Page 152 of Pride and Prejudice Resolutions

"It is my money. I may spend it as I wish."

"You told Schmidt that ignorance is a sin and stupidity is a choice."

"It is true."

"You have never met the boy."

"What does that matter?" Her voice rose, sharp and defensive. "He is Schmidt's family. She is loyal to me. I reward loyalty. It is basic economics."

"It is kind."

"It is practical."

"It is kind," he repeated, stepping closer. "And you refuse to take credit for it because you are afraid that if people know you are capable of kindness, they will think you are weak, and your entire fortress of sarcasm will crumble."

Miss Bingley stared at him, her breath coming faster. "You do not know me, Colonel."

"I am beginning to think I do."

"You think one act of charity makes me virtuous?" she scoffed. "You think paying for a servant's nephew absolves me of being sharp and difficult and thoroughly unpleasant?"

"I think," Richard said slowly, "that you are more complicated than I gave you credit for. And I think I owe you an apology."

"For what?"

"For misjudging you. You are prickly and fierce. But not bad to the bone."

She laughed, a real, surprised sound that hit him like a cannonball to the chest.

"You are the worst apologiser I have ever met. I despair of you." She shook her head, with a faint smile.

"I am a soldier. We do not apologise. We tactically retreat and call it strategy."

"Is that what this is?" she asked. "A tactical retreat from insulting me?"

"Call it what you will, Miss Bingley."

"What am I, then?"

He looked at her—the grey gown she despised, the cross she wore like armour, the green eyes that watched him with equal parts suspicion and curiosity.

"A lemon."

"A lemon, Colonel? Truly?"

"You are a lemon with sugar," he said quietly. "The kind people only find if they bother to look past the sour."

Caroline's breath caught. For a moment, she looked young. Uncertain. Then the mask slammed back into place.

"That is the second-worst compliment I have ever received, Colonel," she said. "The first was when a gentleman compared me to a radiant carrot."

"I stand by the lemon metaphor."

"You would." She squared her shoulders, the general preparing for battle. "Now. About Lord Fawlton—"

"No."

"Colonel—"