Page 21 of Bitten By Mr. Darcy
“Who is Maeve?” said Bingley, arching an eyebrow.
“My sirensong,” said Darcy. “The one that was killed. Caroline did it.”
Bingley nodded slowly, stroking Caroline’s hair. “Ma belle,what have you done to Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
Caroline writhed against him, letting out only a noise of protest.
“I see,” said Bingley. “Well, that was foolish. He is going to be very angry.”
“She’s not dead,” said Darcy. “Not for lack of trying on Caroline’s part.”
“Why?” said Bingley into Caroline’s hair. “Why, my love? Why is it always him? Simply because he doesn’t want you?”
Caroline lifted her face. “I did not do it out of jealousy, Charles.”
Bingley scoffed.
Darcy scoffed.
Caroline buried her face again. “The sunrise is close,” she said, her voice muffled. “May we not do this when we wake tonight?”
“I had to give her my blood,” said Darcy. “To heal her. We cannot charm her now, but I think I must insist that she and her sister are no longer under this roof. It’s a fine mess, that’s what it is. And I cannot but think you did it on purpose. You were the one who wanted to play with other’s playthings, Caroline.”
Caroline made another noise of protest into Bingley’s chest.
“I shall speak to her,” said Bingley to Darcy.
Darcy let out a laugh. “Oh. Well, then.” He threw up both of his hands and quit the room. “I hate you both, you know,” he said darkly, and he shut the door on them.
Louisa came out of her bedchamber wrapped only in a sheet. The door was open, and Darcy could see her husband sitting up in bed, his neck red with wet blood. “Don’t leave, Darcy, ifyou please. It’s ever so much nicer when you’re here. She is less awful, you know.”
Darcy let out a noise of disbelief. “This is her being less awful?”
“You don’t know everything that has befallen her,” said Louisa. “She is pitiful in her way. We all feel sorry for her.”
“I do not,” said Darcy.
“Well, that is likely why she is in love with you,” said Louisa. “Better scorn than pity?”
Darcy rubbed his forehead. “I need your help with the Bennet girls.”
“What help?”
“We must charm the eldest, of course, and give orders to the servants to see them gone—”
“Orders now?” said Louisa. “All the servants are abed.”
Darcy shifted on his feet.
“We’ll see to it all tonight,” said Louisa.
“You want them gone?” came Mr. Hurst’s voice.
“I do,” said Darcy.
“I shall see to it,” said Hurst. “I shall put them in the carriage myself.”
“Thank you,” said Darcy. “I appreciate it.”
