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Part 70
The Fitzwilliams went upstairs very early, because they had a long way to travel the next day. When they arrived upstairs, however, the Colonel changed his mind. "Shall we go for a walk?"
"It is dark," said Caroline. "Do you know your way around the park in the dark?"
"Of course, but if we get lost we will have to keep walking until daylight."
"It is too cold to do that. Look, it is snowing," Caroline said as she stepped outside.
"Just run, then."
"Richard, I cannot run all night," she protested.
"You cannot?" He asked mischievously. "I can make you do it."
"How?"
"I shall threaten to tickle you. I know you are very ticklish."
"I shall not feel it. I have too much clothing on," Caroline said confidently.
"Oh Caroline," he sighed.
She remembered that he would probably see such an utterance as a challenge. "That was the wrong thing to say, was it not?"
"Yes," he grinned, and he tried to tickle her.
Caroline screamed and wriggled loose. "Richard, stop it!"
"No," he said, and he chased her down the lawn.
Darcy and Elizabeth had just reached their rooms when they heard shrieks and laughter from outside. Looking out of the window, they were treated to the shocking sight of two shadows chasing each other across the lawn. "I shall have to speak to Mrs. Reynolds about the behaviour of the servants," Darcy said disapprovingly as he turned away from the window. "This will not do at all."
"What did you think of Caroline?" Elizabeth asked curiously. She was not sure what she thought herself. There had been nothing wrong with Caroline's behaviour so far, nothing that reminded her of the times when she had been at Netherfield. She had complied with Colonel Fitzwilliam's wishes, and she had spoken to Caroline. There had been no traces of jealousy, and it had not been unpleasant, actually.
"I do not know. My cousin thinks she is wonderful, but he seems to be completely infatuated with her."
"And she with him," said Elizabeth, remembering Caroline's smiles and shining eyes.
"Really?" he raised his eyebrows.
"Really."
"She is a good actress. That is nothing new."
"I do not think it is an act," Elizabeth said hesitantly. "She would not go so far as to be excited about living with him if she were only acting. I really think she cares for him."
"It will not last, on either side," Darcy persisted. "They do not exchange looks, they do not touch -- all they do is argue."
"They do exchange looks."
"I did not see that."
"I think you were too busy looking at me to notice."
"Of course. That is far more agreeable," Darcy smiled.
"I thought you were such an early riser," said Darcy to his cousin coming in for breakfast. He himself had already been sitting there for about fifteen minutes.
"I was up before you, I am willing to bet."
"I do not bet," Darcy said.
"Coward. You know I would have won," Fitzwilliam said. "I must say that sunrise from that little hill over there is exquisite."
"You got up at sunrise?"
"Before sunrise," Caroline corrected Darcy. "Or else we would not have been able to see the sun rise."
"Did you get up to see the sun rise?" Darcy asked.
"No, we always go for a little walk before breakfast," his cousin replied.
Elizabeth laughed. "It sounds rather funny to say always, considering the number of days you have been married."
"I started the habit before my marriage, you know," Colonel Fitzwilliam said gravely. "And I ordered Caroline to join me."
"I shall humour you this once, Richard, and not insist upon your correcting that into that you actually begged me to come."
"On my knees," Richard added. "Try that once, Darcy."
"I do not believe either of you," Darcy said. "But I suppose it must have been a short night if you were up and about before daylight."
"Oh yes, we went for a walk last night as well, but that does not signify," said Caroline. "We shall sleep in the carriage."
Part 71
Caroline and Colonel Fitzwilliam left shortly after breakfast and fell asleep in the carriage, like Caroline had said they would. That evening they stopped at a respectable inn where they usually stayed whenever they traveled to and from Pemberley. On the second day they reached London in the evening. It had been agreed that they would remain in the Hurst's house until all Caroline's things had been sorted out, and then they would go to Richard's house, which also happened to be in London. Caroline was glad that it was -- she could go on seeing all of her acquaintances, and be in on everything, rather than out of it. She was not sure how she would survive living in a small, dull town. Although this house was not exactly in the most fashionable neighbourhood and when she would go out in the street she would not meet any friends on every corner, it was still to be preferred.
The Hurst's housekeeper was very surprised upon hearing of Miss Bingley's marriage, but she liked the Colonel immediately. All housekeepers seemed to do so, and Mrs. Frost found Mrs. Fitzwilliam much improved under his influence.
The next day there were some legal and financial matters to take care of, and Fitzwilliam had already decided to bypass Bingley, and only take Caroline with him. He had a feeling that she would know more of her own finances than Charles would, and he was not at all surprised when she did.
Caroline found all the legal matters rather boring, but she was gratified that Richard would take her. It was really odd how he would have to say how much money she was to have, when it had basically all been her own money. He was very generous, even wanting to give her more than she used to spend. She knew that she had been spending too much before her marriage, counting on marrying a wealthy man so that there was no reason to guard her fortune. Now it was different -- she had already become less extravagant and it had been ages since she had shopped out of sheer boredom. She could do with less money, and she told him so.
When they had gone over to look at the Colonel's house on the second day in London, an unexpected visitor was announced. Caroline had just been looking around in the hall and the drawing room, which struck her as in need of some improvement, when Lady Catherine sailed in.
"Fitzwilliam," she began imperiously.
"Aunt Catherine."
"Alarming news has reached me. Darcy has married that Miss Bennet. The shades of Pemberley will be irrevocably polluted!"
He said nothing.
"Did you hear me?" Lady Catherine repeated.
"Yes, Aunt Catherine."
"But do you not agree? Darcy was lured by this conniving, man-hunting nobody to break his engagement to my dear Anne! It is unforgivable."
"Darcy was never engaged to Anne," Fitzwilliam objected.
"Yes, he was! And now you shall take Darcy's place."
He stared at his aunt in disbelief. The woman was crazy.
"No, he shall not," Caroline said calmly. "He is mine."
Lady Catherine looked like an overripe tomato about to burst. "What are you suggesting, young lady?"
"I am not suggesting anything. I am merely saying that he is mine."
"Fitzwilliam, what is Miss -- I forgot her name -- doing here?"
"I do not see any Miss."
"That one," Lady Catherine pointed with her finger and gave Caroline a very authoritative stare that was supposed to scare her. "Is she your mistress? I shall not tolerate your philandering when you are my son. Off with you," she waved dismissively at Caroline, "your time has been."
"No, your time has been, Lady Catherine," Caroline said with contempt. "I want you to leave my house and never to come back until you are in full possession of your senses, and you have stopped interfering in your relatives' lives. Good-bye."
"How dare you speak to me like that?" Lady Catherine managed to blurt out.
"Good-bye," Caroline repeated icily with her arms crossed in front of her.
Lady Catherine's eye fell on her wedding ring, and she swelled up in indignant anger. "I wonder how my nephews could have such a predilection for undesirable upstarts. Will the shades of Matlock be polluted too?"
"Yes," said Caroline, "and I am heartily sorry that I do not have a brother to marry Miss De Bourgh and thus pollute Rosings Park as well. Since Miss De Bourgh has no say in this matter, I pray she shall not be destined to be married off to any son Mr. Darcy might have, although I would not put it past you. For the last time, good-bye."
Lady Catherine was speechless, and she walked out without saying another word.
"Goodness," Colonel Fitzwilliam said. "You have just done what our whole family has been dreaming of but never had the courage to do. You have thrown Aunt Catherine out of the house."
"Do not sound so awe-struck. It was quite easy. Why did you not say anything, Richard?"
"She is my aunt," he protested. "And besides, you were handling her very well."
"I hope you do not disapprove of me."
"No. She got what she deserved, and it was quite amusing. Now let me show you the rest of the house."
Caroline thought it was rather small, but then Richard would not have needed a big house. It did exceed her expectations, although she was not quite sure what she had been expecting. He laughed when she told him that. She probably thought he had been living in a tent or something like that. It was a relief to him that she did not seem to mind to be living there. He did not know what he would have done if she had disapproved of his house and asked him to buy a suitable one.
Part 72
Caroline had persuaded Richard to take her to the theatre that evening. "No better way to spread the good news than a night at the theatre," he grinned when he saw a vague acquaintance give him a curious look when they walked in. He felt Caroline squeeze his arm as if to signal something, and when he looked around he saw Mrs. Payne and her daughter approaching. "Oh, no," he said under his breath.
"Colonel!" Miss Payne cried.
"Miss Payne, Mrs. Payne," he said politely.
"How have you been? Will you join us again?"
"I am afraid I must decline, Miss Payne," he said gravely.
"Why?" Miss Payne stamped her foot. She was obviously not used to being denied anything and she gave Caroline an angry glance.
"I am married."
The Paynes laughed affectedly. "That is amusing, Colonel," said Miss Payne. "I am sure your wife would not mind." She knew he could not be married, for they had not heard anything about it, and they knew all there was to know.
"Actually, she does," Caroline spoke up.
"I beg your pardon?" said Mrs. Payne.
"I mind."
"You are too amusing, Miss Bingley," they laughed.
"Mrs. Fitzwilliam, not Miss Bingley," Fitzwilliam said.
"You are married?" Mrs. Payne asked him in horror.
"Did I not say so a minute ago?"
"Y-y-y-es." The Paynes looked embarrassed and shuffled away as soon as possible.
After being assaulted by a few more young ladies before reaching the stairs, the Colonel began to wish he had published the news of his marriage somewhere. "I cannot tell them all in person," he whispered to Caroline. "I think some more drastic action is needed."
"Like what?" she whispered back.
"An action that will ensure that by tea time tomorrow all of London knows we are together," he said mischievously.
Caroline looked intrigued, but she had no idea. "What?"
"A kiss."
"No," she gasped. "No, Richard. Not here. I could not..."
"A very brief one at a well timed moment."
"I would die of embarrassment. I would blush. It would be indecent."
"It would work." They had reached the top of the stairs, and he looked back briefly. Most people seemed to be heading for the stairs, so most eyes were turned in that direction. He paused and whispered, "now." When Caroline looked at him in surprise, he bent forward and kissed her just long enough so all people would have the chance to see it, and then he led the rather shocked Caroline to their box.
"Oh! I cannot believe you did that!" she exclaimed, pressing her hands to her cheeks. "Everybody could see us. Look at me. I must be all red now."
He knew his little trick had worked, however, when most people stared at them curiously, and not one of the usual young ladies came by to talk to him. He saw that Caroline was not very pleased, however. "I am sorry I kissed you, Caroline," he said sincerely, but Caroline was not so easily placated.
"Just because you find it too tiresome to talk to all those girls separately. It is your own fault, because you have always encouraged them," she said gravely. "You used me. I cannot..."
"You cannot what?"
"I cannot approve of that." She looked away from him.
"Caroline..." he pleaded.
"Did I not say no?"
He could not deny that. "I am sorry."
Caroline remained silent and upset until the intermission and Fitzwilliam did not know what to do. He glanced at her a couple of times, but her facial expression did not soften. He remained in the box during the intermission while Caroline left. He could not bear it that she was upset with him. I should not have done it. I should have listened to her.
Caroline found him sitting miserably with his head between his hands and she was a little more favourably disposed to forgiveness. It had not really been as bad that. After all, he only kissed me, and everybody knows we are married now, I just experienced that. He was right, it was a very effective way. But he should have listened to me. That is what I do not like at all.
"Caroline..."
"Yes?"
"I should have asked you."
"Yes?"
"I will, next time."
"Yes?"
"And I will listen to you."
"Yes?"
"And do what you say."
"Yes?"
What more could she want? "And I shall never kiss you again."
"Richard!" she exclaimed. "No."
"Wrong answer?" he smiled.
"Yes!"
"Are you still upset with me?"
"No. Well, a little maybe. No. Not at all. I mean, I was upset, and upset at being upset. Oh! I do not know. Forget it," Caroline said.
They held hands during the rest of the play.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was sitting in bed reading a book while Caroline was still sleeping. Suddenly the door was opened and a woman entered. He recognised her as Mrs. Hurst, and she froze when she saw him. "Good morning," he said cheerfully. Mrs. Hurst shrieked and ran away. The Colonel was infinitely amused, especially when she returned with a reluctant Mr. Hurst.
"Louisa, it is only Darcy's cousin," said Hurst indifferently and Darcy's cousin snorted at this preposterous answer.
"What are you doing in Caroline's bed?" she inquired.
"I am reading a book."
"Where is Caroline?" she shrieked.
He patted the shape under the covers beside him. "Here."
Louisa screamed. "You rogue! Did you take advantage of my sister?"
"Yes," the Colonel replied gravely. "I am dreadfully sorry. I cannot wait to tell all of this to Mrs. Fitzwilliam," he said humourously.
"Thomas, I feel faint," Louisa said as she gripped Mr. Hurst's arm. "My sister is the mistress of a married man! An officer!" She looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam. "How dare you joke about it? You have ruined my sister's reputation."
"She began!" he protested. "She seduced me first."
"Caroline would never do that! You have ruined her and now we cannot even force you to marry her," she wailed.
"No, indeed you could not." And after a pause, "are you not glad then that I already did?"
Louisa fainted into Mr. Hurst's arms, and he stood looking rather sheepishly at his wife. "Much has happened in our absence," he commented as he looked around for a place to put Louisa down.
"Indeed! I heard you are to become a father," the Colonel said.
Hurst put Louisa in a chair. "A boy, I hope. All that screaming is not my cup of tea."
Fitzwilliam watched Hurst as he tried to revive Louisa. "Throw some water over her. I do that every day when my wife faints when I put on my regimentals."
"What?" Caroline emerged from beneath the covers indignantly. "You have not worn them yet!"
"I knew that would draw you out," Fitzwilliam smiled.
"You have not even worn them yet, but if you do, I am sure I will not faint."
Louisa opened her eyes. She looked around her and saw Caroline sitting in the bed next to Fitzwilliam. "I cannot believe it! Caroline! What happened?" she cried in horror.
Part 73
"Louisa! What happened?" Caroline cried back in an equally horrified voice. She looks so bulky!
"What do you mean? And what happened to you?"
"You look so huge! And nothing happened to me!"
"Huge?" Louisa cried indignantly. "I do not look huge!"
Mr. Hurst had mysteriously disappeared from the room when the sisters first raised their voices, and Colonel Fitzwilliam began to think this was a great idea. As amusing as the sisters' conversation would undoubtedly be, he was not very fond of all this screaming either. He slipped out of bed, probably unnoticed anyway, and into Caroline's dressing room to change out of his night clothes. It was better there. He could still hear them, but it was not as loud, and he could not quite make out what they were saying.
"Yes, you do look huge!"
"I am expecting a baby, Caroline!"
"I will never have one if that is the way I will look."
"What was that man doing in your bed?" It was still not very clear to Louisa. "Can we not go to the continent for a few months without you running loose? We come back to find you with an officer! Heaven knows what else you have been up to when we were gone!"
"Oh!" Caroline screamed. "What a fine opinion you have of your sister! I am married!"
"To whom? I remember that you said you would never marry."
"To Richard."
"And who might Richard be?"
Caroline looked beside her, but he was gone. "Well, he is," she gestured at the empty space.
"Are you married to Colonel Fitzwilliam?" Louisa gasped.
"Yes, why else would he be here?"
"What happened to you, Caroline? You would never marry an officer. Father told us --"
"Oh, Father! I wish he had died first and not Mama."
"But, why did you marry a colonel?"
"I did not marry a colonel. I married someone who happens to be a colonel."
Louisa looked puzzled. It was all the same to her. "But you never showed any interest in the man before we left! I do not understand."
"I saw him a few times just before you left," Caroline said. "And then when Charles and Mr. Darcy got married --"
"Good heavens! Who else got married? What else did I miss?"
"Nobody else. So, he came to Netherfield with Georgiana, and there," Caroline shrugged. "It happened."
"What happened?"
"He proposed to me."
"And you accepted?" Louisa asked.
"Obviously."
Louisa sighed and placed her hand on her stomach. "Do you hear that? Aunt Caroline is married to an officer."
Caroline frowned. "Who are you talking to, Louisa?"
"To the baby."
Her sister gave her a pitying look. "Really!"
"She can hear me."
"Louisa! It is not even born yet."
"But she kicks me, and I can feel her move."
The whole idea gave Caroline the shudders. "I do not want to hear it."
"Caro! But it might happen to you one day."
"Oh, no," said Caroline decidedly.
Louisa was disappointed, but she hoped Caroline would recover later. "When did you get married?"
"Wednesday."
"Last Wednesday?" Louisa gasped. "And Charles?"
"About a week before that."
Louisa tried to work out when Caroline had gotten engaged. "You were only engaged for a week?"
"Yes." Caroline saw that her sister looked shocked.
"Just think of what everyone in Town will think!"
"What will they think?"
"That you are pregnant!"
Now it was Caroline's turn to look shocked.
"You will have no lack of callers, dear sister," Louisa said. "Everyone will want to know."
Colonel Fitzwilliam dressed himself and went downstairs. He assumed Caroline and her sister would have many things to talk about, so he went in search of Mr. Hurst. He was seated in the library, sighing, but he joined Fitzwilliam when the latter announced he was going to have breakfast. They shared a bond now, with their wives both having a fit of nerves.
"That must have been quite a shock for Mrs. Hurst," Fitzwilliam said sympathetically. "I wonder why the housekeeper did not inform you of our marriage."
"She told Louisa that Caroline was here, and that was all. Pooh, I am glad I got away," said Mr. Hurst.
"You can say that again."
"Do you know, I always thought Caroline would never marry and that we or Bingley would be stuck with her forever."
"Would that be so bad?"
"Look at this room. There is not a chair or table where it was before I left. She even moved my favourite chair," Mr. Hurst complained. "But I am sure you will not mind all that if you love her."
"No, I certainly do not mind her moving your favourite chair."
"Louisa said we will have a daughter," Mr. Hurst said morosely. "That would be another screaming woman in the house. Do you think she can really know?"
"I do not know anything about it," the Colonel confessed.
"She said it kicked. Girls do not kick, do they?" Mr. Hurst asked hopefully.
"What do you mean that it kicked?"
"Well, here," the other indicated his stomach. "She feels little kicks."
"How very interesting. From the inside?"
"Well, yes," Mr. Hurst said with a puzzled look. "It is in there, is it not?"
"I told you I did not know anything, or not much, rather. I never knew it could kick! Maybe I kicked my mother as well. I must ask her. How very interesting," Fitzwilliam repeated.
"So, do you think it will be a boy if it kicks?"
"That is possible, I suppose. I am sure that kicking girls do not scream, though. That must be a comfort." He frowned because he feared he was talking complete nonsense. "Do you think this will happen to Caroline?"
"Well, one thing usually leads to another. It is not unlikely."
"How very interesting," he said for the third time.
Part 74
All of Caroline's belongings had been moved to her husband's house, and they would now be living there. She sat writing a letter to some distant relatives to inform them of her marriage, while he sat reading the newspaper.
"Why does everybody react so strangely to our marriage?" Caroline asked him. She wondered what her aunts would write back.
"Not everybody."
"True, but my sister did...and she is the one that is supposed to know me best. I had not thought she would scream so."
"I had not thought you would, either," Colonel Fitzwilliam said under his breath.
"I heard that, Richard."
"You were meant to hear it. Come here, Caroline." He pulled her onto his lap. "Your sister will get used to the idea, and if she does not, you will still have me. You will always have me."
"You are such a sweetie."
"A what?" he laughed incredulously.
Caroline turned red. "I am sorry. That just slipped out."
"You are..."
She looked at him questioningly.
"Uhh...I am not used to using that kind of words in daylight," he apologised.
"You are silly," she said, and gave him a kiss.
"I am back on duty tomorrow," Richard said.
"What will I do?"
He grinned mischievously. "Whatever you wish, of course. Rearranging furniture, shopping, visiting friends..."
"Who told you about the furniture?"
"Hurst did. He was rather put out that you moved his favourite chair."
"Pff," said Caroline. "What if I move yours?"
"That would depend on where you move it to. If it is a better place, I would thank you. If it is a worse place, I would move it back."
"I always knew you would be more sensible than Mr. Hurst."
He groaned. "That is a fine comparison." Hurst had struck him as nice enough, but rather simple.
"You are generally more appealing than Mr. Hurst," Caroline said comfortingly.
"That is nice to know."
The next morning the Colonel had to return to his regiment. He had to get up rather early, and Caroline joined him for breakfast. Suddenly he spoke. "Come with me this morning, Caroline."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Come with me."
"Why?" Caroline was not really enthusiastic about going to army barracks.
"It might be useful to know where you can find me in case of an emergency."
"It is not somewhere I wish to be seen."
Fitzwilliam sighed. "By whom?"
"By...," she shrugged. "friends."
"Tell me what they would be doing there if they disapprove of it. Lying in wait for someone to show his face so they can gossip about it? They are hardly worthy of being called friends if they do that. But it is fine if you do not wish to come."
"No, I will come," Caroline said hastily. Something struck her. He always suggested rather odd things, but she could never find a fault with his reasoning. It was rather vexing that she always ended up doing what he proposed, no matter how odd it sounded.
"Good," he smiled widely. "We shall make a little inspection, have some coffee and I shall return you personally, or have you returned here by someone, around midday."
"What do you mean, someone?"
"I could ask some officers to escort my wife on her walk home," he said mischievously, knowing what her reaction would be.
Caroline gasped. "Do you mean walking the streets with officers? For everybody to see?"
"What can be so bad about that?" he struggled not to laugh. "I do it all the time."
"Yes, but you --" she began, and then she saw him smile. "Not again!"
Part 75
Colonel Fitzwilliam had not put his coat on for breakfast, so when he and Caroline went upstairs afterwards to get ready, he looked at her with a mischievous expression.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
"Nothing," he chuckled as he pulled on his coat.
"I will not faint," Caroline said solemnly. "Even if you do look gorgeous."
He raised his eyebrows.
"But I am really not in the mood to have you throw water at me."
"Is that the only thing that is keeping you from fainting?"
"Yes, of course, Richard."
"I am surprised," Richard said with a grin. "I had not thought you were the fainting type."
All the men they encountered saluted their colonel respectfully, and they all stared interestedly at Caroline. "Everybody is looking at me like they have never seen a woman," she remarked to him in a low voice.
"That is because it is true that they have never seen a woman. Here, with me, I mean."
She watched Richard as he spoke to some of his officers. They too were giving her curious glances, but they were higher up in the hierarchy, so they dared to ask him. "Colonel, did anything interesting happen during your leave?"
"Why do you ask, Captain?"
"Uhh," said the captain. He did not want to say the wrong thing when he did not know who the lady was and what she was doing there. "I am only interested, Colonel."
"I gathered as much," Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled. "Are you interested in what I did during my leave, or why I brought a lady?"
"I am interested in what you did during your leave, sir," said the captain, and some of the other men smirked.
"Really!" he said, and he winced inwardly at the use of this typical Caroline word. "I wonder why that appears to be so interesting."
"I do not know, sir."
"I am sure the Colonel intends to inform you of the particulars," Caroline interjected. "Once he has had enough amusement, but as you might know, it takes very long before he reaches that point."
The men looked stunned. Caroline did not know if it was because she had opened her mouth, or because of what she had said.
The Colonel himself saw that he had better interfere lest Caroline do some verbal harm to his image, which was rather important in the army. "My leave was very pleasant. Did anything out of the ordinary happen here?"
"The lieutenant-colonel had three privates flogged for being late, and Corporal Jones shot himself in the foot during a drill," said the major.
Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded appreciatively. Things had been all right in his absence. Of course, it was a bit sour for Corporal Jones, but he would survive. There had been clumsy oafs who had shot themselves in their feet before. "Very well, Major. See to it that Mrs. Fitzwilliam and I have some coffee when we return from our little tour." He saluted his men and walked away with Caroline, leaving his inferiors to wonder where he gotten himself a wife at such short notice.
"You did not sound too shocked upon hearing that privates were flogged," Caroline said to him.
"Neither would you, in my position. They should follow the rules. In case of war we cannot have all the men do as they please."
"Will you go to war?" she asked anxiously.
"Not unless they have a particular need of me," he assured her. "Perhaps Napoleon will soon be beaten. I heard the people in the occupied countries are beginning to revolt."
"They must be, if they cannot even export their products." She saw him give her a interested glance. "I have a little shop where I sometimes buy presents, and I noticed the prices of delftware had gone up tremendously, but then the shop owner explained that Napoleon forbade Holland to trade with England, so that it was more expensive to get them. I hope you do not go to war."
"Neither do I. I have already been, and once is quite enough, if I could choose it. But unfortunately I cannot."
Caroline's eyes fell on a group of men who were running in an orderly way. "What are they doing?"
"They are exercising. A soldier must be fit."
"Do you do that too? I thought colonels got to sit on a horse."
"Usually they do, but something can happen to the horse, and if you are a fat old man, you might have a problem in such a case."
After their little tour they had a little coffee with the officers, who turned out to be reasonably pleasant men. Colonel Fitzwilliam asked two of them, the most trustworthy, to escort Caroline home because he had many things to do.
In the afternoon she was visited by some people who were all very curious. Some had also left their cards in the morning, so it appeared that Louisa had been right. She would have no lack of callers, even if she did not know half of them. There were some men who came to see Richard, and appeared very surprised that he was not there and that he had a wife. Caroline was not fooled. She had seen one of them at the theatre, and he was obviously sent by his wife. She could not come herself, because it would be improper to visit a single man in case he were not married after all.
Late in the afternoon she received a little note. It had been delivered to the Hursts' house, but Louisa had sent someone over to Caroline with it.
My dear Caroline,Are you back in town? I happened to be driving through a less agreeable part of Town and I could swear I saw you walking there with two officers. Is it not funny? Do not worry! I know a dear friend of mine would never do such a thing. I hope we shall soon meet, for I have seen a most agreeable single Duke for you! Other friends have begged me to introduce them to him, but I thought of you first.
Your friend,
Annabella
Caroline was not even offended. Her marriage would surely separate the wheat from the chaff as far as acquaintances were concerned. She doubted not that Annabella would drop her as soon as she found out about her marriage, but she did not care. It was amazing how quick the note had been delivered, only a few hours after she had been seen. There would probably even more callers tomorrow if Annabella gossiped as fast as she wrote.
Part 76
"How did you like being escorted home by two officers, Caroline? Was it enough, or shall I give you an escort of four or six next time?"
"Richard, I was seen," Caroline said gravely.
"Oh dear." His face brightened at a thought. "Are you not glad that they were the handsomest officers I had at hand?"
Caroline smiled in spite of herself. "I received a little note. Would you like to read it?"
"Who is it from?"
"A former friend called Annabella who is now a Duchess."
"That tells me quite enough, I think," Colonel Fitzwilliam said. Caroline handed him the note and he read it. "She is very clear about it, is she not? If I had to reproduce this in my own words I would say: I saw you with two officers. You are no longer my friend."
"That is what I read. She used to be a friend of mine last year, but I do not know why because she is extremely silly."
He was glad she saw it. "And how about this Duke? I am rather suspicious about people offering you Dukes. Does she not know you are married?"
"I am not certain, but I shall write her a note to inform her." Caroline sat down to write a note and when it was finished she handed it to her husband.
My dear Annabella,I do not need a Duke when I have a Colonel.
Your friend,
Caroline Fitzwilliam.
"That is a very short note," he said in amusement.
"Does she deserve a longer one? I think not."
He grinned. "Certainly not. What did you do today?"
"I kept receiving visitors, and I did not know half of them. They told me they were friends of yours, but in that case would they not have known you would be away during the day?"
"They should have known that that would be very likely. Did they want anything special?"
Caroline grimaced at him. "Nothing but a confirmation of rumours, I suppose. I told them we were really married, and some had the audacity to ask me why it was so quick. I told them that we could not think of any reasons for a long engagement. There will be more callers tomorrow, I think. Look at this pile of cards that were left this morning here and at Louisa's."
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked through the cards and divided them into three piles he pushed back to Caroline. "Yes, no, and uncertain," he said.
Caroline moved some of the uncertain pile to one of the others. The no pile was the highest and she stared at it. "It is their loss. I do not need them," she tried to sound convinced, but in reality she felt a little betrayed by some people she thought were her friends. Now it turned out they had only liked her because she was rich and pretty.
"Good girl. You will get over it." He placed his hand over hers reassuringly. "How do you think I feel when I see the cards of some people who only called because I have a rich wife now, when they have never bothered to call before?"
"The reverse too?" She sighed. "Is there anyone who is happy?"
"Yes, I am."
"I did not mean you," Caroline smiled. "Although it is very pleasant to hear."
"My mother, my sister, Georgiana, Mr. Hurst..."
"Mr. Hurst?" Caroline exclaimed. "Is this because I will now leave his furniture alone?"
"I think so."
"Oh!" Caroline cried, greatly vexed with her brother-in-law. Dinner was announced and they moved to the dining room. "Did you always dine alone before you had me, Richard?"
Richard looked amused. "You make it sound as if you are some kind of puppy. No, I did not always dine alone."
"Are you comparing me to a dog?"
"No, your table manners are much better," he grinned. "I used to dine with some of the officers a few times a week, and with other people. We have a dinner engagement for Friday, by the way."
"Where?"
"At my sister's."
"Oh! That will be nice."
Part 77
Friday arrived swiftly. Caroline had had to deal with more visitors, she had paid some calls herself, tried to get used to being mistress of a different house, and by the end of Friday afternoon she was socially exhausted. It had been more than even Caroline could take to explain the same thing over and over again while trying to remain civil. She hoped that everybody's curiosity would soon be satisfied, and that they would give her some peace. She counted the dinner party at Catherine's as a diversion, because she liked Catherine. Catherine would not ask indirect questions to determine if Richard had married her for her money or not. Caroline did not know if there would be more guests, but she was glad that she would at least have the opportunity to leave the explaining to Richard for once, as much as she liked talking.
As soon as they had arrived and greeted their hosts, Colonel Fitzwilliam excused himself and bounded up the stairs. Caroline stared after him in some confusion. Catherine saw her look and smiled. "The nursery. Robert would be very upset if he did not come."
"Oh."
"But come, let me introduce you to our other guests."
The other guests turned out to be two couples in their thirties, the ladies of whom were very nice as far as Caroline could tell from the introduction. The men did not say much.
"My brother is checking up on my son. I expect he will be here shortly," Catherine told them.
Meanwhile, they made some polite conversation on many subjects, but to Caroline's relief spoke not about her marriage. The Colonel only came down until just before dinner, with an apologetic smile. "I am sorry. I had to give my opinion on two hundred drawings, and Robert would not settle for mere words of one syllable."
"How does one give one's opinion on a child's drawing?" Caroline whispered to him as they went into dinner. She was not sure she would be able to do that.
Fitzwilliam gave her a mysterious smile but said nothing. Caroline thought this was highly suspicious, but she only found out when they were leaving what he had meant when Robert came home with them.
"The nanny is ill and Philip and I have an engagement we have to leave town for, and we simply cannot take Robert," Catherine had explained to her brother before he had gone upstairs. "Richard, would you mind terribly if he stayed with you a few days?"
"You know I would not mind, but Caroline will kill me if I say anything without consulting her," he had answered.
"Shall I ask her then?"
"You had best wait until after dinner, I think. Until right before we leave."
Right before they were leaving, Catherine approached Caroline and asked her the same question, saying that Richard did not mind. Caroline was taken by surprise, but she thought it would be very childish to say no, if he had already said yes. It was his nephew after all. And so, they went home with Robert and his belongings.
Caroline left Robert to the care of his uncle that evening. Colonel Fitzwilliam got him into bed with a story. Later, when they were in bed he asked her if she did not mind.
"No," she lied.
"I know you mind, Caroline."
"Then why do you ask?" she snapped, much harsher than she intended. "And why did you not say anything when I said yes if you knew I minded? Now I shall be stuck with it and you know I do not know what to do or say to it."
"It?"
"Robert."
He did not know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that Caroline would have to spend all day with Robert. If Robert behaved, she might become a little more at ease with children. If he misbehaved, however, she would probably not want to have any herself and that would be a problem. But Robert had behaved very well so far. Fitzwilliam saw no reason to suspect that it would be otherwise tomorrow.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had breakfast with Caroline the next morning. He kissed her good-bye after breakfast and wished her luck. They had not woken Robert up yet, because Caroline was determined to let him sleep as long as possible, so he would not bother her. She sat reading in the drawing room for a long while until she heard a lot of noise coming from upstairs. "Oh no! He is awake," she moaned, and went up to investigate.
Part 78
Robert had been building a tent by draping his bedclothes over a chair and a table, and keeping them in place by placing a vase on top of the whole construction. The vase had tumbled, hence the noise Caroline had heard, and Robert was nowhere to be seen. Caroline looked into the tent, but he was not there. "Robert?" No answer. She walked through the house calling him, even looking for him in the kitchen, but he was nowhere. Please tell me he has not run away. She tried to imagine breaking the news to Catherine and panicked. She went back to his room because that was where the noise had come from, and called a little more friendly this time. From under the bed came a stifled sob. He is still here! Caroline dropped to her knees beside the bed and tried to coax him out. That proved to be a difficult thing, as he was sure he would receive a beating once he did so. How humiliating to lie here pleading the wretched child to come out.
"Robert? Robert, come out. Come out now!" she ordered. "Robert? Come out, please? Please?"
"I do not want to."
"Why not?"
"I did not do it!"
"Do what?"
"I did not do it!"
Oh, the vase! He must be talking about the vase. Blast that vase, just come out! "I know. Come out!"
"I do not want to be punished."
"I will not punish you."
Robert crawled out from under the bed and Caroline saw that he was still in his nightgown. She rang for her maid to get him dressed, and left Robert with her while she went down to calm her nerves with some coffee. Half an hour later her maid came down. "He will not cooperate, Madam. He keeps screaming when I come near him."
Caroline dismissed her with a sigh and cursed Robert, Richard, Catherine, Philip, and the people they had to go to visit. She went upstairs and found the boy doing acrobatics on the bed. It was December, and she seriously wondered how he could do that without being cold. "Why are you not dressed?"
"Mama always dresses me, but she is not here."
"Get dressed."
"I cannot do that myself."
Caroline wanted to scream. I have to do it? "Come here." He obeyed and stood before her. "Where are your clothes?"
"There," he pointed to a neat pile.
It proved to be an arduous task to get him into his clothes, because he was easily distracted and rather uncooperative, hanging onto her arms and gown for support. It took her half an hour to make him presentable.
Caroline was very pleased with herself for having accomplished that, but the next problem was breakfast. Robert, it turned out, was a difficult eater. He did not like anything and he made a mess of the dining table. Caroline insisted that he finish his plate, but in the end it looked like the contents were on the table and on the ground rather than in his stomach.
After breakfast Robert announced that he wanted to play outside with Harry. Caroline had no idea who Harry was, but she was sure he was not around. "Harry is not here."
"Yes, he is. I always play with Harry."
"You are not at home now."
"Harry does not mind," he said confidently. "He knows where Uncle Fitzwilliam lives."
"Harry is not here."
Robert's lip began to tremble.
Do not start to cry! He draws, does he not? Caroline thought frantically. "Do you want to draw?"
His face brightened. "Yes."
Caroline got him some paper and drawing material and set him down at the table. This kept him busy for about half an hour until he had finished his drawing. "Aunt Fitzwilliam, I have made a drawing for you. Look!"
Caroline looked, but could not make anything of it.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, it is very nice," she said weakly.
"Do you know who it is?"
Caroline peered at the drawing but saw nothing that resembled a human being.
"You are holding it upside down!" he cried indignantly.
"Oh," Caroline said embarrassedly.
"You are stupid."
"Oh."
She was immensely relieved when Louisa called on her a little later. "Louisa! I am so glad to see you. I cannot do this. It is awful."
"What is awful? Oh, what a pretty drawing you have there," Louisa said to Robert. "Who is that?" she said, pointing at a scratch.
"That is me," Robert said proudly.
Caroline listened to their talk with an open mouth. How did Louisa know there was a human being in that drawing? Why could I not see it? "How did you know it was a person, Louisa?"
"Because there are two eyes and a mouth."
"I am a disaster," Caroline said sadly. "Look at everything that goes wrong, and he calls me stupid too. He hates me."
Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived home and the first person he encountered was his housekeeper Mrs. Foster. "Did any great disasters happen while I was away?" he asked. He hoped fervently that all had been well.
"No sir, fortunately they were only minor disasters."
He closed his eyes. "Such as?"
"Your nephew made a terrible mess of his room this morning, then he hid himself, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam could not find him. When she had found him, he refused to let the maid dress him, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam had to do it herself."
"Did they both survive that?" he asked, dreading the answer. Caroline dressed him? Caroline?
Mrs. Foster smiled at his fears. "Without a scratch, amazingly enough. After that he made a mess of the breakfast table. Mrs. Fitzwilliam has had him with her in the drawing room ever since, and your sister-in-law joined them there."
"Let us hope..." he stared at the door to the drawing room and wondered what they were doing. "All right. I had better go and see what they are doing." He opened the door and stepped into the room.
As soon as Caroline saw him, she ran towards him and flung her arms around his neck. "Oh Richard," she sobbed. "I tried, honestly, but everything goes wrong. I am not cut out for this sort of thing." After that, she left the room, leaving him stunned.
Richard looked at Mrs. Hurst, who was quietly observing Robert drawing. Things looked peaceful enough. "What was that all about?" he asked.
"She is convinced that she does everything wrong, and that he hates her," Louisa replied.
Robert raised his head from his drawing. "Is my aunt angry with me?"
"Robert," said Fitzwilliam sternly. "Did you give your aunt any trouble?"
"I hid under the bed," he confessed. "I like Aunt Fitzwilliam. Shall I make her a drawing?"
"Yes, do that," his uncle told him and turned to Louisa. "Is she always like this around children?"
Louisa caught his worried tone. "She is never around children." She watched him for a bit, and with a smile she added, "since I shall soon have a child, I hope, perhaps I ought to invite Caroline very often."
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled gratefully.
Robert ascended the stairs and looked for Caroline. Her door was open, so this was easy. She was standing at the window looking out, and she nearly jumped when she felt a tug at her gown.
"Are you still angry with me? I made a drawing for you."
"I was not angry with you."
They sat down in two chairs and Caroline studied the drawing. She now knew how Robert drew people, so she had no problem in discerning at least two people. One of them was small. "That is you," she said.
"Yes," he said with an expectant look.
"And that is..." The other person had a gown on, apparently, and lines sprouting from her head. "Me?" He did see me with my hair loose, although it was hanging down rather than standing up.
"Yes! When we were playing at grandmama's house." He looked delighted that she got it right.
Caroline looked delighted for the same reason. She took him downstairs to her husband and her sister, who were talking. "Richard, since you will be home tomorrow, he will be yours all day," she warned him. Her words did not alarm him, because she looked much brighter, although he knew she meant that she could not entertain Robert another day without going mad.
Part 79
The next day Richard took care of Robert, so Caroline did not have to worry about keeping him busy. They were playing somewhere else in the house while Caroline sat reading in the study. At some point, however, she needed something from her bedchamber so she went upstairs. As soon as she set foot on the landing she was frightened out of her wits by a piercing scream and something that jumped forward. It was Robert, of course. Nobody else was that small. "Your money or your life," he said threateningly.
"Good grief!" Caroline cried. "Do you want me dead, Robert?"
"Robin!"
"Robin?"
"I am Robin Hood," he declared seriously. "Your money or your life," he repeated. "You are not allowed to pass through Sherwood Forest."
Caroline giggled at his seriousness. "Ask your King, or whatever he poses as. He has what you want."
"I want money!" Robert barred her way.
"Do you have a King?"
"Yes, but he is in his bedchamber."
"Go to your King and ask him what to do with the Queen. I shall wait here," Caroline said.
Robert ran away swiftly and returned a few moments later. "The King says to take you prisoner." He grabbed her hand and started to drag her towards her bedchamber. Caroline let herself be dragged along and she pressed a hand to her mouth when she spotted Richard sitting at his writing desk with a bedspread around his shoulders .
He got up when they entered and smirked at them. "So this is the disloyal subject who refuses to pay, Robin?" he asked gravely.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Robert said. "Shall I throw her in prison?" he asked eagerly.
Caroline wondered where the prison was, and exactly how often they played this game.
"No, not so fast. This is a big catch, after all."
"Yes," Robert agreed. "She is much taller than Mrs. Foster."
"Uhh, yes," Richard was thrown slightly off balance by this observation and Caroline suppressed a grin. "The prisoner has the nerve to laugh at me, Robin. What shall we do?"
"Rob her!"
"Good idea."
"I have no money," Caroline objected.
"Then it would indeed be difficult to steal it. Throw her in prison, Robin," Colonel Fitzwilliam ordered with sparkling eyes.
Robert yelled in delight, and pulled Caroline towards the bed. "Get on it," he said. She obeyed and he closed the curtains around her.
"Now, Robin," she heard the King say. "You must distribute these objects among the poor down in the kitchen, to Mrs. Foster in particular."
"Yes, Your Majesty." His footsteps receded.
One of the curtains was pulled aside. "How is the prisoner?"
Caroline snorted. "Richard! Get rid of that bedspread, please! You look like an idiot."
"It is my cloak!"
"How often do you play this game?"
"Robert loves it, so he plays it very often. Usually he plays it with Prince John and sometimes Maid Marian, but since Prince John has temporarily abducted Maid Marian to the countryside, I returned from my crusades."
"Oh," Caroline grinned. "I thought the King was supposed to be good? Why does he throw me in prison?"
"So he can torture you." He got on the bed and kissed her.
"Your Majesty?" came Robert's voice.
The Colonel pulled away from Caroline and sat up straight. "Yes, Robin?"
"Where are you?"
"I am torturing the prisoner."
"Oh! Can I see?"
"No." He pulled open the curtains and slid off the bed.
"Your cloak, Richard," Caroline whispered and handed him the bedspread.
"Thank you, prisoner," he said with a wink, and adjusted it around his shoulders again.
"Do you have her money?" Robert asked.
"Yes, I do."
Robert stood frowning for a while. "I want to draw again, Aunt Fitzwilliam."
"Oh!" said Caroline, a little surprised. "Are we back to normal now?"
"One can never tell when that will happen," Richard said with a smile.
"I want to draw! Can I draw?" Robert asked.
"Yes, you can," Caroline said to him. She turned to her husband and pulled the bedspread off him. "Ugh! Away with that thing."
Part 80
Bingley opened the letter he had received from Caroline. He quickly read his way through the usual reminders of things he should do before he got to the good parts. He laughed out loud when she described the scene at Louisa's house. His newest brother-in-law was certainly someone who liked a good laugh. Much better than his other brother-in-law who was rather dull in Bingley's honest opinion, although the fact that Hurst had actually spoken during the memorable event was a pleasant surprise.
He had another letter too, from Louisa. Apart from expressing her surprise and her congratulations on his marriage, it contained a description of the same scene.
...Yesterday I walked into her room like we were used to doing, and I got the biggest fright in my life for none other than Colonel Fitzwilliam was sitting in her bed reading. I screamed, and went to get Thomas so he could do something about it.
Here Bingley snorted. He could not see Hurst be of much use in such a situation.
I kept thinking, " what has he done to Caroline? What has Caroline done?" and he did not deny anything when I asked him if he had taken advantage of my sister. I was so shocked that I fainted. And then she said they were married. I still cannot believe it. My sister, my sister who has always looked down on officers, has married one, and I still do not know why it all had to happen so fast! Within a week? It is very frightening to return after such a long time to find Caroline almost a completely different person. I heard this morning that they kissed in the theatre for everyone to see. This does not sound like Caroline at all...
"Indeed it does not!" Bingley remarked. "I would have believed that of Darcy, but Caroline and Fitzwilliam? They show more verbal than physical action."
"What are you talking about, Charles?" Jane asked curiously.
"Caroline's scandalous adventures in London. Here. Read their letters."
Caroline received a reply from Charles fairly soon. She was glad to hear something from him for she had not expected him to reply within a fortnight, and she was determined to write back immediately.
My dear Charles,I hope this letter finds you and Jane in good health. Yes, I am still happy, but very tired. My sister-in-law asked if we could look after her small son for a few days. Oh Charles! You do not want to know about the chaos he inflicted upon me when Richard was out during the day. I cannot handle a child -- he never spilled his food when Richard was present, it has to be my fault. I was so relieved that Richard was there on Sunday because he knows how to play with Robert. He is amazing -- not only did he convince me to see the barracks (and you know me), but I also let myself get involved in a game with him and Robert, which was rather amusing too (because of Richard?). By the way, Charles, was this the kind of "scandalous behaviour" you kept referring to in your letter? I am afraid I do not know what you mean by it. Surely you know me too well to think I could ever do anything scandalous? If Louisa thinks it scandalous that I share a bedchamber with my husband (this is the only things that resembles a scandal that I can come up with that she knows about), well, then all I can say is that she should not point her finger at me when she herself is so huge that it looks as if she is about to explode.
If you come to London you must visit me. Many people will not call on me anymore, and even if they were apparently not real friends anyway, they at least gave me something to do. I do not mean that I am bored, I have much to do, but I would not mind the occasional friend. I hope you still find the society in Meryton agreeable. Are you thinking of fixing there forever? Knowing you, I suppose you have not given that much thought. Are you running Netherfield well?
Your sister, &c.
Caroline wanted to write some more letters, but Richard's return made her postpone that to the following day. She saw so little of him during the day, that she would usually go up with him when he went to change, much to his secret pleasure.
"I got a letter from Charles," she said to him as he changed out of his uniform.
"Does he write anything interesting?"
"He writes that Louisa wrote that I behaved scandalously."
"What? You? Never!" he said with great certainty.
"Really?"
"Really. If anyone is scandalous, it must be me."
"Why?" Caroline asked.
"Because...I am glad we shall not have Robert next Sunday."
"And this is a scandalous thought?"
"Certainly."
"I thought you liked him."
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled at her. "My dear Caroline, I like you better."
"Even if I let him make a mess of everything?"
"Because you let him make a mess of everything."
"Really! So you were cheering when you found out he had broken a vase?" Caroline asked sarcastically.
"That means I should be cheering right now, because right now is when I find out about it. And did you know, I am starting to take over your favourite words? I keep saying really!"
Part 81
Two weeks later Colonel Fitzwilliam received a letter from his cousin Anne. "Anne is desperate," he told Caroline.
"Who is Anne?"
"My cousin, Anne De Bourgh."
"Why is she desperate?"
"Aunt Catherine is trying to find her a suitable husband."
"Has she run out of suitable nephews then?"
"We sell like hot cakes. A person has to act quickly to acquire one, like you did."
Caroline slapped his knee. "Really! You make it sound as if you would have had a whole queue of possible buyers. That is so arrogant! You would become positively insufferable with a wife who adored your every word."
"Do you mean you do not adore me?" he asked sadly. "Of all the women, I had to marry the only one who does not adore me?"
"Yes," Caroline lied, because she did adore him. "It serves you right. Someone must keep you in check."
"How are you progressing so far?" he asked in an interested voice.
"It is difficult," she nodded seriously. "But I am learning."
"Learning?" Richard looked amused. "I thought you were naturally proficient."
"Flattery..."
"It is not flattery. Did you like me when you first saw me?"
"I did not see you when I first saw you," Caroline said gravely.
"Whenever you first saw me, then."
"Richard, I thought you were extremely annoying."
"And you tried to make me less so, and I tried the same with you. Which means I must have liked you, or I would not have bothered. If you work along the same principles, you must have liked me too."
"Yes, I think I must have, but I still found you annoying."
He smiled at her. "Now, about Anne..."
"What does she want you to do?"
"She wants to know if she can come here when Aunt Catherine carries her schemes through."
"Oh Richard! Do let her come! By all means. I would love having someone to talk to during the day, and I cannot always go out to visit people. Louisa is always busy with buying things for the baby and she has discovered that one of her neighbours is also with child, so they are always talking about it. I now know all kinds of things I do not want to know."
"You never know if they might come in useful." He knew he was treading on dangerous ground here.
"No," Caroline said abruptly.
"Caroline, are you lonely?"
"No."
"You know the commissioned officers' wives get together once a week, because you went there once. Why did you never go more often?"
"They were all looking at me like they resented my presence," Caroline sighed.
"That is because the colonel's wife is supposed to be the informal leader. I can imagine them fearing that you will upset their old ways. Especially Mrs. Granger, since she has been the one with the highest ranked husband for so long."
"I have no intention of upsetting any old ways, and why should I be leading? I do not know anything! I am sure they all thought I was terribly stupid, because I had no idea about ranks and such, and which was higher, a major or a captain. Consequently, I did not go there anymore."
"With the result that everybody now thinks you think yourself well above their level, as a colonel's wife," Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
"If only they knew," she sighed.
"What?" he asked mockingly. "That you lowered yourself to become a colonel's wife? That would make matters even worse."
"All right, all right. I shall go next time. But am I expected to...what am I expected to do?"
"I happen to have heard that you are supposed to host the next gathering," he said with a twinkle.
"Me?"
"Yes, the ladies take turns, you see. One of the officers came up to ask me about it, because his wife had not received an invitation yet, while on the list it said it was your turn."
"Which list?" Caroline cried in distress. "Oh, that list! I did not look at it in great detail. Oh! I do not even know their names. How could I invite them? When am I supposed to have this gathering?"
"On Friday, and do not worry. I know their names," the Colonel reassured her. "You can manage to arrange this before Friday, can you not?"
"Oh Richard...am I disgracing you terribly?"
"Not terribly, no."
"Yes, I am. They will hold you responsible for my actions. I am sorry," Caroline said. "I shall try to prevent it from happening as much as possible."
Colonel Fitzwilliam took care of the distribution of the invitations. "Ahh," said his lieutenant-colonel upon receiving one, "Mrs. Granger wondered if Mrs. Fitzwilliam would ever be hosting a gathering this week."
"I must apologise on Mrs. Fitzwilliam's behalf. She did not look at the list properly."
"In other words, Colonel, you had to tell her it was her turn."
"Mrs. Fitzwilliam needs a little time to adjust to her new situation, which is only natural. I do not blame her for overlooking certain things, Lieutenant-Colonel," Colonel Fitzwilliam said coolly.
"Neither do I or Mrs. Granger, Sir," Granger hastened to say. From what he had heard about Mrs. Fitzwilliam she was a sharp-tongued, fashionable lady of about twenty-five, so hardly a young and ignorant girl who had no clue what to do. And he knew one thing more now: Mrs. Fitzwilliam had the Colonel completely in her pocket.
Caroline had prepared everything for the little gathering she was to host, and now she was waiting for her guests to arrive. She really owed much to Richard, she thought with affection. He had helped her with the invitations and other things she needed help with. That had really been very sweet of him.
The first one to arrive was a nervous-looking girl who introduced herself as Mrs. Daley. Caroline was certain that she had not seen Mrs. Daley the previous time. "I hope I am not too early," Mrs. Daley apologised anxiously.
"Not at all."
"I have never been to one of these things, Mrs. Fitzwilliam," Mrs. Daley confessed. "I do not know anyone."
"I have only been once myself."
"I got married only two weeks ago, and I do not know the first thing about the military yet."
"I got married about five weeks ago," Caroline smiled. "And I still do not know anything."
Mrs. Daley looked relieved. "I am so glad. I was really nervous about meeting the colonel's wife, because I had thought she would be an older woman who would look down on me. I had not thought you would be young. The only colonel I ever saw was at least fifty."
"I take it your husband is not yet fifty then?" Caroline laughed. Mrs. Daley herself was about twenty, she guessed.
"Oh, no. He but a few years older than I am, but I hope I did not offend you. What if your husband were fifty?"
"Eeew," said Caroline. "Thank goodness he is not old. I could not imagine a husband twice my age," and she and Mrs. Daley both laughed.
The next visitor had red hair, which meant that it had to be Mrs. Granger. Richard had told her Mrs. Granger was a redhead. She greeted Mrs. Granger, who appeared to be in her late thirties, and introduced her to Mrs. Daley.
"Mrs. Granger," Caroline began. "I just want you to know that I did not marry my husband so I could play a colonel's wife. Personally the position leaves me quite cold, but from what he has said I understand there is more to being the wife of a colonel, although I do not know exactly what."
"Did he not tell you?"
"I am not sure he knows it himself since I am his first wife."
Mrs. Granger offered to make military matters clearer to them the following day, and both young ladies expressed their thanks.
The three other ladies arrived shortly. Caroline had wondered if there were so few officers, but then she realised that not all of them were married yet. The ladies were not unsympathetic, and Caroline did enjoy their visit. It would be nice to get to know some people here, and she was glad that she had made Mrs. Daley's acquaintance, for it meant that she would not be the only clueless person.
Caroline went upstairs to tend to a broken nail later that day. She rummaged aimlessly through a few drawers containing her clothes and personal belongings afterwards, and suddenly encountered a few things she had not had to use since her marriage. Caroline froze and a cold fear gripped her heart.
Nooooo! Please, no!
She knew very well what this could imply -- she might be expecting a child. Gripping the drawer tight so she would not fall, she tried to remember when it had last happened.
I missed one month, but that can happen, can it not? There may not be anything wrong. I hope there is nothing wrong. I must await next month.
Caroline leant her head against the chest. She felt she could not tell Richard anything while she was not sure. Even if she was sure, she could not tell him, she felt. He would be happy, and she could not.
Caroline had not told Colonel Fitzwilliam about her fears, but after two days he had noticed there was something that bothered her. Sometimes when she was lost in thought there was a look of despair on her face. There was nothing wrong with her behaviour, however, and so he wondered if he had not fancied too much. Perhaps he had mistaken her expression. That could happen. He had never seen her look desperate, so he could not compare.
He was having a drink at his club one day when he overheard one man complaining about his wife being indisposed for at least two weeks a month. Another man called this nonsense, and claimed that ladies were that only for one week a month. The Colonel wondered why Caroline seemed to be an exception. She had never told him, nor had he ever noticed anything about her being indisposed. Just as he was pondering this little mystery, he overheard the first man say, "but she is with child now, so we are free from the problem for a few months."
Fitzwilliam spilled his drink. Is that what is happening to Caroline? But we have only been married for six weeks. Is she expecting a child already? Does she know? Is this why she looked so desperate? Why did she not tell me?