Page 81

Then she addressed her other children. “Come along, girls. There is still time to visit Mary.” She glared at Bingley. “At least I have one married child who always wants to see her mother.”

The two youngest girls clapped and jumped up with glee, ready to leave. Since Mary had married Toby Faulk, Mr. Phillips' clerk, and moved into the small cottage behind the law firm, there had been more opportunities for trips into town than ever before. Mrs. Bennet began moving towards the door before remembering Caroline. She looked back over her shoulder.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Bingley. We shall see you again soon, I hope.” She bobbed a curtsy.

Good Lord, not another visit! “You are welcome I am sure, madam.” The words almost stuck in Caroline throat.

She watched as her brother escorted them to the door, as though he was making sure that they left. When he returned to the room, Charles turned to regard her.

“Caroline, I will be having dinner with my wife in our rooms tonight. I shall see you in the morning.” With those terse words, he stalked off.

Caroline followed him with her eyes as he mounted the stairs and quickly disappeared above. She was absolutely amazed at the change in her once docile brother. When did he become so quarrelsome?

Recovering from her wool-gathering, she realised there were no servants about, so she took the familiar key from her pocket and studied it. Dear Jane had not even noticed its disappearance from her dressing table weeks before. Caroline considered with a smirk that Jane’s indisposition must have affected her memory.

She suppressed a smile as she moved stealthily through the halls, not stopping until she stood at the door to her brother’s study. Glancing left and then right, she slid the key into the lock, opened the door and slipped inside. Locking it behind her, she moved to sit in the large chair behind Charles’ desk. Weeks ago she had been relieved to find the desk unlocked, as that had afforded her the opportunity to read all his business papers and correspondence. After all, she reasoned, she might have to depend on Charles’ support for the rest of her life—well, that was if she did not secure Mr. Darcy. Thus, she needed to know the particulars of her brother’s holdings.

Caroline felt a little thrill at defying Charles in this manner. He had gotten stricter and stricter with her allowance, and God forbid if she should say anything untoward about dear Jane or that Peter. He had no tolerance for any perceived slight to his wife or child, so she had had to watch her every move. Knowing that she was doing something that he would definitely not approve of empowered her; it was almost as good as talking back to him.

For a long moment, she enjoyed the feeling of power that came from being in his chair. Then she leaned forward to move the papers about on the desk. Suddenly a bit of familiar handwriting caught her eye. Once she had spent an entire afternoon watching Mr. Darcy write letters of business, so she was well acquainted with his script. Sliding the already opened letter out from underneath some of the other papers, she basked in the knowledge that Fitzwilliam Darcy had written this missive to the Bingleys ...and she was a Bingley. As she examined it, she pretended he had written to her personally and wondered what he would think if he knew she was reading it.

As the content became clear, a frown formed, and her brows knit in concern. Apparently Charles knew this cousin Mr. Darcy was so concerned about, else why would the Master of Pemberley pass along news of her to the Bingleys? Most disturbing was that Miss Elise, as he called her, seemed to be staying there ...at her Pemberley.

Her ire rose. No one, not even her own brother, had bothered to tell her that Mr. Darcy had a female cousin living at his home. It was most disturbing, even if the woman was chaperoned. It was common among the wealthy to marry their cousins and keep the wealth in the family. Was Mr. Darcy contemplating marriage to this particular cousin? She read on impatiently, her anxiety mounting until she reached the part where he mentioned that she was there for her health!

Caroline sighed in relief. It was obvious that something was seriously wrong with this Elise Lawrence. Perhaps she would die soon, and she would not have to worry about her. Yes! That was probably the only reason Mr. Darcy allowed her to stay. She is dying.

The letter was brief, and there was no more mention of the woman, so Caroline carefully placed it back in the stack. Then shuffling through the rest of the papers, she decided there was nothing that she had not studied before. Taking every precaution, she quit the room just as she had in the past, quietly moving through the halls unnoticed, until she was safely ensconced in her own bedchamber.

Once inside, she plopped down on her bed, losing herself in her daydreams of being Mrs. Darcy. That always caused her to smile, and she did so until she remembered her dissatisfaction with Charles. If only he would force his hand—make Mr. Darcy invite them to Pemberley. Then that gentleman would see her suitability to be the Mistress of Pemberley. Yes! She must devise a way to have Charles invited. She sat up.

Of course! A letter! She could mimic her brother’s handwriting, splotches and all, and with any luck, Mr. Darcy might not mention her letter when he extended the invitation, but if he did, Charles would likely think he was referring to some earlier post. After all, they exchanged letters frequently. Yes, that is the solution!

~~~*~~~

“Charles, we cannot keep Mama away with frivolous complaints. At some point, she will understand that I do not really want to see her and then—then I shall have no peace.” She sniffled, and Charles tightened his hug and kissed her forehead.

“I am sorry, love. I suppose I should have brought her up for just a moment, and she would have been satisfied for a while. It was just that she was so overbearing, pushing her way into the house, ordering our servants around. Sometimes—”

“We have only a short while longer to bear it. We have agreed to move just as soon as the baby is born. Have you asked Mr. Darcy to keep watch for an estate in the area of Derbyshire?”

“Not yet. Are you sure it would be in Lizzy’s best interest if we move near her? I mean, if your mother came to visit, she might accidentally see her.”

“Charles, when we move, I am determined to break all ties with Mama. I do not want to ever see her again—not after what she did to my sister.”

“I know you say that, sweetheart, but you may change your mind.”

“No! No, I will not. If not for Lizzy’s situation, I would have moved north before now. I feel better about her now that she is in Mr. Darcy’s care, and once we move, Mama will have no idea where I have gone. I shall see to that.”

~~~*~~~

Chapter 21

Darcy House

William’s Study

Richard strolled in unannounced. “I have come to see if you have recovered?”