Chapter 2 #2
Jane nodded in agreement, though she felt ill at the deception.
It would only be worse should her husband feel she disdained his manner, however.
She nearly regretted their coming to Pemberley at all, as it was proving uncomfortable to her equilibrium.
What had been only a vague discomfort was now blatantly obvious in opposition to her sister’s extraordinary happiness.
She watched her husband cheerfully comparing the litter mates and vacillating between this pup or that one, unable to decide.
“Which do you think would be best, Darcy?” Bingley asked when he had talked himself round in a circle.
“I am hardly the one to ask,” Darcy chuckled.
“I find that I am particularly proud of all of my dogs. The sire of this batch was brought over from France where a distant cousin has also been continuing the family avocation. I sent two dames in exchange. Their pedigrees are superb. The former King of France had several before his murder which were appropriated by Napoleon.”
“I did not realize that it was such an illustrious pedigree,” Caroline gasped, batting her eyes at Darcy. “You absolutely must accept our dear friend’s generosity, Charles!”
“I am planning to,” her brother laughed happily. “Perhaps you would like to meet the pups, my dear?”
Jane smiled winningly and agreed. Caroline’s simpering look turned sour as she watched their interaction. She popped to her feet making her chair screech as it was thrown back.
“Shall we leave the gentlemen to their discussion and port, ladies?” she demanded.
Jane was mortified that her sister-in-law’s attempts to undermine her own household were now carrying over into her sister’s. “I—"
Elizabeth gave her husband a speaking look and imperiously held out a hand. He immediately rose and assisted her to her feet. She paused to catch her breath, stabilizing the growing babe with her hand.
“You have much to speak of, my dear” Elizabeth said and she accepted Jane’s arm in support as they followed Caroline from the room allowing Darcy to berate his friend for allowing his sister to run roughshod over his wife.
“It has been difficult for her to release the reins,” Bingley justified. “She is doing better, I swear, and Jane is the sweetest, most understanding woman in the world and allows her time to adjust with all the patience in the world.”
“Have you spoken with her about it?”
Bingley’s answer was lost as the ladies entered the sitting room, but Caroline’s smug attitude did not go unobserved. She had settled herself on a settee and fluffed her skirts as the others entered more slowly.
“Georgiana! Come join me do!” she cried, patting the seat beside her.
Georgiana’s eyes widened and she looked to Elizabeth with desperation.
“Georgie, shall you play for us?” Elizabeth replied to her unspoken entreaty. “I shall miss your beautiful talents when you leave us tomorrow.”
“You must not realize, Eliza,” Caroline groused. “My dear Georgiana does not play before just anyone. I am sure she—”
“Please address me correctly,” Georgiana said in a surprisingly strong voice. “We are not so close that I feel comfortable with such informality. I believe I shall play, Lizzy, for you and Jane will give me the strength not to falter.”
Caroline was horrified that the mousy Georgiana, who had always allowed her to push and prod her into anything and had never dared to point out the encroachment, had found her backbone at last. She was certain that it was all Elizabeth’s fault.
“I shall turn your pages.” Caroline rose to her feet.
“I do not need the music,” Georgiana replied without looking back.
Caroline returned to her seat with little grace and proceeded to glare at the Bennet sisters who had taken seats at another sofa at an awkward angle to her own.
They spoke too quietly for her to hear their conversation over the piano forte, and she scowled at them until Mrs. Reynolds appeared with the tea tray.
She waved the woman forward, “I shall serve tea, if you please.”
Mrs. Reynolds did not spare her a glance as she pushed the fine silver cart covered with a beautiful garden rose painted tea service to its rightful place beside her mistress.
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds,” Elizabeth said, winking at the woman. “Everything looks lovely as always.”
Mrs. Reynolds curtsied with a wide grin and left them to their evening.
Caroline clenched her teeth so hard that the grinding could be heard by the sisters, and Elizabeth refrained from commenting, though just barely.
Elizabeth poured the tea for each of them, handing Caroline’s cup to Jane to deliver as the woman refused to retrieve it.
When the gentlemen joined them, Darcy complimented his sister’s talents which they had enjoyed from the dining room.
Caroline immediately declared her intention to entertain them and went to the piano forte after inviting Darcy to turn her pages.
She was surprised when she sat to see him hovering over his wife as if he had not heard her request. She was about to repeat herself when he accepted a cup of tea and settled himself beside his wife.
Giving up for the moment, she played the most intricate and loud piece in her repertoire.
“Well?” Elizabeth asked, leaning into her husband to speak into his ear.
“He had an excuse for every example,” Darcy replied with a sigh. “I do not know what it will take to reach him. He refuses to see that his sister is in the wrong and because Jane does not complain, all is right in his world to his way of thinking.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and released a wide yawn. Darcy immediately excused them both and assisted his wife, followed by his sister, from the room. Jane bid them a good night and moved to a seat beside her husband, reaching for his hand with an affectionate smile.
“I cannot wait until we too are expecting an addition to our family,” he sighed longingly, lifting her hand to his lips.
Jane placed a hand on her flat abdomen and glowed with pleasure.
There was discordant crash from the piano forte when Caroline discovered that the Darcys had abandoned the room and her brother was canoodling on the sofa.
She stomped her way forward and demanded that Jane retire with her as well, intending to force the couple apart.
Jane stared at her in consternation for several heartbeats before gathering her dignity. “I am not—”
“A good idea,” Bingley declared, his mind on more private activities. He popped to his feet with his usual energy and offered Jane his hand. “Shall we retire?”
Realizing her error, Caroline flounced away muttering angrily under her breath at her entire day of failures. She had rarely been thwarted to such a degree, and it was a maddening and uncomfortable experience.