A Sister's Curse by Jayne Bamber

Author:Jayne Bamber [Bamber, Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

***

After Caroline Bingley had been divested of her finery, prepared for bed, and sent her maid away, she crept down the hall and knocked softly on her stepmother’s bedroom door. “Come in,” came the feeble answer.

Her stepmother, a woman in her late thirties, still quite beautiful if a little pale, sat propped up against a great mountain of pillows. “Good evening, Mother. I wanted to look in on you before I retire. I hope you are feeling better.”

Mrs. Bingley nodded. “I am well enough now you are come home, my dear.” She patted the space beside her on the bed. “Come and sit with me, dear. I hope you had a fine time at the ball.”

“It was so beautiful, Mamma – the earl’s home is simply spectacular, and the ball was such a crush. Everyone was in very fine looks.”

“You most of all, I daresay, my dear.”

“Oh – I do not know about that. Miss Darcy and her sisters all looked very beautiful. I hear their uncle means to marry them all off this Season, and I am sure they must have had suitors falling at their feet after tonight.”

Mrs. Bingley smiled. “Which of them does your brother fancy? I know he cannot resist a pretty face. Miss Bennet perhaps, or even Miss Gardiner?”

“Miss Gardiner is their cousin, I believe. She was not in attendance tonight; she will not be out until next year.”

“I see.”

“I believe Charles danced twice with Jane Darcy, and I am very happy.”

“I had heard him speak of Miss Bennet when first we arrived in Town, but I suppose she has already been thrown over in favor of Miss Darcy. Ah, well, that is good, too; and he may yet change his mind again.”

“I should not think so. Miss Bennet, I understand, is rather less refined in her graces. But Jane, you know, is a dear, sweet girl. It is very sad that she should have such an unfortunate sister.”

“Ah, well, I should like to meet her anyhow – she sounds a most interesting creature. And though you have been friends these many years with Miss Darcy, I have yet to set eyes upon her. It is a pity she could not come to us in Scarborough, after that beau of hers died.”

“Oh, Mamma, I wish you could have been there to meet her.” Her mother coughed. “Can I get you anything? Some water perhaps?”

“I am feeling much better, child. I am sure I shall meet with them all very soon. Now, tell me of your partners – was the viscount among them?”

Omitting their romantic interlude on the balcony, she said only, “He was – we danced twice, as well. Oh, Mamma, he is still so very handsome, just as he was the summer I met him.”

“I hope you behaved yourself, child – you must contain your enthusiasm, for a languid ennui is much more the fashion now.”

“I did my best, as you have taught me, but I like him so much, Mamma.”

Mrs. Bingley smiled widely. “If Charles is already besotted with the viscount’s cousin, that bodes well for you, my dear.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.