Caroline made her way slowly down stairs; deliberately taking them one step at a time to delay her arrival to the drawing room below. How dare Anne de Bourgh practically summon her attendance. Who did she think she was barging into the guest bedchamber uninvited? This was not even the blasted woman's home, swanning about like she owned the place. Oh, Caroline had always known Anne's meek and mild behaviour was nothing more than a farce. To offer her an olive branch! How dare she, patronising little witch.
She paused half way down the flight, gripping the banister tightly till her knuckles became white. All tranquillity she had felt upon first waking up with thoughts of Cedric were gone. The tightness of her jaw brought on by her anger was actually making her teeth ache. She let out a small sigh. It would do no good to lose her temper; not in front of perfect Anne and Colville, and definitely not in front of Cedric.
And why the devil was she and Colville here anyway? A horrid thought suddenly formed in her mind, causing her to almost fumble over the long skirt of Miss Darcy's rather simple and painfully plain former day dress. She could not even find amusement in such a ridiculous image. What exactly had Cedric confided in them? Why else were they here if not to hear of her family's shame and potential ruin? Cedric would not betray her trust surely? Yet he and Colville were rather particular friends, how could she have been so foolish to share so much with him. She had opened her heart and allowed him witness to every aspect of her soul. There was no recovering from such a foolish moment of weakness.
She paused upon reaching the bottom landing, her face growing pale and a lump forming in her throat. Oh surely, he would not tell her secrets? She had trusted him unlike anyone else. Never had she told another so much of her hidden worry, exposed herself so thoroughly to the confidence of another. They were not his secrets to share.
Taking a deep breath, she moved forward towards the drawing room, the young maid from earlier stepping forward quickly to open the door. She entered the room her chin held high. Let them stare, let them talk and let them laugh at her. With her jaw firm and through narrowed eyes she swept into the room, taking in the scene before her.
All three sat upon the egg blue suite with various plates of cake, sandwiches and pastries sitting upon the table alongside a highly polished silver tea service. Upon her arrival, Montague looked towards her, his smile wide with genuine warmth. His eyes practically sparkled as he looked upon her. She scowled at him until all light was extinguished, replaced by a look of bewildered confusion. She scanned the couple next to him, Colville sipping elegantly from his tea cup as his fiancée sat close to him, her arm possessively entwined through his own. What a happy little trio they did make she thought bitterly.
"Miss Bingley, wonderful you are here at last," Montague began his voice faltering slightly, taken aback by the coldness radiating from her person. Whatever had happened? He looked at her with concern, but her expression was difficult to read. He had lain awake most of the previous night replaying their exchange over and over in his mind. The very touch and scent of her was engraved upon his memory. There was no going back now, of that he was most certain, he was utterly lost to the woman. Yes, she was beautiful, her dark features rather striking, but it was her vivacious, almost extroverted nature which clashed so brightly against his own. For too long he had been surrounded by passive women. The too quiet, too docile daughters of the landed gentry; finally, he had met his match, equal to his intelligence and temper.
He had barely slept, eventually rejecting his bedchamber entirely and taking refuge in his study. There he had got to work, jotting down ideas, every detail of the information he was now privy to. The idea had come to him in the early hours of the morning just before sunrise, when many of his best ideas came into fruition. He had sent a note to Edward immediately asking him to come as soon as he was able, extending the offer to include Miss de Bourgh. He could not pull off such a plan on his own, but with the presence of his friend and his lovely fiancée they might just be able to pull it off. He was certain Alfred would never expect a thing.
He stood from his seat and walked towards Caroline; his face sombre at seeing her clearly distressed, fearful that she had somehow more unfortunate news to share. Without thinking, or paying an ounce of attention to the others there present, he reached forward grasping her hand.
"Darling whatever is the matter?"
"How could you?" She asked quietly, her lips barely moving as her dark eyes bore into his. "How could you!" She repeated with more fire, gesturing in the direction of the other two present. "I trusted you."
He glanced at Edward; his friend looked most uncomfortable. In truth he had told them nothing, well nothing of significance. Suddenly he felt his own temper rise, how dare she accuse him of betraying her trust. As if he would do such a thing as that. Regardless of the fact he was a highly sought-after barrister, engaged in offering his services to her brother; he cared for her. Bloody infuriating woman! How could she think such a thing of him when he was rather certain he was in love with her? How dare she think so poorly of him!
"Now see hear Miss Bingley, I warn you, I shall not be spoken to in such a manner in my own home."
"Then by all means show me the curtesy of stepping outside, for I have plenty to say on the matter," she spat back, pulling herself to her full height.
"You really are the most ungrateful girl if you can think so little of me. Openly accusing me of such a thing. I have given you no reason to doubt my character so."
"Yet as soon as my back is turned off you run. Tell me;" she continued with venom, her eyes not leaving his face; "did you all have a good laugh at my expense? Poor Miss Bingley." She mocked scathingly.
"Allow me to stop you Miss Bingley before you say anything further that you shall immediately regret."
"Do not dare tell me what I shall and shall not do!" She moved forward ready to lash out, so foolish she felt; but he caught her hands by the wrist, holding her tight.
"I demand you calm down this instant. You are making quite the spectacle of yourself all on your own. With such natural talent you can have no need for assistance from myself or anyone else here present."
She pulled her wrists away from him, stepping back abruptly. She could see the very real anger in his eyes. She felt her stomach drop. There it was; the look she dreaded but anticipated. How could she have been so foolish to believe he could love her. She could never trust him; she could never trust anyone.
"That is quite enough," Anne remarked, her voice surprisingly forthright. "Gentleman I think it would be best if you were to leave us momentarily. I think Miss Bingley and I would benefit greatly from a quiet cup of tea."
Caroline watched furiously as the little woman stood from her seat upon the settee, neatly smoothing her skirts, entirely calm and serene. Next to Anne Colville stood obediently, gently kissing the back of her hand before moving towards Caroline and Cedric. It was as if they both new the others thoughts entirely.
"Come on old boy," Colville smiled, giving Cedric a small pat on the shoulder. "Let us leave the ladies, I think perhaps you and I had better stretch our legs in the park. I find my limbs quite stiff this morning." Without further comment he left the room. Cedric stared at Caroline, his mouth thin, his expression most displeased. With a shake of the head he turned, following his friend towards the hall, banging the door of the drawing room shut loudly in his wake.
"Men can be so overly dramatic," Anne remarked with amusement. "Please Miss Bingley, would you not sit? I was quite serious when I said you and I needed a little cup of tea. I know I am most out of sorts until I have consumed copious amounts of tea. Entirely sets my mood for the day." She smiled at Caroline, patting the newly vacated seat next to her as she began pouring tea into awaiting china cups. There was no way she would allow her nerves to take over.
Caroline sat obediently, the realisation that she had all but pushed Cedric too far beginning to panic her composure. She felt her lip tremble but was in no way ready to allow Anne de Bourgh the satisfaction of seeing such a chink in her armour. She took the proffered tea cup, thankful to have something to focus on.
"Now I have no idea what all this is about, but let me assure you; whatever secret or disclosure you think Mr Montague has shared with Lord Colville and myself, I can assure you he has not. I cannot pretend to understand your concerns, but I can assure you that whatever you were referring to, the matter is still very much between yourselves.
I shall tell you all that I know and what has been asked of me thus far. Perhaps that will help put your mind at ease. At first light this morning Edward appeared at my doorstep. He told me that he had been summoned by Mr Montague who required his immediate assistance. It was requested if I would be so kind as to join them. Well, you can imagine my puzzlement at such a request, and I would never deny dear Montague, so here I am.
I shall not insult your intelligence by pretending that there is not some interest amongst the ton over the appearance of your cousin and what his intentions might be. We all know how people love to gossip. I will admit even I believed, seeing the gentleman in your presence, that he clearly had set his designs on you." Anne watched as Caroline physically grimaced at such an observation. "Judging by the expression upon your face I take it my assumption is correct and rather unwanted?"
Caroline simply nodded not willing to give away anymore until she was sure exactly what it was that Anne believed she knew of the matter.
"Yes, I thought as much. I must admit there is something about him, something untrustworthy. Even in our very first meeting when we dined at Darcy House, it was the way he looked at you. I found it most unsettling." Anne leaned forward placing her hand upon Caroline's forearm in a gesture of reassurance. Removing her hand, she smiled at Caroline teasingly. "Neither wonder Mr Montague seemed so out of sorts that evening."
"Upon our arrival this morning Mr Montague confirmed that your cousin had indeed made his intentions for your hand known to you at the masquerade and not only this but had implied what he could gain from your brother by such an alliance. I can assure you I know of no other particulars but that. I rather believe that is more than enough to cause alarm. Edward and Mr Montague are long acquainted; naturally of course my Edward would do anything Mr Montague asked of him. It would appear Mr Montague has formulated some sort of scheme in order to help deter such a notion. He is correct when he says you have no romantic attachment to your cousin and have no desire to enter into such an arrangement?"
Caroline merely nodded in reply. Remorse began to nag at her conscious. She should have known Cedric would not share her most private confessions.
As though reading her mind, Anne continued softly; "I promise you, Miss Bingley, he has told us nothing more. He said we must wait for your arrival and was not prepared to wake you, he insisted you needed rest. That was when he informed us that he had brought you to his home and now needed my assistance. He enquired if I would help by saying you had spent the evening in my home at my request. He was most anxious for your reputation."
"Upon my realisation that you were actually in the guest chamber upstairs; I surmised that you would have nothing to wear but the dress you wore to the masquerade. Although the dress was indeed rather spectacular, I knew it would not exactly be practical for day wear, nor likely salvageable without a keen lady's maid. I sent word to my maid to bring a couple of items from my home at Grosvenor Square, at least this way you would be properly attired. I knew nothing within my wardrobe would be suitable due to our exceedingly different silhouettes, but I was in possession of several old items from dear Georgianna, who had left them in my care to pass onto some of the older girls within the Mayweather foundation. At least Georgie and yourself are of a similar height. I only wished to help, I thought it was for the best. I do not know the particulars of why you are here alone in Mr Montague's home nor the nature of your relationship. It is not my place; I have never been one to gossip. I do not care for the unkind gossip of town Miss Bingley. Savage tongues can never do anyone any good. I do not see myself as one of those women who take joy in pulling the character of another to shreds and I hope in time you will come to that same conclusion. I know we have not always seen eye to eye, but that does not mean we could never learn to do so. And given time, who knows. I will not say I am overly fond of your company, but I believe you cannot spur me for such an admission. You have never been kind or welcoming of me."
"No, you are quite right," Caroline replied quietly. She looked at the woman opposite her. So calm, so serene. "How can you be so willing to help me? When I have done nothing to recommend myself to you? If anything, my past behaviour towards yourself should give you all the more reason to shun me."
"That is not my nature. I do not know if I will ever entirely forgive your previous suggestion with regards to yourself and Lord Colville, but I can not deny it was also by your hand that he came to me. Time is a great healer, Miss Bingley.
Mr Montague and Edward are very close. I have seen the way he looks at you. I believe you too return his regard. It would be much easier to have you as my friend than enemy."
"You are too gracious. I know I have been most unkind to you." She met the woman's soft amber eyes and sighed. "Jealousy is a vicious trait and one I am afraid I am most susceptible to."
"I suggest Miss Bingley that you stop coveting which others only appear to possess and start enjoying all the wonderful things which are already at your fingertips."
"Caroline," she replied softly. "Please call me Caroline."
Anne smiled across at the woman next to her, still so tightly wound and guarded, taking deep satisfaction at such an outcome.
"Very well, Caroline. Now, what say you we send for the gentleman? I am most curious to understand why Mr Montague has brought us altogether."