CHAPTER THIRTY
Miss Bingley Apologizes Badly
Caroline Bingley’s apology to Jane occurred because Louisa locked her in the morning room.
Not literally.
But nearly.
“You are going to speak to her,” Louisa said.
Caroline stared at her sister. “I have been perfectly civil.”
“Civil is what one is to an acquaintance one dislikes. You lied to the woman Charles intends to marry.”
“I made an error.”
“You made several paragraphs.”
Caroline’s eyes flashed.
Louisa did not retreat. Mr. Hurst sat by the fire reading a sporting paper.
Without looking up, he said, “Apologize. Weddings are tiresome enough without family wars.”
Caroline glared at him.
He turned a page. Jane arrived at Netherfield that afternoon to discuss final wedding arrangements with Mrs. Nicholls. Caroline intercepted her in the morning room. “Miss Bennet.”
Jane smiled politely. “Miss Bingley.”
Caroline closed the door.
Jane’s expression changed slightly. “I owe you an apology.”
Jane waited.
Caroline had rehearsed a speech involving misunderstandings, concern for her brother, and the unfortunate haste of her letter. Under Jane’s calm gaze, every excuse sounded exactly like an excuse.
“I lied to you,” she said finally.
Jane’s eyebrows rose.
Caroline looked toward the window. “I wrote that Mr. Darcy was in London when he was not. I wrote as though Charles intended to remain there when I did not know his intention. I encouraged you to believe his affections were directed elsewhere.”
“Yes.”
Caroline looked back. “I believed the connection unsuitable.”
Jane’s face remained serene.
“I was wrong,” Caroline forced out.
Jane said nothing.
Caroline’s discomfort grew. “Well?”
“Well what?”
“Do you accept my apology?”
Jane almost smiled. “I believe you are sorry that your actions hurt Charles.”
Caroline stiffened.
Jane continued gently, “I do not yet know whether you are sorry they hurt me.”
The accuracy of it struck Caroline silent.
Jane looked down at her gloves. “I do not wish us to be enemies. You are Charles’s sister. I hope, in time, we may become something like friends again. But I cannot pretend nothing happened merely because pretending would be easier before the wedding.”
Caroline stared at her. She had thought Jane Bennet weak. Soft, certainly. Pleasant. Pretty. Accommodating. Weakness had been an assumption Caroline found increasingly difficult to defend. “You are angry with me.”
“Yes.”
Jane’s tone was so calm that Caroline nearly laughed. “You do not sound angry.”
“How should I sound?”
Caroline had no answer.
Jane said, “I accept that you have apologized. I hope the rest may improve with time.” It was not forgiveness exactly.
It was better.
Caroline nodded.
When Jane left, Louisa was waiting in the corridor. “Well?”
Caroline looked at her. “She is much more difficult than I thought.”
Louisa smiled. “Yes.”
Caroline’s mouth twitched despite herself. At Longbourn that evening, Jane told Elizabeth what had happened.
Elizabeth stared at her sister in admiration. “You told Caroline Bingley you were angry with her.”
“I am.”
“I know, but you said it aloud.”
Jane laughed. “You all speak as though I have joined the army.”
“Richard will be delighted.”
“Do not tease.”
Elizabeth leaned her head on Jane’s shoulder. “I am proud of you.”
Jane kissed her temple. “And I of you.”
“For what?”
“For learning that teasing cannot answer every serious feeling.”
Elizabeth drew back. “I withdraw my praise.”
Jane smiled serenely.
Elizabeth had never loved her more.