Gay Pride and Prejudice by Kate Christie

Author:Kate Christie [Christie, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780985367718
Publisher: Second Growth Books
Published: 2012-03-22T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

WHEN THEY WERE GONE, Elizabeth, as if intending to exasperate herself as much as possible against Miss Bingley, chose for her employment the examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her being in Kent. They contained no actual complaint, nor was there any revival of past occurrences, or any communication of present suffering. But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that cheerfulness which had been used to characterise her style, and which, proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly disposed towards everyone, had been scarcely ever clouded. Elizabeth noticed every sentence conveying the idea of uneasiness, with an attention which it had hardly received on the first perusal. Mr. Darcy’s boast to his cousin of what misery he and his accomplices had been able to inflict, gave her a keener sense of her sister’s sufferings. It was some consolation to think that Caroline and Darcy’s visit to Rosings was to end on the day after the next—perhaps she could avoid seeing Lady Catherine’s guests at all between now and then. A still greater consolation lay in the fact that, in less than a fortnight, Elizabeth should herself be with Jane again, and enabled to contribute to the recovery of her spirits, by all that affection could do.

While settling this point, she was suddenly roused by the sound of the door-bell, and her spirits were a little lifted by the idea of its being Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had once before called late in the evening, and might now come to inquire particularly after her. But this idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently affected, when, to her utter amazement, she saw Caroline Bingley walk into the room.

“What are you doing here?” demanded Elizabeth, colour rising in her cheeks as she stared at the very person she had wished most to avoid.

“I came to inquire after your health.”

“You needn’t have come.”

“In fact, I did need to come.” She paced the floor in front of Elizabeth.

“I cannot imagine why.”

“You know exactly why.” She dropped to her knees before Elizabeth, and reached for her hands. “It should not be so, but in vain have I struggled against my feelings for you. Against all reason, they will not be repressed.”

Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, blushed, doubted, and was silent. Caroline took this to be sufficient encouragement; and the avowal of all that she felt, and had long felt for Elizabeth, immediately followed. She spoke, too, of apprehension and anxiety regarding Elizabeth’s sentiments toward her, but her countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance was unlikely to recommend her suit, particularly given the history that existed between them.

“You must therefore allow me to tell you how ardently I love and admire you,” she finished at last.

Colouring even more deeply, Elizabeth pulled her hands away and said: “I will allow no such thing.” Her determination wavered momentarily after she said this, for she could not be entirely insensible to the compliment of the lady’s affection.

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