Chapter 11 #2
She did not think that her decision against marrying Darcy would have upset Sir John at all, though.
Unlike his wife, he had listened to his children and been willing to take their preferences into account in his provision for them.
He had been grateful for his knighthood but not cast into transports of joy, in part because he had never had high social ambitions.
Caroline was confident that Sir John would have cared more for her happiness than her position in society and would not have given two figs for her refusal to climb into the haut ton as long as she was certain in her own mind.
After several years, Caroline was, indeed, certain.
She was equally convinced that there was no point in her even trying to say any of this to her mother. Lady Bingley was not in the habit of being contradicted and had no tolerance for it. The wisest course of action was simply to let her scream herself out and endure the storm.
Darcy had not quite Caroline’s experience in dealing with her mother’s displeasure and had run out of patience before Lady Bingley had run out of breath.
He had held up a hand, cutting her off mid-flow, his face stern.
The engagement was over, he had declared, with the full consent of both parties, and all Lady Bingley’s protests would avail nothing.
There was naught left to do but for all of them to retire to their beds.
It was earlier than normal for Caroline to seek her chamber, but it had been a welcome reprieve from her mother’s strident tones, and she had mounted the stairs to her room gladly.
By the time she had changed into her nightgown and cap, a deep weariness had seized her limbs, and she had sunk into bed gratefully.
Her early night had led to waking early the next morning, and despite her general reluctance to adopt country hours, Caroline had availed herself of the opportunity to eat a hasty breakfast and slip out of the house without seeing her mother.
Had she her choice, she would have spent a peaceful morning in front of a large fire in the sitting room, but such a choice was not available to her, as Lady Bingley would doubtless attempt to hunt down her daughter to rant at her.
At least the evergreen shrubbery was charming enough, and its natural beauty was enhanced by the knowledge that Lady Bingley would not pursue her into the frigid out of doors.
The next few days would be trying, and tiresome, and agitating, but it was worth it, Caroline thought, as she would not accept a lifelong commitment to a loveless marriage for both herself and Darcy.
A few days or even weeks of enduring discomfort would pale soon enough now that she was her own mistress.
“Caroline?” a familiar male voice called from her left.
She turned and smiled at the sight of her brother and Mr. Darcy, who were walking side by side down one of the walks in the shrubbery.
“Good morning to you both,” she said as both men came to a halt near her.
“Is it?” Charles inquired. “I understand why you and Darcy broke off your engagement, but really, Caroline! Georgiana is greatly distressed.”
This provoked a genuine feeling of shame on Caroline’s part, which must have shown on her countenance, because her brother quickly apologized.
“It is not your fault, Sister, of course. I will always love our mother, but she is rather too fond of getting her own way and of being loud and indignant when she is thwarted.”
“Indeed,” Caroline said with a sigh. “Perhaps I ought to ask Louisa if she and Hurst are willing to return to Town and take me with them. If I am not here, our mother will probably quiet down.”
“I do not see why you should have to leave,” Darcy said, very unexpectedly. “You are not the one causing the problem, but Lady Bingley.”
“True,” Charles said with a sigh, “but our mother does not think in those terms, of course. She is always inclined to blame others when they do not fall in line with her own desires.”
“And you let her do so,” Darcy said in one of his sterner tones.
This provoked both siblings to turn startled eyes on the master of Pemberley, and Bingley said, after a moment of contemplation, “Is it possible that you blame me for my mother’s outburst, Darcy?”
The taller gentleman hesitated briefly and then said, “No, of course I do not, but … well, we are family, you know, since you are married to Georgiana, and while it is not my place to tell you how to administer your house, you must see…”
“Spit it out,” Bingley interrupted with more gravity than was usual.
Darcy blew out a breath, which made the air near his mouth cloud white for a brief moment, and said, “You are a very congenial and friendly individual, far more than I am myself. That is splendid. But, and I hope you will not take this amiss, I rather think you have been too inclined to allow Lady Bingley to direct your life. Not regarding Georgiana, as I am confident you are a wonderful husband to her. But your mother should not be permitted to rule the roost or, frankly, berate Caroline for deciding not to marry me.”
Charles looked solemn indeed now and said, “I understand what you are saying, but Mother has always been a strong-willed woman, and I cannot imagine how to stop her from kicking up a fuss.”
“She will definitely kick up a fuss,” Caroline said with a grimace. “It is quite all right, Charles. I will return to London.”
“No,” Charles said to her surprise. “Darcy is correct. I am master of Netherfield, and it is not right that you should be chased off when you have done nothing wrong. As for Louisa, I am also confident she will feel far better here in the country than in Town during this difficult time.”
Caroline had not been overly cold when she was walking briskly, but now that she had been standing still for several minutes, she shivered.
Darcy said immediately, “We should go inside. If you would care to stay in the library with me, I can be available if Lady Bingley is inclined to harangue you.”
“Better yet,” Charles said, reaching out to take Caroline’s arm. “Perhaps you, Darcy, Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam could spend much of the day away, visiting the Bennets and Lucases, so that I can speak to Mother in private.”
Caroline obediently allowed herself to be guided toward the back door, which led into the manse, but she could not help but glance at Darcy. She was unsurprised to observe a pleased smile on his face at the prospect of calling at Longbourn.
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” she agreed.