Page 108 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“You what?” Caroline raised her brows to the ceiling. “It is yet ten in the morning and too early. Tell me you jest.”
“I do not jest. I invited the Miss Bennets to stay with us. They will be here until after luncheon tomorrow. Darcy will then take Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Kitty to Town with Miss Darcy. They follow the Gardiners, who have taken Miss Lydia with them today. I intend to follow them. The ladies will stay at Darcy House. He and I will stay at my house whilst he obtains a special license,” Bingley repeated.
“You are aiding him in this scandal with Eliza Bennet?” Caroline glared at him. “She is nothing, a nobody. It would ruin his reputation if he were to marry her. You are his friend, so you should attempt to dissuade him from folly.”
“I shall do nothing of the sort. Rather, I intend to follow his good example. I will marry Miss Bennet the moment she will have me. I shall apply for a common license alongside Darcy. Think, Caroline, you will be able to claim a man from the highest circles of family.”
“You know I hoped to become the mistress of Pemberley.”
“Darcy did not often find you pleasant company. Overheard your hissing commentary against every woman who happened to step near to his person. He would never allow such a woman to become the mother of his children. Learn from this and be more forbearing, perhaps even benevolent, Caroline. Let the world see the sister I have long loved, and you may yet see some of your dreams brought about.”
“He called me a viper?”
Bingley ignored the desperation sister’s expression betrayed. “The very first time we were in his company. He takes every precaution necessary to ensure he is never alone in a room with you. And he has repeated to you more than a dozen times that you are the sister of his friend and no more. He never once called you friend.”
“You let me make a fool of myself this long?”
“I told you prior to every visit to either of his homes that he would not tolerate your acting too familiar. I said again and again that he had no intentions toward you. I warned you countless times to look elsewhere. It was you who did not listen, Caroline.”
“But he always invites us to his estates and homes.”
“The invitations are addressed to me. He tolerated you for my sake alone. I have reminded you that he dislikes pretension, yet you continued to act in every way as if you were pretentious. Is it any wonder he chose a woman who is genuine with him, who so obviously cares for him and his sister? Though they have spent little time together, he knows she seeshim, not Pemberley or his wealth. They have an earnest wish to be part of one another’s happiness.”
“He despises me,” Caroline whispered, her eyes hot with tears.
“He, at times, despises your behavior, Caroline. Like an actress on the stage, you have adopted a persona. One nothinglike the loving, amusing sister that used to chase me around with our mother’s powder so you could lighten my freckles after I was too long in the sun.”
“I am no longer a child.” Caroline’s lips twitched at the memory, aware he knew it was a sign of her softening to his suggestions.
“Nor are you a viper. But you must stop wearing those hideous copper, orange, and red dresses. And when you shed them, be the sister Louisa and I have always loved. I know Mother pressed you to make a match above our station. Tell me how many of your so-called friends are happy in their unions?”
“None,” Miss Bingley said, her shoulders sagging when her anger drained. “So, I am just to become someone else in the length of this talk and leave your study a different person?”
“I think with so many other young ladies in the house, you could choose to make a friend. It would please me to know you and Jane were on good terms. I intend to court her as soon as Elizabeth and Darcy are married. Or marry her the day after, should it be her wish.”
“I confess, the night we met them, I saw Miss Bennet would make you happy. And now to discover their Cheapside relations are the Gardiners, one of the wealthiest families we know? They were so solicitous of us after our parents died.”
“You, dearest sister, must pay greater attention. Last night, they were never far from their nieces. Come, now, it is not so very bad. You have time to make amends if you are willing. Spend the day with those Miss Bennets who yet remain. And do think on the apology owed to Miss Darcy. You pretended to be her friend when your only aim was to gain Darcy’s notice. Rendering it will go a long way to making amends.”
“It is difficult when many of those I have wronged are gathered around the table for the first meal of the day.”
“Do not do that, Caroline. Do not make a joke of yourself or this. They want to welcome you into their lives, to love you as a sister, friend, or a part of their extended family. There is time to repair relations.”
They were both startled by a movement outside a window. They watched Darcy and Miss Elizabeth stroll by, arm in arm. Whatever she might have said made him laugh. They were further caught by surprise when he pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
“Be accepting if you cannot wish them joy, Caroline. I have never seen Darcy so happy as he is with Miss Elizabeth.”
“I will try.”
Bingley brought her to him and hugged her. It had been many years since she had allowed him this, not since the death of their parents. He coddled her head when Caroline cried into his shoulder. When he heard her settling, he promised everything would be well and that he would always take care of her.
“I only attempted to do what Mother expected of me.”
“I may be her son, but I am your older brother. I care not a whit about what she wanted. I care about what you want and what will makeyouhappy.”
When his sister’s eyes moved to the window, Bingley knew Caroline’s envy stirred as Miss Elizabeth held three pink camellias, which had most likely been gifted to her by the obviously pleased Darcy.
“That is what we all should hope to find. And while surprised by the genuine affection between them, given it has been but weeks, I do not doubt theirs will be a deep and abiding love,” Bingley said, assessing his sister’s reaction for any sign of true regret.
