Longbourn Inheritance by Kendig Laraba

Author:Kendig, Laraba
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

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“Charles?”

“Yes, Caroline?”

“May I speak to you?”

Bingley suppressed a groan of frustration. It was already 11 o’ clock in the morning, and he had woken up late, eaten a hasty breakfast, and then settled down in his office for a long discussion with his steward. Of course, such interactions were important. He was now master of an estate, and it was vital that he attend to the welfare of the land and the tenants. Darcy said so, and of course Darcy was right.

But he did not want to work today. He wanted to curl up next to the fire in his sitting room and dream about the lovely and gracious Miss Bennet. The full mourning period for Mr. Collins was nearly completed, and he knew the Bennets were planning to attend a dance party at Lucas Lodge in a few short days. He would be there as well and could hardly wait.

“Come into my office,” he suggested to his sister, who was wearing a rather odd expression on her face.

They walked in together, and Bingley sank into the chair he had so recently vacated, whereas Caroline sat in a much more comfortable chair near the now faltering fire.

“I can have a servant build up the fire,” he offered.

“It is not necessary,” she replied in a strangely blank tone. “I have a question for you, and I wish for a truthful answer.”

Immediately all of his instincts for self-preservation rose to the fore, and he poured himself a hasty cup of brandy. When Caroline started asking questions, it was best to be well prepared for verbal fireworks.

“Yes?” he asked cautiously, taking a sip.

“Do you think there is any chance that Mr. Darcy will make me an offer?”

He stared at her in bewilderment, and then stared down into his cup. Did he really dare tell her the truth? She would not like it.

“No, he will not,” he finally declared, throwing caution to the winds.

“Why not?”

Her voice was controlled, but there was a tautness in her expression, like a feral kitten ready to spit and claw at some offending dog.

Bingley fortified himself with another drink before answering carefully, “Caroline, you are a wonderful woman; accomplished, beautiful, and wealthy. But Darcy can have his pick of women like you, and many of those women are also far better connected than we Bingleys. Darcy also enjoys the country more than Town, and I do not believe you and he would be a good match in that regard, as you enjoy society so much. You would find Pemberley dreary year round, and I expect Darcy will spend literally years on end at Pemberley once he is ... well, married and a father to children.”

That was, perhaps, a slight exaggeration, but perhaps it would mitigate the pain of his words.

To his surprise and uneasiness, Caroline merely turned back to the fire and stared into it for a long minute. He heard soft snuffling and realized, with horror, that she was crying. Crying! How long had it been since Caroline

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