Matchmaking at Pemberley by Carrie Mollenkopf

Author:Carrie Mollenkopf [Mollenkopf, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-25T05:00:00+00:00

~NINETEEN~

Alone in her appointed chamber, Caroline carefully inspected her surroundings. While it was quite rustic in some ways, the idea of being mistress of a veritable castle was compelling. Piper’s Bend would do just as well as would its master. Once they married, she would simply order any changes she wished. A woman had the right to make alterations to her own home. Even Pemberley needed a bit of improvement, but Elizabeth was probably to awed by the difference between it and Longbourn to notice. Touching the bed coverings, the feel of fine velvet over down filling pleased her, as did the small apparatus fixed into one wall of the dressing room. Turing in the handle that was affixed to the metal pipe, a splash of water spilled into the basin below… and it was warm! Such a simple thing, made life so much better. She would have to do a complete inventory later, but for now, time was pressing as she splashed water onto a soft cloth and dabbed at her face. Pinching some color into her cheeks, Caroline tucked a stray curl into her coiffure as a soft knock on the door was followed by a strange female voice calling her name. Thinking it a servant, she turned sharply at the interruption, but bit back the reprimand on her lips. It was not a servant, but Agnes Brackleburn.

“I trust you have found everything to meet your needs Miss Bingley?”

“Please, call me Caroline. And yes, your home is quite comfortable. I simply adore Medieval architecture.”

“Thank you. I fear that many are not so appreciative of its sense of history.”

“That is unfortunate, so many of the younger generation simply have no regard for such things and must be reminded of their importance. It is a discussion I often have with Miss Darcy.”

“Oh? Well, I suppose when one lives at Pemberley, there is not much that compares.”

“True, but she and your brother do make a lovely couple. I must say, Sir Robert is quite a change from her usual suitors.”

“I was not aware there were others, but Georgiana is quite an eligible young lady. There must be many men seeking her hand.”

“Indeed, but that has not been discussed since her unfortunate incident…I believe now, she is quite recovered.”

Caroline deliberately allowed her voice to trail off. If Agnes Brackleburn was not aware of George Wickham’s attempt to seduce Georgiana, it would be the perfect way to place suspicion upon her character. And, if she did, her motives would appear to be an attempt to keep the matter private.

“Incident? Was Miss Darcy ill?”

“Heavens no, but there was a near scandal involving some sort of servant attempting to take liberties. The steward’s son, I believe it was. Completely prevented of course, when one has enough money, anything can be achieved… surely being a close friend of the Darcy’s you knew of it?”

“Of course, but being so long ago, I had forgotten. Things like that are always best forgotten.”

A strange silence passed between the women as they eyed each other with a suspicious understanding before Agnes recovered her role as hostess.

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