The journey from Pemberley to Rosings with Henry by her side steeled Anne for what would surely be a miserable visit with her mother.
Lady Anne’s tale haunted her at night when they stopped at inns along the way and her dreams were filled with memories from her childhood of a cold mother and a distant father.
She thought of each visit Lady Anne had made to Rosings, the love that shone in her eyes for her children, her manner of speaking gently to them, and her habit of doting upon them. Anne knew this was not the way of her own mother and Lady Catherine’s coldness stung her quite deeply.
She sighed and took Henry’s hand to climb aboard the carriage for another day of travel. His presence had made all the difference and she hoped he might remain at Rosings for a few days after their arrival. He’d warned her he must attend to business in London from time to time, but he would always return to her when he was able.
The maid from Pemberley would be a balm against her mother’s certain tirades when Henry must leave. She’d been by Anne’s side since her arrival at the Darcy estate and was as close to a friend as a servant might be, far closer than any of the maids at Rosings.
Henry sat beside her in the carriage and spoke to her of the countryside they traveled. His family home was situated between Pemberley and Rosings and he promised they would visit his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Ayr, before their trip ended. In a day or so, she would walk the gardens with him and put Rosings out of her mind.
As the carriage hurried along, she thought once more of Elizabeth and the babe she and William would welcome. In her heart, she vowed to return to Pemberley before the happy event.
At Rosings, Caroline Bingley sat alone in the breakfast parlor. She had arrived only the day before to find Lady Catherine well pleased she had accepted the invitation. The woman had sat with her for an hour before retiring to her rooms and Caroline had been grateful to be free of her haughty manner.
She recalled a particular moment that gave her pause on the acceptance of the invitation. Lady Catherine had appraised her dress, her manners, and her lack of a husband after several seasons in London.
“Miss Bingley, would you say you care not to marry or have you waited perhaps a moment too long to catch a man? Heaven knows, the competition in Town grows ever stronger.”
Caroline had resisted using her sharp tongue on her hostess for fear of offending the woman but smiled sweetly and nodded. “I am guilty of believing in an unrequited love, your ladyship. I have removed the hope from my heart and begun to open my eyes to other possibilities for a happy life.”
Lady Catherine had seemed pleased at her answer and Caroline was left even more curious at her invitation to visit Rosings.
She stood and crossed to the parlor, wondering if she must spend the whole of this visit wandering along about the house. Lady Catherine had never appeared to be one who might lie abed late into the morning, but the woman must have weakened since she had last seen her amongst the Darcys in London many years ago.
And where might her daughter Anne de Bourgh be found? Caroline had thought her time would be spent with the only daughter of Rosings whom she’d met at Darcy House in London but the one time.
She was a quiet, slip of a girl then and Caroline doubted they would find a bond. At least, she might prove a more pleasant companion than her mother.
Losing interest in the lonely parlor, Caroline decided a walk about the garden would be a lovely distraction and called for her bonnet and spencer.
Stepping out upon the great stone steps of the home, she drew in a breath at the chill in the air and set her feet toward the garden path. Rosings was a lovely estate, rivaled only by Pemberley in her mind. A frown creased her brow at the thought of the Darcy home in Derbyshire and she kicked at the gravel path beneath her slippered feet.
She’d had little news of the family since her brother and his wife rarely wrote of them owing to her intense dislike of Elizabeth Bennet Darcy. To think of the impertinent woman as Darcy’s wife galled her. She crossed her arms in a pique of temper and increased her pace so that when she nearly knocked over another young woman on the path, she startled and let out a cry.
Charlotte Collins had tried to avoid Caroline Bingley but the woman had simply rounded the corner so quickly it was nigh on impossible.
“I am so sorry. Please do forgive my inattention,” she said as she attempted to steady Caroline on the path. Her polite apology was met with a scowl and her hands pushed away.
“Who might you be wandering about the gardens of Rosings? I doubt Lady Catherine would take kindly to her servants strolling about the grounds and placing their hands upon her guests.”
Charlotte lowered her gaze as her face reddened. “I am the wife of Lady Catherine’s parson, ma’am. Begging your pardon.”
Caroline made an awful face and turned on her heel to escape the company of the mousy, quiet woman. There was no sport in tormenting the help.
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and followed in Caroline Bingley’s wake. She had word from her husband that Lady Catherine was feeling poorly and hoped to offer the woman a bit of comfort if she might.
Caroline halted abruptly and Charlotte very nearly bumped into her once more. “Pray tell, why are you following me? I have no desire for your company. I would much prefer to stroll with Miss de Bourgh.”
Charlotte smiled at this bit of information and happily informed the lady of Miss de Bourgh’s coming arrival. “I am afraid you shall have to wait, Miss Bingley…”
“How do you know my name?” Caroline snapped though her eyes were alight with interest at Charlotte’s words.
“Miss Bingley, we met in Hertfordshire when your brother let Netherfield Park. My father is Sir William Lucas and my best friend, Elizabeth, lived at Brambling Hall with your brother and his wife, who is her eldest sister, before she married Mr. Darcy.”
Caroline winced at the name and stomped a foot. “Please do not speak that name in my presence!”
It seemed she had called the ghost of Elizabeth Darcy here to Rosings Park with her thoughts of the woman only moments ago.
Charlotte blinked and bit her bottom lip. Of course the fancy lady from Town would not remember having met her. Caroline looked at her expectantly before releasing a dramatic sigh.
“Do not stand about as a scullery maid for heaven’s sake. What do you know of Miss de Bourgh?”
Charlotte smiled at her curiosity and linked their arms as though they were good friends. Caroline meant to pull away and stride off to the house but allowed it only because she was desperate to know more about this unusual invitation to Rosings.
“Miss de Bourgh has gone to Pemberley for the winter but her mother has called her home again. She shall arrive in but a few days with her betrothed, Viscount Henry Amestrey.”
Caroline’s spirit lifted at this news. A Viscount indeed! A handsome one she hoped, for Rosings was decidedly empty of interesting companions.
As the two women approached the house, Caroline removed her arm from Charlotte’s too familiar hold and walked ahead as though she were in a great hurry. She now had bits of intelligence with which to engage her hostess and would waste no time in putting questions to Lady Catherine.
Charlotte followed along, shaking her head at the fancy sister of Charles and Jane Bingley.
Lizzy had never gotten on with the woman and Charlotte could clearly see why. Yet, there was little in the way of companionship at Hunsford. She would be pleased to sit with someone other than her husband’s patroness each day, even if that someone was as unkind as could be.
Caroline entered Rosings without a glance over her shoulder to see whether Mrs. Collins followed and asked the butler if her ladyship had come down again. He nodded silently and arched a brow towards the parlor.
Admiring herself in the looking glass that hung above a wide cherry wood console, Caroline Bingley ignored Charlotte Collins as she gained the entryway and stood just behind her over her right shoulder.
The poor soul was so very plain and Caroline almost allowed a moment of pity to enter her heart. The paleness of her skin and the skittish look in her eyes when unguarded served as a warning sign but Miss Bingley was in no mood to aid a woman so wholly unconnected in this house.
She left Charlotte standing in the entry and hurried to the parlor, eager to speak with Lady Catherine.
Charlotte repeated Caroline’s actions, glancing in the mirror before quickly looking away. Gone was the bloom of her youth, replaced by care and worry. Though she was a married woman with a secure future, Charlotte had allowed the loneliness of her situation to steal her joy.
That might all change with Miss Bingley present and Miss de Bourgh to return soon. She ran her hands down the front of her skirts and checked the looking glass once more to be certain she was presentable.
Lady Catherine sighed in irritation when Caroline Bingley entered the room followed by the bowing parson’s wife. Rosings would be unbearable once her daughter arrived.
But she had little choice in the matter did she wish to keep Anne at Rosings and release her from the Viscount’s attentions. With her master plan in mind, she smiled as warmly as a predator is able and welcomed her guests.
“Miss Bingley, Mrs. Collins, please do join me.”
Caroline Bingley smiled and sat. She turned to Charlotte. “I met your parson’s wife in the gardens, she informed me that Miss Anne shall be home in but a few days. How lovely!”
Lady Catherine feigned joy at the news, but Charlotte could see the displeasure in her eyes. Why would a mother be unhappy to welcome her daughter home again? Charlotte did not have long to wait for her answer.
“She shall be here soon, indeed. But she brings along a Viscount who is said to have offered for her hand How that might be greatly puzzles me since my thoughts on the matter have never been sought.”
Lady Catherine raised a brow as Caroline Bingley gave her opinion. “Why, a man as situated and with such connections must surely know to approach you, Lady Catherine, with such a request. How unusual a situation.”
Caroline smiled sweetly, her mind whirring through the possibilities of a scandal at Rosings that had been kept quiet. What a delicious thought! She could write Louisa of the drama as it played out before her.
Lady Catherine turned her attention to Charlotte, her eyes cold and sharp as flint. “Mrs. Collins, why have you come to visit so early in the day? I shall not provide more money for your husband than is his due.”
Charlotte’s cheeks flushed a deep red before all the color drained from her face. She looked down at the floor and fought the tears forming in her eyes. She breathed deeply and gathered her courage.
“No, your ladyship, I do not come seeking money nor any other thing from you. My husband mentioned you were unwell. I came to find if I might offer comfort of a sort, seeing Miss Anne has not yet arrived.”
Lady Catherine cocked her head as if trying to figure out the timid mouse before her. It was no use, the young woman had not a spark of life to her. “As you can plainly see, Mrs. Collins, I am quite well. And I have a guest to attend. You may leave.”
Charlotte nodded to the two women though they barely noticed her departure. She lingered once past the doors for their voices carried as their conversation continued.
Lady Catherine’s words kept her feet from moving away. “Miss Bingley, make no mistake, I have brought you here to be a hindrance to my daughter’s plan to marry this viscount she fancies.”
Caroline Bingley gasped, a hand moving to her throat.
Lady Catherine snorted her disbelief and chided the young woman before her. “It is a well-known fact you are an incorrigible flirt and a desperate woman. Your season has come and gone and yet there is no offer for your hand. How long shall your brother keep you?”
Caroline bristled at the direct manner of her host and began to speak but was silenced by a wave of the imperious woman’s hand.
“I do not wish to discuss your methods, Miss Bingley, only to employ your talents to aid me in the recovery of my daughter. You will throw yourself at the viscount while I keep Anne by my side with a feigned illness. If you are able to stir doubt in my daughter’s heart and mind, you shall be handsomely rewarded.”
Caroline’s smile at these words did not endear her to Lady Catherine but only signaled she’d chosen the exact woman for the task at hand.
“I would expect to be rewarded even should I fail, Lady Catherine. You wouldn’t want Miss Anne to know of your plan, I wager.”
Charlotte gasped and covered her mouth, horrified by the cunning of Lady Catherine and the evil Caroline Bingley.