Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

" I t is not yet two o'clock, Caroline. Do stop pacing lest you wear a hole in the carpet."

Caroline sneered at the carpet in question; it was an ugly thing in yet another atrocious shade of blue and deserved to be destroyed. It would be amongst the first things to go once she was mistress of Pemberley. "How can you be so calm when that hussy is working to displace me in Mr Darcy's affections? Horrid, intolerable girl!"

Louisa sighed and dropped her sewing to her lap. "I am beginning to believe that you are not only as stubborn as Aunt Bingley but just as deaf. You absolutely will not hear that Mr Darcy has no affections for you that Eliza can steal for herself."

Caroline sniffed. "You are just jealous that a gentleman of Mr Darcy's calibre is considering me for his bride when you were forced to settle for Hurst."

Shaking her head, Louisa muttered, "Perhaps not deaf but daft." She picked up her needlework again and resumed stitching, paying no further attention to Caroline whatsoever .

Another three quarters of an hour—well past two, Caroline fretfully noticed—passed before Mr Darcy, his sister, and Charles finally returned. They appeared well pleased with their excursion if their happy chatter and general demeanour were anything to go by. Tea was ordered, and they settled in to politely beg forgiveness for their absence.

"I understand that you paid a call in Lambton this morning," Caroline remarked with, she thought, exceptional poise given her internal seething.

Miss Darcy nodded, and her brother said nothing, but Charles cheerfully confessed their destination. "Yes, indeed! It is so pleasant to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet again—and so far from her home county. Really, what are the odds of stumbling across one of our Hertfordshire neighbours this far north?"

"Better than you might believe," Caroline muttered. Could none of them see what Eliza was about? She was as bad as her elder sister, turning up to people's homes uninvited and throwing herself in the way of eligible gentlemen. I have said it before, and I shall doubtlessly say it again ad infinitum , but men are vexatious simpletons!

Louisa agreed that it was a strange, but delightful, coincidence and asked a few more particulars of the call. Apparently, Miss Darcy and Eliza shared a great love of novels, and everyone from the Lucases to the baker's dog was deemed ‘well' in Meryton. Caroline might have fallen into a stupor if Mr Darcy were not present to impress.

"…and so we shall be hosting a picnic by the lake."

Lost in her own ennui, Caroline only caught the last part of Miss Darcy's statement. "A picnic?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, on Friday."

"Oh, but Friday is much too soon!" Caroline exclaimed, aghast. "There is not nearly enough time to send out invitations, arrange for suitable entertainment, decide on dishes, or have anything delivered from London. You must push it out for two, three weeks, at least."

Miss Darcy's eyes widened, and she blinked rapidly. She ought to be shocked by her own lack of foresight; social occasions were a multi-faceted jewel that could only shine when arranged in just the right way. "Oh, but…"

Such an opportunity! If Caroline could show Mr Darcy how capable she was of making his home sparkle, surely she would appear to greater advantage than Eliza. What could that country mouse possibly know about organising an elegant event?

Collecting herself, she reached over to pat Miss Darcy on the hand in a reassuring manner. The girl looked positively agog at the enormity of what she was facing. "Fear not, dear friend, I shall be happy to assist you with all the arrangements. Have you given much thought to the food? No, of course not, you are not yet out, so you could not possibly know the latest fashions. You will need a special punch, of course, and—oh! Ices would be just the thing! And no outdoor affair is complete without?—"

"Miss Bingley."

The manner in which Mr Darcy barked out her name shocked Caroline into silence.

Once he had her attention, he continued more sedately, "My sister and I thank you for your kindness, but you are our guest, and we could not allow you to put yourself out."

"It is no trouble at all!" she said hastily. Her brother and sister made to interrupt, but she rushed on, "Why, I would consider it an honour to act as mentor to Miss Darcy. I assure you, sir, that she will benefit greatly from my expertise."

Mr Darcy's expression and tone were both carefully blank when he replied, "I am sure she would, but recall that my sister is not yet out and so cannot partake in, much less plan, a grand event such as you describe. This is meant to be a small party of close friends and family only, and I am certain she can manage the arrangements with the help of her companion and my housekeeper."

"But surely you mean to invite?—"

"—only ourselves, Miss Bennet, and her relations. It will be an informal, intimate affair."

Caroline burned with a sudden flush comprised of equal parts mortification and outrage. She longed to object to Eliza and her tradespeople relations being included in the guest list when more worthy individuals were not. Did not his Matlock relations live within five-and-twenty miles of Pemberley? She bit her tongue, however, as it would do her no good to disagree with Mr Darcy; imperious gentlemen like him preferred biddable wives.

"Georgiana, I do believe that Mrs Annesley will be waiting for you in the music room by now." Mr Darcy levelled a meaningful look at his sister, who seemed rather alarmed at the goings on. The girl all but jumped from her seat and excused herself before scampering from the room like a frightened rabbit. Pitiful ninny.

No matter. If she could not illustrate her extensive skills, Caroline would find some other way to draw attention to herself. Mr Darcy would be forced to acknowledge her.