Chapter Thirty-Three
Caroline Changes Direction
Caroline did not forgive Elizabeth immediately.
Nor Darcy.
That would have been absurd.
She remained cool through the wedding, polished afterward, and capable of complimenting Elizabeth's gowns in a manner that suggested the fabric had overcome serious disadvantages.
Elizabeth found this almost comforting.
Some people should not become different overnight.
Georgiana became the bridge between them.
Caroline loved Georgiana in her own possessive way. She had imagined herself one day becoming Georgiana's sister and had invested years in that hope. The new Georgiana, however, was becoming less willing to be managed.
The confrontation occurred at Pemberley during a winter visit.
Caroline had been speaking of Longbourn. Not cruelly enough to be openly challenged, but with the delicate contempt she had perfected.
"Of course Mrs. Bennet is very affectionate," she said, adjusting a bracelet. "One cannot doubt that. She simply possesses a rather public manner of demonstrating every private thought."
Elizabeth, across the room, continued reading.
Georgiana did not.
"No," she said.
Caroline stopped. "No?"
Georgiana flushed immediately but did not retreat. "Please do not speak of Elizabeth's mother that way."
Caroline stared.
The room went still.
Darcy stood in the doorway, unseen by Caroline.
Georgiana continued, "Mrs. Bennet is sometimes loud. Elizabeth knows that. But she loves her family, and I love Elizabeth."
Caroline's face tightened. "Of course."
"Then please do not make me choose between being polite to you and loyal to her."
Darcy nearly applauded.
Caroline looked wounded.
Georgiana immediately softened. "I love you too."
That was Georgiana.
Caroline looked away.
Months later she apologized to Elizabeth.
Poorly.
They were alone after tea when Caroline said, "I may have formed judgments before I possessed sufficient information."
Elizabeth looked up. "How unusual."
Caroline narrowed her eyes.
Elizabeth smiled.
To her own surprise, Caroline laughed.
"You are still impertinent."
"I have worked hard to preserve the quality."
Caroline studied her. "I do not know why he loves you."
Elizabeth's smile faded slightly. "You don't need to."
Caroline looked down. "No."
After a pause Elizabeth said, "You loved him."
Caroline's head came up.
"I thought I did."
"That can hurt just as much."
Caroline stared.
Elizabeth did not add that admiration, ambition, and love were easily confused at twenty-two. Caroline had to discover that herself.
Years later she met Sir Henry Vane at a London dinner.
Darcy and Elizabeth were both startled.
Caroline had married Sir Henry in their first life too, though not until several unhappy seasons after finally surrendering hope of Darcy.
This time the acquaintance began sooner.
Sir Henry admired Caroline's sharp tongue instead of enduring it. He also possessed enough money that she did not need to pretend wealth was beneath consideration.
They married after eighteen months.
At the wedding Elizabeth whispered, "Perhaps fate is stubborn."
Darcy answered, "Or Sir Henry is."
Caroline, standing several feet away, heard him. "Mr. Darcy."
He looked innocent.
Elizabeth smiled.
Some roads apparently found themselves.
Mrs. Bennet changed too, though no one could have accused her of becoming quiet. Jane's secure marriage, Elizabeth's astonishing match, and Mr. Bennet's new attention to household finances eased some of the fear that had sharpened her nerves for years.
One afternoon Elizabeth found her mother reviewing linen with Hill rather than discussing Lydia's prospects.
Mrs. Bennet looked up. "What?"
"Nothing."
"You are staring."
Elizabeth smiled. "Apparently it runs in the family."
Mrs. Bennet ignored that. "Your father says we must save more for Kitty, Mary, and Lydia. As though I have been spending money for sport."
Hill looked wisely at the sheets.
Elizabeth sat. "Is he wrong?"
Mrs. Bennet frowned. "Not entirely. Which is very irritating."
They went through household expenses together. Elizabeth discovered her mother knew far more about prices than Mr. Bennet had ever credited. Mrs. Bennet discovered Elizabeth knew enough about estate households to ask useful questions she could not explain without referencing Pemberley.
"Where did you learn that?" Mrs. Bennet asked after Elizabeth suggested buying candles in larger quantities before winter prices rose.
Elizabeth froze. "Mrs. Gardiner."
Aunt Gardiner became extraordinarily educational in Elizabeth's invented history.
Mrs. Bennet accepted the answer.
By spring the household had trimmed several unnecessary expenses without becoming miserable. Mr. Bennet set the savings aside for his daughters.
It would not produce grand dowries.
It would produce something.
Elizabeth thought that perhaps responsibility often looked disappointingly ordinary from the outside.