Caroline looks out for everyone’s best interests, including hers.

Part 4

That evening, after a dinner that consisted of cleverly repurposed leftovers from the ball, Caroline led the little party to the parlor. Without Charles’ presence, dinnertime conversation felt rather forced. Darcy in particular seemed to have little to say. But he stubbornly refused to reveal his concerns. Vexing man.

Perhaps in the more intimate setting of the drawing room, she might be able to steer things the way she needed them to go. The room was rather large for her purposes, but brining the candles in toward the seating made the room feel a bit more personable. Had the house been theirs for a long period, she would have refurnished with more modern pieces, and reupholstered what was salvageable. Fresh, carpeting in a subtle geometric pattern and new curtains, perhaps in a rich brocade to match would certainly have freshened up the look. But that was not an option.

Hurst immediately took over the chaise lounge, draping himself over it like a sloppy blanket, and fell asleep. What an appealing image that was. Thankfully he was not really needed for the desired conversation. In some ways it might actually be easier to manage without his constant need to offer an opinion on things he really had no right to have an opinion.

Louisa sat beside her on the over-stuffed couch. The cushions were lumpy and hard, but it was a convenient distance from the chair Darcy seemed to favor, so it must be endured.

Darcy retrieved a book from the shelf and opened it even before he sat down. Not a good sign at all. That usually meant he did not intend to engage in conversation at all.

She had to act fast. “I fear we are all at a bit of a loss for Charles’ company. Would you not agree, Mr. Darcy?”

He huffed and looked up from the pages.

“It does seem so very odd that he would leave so suddenly after the ball. He did not even pay a call to Miss Bennet before he left.” Louisa twitched her eyebrows and shrugged.

“I noticed the same thing. I have to wonder whatever could it mean.” How much time had she spent wondering exactly that. About the same amount of time she had spent wondering if the Mr. Westmoreland was in London and what it might take to contrive to run into him there. But that was not germane to the current conversation.

Darcy crossed his legs and leaned back. “It would be most reasonable to simply assume he was in a hurry to get to town and attend whatever business he had there.”

Louisa sniffed and wrinkled her nose. Someone really should tell her that was not an attractive expression.  “Charles does always seem to be in a hurry over one thing or another.”

“It does make one wonder at what sort of business he had, though, does it not?” Caroline glanced at Louisa.

“Whatever do you mean?” Louisa chuckled. “You know how he is. He perpetually has something going on, whether anyone else understands it or not. He does so like to be busy.”

“There is something admirable in shunning idleness.” Darcy looked down at his book and flipped a page.

“To be sure, there is.” No! She was losing his attention. “But I fear, at times, that perhaps it is not always conducive to wisdom and sound judgement.”

Louisa covered her mouth with her hand. “Are you concerned he is thinking about some sort of business dealing?”

Darcy’s head jerked up. “He has spoken to me of no such thing.”

Caroline pressed her hand to her chest. “That is a great relief, to be sure, for I know there is no one he trusts so much as you. I am utterly certain that he would not dare enter into any sort of business transaction without your approbation.”

“Then what is there to worry about? If we are sure he will seek wise counsel before committing to anything, then why worry?” Louisa asked.

Caroline shrugged just a tiny bit. “I cannot help but notice that there are other ways in which a man might get himself into straights.”

“He is not apt to gamble. I saw him cured of that habit some time ago.” Darcy grunted.

“For which we are forever grateful. Many a family such as ours has been ruined by that particular vice.” There was no exaggeration in her gratitude there.

Darcy had allowed Charles to lose a great sum of money to him in a card game—for Charles was really terrible at cards—and kept him in torment for nearly a month wondering how he was to pay it back before Darcy forgave the sum as a lesson to him. It was an act Charles never forgot.

“Then what are you so concerned about?” Louisa tossed her head back.

Caroline smoothed her skirts over her lap. “Since you have asked so plainly, I shall come out and say it. Charles said to me that the business matters he must handle in London that simply could not wait, could not be handled in Meryton. I fear he may be off to see his solicitor.”

“Solicitor?” Darcy shut his book hard. 

“What ever for? Do you think he hopes to change the terms of his lease on Netherfield?”

“I do not believe that would have inspired such haste on his part. No, I fear something much more concerning is a foot.  I do not know for certain, as he has not breathed a word to me. Pray keep that in mind. But are not marriage settlements prepared by a solicitor?”

Louisa gasped. “Marriage? You cannot be serious. With that country ninny Jane Bennet?”

“He has mentioned no such intentions to me.” Darcy folded his arms over his chest.

“He has said nothing to me either.” Caroline raised open hands. “But consider last night. He danced two sets with her and then that conversation whilst waiting for the Bennet carriage to arrive. No one could hear what was being said, they spoke so quietly. If anyone else had seen, think of the gossip that might have arisen.”

“As if there were not already enough fodder for it. You heard Mrs. Bennet as clearly as I did—”

“As half the room did, I am afraid—” Caroline looked directly at Louisa.

“—intimating that there would soon be an understanding between her daughter and our brother. But surely, even Charles is not that rash.”

“I would hope so, but given the way he looked at her I cannot be sure. What do you think, Mr. Darcy, about the likelihood of a match between Charles and Miss Bennet?”

The creases beside his eyes tightened. “If he asked my advice I would counsel against it. Though she may be the daughter of a gentleman, her family, at least a large part of it, is vulgar, and her connections in trade are less than what I would hope a marriage to bring him.”

“Indeed, indeed, that is just what I would say. She may be a very sweet and pretty girl—I think we all can admit that she is just that—but to be connected to such a family! Who would not be damaged by such connections? Can we, any of us, Charles, myself, Louisa, you and Hurst, can any of us risk such connections?”

Darcy leaned back a bit, harrumphing. “Your tone suggests that you may be overstating the issue. If Miss Bennet herself behaves properly, connections—”

No! She could not lose his support now. “Of course, of course, if there were ample affection on every side, those things could certainly be overcome. I say that all the time. But that is where I am most concerned.”

He cocked his head and peered at her. “I am not sure I follow.”

“Consider Miss Bennet—do you detect any symptom of peculiar affection in her?” Caroline looked at Louisa. “When a woman is deeply touched by a man, there is a change in her manner, an air in the way she carries herself. One can tell. A woman can always tell. I see no such thing in Miss Bennet. She seemed equally pleased to be in Charles’ company as she was to be in that of any other gentleman.”

Darcy nodded slowly.

“And Charles, forgive me, can he be trusted to know his heart? Just how many times has he fancied himself in love? How often? Only to have forgotten the latest angel in just a few weeks, especially if one of them has been out of sight for just a bit?”

“You think Charles’ feelings toward Miss Bennet—” Darcy chewed his cheek.

“I am sure they are suspect at the very least, as hers are for him. Is it not our duty as his friends to keep him from making a very rash decision that could render great unhappiness to him and to the lady in question?” Caroline clasped her hands tightly in her lap.

“What are you suggesting?”

“That we should go to London, too. Tomorrow if possible. We shall go to him there and make him consider the depth of his commitment to Miss Bennet. Keep him away—just for several weeks—only enough for the calf-eyed haze to clear and allow him to think clearly about her. If then he still considers her an angel, then he can return immediately and make her an offer. But if not, then we will have done both of them a great favor.” And if she could manage things as she hoped, it might do her a great favor as well.

Louisa sat up very strait and slapped her hands together. “Heavens, yes! I think you are right, yes, I definitely do. We cannot risk our brother to know how to peruse his own happiness. We must come to his aid. Pray, Mr. Darcy will you not help us to help him?”

Darcy pursed his lips and frowned. “You are certain Miss Bennet is untouched by him?”

“Absolutely certain else I would never have suggested such a thing.”

“Then I shall pack and ride for London first thing in the morning. I should not like to see him in a match of unequal affections.” Darcy rose and strode briskly from the room.

Caroline sprang to her feet. “I shall go as well. What about you and Hurst.”

“Absolutely. I would not want to stay in the country here alone. No, we will depart with you in the morning. But would it not be appropriate to take leave of our neighbors first?”

“If the circumstance were any less dire, I would agree with you. But I fear there is no time to waste. I will though, right now, pen a letter to the Bennets, letting them know in the gentlest way possible that we are going to quit the country and will regret the loss of their company.”

“I suppose you must say that.” Louisa frowned. “I will start the maids and Hurst’s man to packing. We have ever so much luggage to manage.” She departed in a flurry.

What to say to the Bennets? Caroline walked a circuit around the room on her way to the writing desk. It must not sound as though here were any objections to the Bennets, but she also had to end any hope Miss Bennet might hold for Charles. To do less would be cruel to the poor girl and there was no need for that. But, done the wrong way, it might have exactly the opposite effect. How to manage it?

She sat down to write.

My dear Miss Bennet,

My heart is heavy as I write you for I know there is disappointment to be had in the contents of this letter. We have decided to follow my brother to town today and are meaning to dine with him in Grosvenor Street, at Mr. Hurst’s house even tonight.

I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that.

 That was a very satisfactory start. Just the right tone.

When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London, might be concluded in three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel.

Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the crowd, but of that I despair.

Hopefully that did not sound too much like an invitation, but to say less would be to imply something that one of her contrary sisters might latch upon for hope.

I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you.

 Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own, and a sister’s partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman’s heart. With all these circumstances to favor an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?

Oh yes, that was brilliant, simply brilliant! The chances of Georgiana Darcy every making the acquaintance of any of these country girls was almost impossible. And even were it possible, it would be easy enough to claim a misunderstanding of the feelings of the parties involved. Exactly the sort of explanation she needed

She sanded the letter. A servant would take it to Longbourn when their carriage left in the morning. That way there would be no chance the Bennets could delay their departure. And tomorrow, she would sleep in London and be one step closer to looking up the Godwins.

She would sleep very well tonight indeed.

Find earlier parts of this story HERE

Find additional short stories HERE

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