Chapter XVI
Possessing only a rudimentary appreciation for the art of dancing, Hurst positioned himself near the entrance with the sole purpose of intercepting Caroline the moment she entered the room.
There was little chance he could induce her to see sense—this Hurst knew.
But for Bingley’s sake, to avoid his sister embarrassing him, Hurst would make the attempt.
If Caroline misbehaved thereafter, he had done what he could, and she would reap the consequences herself.
“I do not envy you, Hurst,” said Bennet, understanding at once what he was about. “Inducing your sister to see sense seems like a hopeless business to me.”
“You have no idea, Bennet,” replied Hurst, shaking his head. “Caroline has been convinced that Darcy will propose to her these past three years. I must at least attempt to prevent her from making a fool of herself.”
Bennet chuckled but conceded the point. “Would you like some support? I can stay near and help remove her from the hall if it becomes necessary.”
“No, I think it is best if I confront her alone,” said Hurst. “She does not respect me and will not listen, but she respects you even less.”
The shrug with which Bennet responded showed his complete lack of concern. “If I did not know better, I might think she is deficient.”
“Only when it pertains to her ambitions.”
With a nod, Bennet turned and moved away, taking a position where he could see the door, as much intending to assist should it become necessary as a desire to witness the absurdity.
Hurst put thoughts of his friend to the side, preparing himself for the coming confrontation. It came sooner than he wished.
When Caroline stepped into the room, Hurst could see her fury as her eyes alighted first on Darcy and Miss Elizabeth, then her brother and Miss Bennet. Though he did not know what she would do if he did not intervene, he also did not wait to discover it.
Stepping to her side, Hurst announced himself and took her arm, directing her to a nearby corner to have a private conversation. Caroline’s squawk of surprise and outrage was not unexpected.
“Unhand me!” demanded she.
Hurst kept walking, though he knew he could not ignore her altogether. “Be silent, Caroline. If you struggle, you will just create a scene and ruin your precious reputation as a respectable woman. You will listen to me.”
Caroline said nothing further, though her growl of displeasure spoke to her annoyance. The moment they reached their destination, Caroline pulled her arm from his grip and stood glaring at him, tapping her foot on the floor. If she meant to intimidate him, she failed miserably.
“You all left me at Netherfield,” accused Caroline before Hurst could say anything.
“For that, you have no one but yourself to blame.” His tone was icy, a fact that Caroline recognized. “You were aware of the time we would depart, and your brother sent a message to inform you of our intention to leave without you. Had you not ignored it, you would have traveled with us.”
“You planned it,” snapped Caroline. “Two carriages were ready to depart from Netherfield.”
“Be grateful Bingley was kind enough to order the second carriage, Caroline. Your plot to prevent him from dancing the first with Miss Bennet was transparent. If it had been my decision, I would have left you to order the carriage on your own.”
Caroline glared daggers at him, but Hurst did not concern himself with her ill humor. “Caroline, let me warn you against making a scene. You tread dangerously close to exhausting your brother’s patience. If you do not want him to act against you, I suggest you take care and not cause a scene.”
It was no surprise when Caroline scoffed at the notion. “My brother, act against me? Do not make me laugh.”
“Bingley is not so mild-mannered as you like to believe, Caroline. Consider your relationship and name one time when he allowed you to do as you wanted when the matter was of importance to him. Do you not recall how he carried his point and hosted the ball when you and Louisa opposed it?”
It seemed nothing could shake Caroline’s confidence, as she did not even give him the courtesy of considering his assertion. “Leave me be, Hurst. I must position myself so that Mr. Darcy can ask me for the second set.”
“You will forgive me if I grant you little chance of attracting his attention. I shall enjoy your education, Caroline, for I suspect it will come soon and be long overdue.”
“Oh, drown yourself in a bottle,” spat Caroline. “That is what you do best, is it not?”
Amused by her delusions and caring little for her insults, Hurst considered trying to educate her further about Darcy’s lack of interest in her, but he decided there was little use in it.
Instead, he shook his head and allowed her to stalk away, watching her as she went.
That night, he suspected, would bring everything to a head.
Depending on how far Caroline meant to take her delusion, he may not need to worry about her any longer.
While Hurst did not wish ill on her, he had wanted for some time to be free of her noxious presence. He may just get what he wanted.
“That appeared to go well,” said Bennet with unwarranted cheer as Hurst joined him a few moments later.
“It was not unforeseen.”
Bennet regarded him. “What do you expect?”
“Utter mayhem—but it will be amusing to observe her.”
With a laugh, Bennet turned his attention back to the dancers, where Caroline was now stalking the edge of the dance floor, trying to put herself in the optimal position to obtain Darcy’s notice.
What she would not acknowledge is that she could don angel wings and a halo and still fail to stir Darcy’s interest. That evening, matters could escalate further.
Hurst was determined to watch and intercede if necessary.
HURST’S TENSE CONVERSATION with Miss Bingley did not escape Darcy’s attention, nor did her demeanor as she left his side.
Her position along the side of the floor was most conspicuous, as were the poisonous looks she directed toward Miss Elizabeth.
While Darcy would usually ask Bingley’s sisters to dance in deference to his friend at whose house he was staying, Darcy had no intention of soliciting Miss Bingley’s hand for the evening.
Her behavior had grown too blatant for him to reward it by bowing to her desires.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said Darcy, a few moments before the set was to end, “may I ask for your assistance?”
The teasing woman appeared to have some inkling of his meaning, the grin she sported displaying her amusement. “Of course, Mr. Darcy,” said she when she drew close. “How may I assist?”
“If you would be so kind as to recommend some partners for the coming dances, I should be obliged.”
Lips curved in a wide grin, the corners of her eyes crinkled, Miss Elizabeth could not resist goading him.
“That is curious, Mr. Darcy, for I recall you declaring that you do not enjoy dancing unless you are intimately acquainted with your partner. Now you propose to dance with ladies at a small country assembly?”
Darcy could not help the grin that formed on his face. “I did say that, Miss Elizabeth. However, even dancing with ladies I do not know well is preferable to dodging Miss Bingley’s attempts to corner me all evening.”
Miss Elizabeth’s light laugh raised Darcy’s spirits.
“Then I shall help you, sir. You are acquainted with Charlotte, of course, who is a most sensible companion for a set, and Penelope Long is an excellent lady. My sisters would oblige you, and all are excellent dancers, though the conversation you exchange with my younger sisters may not be stimulating. Mary King is present, and the Harrington sisters are here, and even Maria Lucas would not shame you if you stood up with her.”
“Then, when the set concludes, I shall convey you to Miss Lucas’s side, and I shall request her next set.”
Her grin did not diminish a jot. “Charlotte is engaged to Mr. Collins, you know.”
“Yes, I recall our conversation. Will that prevent her from accepting my hand for a set? Mr. Collins is not here, yet Miss Lucas is dancing.”
“Not at all,” replied she. “Mr. Collins will return for his wedding soon, and he will be most pleased to see you.”
Darcy grimaced, recalling who the man’s patroness was and the reverence in which he held her. Miss Elizabeth, Darcy noted, watched him with interest, though she was not aware of the worst of it. As there were a few moments left before the set was to end, Darcy thought to give her a brief warning.
“When is the wedding, Miss Elizabeth?”
The woman cocked her head to the side, sensing something more than interest in his tone. “Thursday, Mr. Darcy. We expect Mr. Collins to return to Longbourn two days before.”
“Then there is something you should know. Mr. Collins’s patroness is my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
“Trust me, Mr. Darcy, we are well aware of the connection.”
“What you do not know is that Lady Catherine has long desired a union between Pemberley and Rosings Park.”
Never let it be said Miss Elizabeth was slow of understanding, for she grasped the significance at once. “The way Mr. Collins speaks of her, she sounds like a forthright, determined sort of lady.”
Darcy chuckled. “You have no idea, Miss Elizabeth. Lady Catherine dictates; she does not suggest, advise, or persuade.”
“Then should Mr. Collins detect any interest in me . . .”
“He will tell her at once. Lady Catherine will be most displeased.”
“Displeased enough to journey to Hertfordshire to voice her disapproval?”
“That is well within her capabilities.”
The way Miss Elizabeth watched him, Darcy was certain she was attempting to measure the threat the lady presented. A moment later, she seemed to have her answer, her response was a shrug.
“I suppose it is fortunate that I do not allow others to intimidate me.”
“Nor did I suppose you would,” replied Darcy. “I only wished to ensure you were forewarned.”