Page 217 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“He never looked at me the way he looks at her, Louisa.”

* * *

As the afternoon lengthened, servants began carrying empty dishes toward the house, and the first carriages were brought around.

Kitty stood with Georgiana near the terrace when Steven Goulding approached.

“Miss Kitty.”

She looked up.

“I hope I shall see you at church on Sunday.”

“Yes, sir. I shall be there.”

His face brightened. “I shall watch for you, ma’am.”

Mrs. Goulding called to him from across the lawn.

Steven bowed. “Until Sunday, Miss Kitty.”

She watched him go.

Georgiana came beside her and took her arm. “Perhaps ten thousand pounds is not enough to buy his heart.”

* * *

Jane had just come from the house when Bingley met her at the foot of the steps with her wrap over his arm.

“The air has cooled.”

He placed the wrap around her shoulders before offering his hand to help her into the carriage.

“Thank you, sir.”

Mr. Hurst handed his wife up and followed her into the carriage. Bingley offered his hand to Caroline, but she scarcely noticed him, her eyes still fixed on Mr. Darcy, who stood beside the open barouche, helping Elizabeth into her pelisse. After handing her up, he took several blankets from the boot and passed three to the other ladies. He spread the last across Elizabeth’s knees himself before climbing in beside her.

Their shoulders touched as he settled into his seat.

At last she lowered her eyes and stepped into the carriage.

Chapter 55: September Weddings

The following morning, Caroline entered the breakfast parlor and found Louisa eating alone.

“Caroline, you cannot have slept much.”

“Very little. I cannot stop thinking about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.” Caroline sat beside her sister. “I thought I would have enough time.”

Louisa waited.

“I knew he was not in love with me. I am not such a fool that I imagined he was. But I thought there might come a day when he would look about him and decide it was time to marry, and I hoped that when he did, he would choose me.”

Caroline pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.

“I have known him for years. I know his sister and the society in which he lives. He has never cared for flirtation, nor have I ever seen him show particular interest in any woman. I thought that was simply his way. He treated every woman as he treated me, and I believed him a man who was simply indifferent to such things. He has always been reserved, even cold at times. I never imagined how much feeling lay beneath.”

“But now you have seen him with Miss Elizabeth.”