Bonus chapter!


Chapter Twenty-Two


"Oh yes," said Hiddleston. "I cannot wait until you see your horses—all three of them."

"Three horses?" queried Charlotte incredulously as the party moved toward the door.

"Yes, Miss Lucas. Miss Bingley purchased two for her little carriage and one to ride for pleasure," Hiddleston replied. "A handsome pair of bay geldings will draw the chaise, and I just happened to have a beautiful palomino Thoroughbred mare perfectly suited to be a lady's pleasure mount."

The door was opened then by the butler and Elizabeth was the first to step through it. A fine carriage which clearly belonged to Hiddleston stood in the gravel drive, and behind it was her little green and silver chaise. Drawing the small vehicle was a gorgeous pair of dark brown horses, each with black on the end of their faces, black manes and tails, and black "socks" on all four feet.

No, she noted—the one farthest from her had but three socks.

Tied to the back of the chaise, however, was the most stunning horse Elizabeth had ever seen. It had a pale, almost straw-colored hide with a blonde mane and tail.

"Oh, Mr. Hiddleston," said Elizabeth as she went to stand next to the horse. Tentatively she reached out to touch the soft, fuzzy snout; the horse nuzzled her hand, which led her to laugh softly and smile.

Turning back to her brother's friend, she said, "She is remarkable, and the others so very handsome. You have chosen well for me."

"What did I tell you, Lizzy?" said Charles as he approached the carriage horses. "My friend knows his horseflesh."

Hiddleston laughed. "You are both very kind," said he, before he turned to the young lady beside him. "Miss Bennet, do you ride?"

Jane's cheeks turned a light shade of pink as Elizabeth was turning to watch the exchange. "I do, yes, when I have the chance," Jane replied. "Unfortunately, our horses are needed on the estate farm more often than we can get them to ride for pleasure."

"Oh, that will not do, not at all!" Hiddleston cried. "I am sure your new friend would take great pleasure in your being able to ride about the country with her."

"I would indeed," said Elizabeth genially. "But I am sure my brother will not mind lending Miss Bennet his horse."

"Indeed, I would not—though what horse will Miss Lucas ride then?"

Charlotte laughed. "You need not be concerned on my account, Mr. Bingley. I do not ride."

"What? Not at all?" Charles asked.

Charlotte shook her head. "Not at all," she echoed. "I love horses and their beauty, and I love to watch them run about in the fields when they are not working, but after a bad fall when I was a girl led to a broken leg, I vowed never to ride again."

Charles stepped over to her. "I am terribly sorry, Miss Lucas. Perhaps you might be willing to learn again, after all these years?"

"Now Charles, do not pressure my friend into riding—Mr. Darcy and Mr. Hiddleston are here, and Colonel Fitzwilliam and our brother Hurst will be here in just a few days—you have them to race with," Elizabeth admonished him, not wishing for Charlotte to be made uncomfortable.

"Of course, of course," said Charles, "though I did not intend that Miss Lucas should take to racing."

Charlotte laughed softly. "I did not imagine that was your intention, sir," said she. "Though it would certainly give me great pleasure to have yet another activity to do with your sister, I do not know that I shall ever change my mind. But I will consider it."

"Come now, Charles, let us lead our guests inside, before the luncheon Mrs. Martin prepared for us gets cold," Elizabeth said then.

"Oh yes, of course," Charles agreed, immediately offering his arm to Charlotte, before directing the grooms to lead the carriages to their prospective carriage houses. Hiddleston offered his arm to Jane, and Elizabeth suspected Mr. Gardiner would have been gentlemanly and offered her his arm had Darcy not beat him to it, though Georgiana was already on his other side.

When they were all of them around the table in the dining room, Charlotte remarked, "Miss Bingley, I have just had a thought… I hope you and Mr. Bingley do not think me impertinent for the suggestion…"

"I cannot imagine such a thing," said Charles.

"Nor I," Elizabeth agreed. "What was your thought?"

"Well, at present your coachmen and footmen have no formal livery," Charlotte began in a nervous tone. "Seeing your new carriage just now, I had the thought that green and silver would be very fetching livery colors."

Elizabeth glanced down the table at her brother, who was smiling widely in Charlotte's direction. It still amazed her that he had so clear a preference for Miss Lucas over Miss Bennet, but then, what did she really know about her brother's tastes in women?

"What an excellent idea, Miss Lucas," said Charles. "Lizzy and I have discussed colors for livery, but we could not agree. So, they all, at present, wear black."

"I have no objection to green and silver, Charles, if you do not," said Elizabeth.

"I have none at all. Thank you, Miss Lucas, for settling that little debate of ours," Charles said.

Charlotte blushed furiously and looked down at her plate. Elizabeth took the opportunity of giving her some relief by thanking Mr. Gardiner again for personally delivering her chaise.

"I know I thought more of the horses on your arrival than the chaise, but it did look incredible," she added. "I cannot wait to take a ride in it."

Mr. Gardiner smiled. "I am happy you are pleased, Miss Bingley. I present every carriage we make personally, or as many as I possibly can. Besides that, however, I did come with another purpose. I have some gifts for my nieces and thought to take care of both tasks at once."

"Oh, my dearest uncle, you are too generous!" said Jane.

"Not at all, my dear," said Mr. Gardiner. "The business is doing extraordinarily well, and your aunt wished to treat you. She is only disappointed she could not spare the time to join me in this unexpected sojourn."

"Is my aunt well, sir?"

"Quite well, my dear, do not distress yourself," her uncle replied. "But she has recently joined a ladies' society for the aid of the poor, and they have been very busy with making clothing for the less fortunate."

"Mrs. Gardiner must be a very kind-hearted woman," said Georgiana softly. "Did not Mamma do something similar, Fitzwilliam?"

Elizabeth watched Darcy nod. "I am a little surprised you remember it, sister, but yes. Our mother was most attentive to those in need who lived near Pemberley."

"I have heard much of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy," said Mr. Gardiner. "My lady wife was reared in Lambton, and she has occasionally mentioned the delightful grounds there."

Elizabeth smiled. "I have heard of the delightful grounds often myself, sir," said she. "I hope one day to see them."

Darcy glanced at her, and Elizabeth felt the butterflies stir at the expression in his eyes. Was her brother right after all? Did Darcy admire her?

She could not think of this now, when she had guests to entertain. Needing to think of something else, she desperately searched her mind and latched onto the fact that they had had a number of callers that morning.

Charles laughed a little when she brought it up. "Oh yes. I have now met three more of our neighbors, Lizzy, while you were going about the house—a Mr. Webster, a Mr. Goulding, and a Mr. Jones, who is the apothecary here."

"And how many of them have daughters in need of husbands?" Elizabeth asked with a grin.

Soft laughter went around the table. "Mr. Webster has but one, who is sixteen," offered Charlotte.

"And Mr. Goulding does have a daughter who is just eighteen this summer," said Jane.

"Are they good families? Kind people?" Elizabeth asked.

Her new friends looked at one another. "Oh yes," said Jane. "My family has dined with both, and they have dined with us."

"My father regularly invites nearly every family of the local gentry to his parties," added Charlotte.

"I imagine they are lively parties, Miss Lucas," said Charles.

She smiled. "My father always does his best to ensure his guests enjoy themselves. He is dedicated to being pleasing to everyone he meets."

"Sounds like someone else I know," said Elizabeth with a pointed stare at her brother.

"Ha! I see what you are about, Lizzy. What wrong is there in being agreeable to everyone?" Charles countered.

"Nothing at all," she replied. "But as you and I recently became all too aware, not everyone is worth the effort of pleasing."

"True enough, sister," Charles agreed. "Which is why I am so very happy we have not met such a person yet in our new home."

"And you are not likely to," said Charlotte. "I do not prevaricate when I tell you that our friends and neighbours in Meryton really are very kind and amiable people."

"I second that opinion, Mr. Bingley," said Mr. Gardiner. "Remember, sir, that I grew up in Meryton—very little has changed, except the size of the population."

Elizabeth smiled. "Then we have much to look forward to in getting to know our new neighbours."

After the luncheon, Mr. Gardiner accompanied Jane and Charlotte home, courtesy of Charles's carriage. Charles took it upon himself to show Hiddleston the house, while Elizabeth and Georgiana sat themselves at a table in the morning room to organize their decorating notes so that items the house was in need of could be ordered, and to prepare for a trip into Meryton to visit the linen draper and furniture shop. Darcy joined them there on the premise of writing a letter.

"Do you think you will join us, Fitzwilliam?" Georgiana asked her brother after a time.

Darcy lifted his head and glanced over. "Join you in what, dearest?" he asked.

Elizabeth laughed. "Dear Georgiana, your brother has not been listening to a word we've said," she observed. "Sir, Miss Darcy and I intend to go to Meryton this afternoon, that I may place orders, purchase fabric, and consign furniture to the care of those skilled in upholstery. Your sister was asking if you would care to escort us, as my brother is likely to be engaged in meeting local fathers."

Darcy smiled. "I should be delighted to attend you both, though I do not think we shall all of us fit in your new chaise."

Good heavens—was he teasing her? the butterflies in her belly fluttered wildly even as she smiled and laughed in response.

"Mr. Darcy, much as I look forward to that particular experience, I hardly imagined taking the chaise. I meant to call my brother's carriage," said she.

"Why do we not take mine?" Darcy offered. "It is a little larger than Bingley's, which will give any lady who has gone shopping plenty of room in which to stow her purchases."

Georgiana giggled softly at her brother's words, and Elizabeth felt herself blushing a little. Darcy was definitely teasing her, she mused, and she could not help but wonder if it was his way of expressing his interest. Hiddleston had not really teased her—his idea of flirtation had been to smile often and compliment her beauty or her wit.

Darcy had never seemed the type of man to tease, so serious was his manner, but Elizabeth decided she liked that he felt relaxed enough to make the attempt at teasing. After some of the horrible things she had seen in Spain, a light-hearted nature was just what she needed to keep her from dwelling on those horrors as well as her recent loss.

With a grin, she replied at last. "Oh, my dear Mr. Darcy—you ought not to have mentioned that your carriage was roomy, for now I feel obliged to fill all that space."

Darcy only laughed, then he stood and went to the bellpull. By the time the carriage was ordered and at the door, money had been fetched from bedchambers as well as outerwear, and Charles had been informed that they were going out.

He flashed a knowing smile at her when informed that Darcy was to escort them. "Do not make more of it than there is, Charles," Elizabeth whispered as he helped her don a pelisse. "Your friend is only being gentlemanly and looking after his sister."

"Yes, Lizzy," Charles whispered back, "but he offered his carriage in place of mine, which was entirely unnecessary."

She swatted his arm playfully and laughed, then walked to the door where the Darcys awaited her. Both Charles and Hiddleston told them to enjoy themselves, and in moments they were driving down the long lane to the road.

After some moments of silence, Darcy—who sat in the rear-facing seat—said, "Miss Lucas and Miss Bennet were very pleasant girls."

"I am glad you approve, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth. "For I liked them both very much and mean for Georgiana and I to spend a great deal of time with them."

"I liked them as well," said Georgiana. "Though I do wish that there were also young ladies my age I could meet."

"Oh, but there are, my dear!" said Elizabeth. "Charlotte has a sister who is about your age—perhaps a year or two older. Miss Maria seemed a very pleasant sort of girl."

"And what of Miss Bennet's sisters?" asked Darcy. "I believe she mentioned she had three."

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, that is correct. I do not know their specific ages, but I believe Miss Mary Bennet to be around eighteen—there was a brother between her and Jane, but he sadly died of scarlet fever when he was very young. Miss Catherine is a year or two younger than Miss Mary, and Miss Lydia is likely the same age as Georgiana."

She paused then and wondered if she ought to describe what she had observed of the Bennet sisters' behavior, then decided that she was under some obligation to do so if she wanted Darcy to trust her with introducing his sister to other young ladies in the neighbourhood.

"Miss Mary seemed an amiable girl—she also plays the pianoforte, and I must admit that I had the thought that we should invite her to practice with us. She… well, she does not play very well, but I imagine that with proper instruction, she could do better," Elizabeth began. "Catherine and Lydia seemed less disciplined than either of their elder sisters, I'm afraid to say."

"I should be delighted to help Miss Mary learn to play better, as I have helped you, Elizabeth," said Georgiana.

"You have indeed, for you have surely been taught by the best masters," Elizabeth told her. She then looked to Darcy and grinned. "Thank you, sir, for paying for my education vicariously."

Darcy returned her smile. "I am pleased to have been of service to you, Miss Elizabeth."

The three spent over an hour in Meryton, where Elizabeth was pleased to find everything she needed and more. She placed orders for items the house required, found plenty of delightful fabrics for making new curtains, visited the milliner, arranged for furniture to be picked up that required new covers, and was beyond delighted to find a couple of novels she had been wanting to purchase in the bookstore.

As they were readying to return to Netherfield, Elizabeth could not resist saying, "Do you see, Mr. Darcy? I have left room for you after all."

Darcy laughed as he offered his hand to assist her into the carriage, holding onto her fingers a moment longer than necessary before letting go and tearing his gaze from hers to aid his sister.

-...-

Being independent had its privileges, Caroline thought, and not for the first time.

There was no one to tell her what to do, where she could and could not go, how to spend her money. Really, were it not for being shunned by all her rich and titled connexions in London, she would return there and tell all the women she knew to seek their independence as soon as they could.

The only downside that she had found was that she had to hire an older, matronly lady to chaperone her about. Even independently wealthy women were scorned for not being married or widowed—complete poppycock, in her opinion.

Caroline was grateful for the relative anonymity she had found in Bath. No one here knew her; therefore, they could not know that she had been cut by her family. They did not know that her younger sister's return had completely ruined her life, upsetting her plans to ensnare Mr. Darcy and become the envy of the ton for being the Mistress of Pemberley. Every day, when thoughts of her exile crept up on her and she remembered how quickly her acquaintances had turned against her, she would curse the day Elizabeth had been born.

Casting thoughts of that wretched little hoyden from her mind, she waited as her maid finished setting her hair, then turned her head this way and that to inspect the work. She planned on going to the Pump Room to promenade and show off her newest gown. There were several young men who had eyed her appreciatively every time she had appeared there, and she was certain that one of them would approach her soon.

No sense in not enjoying a flirtation while I figure out how to get back at Elizabeth for what she's done, she thought.

Caroline had been at the Pump Room for nearly ten minutes when a few familiar faces appeared—the first people she had actually recognized in the weeks she had been here. The Hiddleston ladies were approaching the bar where a footman was serving the famed water that allegedly healed whatever ailed you. Surreptitiously, she made her way around to them, hoping to catch some of their conversation to see if she might begin repairing her situation with them.

As she reached the Hiddlestons, Mrs. Hiddleston was greeting another older woman whom she apparently knew well. The ladies began to talk about their children, particularly their sons. Caroline cared not for the other woman's son as she had never heard of the family and so knew nothing of their connexions, but when Mrs. Hiddleston brought up her son Edmund, she listened attentively.

"I have a feeling," she was saying, "that my dear Edmund may very soon be engaged. He has recently become enamoured of a young lady recently returned to England from Spain—"

Oh no! Caroline thought angrily. Do not tell me that dear Hiddles has fallen under Eliza's spell!

"—and her fortune is a remarkable forty thousand pounds!"

It was all Caroline could do to keep her countenance. Mrs. Hiddleston surely meant some other girl, and not her sister. Where could Eliza possibly have got another twenty thousand pounds?

"Bingley, did you say?" asked the other matron. "I have heard of the family—are they not in trade?"

"Not anymore," piped up one of the Hiddleston girls. "My brother says that his friend never worked in the family business and has lived as a gentleman all his life. He inherited a very large fortune, and all his sisters got twenty thousand pounds."

"The youngest Miss Bingley," said Mrs. Hiddleston, "was very much loved by her father's sister, who I understand passed recently. Loved her so much, apparently, that she willed her own dowry to the girl, thereby doubling her fortune! I have met her a few times, she's a lovely girl—much more tolerable than that one sister of hers. Oh, Mrs. Wallis, would you believe Miss Elizabeth Bingley's elder sister actually tried to sink her character on the night of her debut in society?"

"Did she really? Was it Miss Caroline?" When she received nods of affirmation from all the Hiddlestons, she scoffed. "I am not surprised—she's the worst of the lot, from what I hear. Very mean and spiteful, not above tearing another down to try and make herself look better. But really, her own sister? How shameful!"

Caroline moved away from the group of gossiping busybodies as quickly and quietly as she could. Oh, how infuriating! It was bad enough that they were mocking her, but to hear that her aunt had left her entire fortune to Elizabeth, when it ought to have been shared evenly with her sisters?!

This would not do. Not at all. Something had to be done about that pretentious little upstart—and this time, she would not fail.