Chapter 5
I returned home with plenty of time to spare before Caroline was going to meet me, so when Jaro greeted me, tail wagging, I asked him, “I don’t suppose you’re any good at volleyball?”
He barked once, encouragingly.
“I suppose the first step would be to get a ball,” I mused aloud. “I wonder if there’s a sporting goods store nearby.”
I walked to my office, Jaro following closely behind me. In the hallway, a volleyball rolled slowly toward the open door to the ballroom.
I patted the molding in the hall. “Thanks, Netherfield.”
My mouth dropped open when I stepped into the ballroom to retrieve the ball.
The familiar polished marble floors and forty-foot arched ceiling were the same, but there was now a large volleyball court in the middle of the room.
A net split the room in two and lines had been painted onto the floor.
I nudged at one of the lines with a shoe. Not paint—tape. Thank goodness.
I laughed out loud. Good thing Caroline wasn’t here yet to see the sacrilege.
But clearly Netherfield approved of my new hobby.
Jaro jogged around the room, tail wagging enthusiastically.
I picked up the ball and served it over the net.
Jaro ran to it and hit it back over with his nose. My mouth dropped open.
In my surprise, I failed to return the ball. Jaro barked once, in encouragement or reproach, I couldn’t quite tell. I retrieved the ball to serve it back, and this time I was ready when he returned it.
We spent the next hour hitting the ball back and forth between us. The longer we played, the longer our volleys became, and when someone did miss the ball, it was me far more often than it was Jaro. Maybe Bill should have invited him to be on the team instead.
Eventually, I set the ball down. “Okay, Jaro. I’ve got to go get ready now.”
Netherfield provided a water bowl for Jaro and a water bottle for me, as well as a towel to dry the perspiration from my neck.
Jaro whined and gave me a pleading look with his soft brown eyes.
“I’m sorry boy, but I don’t want to wear myself out. I’ve got a date tonight.” That was a bit of a stretch, seeing as it was only dinner with the Bennets, but Jaro didn’t need to know that. “I promise we can play again soon.”
I took a quick shower and dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt with a belt and a pair of Italian loafers Caroline had gifted me at Christmas, whose price I never wanted to know. I styled my auburn hair, declared it a disaster, and then styled it again. Still a disaster.
I gave up and went downstairs, where voices greeted me from the living room. I went inside to find Caroline cloaked in happiness and cashmere. Next to her was her boyfriend, Jack.
“Carl!”
Caroline rolled her eyes at the nickname but smiled. “Hey, Charles.”
I wrapped my sister in a tight hug, and something about the quality of the light in the room changed. Everything became not only brighter but also, warmer. Netherfield was happy to see her, too.
Jack came in for a hug next. Last month at our New Years party, he’d hinted that he intended to become my brother-in-law sooner rather than later, which thrilled me. Jaro padded over to investigate the newcomers.
“You didn’t tell me you got a dog.” Jack bent down to rub him behind the ears. “I’m glad you’re back in town. How long are you staying?”
“I’m not sure.” Forever, if Jane would have me. “How long are you two here for?” I asked as we made our way into the living room.
Caroline sat gracefully on the couch and Jack settled in next to her, one arm casually draped around her shoulders, his other hand holding hers.
“We’re just here for today,” Caroline said. “We’re meeting up with Anne and Ernesto for dinner tonight, and I have to meet with Lady Catherine. She was so pleased with my Christmas decor that she’s having me redo the guest wing at Rosings Park.”
I sat in the armchair across from them. “That’s fantastic.”
She grinned. “Thanks, Charles.” Caroline smoothed back her vibrant red hair. “Now, tell me everything.” Her eyes danced as she took in my appearance. “Are you two going on a date?”
I cleared my throat. “I’m going to her family’s house for dinner.”
She extracted her hand from Jack’s just long enough to clap, then slipped her hand back in his. “That’s fabulous. Was she surprised to see you? Have you told her how you feel? Does she feel the same way?”
“You seem happy about this,” I said warily. “I expected a lecture, or for you to try to talk me out of this. The last time we talked about Jane, you warned me not to get too close.”
“Yeah, well, that was when I was in a dark place. I’m not as skeptical of other people as I used to be.” She leaned over to kiss Jack on the cheek, but he turned and caught her lips with his instead.
It was good to see my sister so happy, but a twinge of jealousy rose up in my chest. I wanted to skip to the part where I could casually steal a kiss from Jane.
Caroline turned her attention back to me, though a little smile played on her lips.
“I don’t dislike Jane, I just think her family is gauche.
Except for Lizzy. She’s smart and sophisticated.
Jane is sweet. I don’t have any problems with her specifically, though the disparity in your financial situations is a bit of a red flag. ”
“Oh? And you wouldn’t have dated Jack if he were poor?”
She raised her hands in mock surrender. “You know I would. If you want to give it a shot with Jane, I won’t stand in your way.”
“Thank you. Now, to answer your questions: yes, she was surprised to see me, and no, I haven’t told her how I feel. I don’t know how she feels about me—Jane is so hard to read.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dense. Women are not that hard to read.”
“Jane is. She seemed happy to see me, but then she introduced me as ‘just a friend.’”
“Okay, that’s not great, but at least she invited you to dinner.”
My smile must have faltered because her turquoise eyes, twin to my own, narrowed. “Tell me she invited you to dinner.”
I ran one hand through my hair. “Her mom did.”
Jack winced.
“This is why I never date,” I groaned.
“Stop it, Charles,” Caroline said, taking a tone that always made me feel like she was the older sibling rather than me. “You are a catch. You’re hot, you’re rich, and you're the nicest human on the planet.”
“Thanks, Carl. Now how do I convince Jane of that?”
Caroline bit her lip, deep in brainstorming mode, and I noticed with no small amusement that Jack tracked the movement. Did I look that lovesick when I looked at Jane? “How are your abs looking these days?” she asked.
I pulled up the front of my shirt to reveal my stomach.
“Good,” she said, nodding once. “I’m glad that fancy office job hasn’t made you soft. See if you can find a reason to take your shirt off.”
My eyes widened. “It’s February!”
Jack laughed. “I know this isn’t as easy as it sounds, but you just have to tell her how you feel.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ll try.” The thought of directly telling Jane how I felt after what happened the last time had me shying away from the topic entirely.
“Would you like some tea?” I asked, knowing that was one surefire way to distract Caroline.
I’d assumed that since I’d given paid leave to all the house staff while I was in Europe and hadn’t called them back that I’d have to do all of my own cooking and cleaning.
But Netherfield had other plans. Last time I’d been here, the house had been solicitous but subtle.
Now, it did everything for me. If I so much as went into the kitchen, a meal or a snack would appear on the counter.
My offer of tea was no different. The moment Caroline said she’d love some, a tiered tray full of sandwiches and pastries and full tea service appeared on the coffee table.
Jack grinned. “It is so good to be back at Netherfield.”
“Agreed. I love it here.”
“Have you been to see Louisa yet?” Caroline asked.
I frowned. “Not yet.” In truth, I’d not only avoided the prison where my sister was incarcerated, I also drove out of my way to avoid the road that led to it.
“You should go,” Caroline said. “I know she’d love to see you.”
“Have you been to see her?”
“Of course. I had to introduce her to my boyfriend.”
Jack smiled. “We’ve been every week for the past few months. Lou’s great.”
“Yeah,” I said, trying not to let my smile falter. “Jack, how’s your sister doing?”
Caroline gave me a shrewd look but let the conversation shift toward her best friend and business partner. She might let me avoid the subject of Louisa for the moment, but I knew she’d want to come back to it at a later time.
The afternoon stretched long as the three of us chatted. We played a few games of cards and took Jaro on a little walk around the grounds. At 4:45, I announced it was time for me to leave for the Bennets.
Caroline frowned. “Not with that hair, it’s not.” She steered me to the bathroom, where she restyled my hair. I pretended to protest, but I had to admit, it looked much better when she was done.
“Should I take something for Jane?” I asked. “Like flowers, or maybe I could bring a bottle of wine or a side dish or something?”
A box appeared on the table next to me and Caroline opened it, revealing my grandmother’s diamond ring. She covered her delighted grin with one hand but a bit of a giggle escaped. “Apparently Netherfield thinks you should propose!”
My face heated. “Maybe something a little less intense,” I said.
A dozen roses appeared on the table. “I’m not sure,” I said.
“I want to give Jane flowers, but maybe since Mrs. Bennet invited me and she’s the hostess, I ought to bring something for her.
” For a long moment, nothing appeared, then, as though begrudgingly, a bouquet of blue hydrangeas appeared. Perfect.
I took a deep breath, said goodbye to Caroline and Jack, and drove to the Bennets.