Caroline woke with a start as the carriage hit a rut in the road. Her neck ached and her mouth felt dry; she must have fallen asleep at an odd angle. She inwardly cringed at such a realisation, praying above all that she had not been observed and found to be snoring. It was so dark; the carriage was filled with a deep inky shadow, there was no way of knowing what time of night it was. She closed her eyes tight; she missed the oil lamps and lit windows of London; the countryside had no business being so dark and secretive.
She reached her hand out into the black, seeking comfort, expecting to find Cedric by her side only to find an empty void. She drew her hand back sharply, annoyed at herself for such weakness. She was in no mood for childish insecurities.
Clenching her jaw she sat up, smoothing the creases in her skirt as she stretched the arch of her back. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the carriage. There was a glow coming from the opposite quarter light, a dim light fighting its way through the glass from a small hanging lantern outside, which bopped back and forth from the motion of the carriage. With her eyes now adjusted and the haze of sleep somewhat dissipated, it was only then that she realised she was not alone in the compartment. He may not have been by her side when she woke, but his figure sat in the seat opposite.
"Cedric what time is it?" She asked in a voice heavy with sleep and slightly groggy.
"Tis not the master miss, he said I was tae sit with you."
"Simon what on earth are you doing in here?" Her eyes grew wide in surprise, where was Montague?
As though reading her mind the boy continued; "Mr Montague said I was tae sit with you. Told me I was tae look after my mistress. He took my place upon the plinth next to the driver."
"But he was just with me, how absurd. Simon stop the carriage at once and bring Mr Montague to me. I wish to speak to him at once."
"That I cannot do miss," replied the boy. "Mr Montague said you would ask such a thing and I was to make certain you stayed here."
"Simon do not be so disagreeable, do not forget to whom you are employed," she replied with annoyance.
"Miss I am to keep you safe. Mr Montague said I was to stay with you." She watched him in the shadows as he stood and pushed the quarter light down, the noise loud and intrusive. It was still summer, and although the air which now blew into the carriage was cool, it was not cold. A moment later Simon held a candle lit from the burning wick of the lantern hanging upon the carriage. Bringing the candle back inside he opened a small lantern which sat at his feet placing the candle inside. Holding up the light in one hand he reached to close the quarter light once more.
The glow from the single candle shone bright, casting light across the young boy's face. He was looking towards his mistress with a concerned expression. He stood and fixed the lantern to the fastening upon the carriage ceiling. He wrung his now empty hands together nervously before retaking his seat. "It is not proper for a lady such as yerself to be alone in a carriage with a gentleman."
She raised an eyebrow, surprised by his impertinence. "Oh, but it is of no concern if I am found alone with you," she huffed pettily. "How convenient."
She watched as his expression fell, clearly scolding himself for overstepping his position. Her scowl softened; the poor boy was simply doing as he was told from a gentleman of superiority, she needed to remind herself of that fact.
"Simon I am sorry. You are simply doing what Mr Montague has asked of you and what you believe to be for the best. Forgive my harshness I was simply caught off guard. I was expecting to find Ced.. I mean Mr Montague here with me. The matter may not be your doing but it is none the less exceedingly vexing!"
They both fell into awkward silence. Well, as far as Caroline was concerned silence was preferable than idle chitchat with a mere child. She was still feeling rather put out. She huffed loudly several times, a not so subtle display of her continued chagrin.
The rhythm of the carriage was steady, clearly Caroline observed, they were making good time. Yet even at that, if Cedric intended to carry on through the night, the horses would still need to rest or be exchanged at some location. Even at such a pace, there was no way they would reach Scarborough in less than two full days travel. Lord was she expected to sit with only her errand boy as companion until they reached their destination? She would not tolerate such an idea.
"Tell me Simon," she began her voice devoid of all warmth; "for how long exactly am I to enjoy the pleasure of your company?"
"At least until the morning breaks miss. Mr Montague told the driver we are to stop upon reaching the Inn at Huntingdonshire."
Caroline had never heard of the place. She huffed again loudly, this was not going as she had planned. "And pray how long until we reach said establishment?"
"That I cannot say miss, but it cannot be tae far off. The horses will not last much longer."
She fell silent again, twitching her booted foot in frustration for want of some better way to pass the time.
How could he do such a thing? To abandon her when she was at her most vulnerable? Did the man not know a sleeping woman was a delicate thing? To abscond in the middle of the night under the pretence of proprietary she found to be exceedingly unchivalrous. She crossed her arms about herself. In truth she felt quite dejected.
Rationally she of course could understand the situation, and in truth his decision to remove himself from her presence was indeed logical. But she felt safe with him. When alone with Cedric she could just be herself; he seemed just as taken with her sark as others were with her well rehearsed farce. If she did something he disliked he told her. At first this had grated on her enormously, but now she was slowly beginning to see the merit. she respected him, which was a decency she did not bestow on many of her aquaintance.
But rational or not he had left her. Rational or not she felt rejected by a man she was worried had stolen all her good sense. For had Cedric not only just told her he loved her? He had held her so tight against his person that she had fallen into the most blissful of sleep only to be disappointed beyond all measure upon waking up to find him gone? How could he just leave her so easily? The dark thoughts began to twist and pull at her senses. Of course he would leave her, why would he not?
She felt the familiar sense of doubt snake its way coldly around her person, she would not allow herself to panic. She did not wish to be observed by Simon. She sighed loudly in a bid to cover her growing discomfort, turning her body to face the unlit quarter light. She needed the voices to go away, she would not allow them in. She closed her eyes tight until white dots danced across the darkness. She knew they would not allow her to sleep, but she could choose to no longer listen.
Darcy paced back and forth across the foyer awaiting Anne's arrival. His companion was no better, an agitated, sleep deprived Charles was something Darcy had to admit he cared little for.
"Where in the devil can she be?" Charles cried again for the umpteenth time. "I swear Darcy I shall kill my sister. I cannot allow her to continue to play these games, to always do as she pleases without a thought or single regard for anyone else."
"Calm yourself Bingley, I am sure all is well."
"Darcy she has been missing since yesterday late afternoon, not a sight nor sound from her. Louisa is naturally in hysterics, Caroline was to attend the theatre with her last night. Of course I have kept cousin Alfred in the dark over her little disappearing act. Thank the Lord he suddenly went of to Whites yesterday evening! I do not need to give that gentleman anymore ammunition."
Darcy paused his pacing, narrowing his eyes at the mention of Alfred Bingley. He did not like the man, especially now that he knew exactly what sort of man they were dealing with; Lord Colville had been most informative. In truth Darcy was rather put out that Mr Montague had not seen fit to keep him in the loop directly.
At that moment a freshly roused Anne appeared at the foot of the stairs, adorned in a sleeping cap, tightly bound within a knitted cream shawl.
"Darcy what are you doing here at such an hour?" she began before sensing the tension and presence of Mr Bingley. "Oh lord what has happened?"
"Miss de Bourgh a thousand apologies for the intrusion but the matter could not wait. Have you seen my sister? Caroline has not been seen since yesterday. Darcy was under the impression that perhaps she was with you?"
Anne paused, her mind working. She had not seen Caroline since departing the Bingley residence the morning before. Montague had expressed that Anne help remove the girl from her cousins presence if needed; but she knew on good authority that Alfred had spent much of the previous afternoon and all of the evening in the company of her fiancé, much to poor Edward's chagrin. As such she had not yet felt the need to offer the girl any assistance.
"I have not seen her since yesterday." She turned to Darcy, "Edward was with Alfred Bingley as you are likely more than aware, just as Mr Montague suggested. I spent the day with mother."
"Yes Colville came to see me before meeting Bingley at his club," Darcy confirmed. "I cannot believe the depravity of the gentleman, to conspire in order to force his favour onto a lady. His behaviour towards Miss Bingley is indeed entirely shocking."
"He is clearly no gentleman. Edward trusts Mr Montague explicitly. I am certain he will return with the information he seeks and settle the whole unfortunate matter. But where can Miss Bingley be?"
"Would someone please tell me what the devil is going on!" Charles cried. "Darcy what is it you seem to know that I do not? Who has behaved shockingly towards my sister? And where the devil is Montague?" He glanced at Miss de Bourgh anger evident in his expression. "Why is it that I appear to be the only one ignorant of what is taking place when the subject is my family? My business?"
"Charles be calm," Darcy began.
"I am calm," he yelled back. "For once Darcy I will not be simply pacified and the matter forgot. I insist you tell me what you know; every detail, which it seems no one thought my person important enough to be confided in."
"Perhaps we should go into the parlour?" Anne suggested, practically shuffling the men into the room. Raised voices in the hallway at such an early hour was not at all what she desired. Waking her mother would in no way help matters.
Once settled, Anne told all from her meeting the day previous; Montague's plan to visit Scarborough, the ruse of a potential business offer, and the determination to keep Alfred as far away from his pretty cousin as possible.
"I was not aware that you did not know," Anne said softly. "I assumed Montague would have informed you before his departure."
"It would appear no one thought to tell me anything." His face was red, his temper high. Not only was he angry at being excluded, he was furious that his sister had not told him of their cousins inappropriate behaviour towards her person. He turned to Darcy, "why did she not tell me? I shall kill the man. I will kill him and then this whole bloody business shall be over with once and for all. And to think I have done all in my power to extend friendship and the bond of family to the man. When all this time he has been making repugnant advances to my sister. But why in the devil is Caroline allowing him to behave in such a manner? Why did she not expose such behaviour? Why did she not come to me?"
Both gentleman looked blankly at one another, clearly both wondering the same question.
Anne hesitated, recalling Caroline's previous anger when she believed Montague to have shared some secret with herself and Edward. Anne still did not know what this secret might be, but she was rather certain it had to be the reason behind Caroline not exposing her cousins behaviour.
"And you are certain Alfred Bingley spent most of yesterday with Lord Colville?" Bingley asked.
"Yes quite certain. In fact, I have it on rather good authority that the gentleman drank far too much and is likely still to be found currently unconscious within one of Lord Colville's guestrooms."
"That is all and well," Charles spat not caring to hear anything further with regards to his blasted cousin. "But where is my sister?"
Anne fell silent, toeing the carpet underfoot with the point of her slipper. She had a growing suspicion. She had seen Caroline and Montague together, an unlikely pair upon first consideration, but entirely perfect when one considered their character. The girl was headstrong and stubborn, such an idea was not so impossible. Young love was indeed a powerful emotion. Could she have followed Montague to Yorkshire? Stranger things had happened. Yet how could such a thing be confirmed?
Anne sat upon the little cerise settee and ordered more tea. She was trying to think, who would Caroline confide in? As far as she knew the girl had few friends, heavens she was not even entirely sure she liked the girl in truth.
Raised voices drew her attention once more. My, she had never heard Charles Bingley so forceful as he was at present; scolding Darcy for keeping him in the dark and berating him for his overbearing tendency to interfere. She had no desire to enter into their sparring match.
With the arrival of a fresh tea service, Anne grateful for the distraction, busied herself preparing cups of the steaming topaz liquid. Upon the tray, on a small silver plate sat a small pile of several letters. Anne glanced at the morning collection more out of habit than due to any real interest; her morning correspondence would need to wait.
She placed the freshly poured tea upon the table, though neither gentleman seemed to notice nor care as they continued their quarrel. Anne could not blame Bingley for his vexation at being excluded. Yet she was not surprised, it seemed no one thought his character particularly aligned to such serious matters. She knew Darcy more often than not made decisions for his friend on his behalf, whether the man so desired it or not.
Adding a lump of sugar to her cup she slowly stirred the amber liquid as her gaze moved once more to the small pile of letters. Reaching out her hand she fanned them out so that each address could be seen. She paused, fixating upon a small calling card with golden detailing; she was certain she recognised the handwriting.
Lifting the card Anne quickly read the note scrawled across the back in an uneven hand. Clearly the note had been written in haste. Anne smiled with satisfaction, it was just as she expected.
Anne sat back and sipped her tea smugly. For Caroline to follow Montague from a sense of duty and affection, was from a logical perspective, irrational and reckless; Anne could not be happier. In truth it was a rather romantic notion, like something out of one of her favourite gothic novellas.
Now that the worry was no longer present, Anne was actually rather enjoying seeing Darcy being taken down a peg or two by his usually meek and mild mannered friend. It was rather refreshing to see Charles so riled up.
She waited a moment until a natural pause occurred in their discourse before holding the card out to Mr Bingley for inspection. She watched relief settle upon his face as his sister's location became known only to then be quickly replaced by anger.
"You mean to tell me she has gone off to Scarborough with Montague alone?" He cried, arms flung wide in exasperation. "We must leave now at once. I cannot believe she would be so careless, so thoughtless. Why would she do such a thing, does she really believe she can help matters? What in the devil does she think she will achieve by travelling to Yorkshire? Oh lord, what would people say if they knew? She will be ruined."
"I rather think she simply did not wish to be parted from Mr Montague. Clearly she finds comfort in his company and who can blame the girl really when such an evil creature is still a guest in her home?"
Darcy narrowed his eyes as he observed his cousin's expression. "Anne," he began, the accusation in his voice evident; "what is it you are not telling us?"
"Simply that I do not wish you to think ill of the pair. The gentleman is simply trying to help your family as was his promise. Mr Montague will look after Miss Bingley, of this I am certain. I believe he cares for her a great deal." She paused observing Charles reaction, "I believe the feeling to be entirely mutual."
"You mean to tell me you believe my sister to have formed an attachment to the gentleman?" He laughed, "Caroline would never. She does not even like the man. No, no, no I will believe no such thing. Clearly you do not know my sister. This is Caroline simply doing what Caroline wants. Believing herself to be superior in all things. I would not be surprised if she considers Montague to be entirely incompetent and intends to take over in an attempt to control matters."
"I really do think you are being too harsh..."
"Forgive me Miss de Bourgh, but you clearly do not know my sister. She considers Montague to be no more than the hired help. To even consider my sister would contemplate an attachment to someone she believes to be so beneath her notice is entirely ludicrous."
"Opinions change," Anne began; "perhaps she..."
"Never my sister. To believe such a thing would be utterly naive."
The room fell silent. Anne pulled her cream shawl tighter around her shoulders deflated by the dismissive tone in Charles's voice.
After pacing back and forth several times, with a growing unease Charles finally spoke; "Miss de Bourgh I shall intrude upon your good grace no longer. If you will excuse me, I must take my leave," Turning abruptly he left the room.
"Fitz you must go after him," Anne pleaded handing Darcy Caroline's note. "Miss Bingley explicitly requests that she not be followed. I meant what I said, Montague would never allow her to come to any harm. Whatever her brother wishes to believe there is clearly an attachment between the pair. I saw the affection with my own eyes, such a feeling cannot be falsified."
Darcy stood, sombre, planning his best course of action. "You are certain?"
"Entirely," Anne replied.
Darcy nodded; he trusted Anne's good judgement indefinitely. Though surprised by the idea of Miss Bingley forming an attachment to such a sensible young man; he could not deny he welcomed such an image. Least of all she would no longer be so invested in his own affairs.
"Very well, then I know what is to be done." He bowed to his cousin and took his leave, striding forth in haste.
Both he and Charles had come by foot that morning from his address, Charles would need to return to Darcy House in order to collect his mount. He found Charles pacing in the foyer.
"I have sent for my horse I shall be on my way in but a moment. If I leave now they have but a days travel ahead of me. If I ride through and simply exchange horses, I am certain I can catch them as they reach their destination."
"And what good will come from such an action? Why draw unnecessary attention? I am in agreement with my cousin; Montague will not allow anything to happen to Miss Bingley. All things considered perhaps it is for the best that she remains removed from Alfred's company."
"Darcy this is Caroline, she is not some soft headed simpering female. I would bet one hundred pounds she is up to something."
"Perhaps but perhaps not. Maybe Anne is correct? If they have entered into an attachment then I am in no doubt Montague will do all in his power to keep her safe and rid you of your little problem."
"Darcy you surprise me. You of all people know my sister's character. She does not feel affection, she calculates and she dominates. We all know my sister's ambitions. Your person being one of them. To consider such a match is ridiculous. I will not allow it!"
"You will not allow it?" Repeated Darcy somewhat puzzled by Charles' outcry. "Charles, opinions change. Love and affection is something that we cannot control. It surprises even the most sensible of men. It is all consuming, even against better judgement. If your sister has allowed her heart to be touched, I am shocked at your reaction. In fact I can only think your sister's countenance will be much improved by the influence of such a man. You can have no objection to the gentleman, he is from an exceedingly good family and is well established."
"I will never allow it!" Charles cried again with gusto. "Why would I allow her to marry for affection when it is she and she alone who has denied myself the same privilege. If I am to marry to her standards then you can bet I shall hold her to the same degree."
Darcy paused, the low uncomfortable ache of guilt echoing in his gut. "Am I correct in assuming you refer to your disappointment over Miss Bennet?"
"Of course I am referring to Miss Bennet. I was ready to offer myself to her. I should have spoken to her, asked her directly if she could ever return such affections, but of course I did not. I allowed myself to be pacified by Caroline's reasoning. As ever I simply allowed myself to be persuaded to respond in the manner which best suited those around me. You included."
Darcy said nothing.
"And now all this! I expected rumours and scandal as a result from my cousin but never Caroline! Not only will our name be ruined but God knows what pressures Alfred will bring against our fortune."
"I am sure it will all come out right. Montague is one of the best, my uncle has nothing but praise for the man." Darcy spoke with conviction.
"What would Jane think if she knew? Can I blame such a woman for wanting nothing to do with such a family? Her foresight was great indeed." He placed a hand over his eyes. He let out a long, slow breath, he was done.
"She still haunts me. Never have I met such an angel; a woman with such a steady countenance and sweet nature. To know she saw through me, to know she did not desire such attention; it is a pain I cannot get over. I can not accept that what I felt, what I perceived to be between us; was all but a mere fabrication on my part. For if none of it were true why can I not forget her?"
"You were not mistaken. I have known for some time on very good authority that the lady did and does still return such sentiments."
Charles stopped, his eyes wide, the line of his jaw tightening.
"Upon whose good authority?"
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"You discussed my private affairs with her sister? You are many things Darcy but I would never have cast you as a... as a... gossiping Judas!"
Darcy simply raised his brow at such a remark before replying;"I did nothing wrong. I admit I too believed Miss Bennet to be untouched by your charms. I saw the two of you together and although I could see infatuation on your part, I saw no such behaviour reflected in the lady. When one considered the families situation, I am ashamed to say I agreed with your sister and thought it best to remove you from Netherfield. We have all seen you many a time in love before Charles, we had no reason to think this was anything more than a mere passing fancy."
"A mere passing fancy," Charles muttered under his breath, his body tensing.
"I am not proud of it now. It would appear Miss Bennet did indeed return your affection and had certain expectations; and has felt their disappointment greatly. If I am to tell you all I know, there is one more item I have kept concealed from you. I knew she was in London; I knew she attempted to make contact. Myself and Caroline did what we thought best. We saw no reason to encourage the acquaintance of such a family. If it brings you comfort her sister took great delight in casting me as the villain. Let me assure you what I did I did for the best."
"You did what you thought was best." Charles repeated the hurt evident in his voice.
"I am not proud of my interference. Knowing what I know now, I can only apologise for my behaviour. I have felt guilt over my part for several weeks. I did not know how best to breach the subject. In truth I thought perhaps you would simply forget her."
At that moment Darcy felt his head snap back as pain exploded along his jaw line. He stumbled back, spots appearing before his eyes from the force behind such a blow. Regaining his balance, he lifted a hand to his face, his eyes wide at the surprise of so sudden an attack.
Charles stood before him, his jaw set and eyes narrow; his clenched fist hanging loosely by his side as blood trickled slowly from his burst knuckle.
"My apologies. I did what I thought was best." Charles repeated without feeling.
