A Little Inclement Weather part 4

An unexpected guest arrives…

Part 4

After a pleasing, and relatively quiet dinner, Caroline led the way to the parlor. Since the Bennet sisters were still too unwell to attend dinner, there was no need to open the drawing room tonight.

Paneled in dark wood and filled with a little too much furniture, the parlor felt warm and friendly, a little like an evening party with a few too many familiar faces, though it still smelt a little stale from having been shut up for months. Dark green drapes covered the windows, a color echoed in the striped upholstery on the matching couches and side chairs. They were a little worn in places, but hardly shabby.  Carved half tables along the walls held candelabra, vases and other garniture supposed to please the eye and perhaps even stimulate conversation. It was more clutter than he would have preferred, but not so much as to make the room suffocating. A writing desk and a tan leather wing chair sat near the fireplace, almost as though set aside just for hm.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Caroline the avid conversationalist would leave him in peace to write to Georgiana or to simply read his book. After his conversation with Miss Elizabeth, he had every reason to reread Udolpho with a very different lens.

Caroline circled the room as though uncertain where she wanted to perch, her plum silk evening gown swishing around her ankles. “Nicholls told me Miss Elizabeth is feeling much better. I think I shall go up to visit her shortly. I am hopeful she, if not her sister as well, will be able to joins us for dinner tomorrow night. Having a fourth at dinner is surely most agreeable.”

“Gracious, Caroline, that sounds cold. You want her just to make a fourth at the table?” Bingley wrinkled his lips in a frown as he settled into an overstuffed striped chair near the card table.

“That is not at all what I said, nor what I intended for you to understand. I am entirely jealous that so far you and Mr. Darcy have had a share of conversation with our guests on Oakham Mount, and I have had none. I should very much like to get to know them better. But perhaps no man can be a good judge of the comfort a woman feels in the society of one of her own sex after being used to it all her life.”

“I should like to see Miss Bennet join us for dinner as well.”

Caroline sat in the middle of the couch nearest Bingley and arranged her skirts. “While I agree the sentiment is good, I cannot help but wonder if it is because you are taken in by Miss Bennet’s beauty. I have been told she is thought to be the prettiest girl in the neighborhood.”

Ah, there was the truth of it all. Though handsome herself, Caroline had a jealous streak. Granted, she generally kept it under good regulation, but occasionally it showed itself in little insecurities. Aunt Matlock said it was a sentiment typical of unmarried woman and paid it little mind.

“And what is wrong with liking a pretty girl? I had no idea that it was considered inappropriate by the conduct writers you have been reading.” Bingley chuckled and flashed an eyebrow at Darcy.

“I did not call it inappropriate to be sure. There is nothing wrong in finding attraction in beauty. I only mean to suggest that perhaps Miss Elizabeth—”

—who was pretty to be sure, but not nearly as attractive as her sister—

Bingley lifted open hands, shaking his head rather violently. “You can stop there, Caroline. Pray stop. Just because you take credit for Louisa and Hurst does not mean that I need, nor welcome your interference—”

“But you have seen how well-matched, how happy they are together. Louisa did not even feel the need to bring a companion along on their bridal trip. That is how much she likes and esteems her husband.” She folded her arms across her chest as though entirely satisfied in all the outcomes.

She glanced at Darcy briefly, but he leaned back into the wingback. She was not going to draw him into this sparring match.

“You are not disappointed to be coming here to the countryside rather than to Calais with them?”

“By no means! I do hope for a trip to Calais, yes, but knowing how happy Louisa is with her husband is far more important. And who could blame me for feeling as I do, given that I do take some credit for the match.”

“Considering how close you and Louisa have been, I would have thought you would repine the loss of her constant companionship and resent what has taken her from you.” He really should speak to Bingley. It was unseemly of him to bait his sister so.

“I do miss her to be sure, but I have no doubt it is a right and proper thing for a woman to marry.”

“So, you shall be looking for someone to provide you a similar service, I assume.” Bingley winked at Darcy.

That look could imply several different things, but the answer to all was ‘no, definitely not.’

“Charles, you may cease that line of thought immediately.” Caroline stood, picturesque as a fashion plate, then paced slowly across the center of the room. “Fortune I do not want; employment I do not want; consequence I do not want. I believe few married women are half as well satisfied in their lives as I. And when you are no longer in need of me to manage your household, I will make an establishment for myself—perhaps even take in students and have a girls’ seminary. That seems very pleasing.”

“You mean to say you do not intend to marry?” She had intimated it, but never had Darcy heard her say it so clearly.

“Oh! to be sure it is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should consider remaining unmarried. A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anybody who asks her. And the look on both your faces confirms it. Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! But I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature. I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine.”

“Pray excuse me,” Nicholls appeared in the doorway, creases lining her face. She was worried.

Had the Bennets taken a turn for the worse. Need Mr. Perry or perhaps a surgeon be summoned? Darcy’s heart beat a little faster.

“A gentleman has come, in a carriage. He says you know him—a Colonel Fitzwilliam he calls himself.”

“Richard?” Darcy stood. “What is he doing here?”

“Yes, yes, show him in to us and begin preparing a room for him as well. It is too late for him to find anywhere else to stay.” Caroline stepped toward the door gracefully, but the twitchy movements of her hands betrayed something less than perfect composure.

Nicholls scurried away, clearly perplexed, but looking a little relieved as well.

“I wonder what should bring him here? I do hope it is not bad news from your family, Mr. Darcy.”

How kind of her to remind him of such a possibility as if he had not already come to the conclusion herself. No, that was ungentlemanly, considering the look of real concern on her face.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam!” Bingley heaved himself out of his seat hands extended. “Welcome, welcome! How glad we are you have come to us.”

Richard strode in as if it were the most normal thing for him to appear at Netherfield with no warning, so late in the day. Tall and lean, he still stood at attention, a remnant from his army days that might never change. The scar on his left cheek had faded, puckered and shiny now, no longer red and angry, softening his overall look from angry and threatening, to something closer to somber and serious. His dark coat bore a layer of road dust and his smile seemed just a little weary.

“I have already instructed Nicholls to have a room made up for you. You will of course be staying the night, will you not?” Caroline dipped in a small curtsey.

“A soft bed and clean sheets—I can think of nothing I would appreciate more!” Richard doffed his worn beaver hat and bowed. “Except perhaps a bit to eat.”

“Of course. I will see a tray made up for you immediately. If you will excuse me.” She swept past him. “I assume you would like hot coffee and a glass of brandy as well?”

“Indeed, I would. It is a good thing to be welcomed by friends who know me so well.” Richard headed for a chair near Charles’. “And before you ask, my gloomy cousin, the family, all the family are well. I am not some harbinger of doom.”

“Gratified as I am to hear that,” Darcy pulled his wingchair a little closer to the others, “I am sure you know what my next question will be.”

“Why would you even ask. You must know there are very few forces that could induce my sudden appearance.” He fell into the chair and sagged like a sack of grain.

“What has Aunt Matlock decreed now?” Darcy covered his eyes with his hand.

“The better question is what has she not decreed?” Richard glowered at Bingley. “I blame you and your sister for this.”

“Me? What have I done?” The look of offense on Bingley’s face was almost comical.

“I notice you do not ask what your sister has done.”

“Now that is not fair. Do tell, what are the Bingley crimes now?”

“You confess! You know what you are guilty of!” Richard chuckled, but it had a dark, weary edge to it.

Darcy rubbed his forehead. “Do stop this game and tell us what is afoot.”

“My mother has decided to follow in the footsteps of your sister. She has matchmaking on the mind, and I am her object.” He muttered a few ungentlemanly epithets under his breath.

“But that is why—” Bingley sputtered.

“Yes, yes, I am entirely aware of what your sister did to offend her. But it has given Mother ideas nonetheless, ideas I want nothing of.” Richard pressed his eyes with thumb and forefinger.

“I did not think you adverse to the married state.” Best approach that topic cautiously, from the side and at a great distance.

“In principle I am not. But were you happy to see what happened when his meddlesome sister tried to encourage Anne and my brother Andrew together with her ill-advised notion that it was indeed the happiest thing in the world when cousins married?”

Darcy groaned. One did not cross Lady Matlock and expect to escape unscathed. It was a wonder that Georgiana still considered Caroline an acquaintance much less a friend after that debacle. He shuddered.

“You do remember—do not deny it.” Richard pointed at Darcy.

“Pray forgive—” Bingley said.

Richard waved the idea way. “There is no malice in her, I know. She only saw a way to make so many happy and felt compelled to act. I do not hold it against her, even if now my Mother has become intolerable to live with. I do however, require reparations in the form of a place to stay and be entertained until Mother’s attention is turned in other directions.”

“You could have gone to Darcy House in London.” While  Richard was a great friend, his superior attitude and great love of a crowd could become tiresome.

“But she might find me there too easily. This little market town offers me much better opportunity to avoid her whilst enjoying some sport and some good company as well.”

“It seems a good price to earn your forgiveness. Stay for as long as you like! I shall fetch us some port to drink to the arrangement.” Bingley headed for the liquor cabinet.

So what kind of guest will Colonel Fitzwilliam be? Tell me in the comments.

Find earlier parts of the story HERE.