as assertive.
She looked at him with large brown eyes, reaching forward once again to place her hand upon his forearm. "What better way to gain not only my hand but my trust than to prove to me that in becoming your wife you will safeguard my reputation? I daresay you have no desire to take a wife who is blacklisted from society or the subject of such displeasing gossip?"
"No indeed." He placed his free hand over hers, almost crushing her fingers beneath his own. He was looking at her in such a way it made her heart race.
"I wish to own you Miss Bingley, I expect you to do all in your power to make me a happy man. It is not much to ask for; the affection and appearance of a dotting wife. You have my word: If you play your part, no one will ever hear anything derogatory from my person. I would never expose your family once you are mine, I would not jeopardise our future offspring to such censure."
She inwardly shuddered at such a vile image, to be the mother of his children. "And what of this threat of taking legal action against my brother? The very reason for your being in London, what of that? What assurances will you offer to me on that front?"
"That could, given your compliance, be but a small misunderstanding. Perhaps I was too rash? Perhaps upon my meeting with your brother my intentions may not be as they once were?"
She smiled at him, forcing her tongue behind her front teeth to hide any trace of her distaste. She had to make him believe she was sincere.
"Then I believe we both understand one another perfectly. If you will excuse me, I am expected elsewhere."
"However, if you cross me Caroline, I can not promise such a retraction of my feelings. Spurn me and I will ruin you. Make me a fool and I will bring your family to their knees. You will be mine and you will come willingly. What sort of woman would you be to sacrifice the happiness and security of those you love when you possess the power to make it all go away?"
She bit her lip. Lord above she prayed that Cedric knew what he was doing. She was about to make her bed with the devil. All she could hope was that Cedric would indeed make Alfred disappear.
"You have my word. In three months I shall agree to become your wife."
"And if I can make merry and secure your brother's opinion of me before such a date?"
"If you can secure my brother's good opinion and trust before such a time, then you may seek his approval for my hand in marriage. However I too have something I want from you. I want you to secure Lord Colville's opportunity to trade with the Far East."
"I am sure that can be arranged, the gentleman has already requested I join him this afternoon at his club. With your blessing I shall leave shortly, consider it a wedding present."
"Then we are in perfect understanding. I shall leave you to it. Lord Colville is very partial to horses, always a most animated topic of conversation. I doubt I shall see you this evening at dinner, Lord Colville is known for enjoying all ton has to offer."
"Then who am I to argue with such a man? Have no fear cousin, if there is investment to be had, I intend to secure it."
"Of that I do not doubt." She flashed him her well practised smile before vacating the room.
Once in the privacy of the hall she let her bravado slip, leaning upon the door for support. She had all but promised herself to him, but what else could she do? She could and would protect her family, even if it meant giving herself to him. She could only hope placing her trust in Cedric was not misguided; her future happiness was entirely dependent upon him. She took the stairs two at a time, she was in no way willing to leave her future in the hands of another. Once again, it was time for her to take action into her own hands. She would be gone within the hour.
