Caroline watched unhappily while Miss Eliza and Mr. Darcy engaged in repartee about character. This, she had to admit, put paid to her hopes of him. She had fought, over the years of their acquaintance, to believe that he would come to see her as a fit wife for himself.
When he agreed to accompany them into Hertfordshire, she told herself that it was her company that drew him thither.
But not even when they were first getting to know each other had she seen even a fraction of the passion that he now displayed to this county miss. It was exasperating. Eliza was nobody, portionless, with ties to relations currently in trade.
Memory reproved her. Many of her fellow students at her fashionable school — the school her parents had spent largely to secure her in — had made it excessively clear: Her fortune was derived from trade, therefore tainted. She could hope for no more than her sister had achieved.
But she had taken great pains to try to secure Mr. Darcy's regard and attention from the earliest days of his friendship with her brother. From her diligent practice on the pianoforte to her cultivation of Georgiana's friendship — all had been in service of bringing him to a declaration.
Now she could deny it no longer: He had never looked upon her with interest. His heated flirtation with Miss Eliza was proof undeniable. If the rest of them were to go from the room, she doubted he would even notice for his fixation upon the country chit.
It would not do to make herself unhappy over it. She could admit to herself that she did not really care for Mr. Darcy, only his position and fortune. His person was handsome, of course, but he was so intimidating and cold.
And unhappiness was dreadful for her complexion.
How to make the best of this unfortunate situation? For months now she had hinted to him that it would be very desirable for her to be presented to his aunt, the earl's wife. Somehow her hints had always fallen unheeded.
But here was an opportunity to do him such a service as to secure his gratitude, if not his love.
It had not escaped her how counterproductive her teasing of him about his union with Miss Eliza had been. Almost, she thought, did he enjoy it, despite her vicious jabs at the girl and her relations.
What if she were to encourage the match? Discouraging it had brought her nothing and would bring her nothing but his earnest desire to be away from her. But if she encouraged it, she saw two possible outcomes, either of which could serve her interests. Either he would come to see how impossible that match was — though if her mother and sisters' visit had not accomplished that, she did not see how anything else would. Or he would decide to bestow himself upon the chit. In that case, who knew what generosity might flow?
But she must be careful. She had acted too much the part of the jealous rival to Miss Eliza and had already clearly incurred her dislike. If the detestable chit marked any encouragement, who knew what untoward antics she might indulge in?
No, all her gain would be from Mr. Darcy, therefore all her effort must be there. Already they had a sort of — she had to admit — sibling-like intimacy. Could she encourage him in his interest in the unsuitable girl, subtly enough to please him and to win his gratitude?
It seemed a nearly impossible task, but already she had laid her hand on the wheel, if only to turn it the wrong way. Now she needed to turn it, ever so slightly, in the other direction, to genuinely encourage rather than teasingly discourage.
Fortunately, Miss Eliza and Miss Bennet were to go from Netherfield soon. It had been too distressing to see Mr. Darcy and the chit disporting themselves together at home. But at the gatherings at which they were likely to meet in Meryton, she could retain her equanimity enough to give a slight push, calculated to be agreeable to Mr. Darcy.
Caroline soon had an excellent opportunity to put her new policy into action. On Sunday the Bennet girls finally went home.
Caroline had seen no particular symptoms to make her think Miss Bennet's illness serious enough to warrant the five-day imposition of herself upon them. Of course her stay was in service of attempting to attach her brother. It was just the sort of stratagem that a grasping mama like Mrs. Bennet would have arranged.
The long evening stretching before them after dinner was just the time for Mr. Darcy to grow triste about Miss Eliza's departure.
Firmly resisting the temptation to seat herself at the instrument — she reminded herself that her performance, though capital, had never secured Mr. Darcy's attention — Caroline engaged Mr. Darcy in conversation.
"How dull we are, Mr. Darcy," she observed. It was true enough. Her brother sat looking out the window. Mr. Hurst nodded over his brandy. Her sister desultorily perused a dress catalog. Mr. Darcy, himself, had not occupied himself whatsoever, but paced, staring at the seat where Miss Eliza had been wont to read.
"Are we?" he asked, distractedly.
"You cannot doubt it," she replied. "Without the interest of a guest succumbed to illness, we shall be very dull until something of interest comes along to bring new life to our evenings."
He shook his head slightly.
"What, pray, do you think might do so?" he asked.
"It would have to be something substantial," she said, seeming to muse. "Let me see, something far better than a regiment of red coats, which cannot interest us. Why, a romance would certainly be proof against our doldrums. What if Miss Eliza Bennet were to become engaged?"
Darcy started.
"Did you not design her for me?" he asked.
"Oh, I but teased," she said. "I could see that it displeased you and will forswear the joke. But with so many unattached officers in Meryton, how could one fail to be enthralled by Miss Eliza's fine eyes and charming wit?"
Caroline noted how Mr. Darcy's jaw clenched and rejoiced that her barb had found its mark.
"I do not think a militia officer could afford to marry so with such little regard for fortune," he observed.
"You make an excellent point," she replied. "One forgets, without the mother and younger sisters about, how much Miss Bennet and Miss Eliza have only their beauties to recommend them. A better class of suitor, then, an heir to one of the local estates returned from school for the holidays perhaps."
"She would already be acquainted with any such," Darcy noted.
"That would explain her free ways, if she already had such a suitor in her pocket," Caroline observed.
Darcy's hands now clenched in time with his jaw. Caroline suppressed a grin of victory. His feeling for the chit could not be more plain. Jealousy was the surest sign.
Carefully she held her silence until he was again compelled to speak.
"Do you think Miss Elizabeth's manner the one of a woman with a settled understanding with an unexceptional suitor?"
She pretended to think upon the matter.
"I must confess that I have never met with manners such as hers before, so I cannot claim any authority. But what else would lead her to be so decided with her opinions and seeming to care so little for the admiration of gentlemen such as yourself and my brother?"
"Seeming to care so little? Do you have any questions?" he asked eagerly.
"With regards my brother, I am certain. With yourself, I must admit less certainty. In your conversation regarding the examination of characters, for example, she seemed more involved than one would expect."
Caroline left him to go to the pianoforte to play quietly, segueing into the tune that Miss Eliza had played at Lucas Lodge. He stood, frozen in thought for above a half an hour before breaking himself with his reverie to go to Charles to discuss the next day's shooting.
She smiled to herself as she played. It was working.
"Mr. Darcy," Caroline cried, coming into the room where the gentlemen rested after their pursuit of wildfowl. "I have heard such a tale of one of the servants. Mr. Bennet's heir has come to Longbourn."
Darcy looked sharply at her.
"It seems that the estate is entailed upon this cousin, who comes to choose among his kin for his bride. Is it not romantic?"
Darcy seemed ready to bolt from the room, then steadied himself.
"As he has yet to inherit, we do not know that he can afford to marry," he observed.
"It seems he was the recipient of a generous living," she replied. "For those of such modest expectations, an immediate marriage would be of all things most unexceptional."
Darcy stiffened, turning away from the others so his face could not be discerned. Caroline softly walked to him.
"I do apologize, Mr. Darcy," she said gently. "I did not think the news would trouble you."
"Why should such trouble me?" he asked.
"I should not forget how much you admire Miss Eliza," she replied. "Others may think such a match impossible—"
"It is impossible," he stated.
"As you say," she answered then lingered nearby, rearranging flowers in a vase.
Darcy only held his silence a few minutes before asking Caroline for further intelligence.
"It seems that Mrs. Bennet is in expectation of a union between the cousin and one of her daughters," she answered. "But as he arrived only today, what more is there to be known?"
Darcy considered this gravely.
"Do you think that this match might be the one that you thought gave Miss Elizabeth such assurance?" he asked.
"I had forgotten my conjecturing about Miss Eliza's manner," Caroline lied. "But such a match would give any woman of such modest means self-confidence aplenty. For her to secure the comfort of not only herself but her mother and sisters, who could wish more for her?"
His pained expression showed clearly how he had considered much more for her.
The next day Caroline did not dare to bring forth the subject again. Mr. Darcy was in a terrible humor after his return from a ride into Meryton with Charles.
She extracted as many of the particulars from her brother as she could, but he could relate nothing of importance but that his friend seemed upset by the appearance of someone in town, a man.
Was this the cousin, she wondered. She had gathered that the Bennet girls had been present. If the heir had been escorting Miss Eliza, that very well could have served to disturb him.
She imagined a younger version of Mr. Bennet and laughed to herself to see Miss Eliza paired thus.
To her surprise, Mr. Darcy sought her out to confide in her. She nodded carefully to Louisa to continue to play as a cover for their conversation.
"I made a most disagreeable discovery whilst we were in the village," he said. "I believe I mentioned my father's god-son, Wickham, a most terrible scoundrel. He was in the village, in company with Miss Elizabeth, obviously paying her every attention."
Caroline considered this gravely.
"I thought you said he was a wastrel who quickly squandered his inheritance," she said. "How could he consider Miss Eliza?"
"He could not offer her honorable marriage," he said angrily. "He either means to ruin her or he has somehow discovered that I favor her and means to torment me by his attentions."
What a painful confirmation for Caroline that her intuition was correct. Fortunately, Darcy was anything but attentive to her and so her start went unnoticed.
"Is it possible to warn her of the bad character he carries?" she asked.
"Already she believes that I hate everyone," he replied dourly. "If I were to warn her from him, the next we should hear would be that he had been received at Longbourn."
Caroline forced down the thought that this would be very acceptable to her.
"Perhaps if I were to warn her, or better still, I could warn Miss Bennet. Miss Eliza takes her older sister's opinion most seriously," she offered.
He looked at her as he never had before. Did Caroline not know how Mr. Darcy looked at a woman when his affections were truly engaged, she would have convinced herself that it was fondness showing. But it was not that.
"Would you call upon Miss Bennet and warn her?" he asked eagerly. "The man is a gamester with a taste for heiresses and who brings ruin upon all women unfortunate enough to favor him. You could say that you know of a lady who near ruined herself by eloping with him, only saved at the last moment by the discovery that he sought but her fortune."
"I cannot imagine Miss Bennet not taking such a tale to heart, nor failing to share it with her sisters," Caroline replied. "I shall call upon them tomorrow morning."
Darcy's heartfelt thanks were her immediate reward.
After they retired to the drawing room, Caroline finally took Louisa into her confidence regarding her new strategy.
"I am glad you are not set upon getting him, yourself," Louisa said, petting her soothingly. "He is too much the fool to see what a match you are for him. If he is inclined to take Miss Eliza, his judgment cannot be what we would want for you."
Caroline smiled wanly at her comfort, then explained tomorrow's errand.
"It would be helpful if you would go with me, to testify to the badness of Wickham's character."
"But do we want to discourage her from him?" Louisa asked. "It seems the best outcome for you would be for her to disport herself with this disgraced god-brother of Mr. Darcy's. Then might he turn to you?"
Caroline sighed.
"I do not think it would do. He would be too upset to think of me. No, already I have his hearty thanks for this mission of mercy. I must keep the field clear for him. Our visit will also let us espy this visiting cousin to see what kind of rival he is for Miss Eliza's hand."
"Very well, I shall lend my support to your attestations and see what there is to see of this cousin and heir," Louisa agreed.
The Netherfield ladies' arrival surprised the Longbourn ladies greatly. Ceremoniously did Mrs. Bennet array them in the parlor, making sure all was to their taste before absenting herself to allow the confidences she was sure must flow between prospective sisters.
"Miss Bennet, might you take a turn with me about the room," Caroline solicited her. Jane made no objection and soon the two were speaking quietly.
"Dear Miss Bennet, I could not hesitate a moment before making the most important communication to you. Do I understand correctly that yesterday you made the acquaintance of a man by the name of Mr. Wickham?"
Jane affirmed it, saying how pleased they had been to make the pleasant gentleman's acquaintance.
"Oh Miss Bennet, I have the most dreadful news to impart. I am told by a most well-informed source that Mr. Wickham is not a respectable man. In fact he is a seducer and a loose liver, of all men one of those most to be avoided."
Jane was terribly shocked. Caroline called upon her sister for her endorsement, which she gave most enthusiastically.
"But who has told you all this?" Jane asked, bewildered.
"I cannot reveal my source, but my intelligence is unimpeachable," Caroline shared.
On their way out, the cousin made himself known. He bowed low and introduced himself as Mr. Collins, proud holder of the living of Hunsford, patronized by none other than Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Miss Mary was at his elbow, her hands clutching Fordyce's Sermons.
Caroline could scarce control her countenance at the revelation. Mr. Darcy's storied aunt had chosen this parsing oaf as her own clergyman? It could scarce be believed.
As they rode back to Netherfield, the sisters conferred about their mission.
"Do you think she believed you?" Louisa asked.
"I do," Caroline said. "What young lady would not believe a friend about such a serious matter?"
As Louisa did not have a high opinion of Jane's discernment, she could only agree.
"And do you think she will impress the matter upon her sisters?"
"How could she not?" Caroline responded. "A well-looking gentleman who is a seducer and a gambler — what a danger for small town misses."
They laughed long at Mr. Collins but decided to say nothing of him to Mr. Darcy. The knowledge would be painful, and Caroline wanted no part in the conveyance of it.
Darcy and Bingley were waiting for them.
Louisa swept her brother off to tell him of Miss Bennet's looks, as he was yet concerned for her health, to allow Caroline and Darcy their conference.
"Miss Bennet was most disturbed by our communication," Caroline confided in him. "We feel certain she will share her concerns with her sisters."
"Thank you Miss Bingley," Mr. Darcy responded, relief in his tones.
"And I cannot imagine that you have anything to concern yourself with in the cousin. Most unprepossessing he is, though Miss Mary seemed to fawn over him. I believe the field is clear for you."
Darcy considered this eagerly before realizing how greatly he had exposed his preference.
"Not that I could consider offering for her," he said slowly.
"You would not?" she asked in seeming surprise. "I rather thought being of such privilege meant you could bestow yourself according to your own wishes."
"Alas, I have many duties to consider," he said.
"Is not your duty to your house paramount among them?" she asked. "You have no son to carry your name when you are gone. Was not your cousin, heir to substantially more than yourself, wed when he was only twenty years of age?"
"True, though he has yet no heir," Darcy replied, considering.
"Does that not make having your own heir doubly important?" she asked.
"My aunt has certainly said so," he admitted.
"I understand her to be a woman of great discernment," Caroline replied.
"She has certainly thought deeply about the inheritance of her husband's property," he said, frowning.
Caroline fought a pang at the thought of the properties and titles held by the earl then resumed her strategy.
"How do you believe your aunt would think of Miss Eliza?"
Darcy considered the question seriously.
"I do not see how she could be but overjoyed by her, so long as she met her apart from her family, save Miss Bennet."
This proof of infatuation solidified Caroline's belief that Darcy was out of his senses in love with the chit.
"Charles plans for us to call upon Longbourn tomorrow to invite them to the ball," Caroline said. "You could easily make one of the party. You can observe the cousin, who makes the most outlandish claims about himself. You will see all about her and judge for yourself. Your judgment, of course, must be the one to be relied upon."
So closely did this fit with Darcy's own estimate of his judging that he nearly made no answer, only agreeing that he would call upon the Bennets with them tomorrow before retiring into his own thoughts.
It could not be entirely pleasing to Caroline to see how aptly Mr. Darcy used and dismissed her in his suit of another. She could only keep before herself the vision of her bow before Lady Charlotte and the opportunity to charm that formidable personage.
And to sternly remind herself that to pursue him, when he had so clearly shown admiration of another, would end in exposing her to ridicule.
In the morning they made the round of the neighbors to be invited. Charles, of course, would begin with the Bennets. His admiration of Miss Bennet made Caroline begin to despair of her other long-cherished plan, to unite him with Miss Darcy. But she was too honest with herself to fail to see that Georgiana was too young to attract her sentimental brother. Would she have to resign herself to not only losing Mr. Darcy to the scheming Bennets, but her own brother and all chances of respectability for her family?
She gritted her teeth at the thought and assured herself that she was making the best possible use of circumstances. She reminded herself that the Bennets were landed gentry, by some lights more respectable than herself — so long as the one doing the respecting had not met the mother or younger sisters.
The thought carried her with tolerable equanimity into Longbourn. The ladies were sitting in the morning room along with the cousin. She tried to judge if the girls' faces reflected the grim news of Mr. Wickham but was distracted by the cousin's antics.
Mr. Collins jumped up and bowed low to Mr. Darcy, making a long speech ending with the assurance that Lady Catherine had been in perfect health when he had taken leave of her three days ago.
Caroline was glad, upon beholding the pair, that she had not taken it upon herself to warn him about the cousin's connection to his aunt. Mr. Darcy found the man even more appalling than she did.
But her brother's invitation to the ball, to be held in four days, overcame all unhappiness. To dance and flirt was the greatest joy of country misses, and this opportunity could not fail but to bring the greatest joy to each of them, excepting Miss Mary, who she could see was rather unhappy at the cousin's attentions to Miss Eliza.
Oh but to behold Mr. Darcy's face upon seeing the cousin turn to Miss Eliza and demand her hand for the first set, the very honor he coveted. Caroline could see plainly how much he wished to trample over Mr. Collins to take the dances for himself but could not do so with propriety.
What amends for her loss, to see Mr. Darcy finding himself rivals with such a buffoon. Could this possibly turn him away from Miss Eliza? She dared not believe, seeing how he looked at her, like a poor child outside a bakery.
She endured the rest of the calls. Mr. Darcy did not, excusing himself to walk back to Netherfield. Caroline could not be sure but that he would linger in the vicinity of Longbourn in hopes of seeing Miss Eliza on one of her famous walks.
When they returned to Netherfield, Darcy had just returned. Caroline was sure he had lingered — and been disappointed. She was not surprised because they had learned, upon calling at Lucas Lodge, that the Phillipses expected the Bennets for a supper party.
She told Mr. Darcy of the Bennets' plans, seeking to assuage his concern, as she gathered that he thought Miss Eliza had shunned him by not walking out.
Caroline reminded him that Miss Eliza could not have known he waited for her, else she surely would have hastened out. Tentatively he took her reassurance.
"Are you concerned about the cousin?" she asked.
"He presses himself on her terribly, it is insupportable," he said miserably. "One can tell the man can't dance a step. He'll make his set a torture for her."
"He obviously holds you in high regard," Caroline observed. "May you not cut in on his set? Surely he would not oppose you."
Darcy examined the notion.
"It would not do in town, but perhaps I could get away with it here," he mused.
"There would have been talk enough if you danced the first with her, in any case," she replied.
Darcy envisioned her gratitude at his rescue of her from the misery of an awkward dance partner. Then the matchless pleasure of dancing with her, so long delayed.
He thought that if there was not too much uproar at his taking the first two by cut, he might claim the second two and the supper set as well. He would have to save a set for Mrs. Hurst, as the hostess, and Miss Bingley, who really was proving surprisingly useful in this matter. It would not do to neglect either of them. But he hoped to spend every other dance either on the floor with Elizabeth or sitting out with her, preferably sheltered by the long curtains that drape the Netherfield ballroom window enclosures.
The thought of her sparkling eyes fixed upon his bore him out of consciousness of Miss Bingley, and she, feeling his absence, took herself to her sister to confer about their dress for the ball.
The rain that soaked the county for the days before the ball could not have been better from Caroline's perspective. Not only did she have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Darcy return from an afternoon ride, soaked despite his coat and hat, doubtless the effect of straying overlong near Longbourn in hopes of meeting with his fine-eyed paramour. But every other day he required so much soothing that he really rendered himself quite obliged to her.
Only just had she convinced Darcy that Collins would prove ineffectual at retaining his partner than he needed convincing that Miss Eliza would not leave the set directly he claimed her hand.
He was amazingly convinced that the chit disliked him. She marveled that he could think any woman, much less one of such modest situation, could do aught but yearn for him. The fine house in town, carriages, pin money and handsome settlement could scarce rival the greater prize: the renown of being Mrs. Darcy, the lady who had captured the uncapturable.
Caroline had imagined to a nicety how she would have leveraged the position into the highest levels of society. Bitter were the dregs of the sweet prophetic brew, of seeing the prize set to go to a hoyden who would never care for the pinnacles a better woman might have achieved in her place.
She could not allow herself to dwell upon the lost prize. The rain was the time for her to make hay in Mr. Darcy's regard, and she set to the task with determination.
Bittersweet it was that he never asked her to play the part of Miss Eliza that he might rehearse taking her from her cousin in the dance. It was thrilling to consider, but to but play the role rather than being the object of his desire — it was a mixed blessing that he asked not for the favor. But she would have obliged him, had he asked.
By the time the morning of the dance dawned, Caroline had counseled Mr. Darcy about the unlikelihood of Mr. Wickham appearing at the dance — and about the improbability of Wickham's being able to call upon Longbourn in the rain. She had consulted about how he would greet Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and how much notice he must pay to her younger sisters. She felt that she quite deserved whatever boon she might ask of him.
Her maid dressed her with particular attention. It would not do to neglect appearances, even in this rustic environment. Netherfield must set an example that would be remembered by the whole neighborhood.
She was tolerably content when she accepted Mr. Hurst's hand for the first set. Sir William would do the honors of leading her sister out while her brother opened the ball with Miss Bennet. Seeing the chagrin on Miss Eliza's face as she stood across from Mr. Collins was a delight, and she enjoyed it as much as she could.
But then Mr. Darcy was before Mr. Collins, driving him out of the set and taking his place. The dance took her away from the pair for several moments, and when Caroline could see them again, Miss Eliza's face registered both relief and anger.
It seemed she was tasking him about something, but Caroline was not close enough to decipher what. It was most excellent. If Darcy's courtship were to be difficult, all the more would he need her to stand by him.
When the first dance ended, Mr. Collins approached to reclaim his partner, seeming to wonder at his own daring. But Mr. Darcy's cold stare drove him away, and Caroline saw that the oaf contented himself by standing up with Miss Mary.
There was a general pause in the conversation for a moment, and Caroline was able to hear Miss Eliza's scolding.
"…unpardonable arrogance. Do you think everything in the countryside as free for your taking as our pheasants, sir?"
And yet she continued to dance with him, Caroline thought for the pleasure of berating him.
Darcy's face was a testament to what a mixed blessing he found his situation.
As she moved through the set, Caroline could not help but notice many of the matrons watching Mr. Darcy and Miss Eliza — and talking. Mrs. Bennet was in a froth of happiness that her daughters were so well matched. She and her sister — the wife of a country lawyer! — hobnobbed about the rich gentlemen so loudly that Caroline had no trouble hearing them over the music and conversation.
She trembled to think how Mr. Darcy would feel about being so exposed, but a glance at him revealed that he cared naught for anyone in the room but Miss Eliza. She was heatedly reproving him while he spoke his objections over her.
Dear Lord, what a farce, she exclaimed to her inner self.
Fortunately — at last — the set was coming to an end and her brother was bowing briefly before uniting himself with the punch bowl.
Thinking fondly of finding a quiet corner to sit in and think about all that had happened, she found herself accepting the hand of one of the officers for the next set.
Once he was gone, she saw that Miss Eliza was storming off from Mr. Darcy, who followed, demanding she stay and listen.
She slipped out a long window and he followed her. Sir William moved to follow but took such time in negotiating the window frame that he reported that they had passed from his sight by the time he reached the lawn.
Darcy was thoroughly exasperated by the time she took leave of him and left the dance. She had thoroughly upset him, tasking him with his misrepresentations of Mr. Wickham that had cost her a valued partner this evening. He tried over and over to correct her misapprehension, but each was so heated that every word was as a coal flung onto a fire.
When he had tried to change the subject, to sound her on the subject of her cousin, hoping for some word of appreciation for having been saved the agony of two dances together with him, he found her icy.
That was when she bowed and left the dance, a full measure early. He found himself chasing her down the room, possessed by the need for her to listen, to understand.
As if in a trance he followed her out of the room onto the lawn. Already she was hastening back toward the entrance, and he strained to catch up with her.
"Elizabeth," he called, hard at her heels.
She realized that she could not outpace him and whirled to face him.
"Do you truly continue to inflict your presence on me when you can see it is so utterly unwanted?" she demanded. "And I have never given you leave to use my Christian name."
"I beg your pardon, my urgency overcame my decorum," he explained.
"As it continues to do," she said, edging toward where the footmen stood at the front of the house.
It should have bothered Darcy that they were alone, but it was such a great relief to be able to speak with her freely, without the discord of the ballroom, that it did not.
"Miss Bennet, I could not bear to see you imposed upon by your cousin—" he began.
"And thus you impose yourself upon me instead?" she demanded. "Have you any notion how your actions will appear to my neighbors? You may take yourself back to town and leave the talk behind you, but their good opinion is everything to me."
"I wished to spare you the pain of an awkward partner," he explained.
"That awkward partner is my cousin and my father's heir," she replied. "Who are you to interfere?"
"Would that I had the right to come between you and all adversity, Miss Bennet," he said earnestly. "Since the evening I first saw you, I have come to feel a passionate admiration—"
"I will not stand here to be insulted, sir," she interrupted angrily. "It is obvious that your attentions toward me are anything but honorable and I command you to cease them."
Darcy's face fell, along with his heart. She could not believe that he had infamous intentions toward her, could she?
"Miss Bennet, I would never offer you such insult," he explained brokenly.
"Then why do you speak to me here, where no one else can witness it?" she asked acidly.
Darcy could not reply that he had but followed her and stood silent a moment.
"You cannot deny it," she said triumphantly. "You do not like me, you hold my family and neighbors in contempt. Do not pretend that your intentions toward me are anything but dishonorable."
With that, she turned and fled toward the front of the house.
Darcy stood for long moments, looking after her, before turning and returning to the ballroom the way he came.
Caroline saw him step through the window, so downcast that she could scarce believe it. Had the stupid chit actually refused him?
Her partner, Captain Carter, handsome but she knew militia officers had little enough to offer, saw her distraction.
"Miss Bingley, are you well?" he asked politely.
"I am very well," she replied. "But that I see a friend who seems to be in distress."
Quickly he steered her from the floor. His touch upon her was firm yet respectful, and she wished she might finish the set with him. But duty called. When Carter saw that it was Darcy she attended upon, he absented himself promptly.
"She said such things," Darcy said as soon as Caroline drew near. "She takes everything wrong."
Caroline led him to a seat and asked him to tell all.
He related how he had attempted to gauge her feelings about Mr. Wickham and about Mr. Collins and received accusations of officious interference and dishonorable intentions in return.
"She seems to believe that I offer her an infamous arrangement," he said, flushing darkly.
Caroline inhaled sharply and cursed herself for not having foreseen it. In hindsight it was obvious: Such a great gentleman, coming upon a country chit, could easily take as a mistress she whom a more modest one would take to wife.
It showed Eliza's appreciation of the disparity of their stations that Caroline could not help but commend, if it were not so injurious to her own prospects.
"Think of how overwhelming your attentions must be for her," Caroline counseled him. "How great is the difference in your situations! How could she expect you to approach her with an offer of marriage? You could scarce contemplate it, yourself."
"But I would never do such a thing!" he cried, offended.
"You and I know that, but what would she know of your reputation?" she asked. "Secluded in the country as she is."
Had Caroline realized how much she would have to champion the detestable Miss Eliza, she would have left well enough alone and gone back to town to focus on her own prospects. But now she had laid her hand upon the work, she must continue.
Elizabeth now re-entered the ballroom and sought out her father, to whom she spoke heatedly.
"You see she speaks to her father," Caroline said. "You could go and explain the misunderstanding and ask for his permission to pay your addresses."
"How could I dare? She is so angry. I half expected her to slap me."
"If you truly want her, you had best act before she and her whole family, and perhaps the whole neighborhood, become decided against you. They are so conceited in their country ways that they would take great pleasure in being so prejudiced against you."
Darcy took a deep breath, rose and moved toward Elizabeth and her father, who had now been joined by her mother.
"Shall we rejoin the set?" Captain Carter asked, coming upon her unseen, so intent was she upon seeing Darcy's reception by the Bennets.
She smiled graciously and gave him her hand. He was an excellent partner, and it must look odd for her to be refraining from dancing.
"I hope your friend is well on his way to resolving his distress," Carter offered. "I have not met the gentleman, myself, but our regiment is of Derbyshire and one cannot avoid hearing what a good character he carries."
"I am glad to hear it, as I understand there is one among you who does not hold him in such high esteem," she replied.
Carter led her through the next figure before replying.
"Mr. Wickham is bitter with disappointed expectations. I have seen too many such as he to take all his expressions as truth."
"I am informed that he is worse than bitter, that he is positively vicious," she said.
He raised his eyebrows as they came together.
"Truly? I am sorry to hear it. Our commander should be informed, if you think it serious enough to warrant it."
"I shall suggest it to my friend," she replied, accepting his hand and arm about her waist through the next figure.
Caroline found herself disappointed that the dance was ending. When they had bowed, Carter drew near and wondered if she might have another set free, perhaps later in the evening.
As she had not been busied in filling her card, she had more than one opening and welcomed the suggestion. With a warm press of her hand, he left her.
She turned her attention back toward Darcy and the Bennets. They seemed tolerably civil, though Eliza was not speaking but watching with barely veiled contempt as Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy spoke. Eliza grudgingly bowed as he left them, then he was coming toward her, claiming her hand for the next set.
"Is all quite satisfactory now?" she asked as they made their bows.
"I cannot be sure," he admitted, handing her across. "I think Miss Elizabeth still quite furious with me. Her father would not give me permission to address her tonight, but said he and I should speak at leisure later, when I should see fit to call upon him."
"I'm sure that once you do, all will swiftly be in train according to your wishes," Caroline lied. Seeking to distract him, she continued, "Captain Carter suggested you speak to his commander about Mr. Wickham. It seems that his character is not fully appreciated in the regiment, while yours, naturally, is."
Darcy considered this solemnly through the rest of the dance, leaving Caroline free to observe Eliza, who had accepted one of the officers and was making a show of merriment while taking every opportunity to cast glares at Mr. Darcy.
This did not fail to catch his notice, and she could see the effect his disapprobation had upon him.
"I'm afraid she really is quite offended," he admitted. "I cannot imagine why, after my application to her father."
"Oh Mr. Darcy, what woman would not be overset by the honor of receiving your attentions?" she replied. "Miss Eliza seems to be of a rather combative character, which determines her response."
"I don't know that it is her character, rather something I, myself, bring out in her."
"Oh Mr. Darcy, how you doubt yourself," she replied, allowing him to escort her down the set. "It seems altogether more likely that as Miss Eliza felt your response to her argumentativeness, she seeks to continue your interest by more of the same."
Darcy meditated upon this gravely as they stood at the bottom of the set.
"Such excellent dancing, Mr. Darcy," Sir William said, drawing near. "I am so glad to see you dancing. We will be blessed, indeed, to see you dancing upon many occasions in the next months."
Caroline noted that the trade knight winked most alarmingly at Darcy. Fortunately, he only bowed slightly and Sir William moved on.
"You see, her neighbors can have no question that courtship is your intention," Caroline reassured him. "Soon she will come to see it as well."
Darcy could not be wholly consoled by this, but took what comfort he could.
Caroline let Darcy lead her into the supper room. Louisa had done everything to perfection, and Caroline looked proudly at the display of fashionable victuals and decorations.
A red coated officer escorted Elizabeth in, and the two were so involved in conversation that Caroline felt Darcy grow stiff with offense. Try as she might to distract him, it was all too obvious to Caroline that Miss Eliza was deliberately teasing Mr. Darcy by her attentions to another man.
It was a strategy she had, herself, used in the past, but Caroline deplored the chit's use of it upon this occasion.
Caroline worried that Mr. Darcy might confront them, but Miss Lucas approached Miss Eliza and spoke with her quietly but obviously reprovingly. The glances at Mr. Darcy showed clearly how far superior a suitor she considered Mr. Darcy than any regimental-clad man.
Chastened, Miss Eliza took her seat again and paid only the polite minimum of conversation to her partner.
Mrs. Bennet had watched with a sharp eye, clearly disheartened by her daughter scorning such a desirable gentleman. She conferred with her sister about the situation in angry whispers, ceasing only in order to praise her oldest for her winning ways with Mr. Bingley.
Caroline watched Miss Eliza grow more uncomfortable under the influence of her mother's talk. For herself, she might enjoy it, but Mr. Darcy was clearly protective of the hoyden and his displeasure was manifest.
It was a relief when the meal was finished and they could retire from the scene.
Miss Mary made rather a display of herself at the pianoforte, all too obviously attempting to win the cousin's approval. The vicar clearly had no taste for he most loudly approved her display.
When Louisa moved to replace her Caroline subtly discouraged her. She could tell that Mr. Darcy would not appreciate anyone exposing the Bennets' ridiculousnesses, as Louisa surely would by her superior performance.
When dancing resumed, Caroline could tell that Mr. Darcy wished to apply for Miss Eliza's hand a second time, but was prevented. She had so thoroughly surrounded herself with officers that an approach was impossible.
Mr. Darcy found a corner in which to lurk and gaze disapprovingly at the Miss Eliza's company.
Captain Carter detached himself from the group around Miss Eliza and approached Caroline to claim another set.
"What pleasant company your fellow officers keep," Caroline remarked as he led her to the set.
Carter smiled.
"The Bennet girls are well enough for country-bred lads," he observed. "My fellow officers really are, as our commander says, in great need of the polishing influence of society."
"Do you find them greatly polished by the experience?" she asked when the dance brought them back together.
"I'm afraid it will take much more than a month to affect any polishing," he replied. "So rough is the current finish."
"You seem to hold yourself of a different finish," she observed.
"I have seen more of service and more of society than they," he replied, guiding her through a complicated figure. "Such experiences have powerful effects upon a man. They refine the tastes mightily."
She smiled at the implied compliment. He really was quite pleasant company.
"One hears such alarming things from the continent," she said. "I hope the Duke of Wellington will not require your services there."
"That is more of an honor than I could hope for presently," he replied as he circled her. "A captain of the militia such as myself must prove myself on the lesser battlefield of convincing ensigns to act as befits the uniform before aspiring to such feats of valor."
"Do you accept your place so humbly then?" she asked archly as they reached the bottom of the set.
"By no means," he declared. "I will advance by all ways within my power. If I am not a major by the end of next winter, it will not be because of any lack of effort on my part."
"What a comfort it must be to your commander, to have such an able officer by his side," she replied.
They worked their way back up the set, each tolerably satisfied with the other. As their second drew to an end, he guided her from the floor and spoke confidentially.
"I'm afraid that your friend faces an uphill battle of his own," he said.
Caroline entreated him to be frank with her.
"Mr. Denny and Miss Elizabeth have been rather abusing him, much to the enjoyment of the unpolished," he said. "She seems rather determined against him, for Wickham's sake, so far as I can make out."
Caroline sighed.
"Thank you, Captain Carter," she said, bowing. He took his leave of her.
What a mess Miss Eliza had made of things for herself, Caroline thought, as she accepted Mr. Goulding's hand for the last set. If she behaved as such a chit ought, she would be blessed with an honor that far outstripped any merit of hers. That she saw fit to defy such a man as Mr. Darcy made Caroline shake her head in disbelief. What abominable pride and conceit for a portionless lass.
But Mr. Darcy would not be satisfied until he had her. She glanced his way and saw that he observed the chit still, his jaw clenched in anger.
She made her way over to him, desperate to keep him from exposing himself in a manner he would come to regret.
"Come now, Mr. Darcy. Why do you not ask one of her sisters to dance? It would be sure to please her. You do yourself no favors by glaring at her."
"Bingley is dancing with Miss Bennet, again," he noted. "And to dance with any of the others would be insupportable."
"Miss Mary is not so objectionable, and she sits right over there. I don't think she's had a partner this evening," she said encouragingly. But then the music was starting, and she must dance with the country gentleman.
She was relieved to see Mr. Darcy move toward Miss Mary, who received his application with great surprise, but stood up with him promptly.
The girl must have practiced with her sisters, as she knew the steps tolerably.
Darcy continued his surveillance of Miss Eliza as she traipsed through the set with her officer. Ostentatiously did the hoyden sneer at Mr. Darcy while lavishing attentions upon the red coat.
It must be a stratagem, Caroline told herself. How could a country chit's pride be so strong as to refuse a gentleman such as Mr. Darcy? It could not. Her friends would not allow it.
When Miss Eliza passed her in the dance, she favored Caroline with such a venomous look that she was sure some part of her antipathy must owe itself to her dislike. If only she could gain the girl's trust, how useful would that be in gaining Mr. Darcy's gratitude? She tried to render her expression as pleasant as she could, but she felt that Miss Eliza must be looking with the eyes of irrational hatred.
At last the set ended and while the weary hastened to leave, Mrs. Bennet sat herself comfortably, watching Miss Bennet and Charles speaking. It would be near impossible to root her out, and Caroline dared not show her impatience, as Mr. Darcy was clearly waiting for an opportunity to again approach Miss Eliza.
Caroline thought it would be unwise for her to speak to Mr. Darcy. The girl's dislike of her must be greater than she could bear for Mr. Darcy, himself. Instead she set herself with Louisa to thank their guests for having honored them with the attendance.
From her vantage she could see Mr. Darcy caught between wishing to begone and to make a foray into the guard surrounding his intended. She hoped he would retire, but dared not rely upon it, so great was his passion for the excreable miss.
But then the officers went and Miss Eliza was left with only her family for company, the youngest girls pouting at the officers' departure while they yet waited upon their carriage. Mr. Darcy did not dare her father's displeasure to approach her, but could not go from the room until she did, and Caroline agonized with him over the abominable quarter-hour before they went.
Finally all the guests were departed. Charles bore himself off to bed with a look of bliss. Caroline drew near Mr. Darcy.
"She is determined against me," he said despairingly. "How can it be that the only woman I have ever desired despises me?"
Caroline breathed down a stab of pain at the admission.
"It is but a pose, I am sure," she said. "How could she possibly object to you?"
He grumbled and took himself off to bed.
The next morning they all stayed abed late. Well, Caroline thought they had all stayed late abed. She only realized that Mr. Darcy had gone out when he returned as they were all moving from the breakfast table to the morning room.
Caroline did not think he would stop, so implacable was his bearing. She knew at once that he had done something inadvisable, and it had gone poorly.
She half-caught his eye, unsure if her attention would be wanted. He wore a look of such utter dejection that she was inclined to leave him to himself. But he saw in her a source of sympathy and changed course to join them, urging her to walk with him about the room.
"I called upon her father to ask his permission to pay my addresses, but the fool cousin was there, hanging upon the man, so I could not speak to him," Darcy complained.
"Just like the oaf, to fail to know when he isn't wanted," she agreed.
"The worst of it was that he acted like a kicked dog the whole time, cringing every time I turned toward him, so I could not ask him to go," he confessed.
"Insupportable," she responded.
"He might ask for her at any moment. And she might take him out of spite," he proclaimed miserably.
"How could she do such a thing? He is intolerable," Caroline replied.
"Then perhaps one of those officers she was speaking with so intimately," was his unhappy thought.
"None could afford to wed with her," she reminded him.
"She would doom herself to poverty for hatred of me," he concluded.
He would be impossible to handle as long as he was so despairing. Some reason for hope he must have if she were to have any hope of assisting him.
"That you called upon her father must be reassuring to her," she observed.
"I did not see her, she may not even know," he replied.
"How could your visit go unremarked by any member of the household?" she demanded.
This was too just for response, and he held his silence.
Caroline gulped her chocolate, a box of sweet meats and the latest dress catalog on the chaise beside her. She needed fortification badly.
She had already cursed herself thoroughly for ever having embarked on this mad plan to encourage Mr. Darcy in his courtship of the detestable Eliza. If the chit did marry elsewhere, Caroline could see all to clearly what would happen: Mr. Darcy would return to Pemberley, shunning company. She, herself, would become a painful reminder of what had happened, and her hopes of an introduction to his estimable aunt would vanish.
She must cudgel her mind into a good strategy. Eliza was stubborn, but she could not truly mean to refuse Mr. Darcy. What young lady could be so self-sabotaging of her own prospects?
No, Eliza must mean to increase his affection by these dramatics. If she could prevail upon Mr. Darcy to withdraw to town for a time, Eliza would surely feel her stratagem failing her and, when he returned, become tractable.
But she did not think he would agree to remove himself from the county, so ardent was his attachment and so great his fear that she would marry another man.
If her father was less whimsical, the matter could be settled in the conventional manner between men. But Mr. Bennet seemed bizarrely sensitive to his daughter's wishes, despite how unexpectedly excellent an establishment was on offer.
She turned to the more objectionable options. She had to admit to herself that Mr. Darcy might be desperate enough to consider them.
If Mr. Darcy seized her and carried her off to Scotland, she would have to wed with him. It would be simple to arrange, as the chit ranged out by herself habitually.
Or he could compromise her. Caroline shuddered to contemplate it. But if they were caught alone together in some impassioned act, her father would have no choice but to give her to Mr. Darcy.
Caroline blushed to think of suggesting either of these scandalous options. Even if he was prepared to act thus, if he judged her immodest for suggesting them, he would never further her ambitions in society. And Lady Charlotte would hardly be likely to look favorably upon the lady who helped draw her nephew into such disgrace.
She set herself to thinking harder about Eliza. She had to admit that the girl was fond of her older sister. If Jane counseled her sister to take Mr. Darcy, would she refuse?
But how to convince Jane to do so? Jane was a tender-hearted creature. If she believed that Mr. Darcy suffered for want of Eliza, surely she would act to relieve his suffering.
She must get Jane alone for some amount of time were she to work her persuasive powers. Mr. Darcy's obsession with Eliza was all too obvious. That he suffered would be harder to demonstrate, as he hid his feelings so thoroughly before others. But Jane must want such a match for her sister. It could not be impossible to persuade her.
But if she wanted Mr. Darcy to credit her properly for her action, she must gain his approval first.
She sought him and found him in the billiard room, playing against her brother. A sharp look at Charles inspired him to withdraw to a corner of the room, having found some imperfection in his cue.
"Mr. Darcy, I have had an inspiration and seek your approval for its execution," she said sprightly.
His gaze swam up from the depths to focus on her. That was probably all the encouragement she could hope for.
"We know that Miss Eliza holds her older sister in great esteem," she began.
He waved impatiently.
"And Miss Bennet is a dear girl who could never bear anyone to suffer," she continued.
He looked his bewilderment at her.
"If I were to persuade Miss Bennet of your suffering for lack of Miss Eliza, surely she would persuade her sister to take you," she concluded.
He pondered her points, looking for flaws.
"I am not sure that suffering is the appropriate term for it," he said guardedly.
"In that case, I had another idea. We could withdraw to town. If she felt herself lacking in power over you, surely she would come to reevaluate her attitude."
Immediately she saw this held no favor with him.
"Were I to go, the next I would hear of her was that she was engaged to that execrable Collins or one of the officers," he replied unhappily.
She closed her eyes so that their rolling might not be perceivable to him.
"In that case, we need a plan that can be executed here," she said. "Do you have a better?"
He had been forced to admit that his own ruminations had been fruitless, not wishing to admit that he had thought of carrying her off to Gretna Green by force.
"My plan is simple enough," Caroline explained. "I shall invite Miss Bennet to dine with us, fetching her, myself, in the carriage that she not fall prey to the weather. When I have her here, I can explain your downheartedness. Were you to appear, looking as you are wont to do these last few days, it would underscore my argument dramatically."
He looked self-conscious at the thought that his heartbreak had been on display.
"You do want Miss Eliza, do you not?" she asked, suppressing her exasperation.
He nodded, attempting to be cool, but his enthusiasm showed through.
"And I wish to help you. Your happiness is important to all of us, particularly Charles. Do you think my plan a good one?"
He admitted that he could not think of a better.
"Very good, I shall write to Miss Bennet directly."
Miss Bingley's note, arriving in the afternoon, occasioned much excitement.
"She is to come for you, herself," Mrs. Bennet cried. "Does this not display how much esteem in which Miss Bingley holds you? A sure sign that she feels certain that you will be her sister."
The parlor was quiet otherwise, as Lizzy had accompanied Kitty and Lydia into Brighton. Mr. Collins had remained to listen to Mary practice.
"It is most generous," Jane agreed. "You have no objection to my going?"
"Indeed you must go. You must reply to her directly, giving her all your gratitude for her complaisance."
Jane nodded and rose to write to her friend.
That afternoon also saw Mr. Darcy ride into the village, bound for the unpleasant task of speaking to Col. Forster of Wickham.
Stolidly he laid out Wickham's offenses, in particular his tendency toward accumulating debts, both with tradespeople and gambling with his comrades. Col. Forster listened gravely.
"I am afraid that my former god-brother also does not comport himself as a gentlemen ought with the daughters of tradesmen. I have had to come to the rescue of more than one such who found herself in a family way, empty handed but for his promises, quickly forgotten."
The list of Wickham's debts that Darcy had acquired were impressive, and Col. Forster promised to look into the state of his debts in Meryton.
"I thank you, sir," Darcy replied, beginning to rise.
"I am not sure that this will help you, though," the colonel said.
Darcy looked his puzzlement.
"It did not escape my notice how Miss Elizabeth favors Mr. Wickham, nor how the two of them delight in abusing your character," he explained. "Even if the man has to resign his commission or even is taken to debtor's prison, I think it will not change her impression of you."
Darcy nodded.
"I have no such expectation. I hope only to protect her, and the other people of Meryton, from his depredations."
He departed with Col. Forster's grave thanks.
When he stepped into the street, a clump of red coated officers caught his eye. They were clustered about the Bennet girls, and among them was Wickham. The scoundrel smiled wolfishly at him, then turned his attention back to Miss Elizabeth. Darcy swallowed his feelings, remounted and returned to Netherfield.
By the time he had fortified his nerves with a brandy, Miss Bingley was before him, reporting that Jane had accepted her invitation to dinner on the morrow.
"I do not see how it can fail to work," she said with rising enthusiasm.
Darcy, who saw failure on every hand, could not agree, but thanked her wanly.
"If you appear then as you do now, Miss Bennet's heart will be moved such that her sister shall not be able to resist her," she said.
Darcy grimaced and Caroline left him in what small peace he possessed.
Directly after breakfast, Caroline took herself to Longbourn to acquire her target. Mrs. Bennet welcomed her happily.
"You see Jane is ready to go," she said. "She is most attached to you and values your friendship greatly."
Caroline thanked her cooly and smiled at Jane, inviting her to the carriage. As they drove, Caroline admired the view aloud, noting that her friend must be pleased to live among such picturesque environs.
"Thank you, Miss Bingley, that is most kind of you," her friend replied. Caroline could not tell how sincere Jane was, nor how sincere she believed herself to be.
"The gentlemen shall dine with us today, and I am eager to hear your opinion of one of them in particular," Caroline said.
Jane raised her eyebrows in inquiry.
"Mr. Darcy has been so very downcast these last few days. I wonder if he is ailing for something."
Jane decried her ability to judge such a great man.
"We shall see what you think," Caroline said. "I believe that you have a better perspective on his state than I can hope to hold."
This brought them to the hall. Bingley stood ready to help them from the carriage, and Caroline despaired to see how rapt his gaze was upon Jane — and how attentive Jane's gaze was upon him.
In the dining room, Darcy characteristically appeared cold and remote. Caroline shot him a reminding glance, and uncomfortably he attempted to depict heartbreak. Caroline thought he had done much better when he thought himself unobserved and determined to arrange for Jane to see him thus.
When the ladies withdrew, Caroline sequestered Jane to herself and advised her that Mr. Darcy seemed to have regained his usual calm.
"Miss Bingley, half of Meryton saw him at the ball. No one could doubt his great distress, then," Jane replied gently.
"Oh, you noted it?" Caroline answered with some relief. "I was not sure you marked it, as you were at the other end of the set."
"I am very sorry for his unhappiness," Jane replied. "I am afraid that he and Elizabeth are at some loggerhead that I cannot understand."
"That is just it," Caroline said. "I can tell you in all confidence that he would like to offer for her, but she is so prejudiced against him that he has been unable to do so."
"It has come to an offer of marriage?" Jane asked in surprise.
"He told me that he attempted to declare himself, but could not make himself understood. He thought that she might have taken his meaning entirely wrong."
"Lizzy has seemed rather unhappy with him, feeling that he wronged Mr. Wickham in some dreadful way."
"I think that you have laid your hand on the crux of the matter," Caroline said. "Mr. Wickham, who has in fact wronged Mr. Darcy dreadfully, has imposed himself upon your sister, lying shamelessly about Mr. Darcy, prejudicing her against him."
Jane looked down in distress. Caroline urged her to speak freely.
"I'm afraid that Lizzy's set against him predates Mr. Wickham's arrival by some weeks," she confessed. "At the ball where we first met, I'm afraid that Lizzy overheard Mr. Darcy speaking rather unkindly about her."
"Truly?" Caroline asked in feigned surprise, knowing full well how she and Darcy had abused the girl that evening. "His admiration for her was of early date. It was not a week after that he began to speak of marrying with her."
Jane was not to know that those speeches had been wholly in jest.
"You now believe Mr. Darcy to be so admiring of her that he wishes to declare himself?" Jane asked.
"I do. He attempted to ask your father for his permission to pay his addresses here at the ball, but was put off. He visited in another attempt, but the presence of your cousin forestalled him."
"Mr. Collins is very fond of my father's company," Jane said.
The gentlemen rejoined them, and Caroline was heartened to see a mournful look upon Darcy's countenance.
"You see how Mr. Darcy grieves that your sister dislikes him," Caroline said.
Jane gazed as modestly as she might.
"It is difficult for me to make out his expressions," she admitted.
"He bears his grief with great stoicism," Caroline lied. "But he suffers greatly and shows it when he thinks himself seen by none."
"I am very sorry to see anyone so grieved," Jane said.
"If only Miss Eliza could come to see how greatly he admires her," Caroline said, impatient to come to the point.
"How could that come to be, as she is determined to dislike him?" Jane asked.
"Now that you have seen the truth of the matter, might not you convince her?" Caroline asked.
"She was not inclined to believe me in the matter of Mr. Wickham," Jane confessed. "Lizzy is hard to persuade when her mind is made up. Perhaps Mr. Darcy should look elsewhere for a bride. Does he not admire you?"
Caroline gritted her teeth in consternation.
"Oh no, he sees me quite as his own sister," she admitted, feigning unconcern.
"Oh," Jane replied, confused.
Caroline was thoroughly annoyed at Jane's unhelpfulness. Could she not see the role she must play here? Caroline gathered her resolve and placed another coin on the table.
"It would be so unfortunate if your sister and Mr. Darcy were to continue to be hostile, given how close our families are likely to become."
Jane looked her puzzlement.
"I value your friendship and we are all glad to have you as neighbors," she replied.
Caroline did her best to smile roguishly.
"Do not be so shy with me, Miss Bennet. All can see how Charles admires you."
Jane blushed deeply and looked down at her skirt.
"He has been most kind to all of us," she admitted.
"It is not wholly kindness, though he is the kindest of men," Caroline replied.
Jane looked up at her, hope in her eyes.
"Do you think that your brother admires me?" she asked tremulously.
"More than I have seen him admire any other lady," she said, trying to mask the grudgingness of her admission with an aura of happiness. "If he did not, this discord between our families could not bring me such worry."
Jane considered this carefully.
"And you think that I should encourage Lizzy to reconsider her views of Mr. Darcy?" she asked.
"I know of no one else whose opinion she holds so highly," Caroline replied, relieved that Jane seemed to be coming to her view. "Miss Eliza has much to gain from this. I know you want all that is best for her. If you knew how doting a brother Mr. Darcy is, you would have no hesitation in encouraging her to accept him."
"As you all like Miss Darcy so greatly, why does she not visit with you?" Jane asked curiously.
"She has so many masters that she would travel with quite the entourage," Caroline explained. "Thus she remains at her establishment in Ramsgate. It is a pretty place, all new-built and glistening in the seaside sun. If things unfold as they ought, we will visit her there."
Jane nodded slightly.
"Thank you for your confidence, Miss Bingley."
"Please, do call me Caroline, Miss Bennet."
"And please call me Jane, Caroline," she replied.
It was a Pyrrhic victory, but a victory nonetheless.
After she returned from taking Jane home, Caroline found Mr. Darcy still lingering in the drawing room and made her report.
"It took only the slightest encouragement for her to come to my way of seeing things," she lied.
"You two seemed to be in conference for some time, longer than I think would have been required for such a conversation."
"Conversations between ladies are never as straight forward as those between gentlemen," she said, not wishing to admit to the stratagem she had been forced to adopt.
"And you think she will now encourage Elizabeth to accept me?" he asked.
"She pledged herself to do so," Caroline exaggerated. "Now you can have no fear. Wickham, I am sure, will not long remain to plague you after your conference with his commander. And once you go to her father, Miss Eliza will not be able to resist her friends' counsel."
"I shall go to him in the morning," Darcy said, then took himself off to walk.
Caroline collapsed upon the settee, quite done up by her efforts.
Mr. Bennet looked searchingly at Mr. Darcy as he sat across his desk from him.
He could see the man was uncomfortable and waited for him to speak.
At last Mr. Darcy knew that Mr. Bennet would not begin the conversation and forced himself to open his mouth.
"Mr. Bennet, I am come to to ask the honor of paying my addresses to your daughter Elizabeth."
"I thought I understood you to say something of the kind at the ball at Netherfield. At the time, it did not seem that my Lizzy was amenable to your addresses."
"There was a misunderstanding between us regarding the character of Mr. Wickham that should since have been resolved," Darcy explained.
"And yet I have heard nothing of her relenting toward you," Mr. Bennet said, leaning forward.
"I have not yet spoken with her, myself, since that night. But given my intentions, I did not feel that I honorably could without your permission."
"It strikes me as exceedingly odd, Mr. Darcy, that you would choose to first insult a girl, then offer for her."
Darcy flushed dark.
"The lighting in the assembly hall did not allow me to see her properly. I have tried to explain myself to her…"
"But she would not hear you," Mr. Bennet finished. "Lizzy is a strong-minded young lady, and if you are not prepared to deal with that, you had best give up your pretensions to her hand."
"I would enjoy nothing more than to spend the rest of my life tendering to her temper," he replied. "Her lively mind is most charming."
"Hrmph," Mr. Bennet said appraisingly. "Why don't we see what Lizzy, herself has to say about it. I shall fetch her."
Darcy sat in agonies as the man seemed gone for an interminable time. When finally he returned, he had Elizabeth in tow.
Mr. Bennet grinned to see how Darcy responded to her presence. Elizabeth put on a pretense of politeness that he could see covered feelings far less civil.
"Mr. Darcy," she greeted him cooly.
"Miss Elizabeth, how pleasant to see you," he responded, instantly heated.
"Papa said that you had something to say to me," she said.
Dear God, he was not prepared for this. What to say?
"Miss Elizabeth, I was asking your father for his permission to pay my addresses to you. He wished to be certain this was in accordance with your wishes, concerned about misunderstandings that have stood between us.
"I most earnestly beg your pardon for my words at the assembly. I did not see you properly and spoke most rudely. It is impossible for me to say how much my opinion of your beauty has altered since that night. But my application should speak to it."
Elizabeth fought mollification. It was disloyalty to Mr. Wickham and worse, a recanting of a decided opinion that was thrilling in its transgression.
"That is very well, but your late actions against Mr. Wickham speak to the badness of your temper. Do you deny attempting to get him in trouble with his commander?"
"I did nothing more than suggest that Col. Forster investigate the state of Wickham's debts. If he is as he ever was, they will be more than he would tolerate in a soldier of his regiment. I'm sure you would not want the tradespeople of Meryton to be imposed upon."
It was a solid point, and if not for his wording, she might have no rebuke.
"And yet you impose yourself upon me when I have stated clearly that I wish nothing to do with you."
At this Darcy looked stricken.
"You can now have no doubts that my intentions are honorable, I hope," he said quietly.
She blushed.
"I suppose so, but that changes nothing of my resolve."
She was so close, yet so far from him. Darcy cast about for anything that might be of aid.
"Please, Miss Elizabeth, will you not consider me?" he pleaded.
"Do you truly expect me to believe that you suffer mightily for want of me?" she asked scornfully. "Your stratagems with Miss Bingley are altogether transparent. I would thank you not to bother Jane with them."
"It seems my suffering is my own concern," he said, rising. "I thank you for your time, Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet."
Swiftly he exited the study and the house.
Mr. Bennet looked at his daughter in amazement.
"I did not think anyone could refuse such a gentleman that which he deigned to ask for," he said. "And yet you have, and most decisively."
"Oh Papa, he is insufferable. I have never given him the slightest encouragement, yet he takes this fancy and imposes it upon me. Can you imagine, me, married to Mr. Darcy?"
"I gather that you thought he offered a different arrangement at one time."
She again blushed.
"How was I to know he planned to offer marriage? Given his great state, it was a natural conjecture on my part."
"You tasked him with wishing such an arrangement?"
"I most certainly did, when we were outside the ball."
"And yet he persisted in offering for you."
"Yes, the odious man."
"Speaking of odious men, Mr. Collins will be relieved that you are not otherwise disposed. He has been making do with Mary, but I understand that he considers seniority of chief importance in his intended offer."
Elizabeth blanched.
"Mr. Collins thinks to offer for me?" she asked, panic in her tones.
"I'm afraid so. Don't worry, I won't require you to accept him, any more than I did Mr. Darcy's offer. Your mother of course will be considerably upset that you refused both, but we can ignore her well enough."
Thoughts of how unpleasant Mama would make things for her in these circumstances filled her heart with dread.
"Mr. Darcy must truly be taken with me to offer so," she observed.
"True," he replied.
"Perhaps I ought to say something to him," she said.
"If you do, you shall have to move quickly."
She did.
Fortunately she discovered him still within, but at the mercy of her mother, who was insisting upon him taking some refreshment before he took his leave.
"I think Mr. Darcy needs nothing more than a refreshing breath of air. I shall show him the gardens," she said, taking his arm and steering him toward the door.
Mrs. Bennet, who had feared that the great man was being turned away disappointed, thrilled with happiness to see her daughter on his arm.
Darcy was unsure what to think. To go from a sure dismissal to being claimed for a walk was more than he could understand. But Elizabeth's close presence, her touch upon his person, was so dear that he could only accept it.
The November morning was chill and neither wore their outer garments. She shivered and drew nearer.
"Our escape had a steep cost," she observed. "I suppose you will not thank me for your rescue if you catch a chill."
"It is a beautiful day," he observed. "I feel not the slightest chill."
As a cool breeze was lifting his hair, she knew this a most ridiculous lie, but suffered it.
"Mr. Darcy, I'm afraid that I let my temper get the better of me," she began.
His heart began to race. Was it possible that she had changed her mind?
"I see now that it is quite unfair for me to judge you based on false impressions. If you are amenable, we might start over."
He discovered that he was staring at her and hastened to comport himself.
"I would like that above all things," he replied. "I have certainly given a poor impression of myself."
"You do like me, do you not, Mr. Darcy?" she asked in fascination.
"That is an understatement, Miss Elizabeth," he replied.
She walked, considering this.
"I am to understand that you love me and wish to wed with me, despite my situation."
"If it is not too bold for such a new acquaintance to say so, yes," he replied.
She laughed merrily and Darcy thrilled to have had such an effect upon her.
"I shall be honest with you, Mr. Darcy, and tell you that my abrupt transformation of feeling is all due to my father's revelation that if I was not attached to you, that my cousin would offer for me."
Darcy flushed.
"I had understood that such was Mr. Collins' intention. The knowledge hastened my declaration, as I felt how odious he was to you, yet that you might suffer pressure to accept him."
"Accept him I never would, but Mama might have made things awfully hot for me when I refused. Much better to keep his attentions for Mary, who at least welcomes them."
"She seems much better suited to him than are you," he offered.
"I shall ignore the insult to my sister," she said, narrowly looking at him. He looked his apology.
"I am glad you see me as a more acceptable match than your cousin," he said.
"Do not be over-modest, Mr. Darcy," she reproved him. "You know full well how superior you are to Mr. Collins, both in and out of the ballroom."
He thanked her gravely.
"You understand that I have not accepted you, but that I shall allow you to pay your addresses," she said.
"Naturally, how can I expect to have won you when we have only met?" he replied.
She glanced up at him, laughter in her eyes. Something unknotted deep in his breast and he felt his breath begin to smooth, only then realizing how constricted his throat had become.
"Shall we go to Papa?" she asked.
"As you wish, Miss Elizabeth," he replied.
Mr. Bennet was unsurprised to see his daughter re-enter his study on the arm of Mr. Darcy.
"Papa, I have decided that Mr. Darcy may pay his addresses to me, as he wishes to so dearly."
"Very good, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy, you have my permission."
"Thank you, sir," he replied.
Mr. Bennet leaned back and looked at the two of them.
"I see how it will be. Lizzy will keep you on your toes and you will give her something to laugh at. It is a perfect match."
"You have the rights of it, Mr. Bennet," Darcy agreed.
"Now we have decided nothing, only that I shall allow Mr. Darcy to court me as if we were new acquaintances with no resentments against one another. You can see how wise this was on my part, as I have given Mr. Darcy altogether too many causes to resent me over the course of our previous acquaintance."
Darcy judged it would be wiser to remain silent and did.
When Mr. Bennet had dismissed them, Mrs. Bennet received them effusively. Upon discovering their agreement, her effusion became incandescent.
"You will join us for dinner, Mr. Darcy, will you not? I worried for a moment when I saw that the two of you were not longer in the garden, but you had gone to Mr. Bennet, how wonderful. You look very well together, indeed."
It transpired that Mr. Darcy would stay to dinner. Elizabeth would show him the garden again, this time armored against the cold.
He might regret that her pelisse shrouded her form from his view, but appreciated that she no longer shivered. But she no longer pressed so enchantingly against him for warmth.
She escorted him all through the gardens, showing him her favorite herb and flower beds, carefully keeping within view of the window where Mrs. Bennet kept watch.
"Well, Mr. Darcy, what is your idea of a courtship? I have never been courted and so my notions are all theoretical."
"In this we are alike as I have never courted another," he admitted. "My efforts up to this point had largely been absorbed in avoiding the state. How would you like to be courted?"
"As shall be no surprise to you, I like walks. You might also speak to me of novels with tolerable expectation of good result. Of course admiration of myself is all to the good, as my vanity is hungry of flattery."
"I shall obey," he responded.
Later she admitted that she suspected that she would also enjoy being kissed. Darcy was so enthusiastic to oblige her in this matter that he found a brief courtship was all that was necessary.
When he returned to town it was for the purpose of visiting his solicitors and collecting his sister for a visit into Hertfordshire.
While in town, he presented Miss Bingley to his aunt, Lady Charlotte. She was at first confused that the lady being presented to her was not her nephew's intended, but when she was made to understand that she was the sister of his dear friend, she looked upon her with no disfavor.
"Your ladyship, I am so very pleased to make your acquaintance," Caroline said, bowing deeply.
Lady Charlotte gazed at her and invited Darcy to seek out his uncle. Darcy took his cue and departed.
"You went to school in town, I gather," she observed.
"I did, your ladyship, the – Seminary for young ladies."
"Your people must have some fortune, then."
"My own fortune is quite small, only $30,000," she said.
"And yet in these times, there are many in the ton who would grasp at it firmly. Whom do you have in mind?"
Caroline looked at her in puzzlement.
"Really, Miss Bingley, you do not come to me for the sake of complimenting my hair or dress. You wish to marry well as befits your fortune. I assume that you wish my assistance in this endeavor. Thus I ask whom you wish me to introduce you to."
Caroline blushed and gave the names of three gentlemen whom she thought would suit.
"Shrewsbury is a shrewd pick," she said. "The lad has just inherited a large estate not too encumbered by debt and would do well with a firm hand to guide him. I shall make the introduction. You shall be at Lady N's ball on Thursday?"
Caroline assured her that she would.
"Good. Until then, Miss Bingley."
Feeling herself dismissed, Caroline wandered outside. Darcy joined her there a few minutes later.
"Speaking with my aunt oft leaves ladies wondering," he observed.
"She is decisive," Caroline replied.
"She and my uncle have that in common," Darcy said. "He was quite to the point about my becoming engaged to an unknown."
"He was not, I hope, unkind."
"No more than I expected. But I shall expect him to be polite to Miss Elizabeth."
"None would dare be rude to Mrs. Darcy."
He smiled.
"No, they shall not."
Their carriages pulled up and they parted cordially.
—
Dear Readers,
I finally did it. My first novel, "A Teasing Courtship," is live on Kindle. It departs from canon at the Hunsford proposal, where Lizzy decides to accept Mr. Darcy in order to make their courtship a torment for him. Things don't go as anyone planned.
I've also put up an index of all my P&P variants at / because it was just too many to keep track of any other way.
Please enjoy,
Kaurifish