Page 163 of Pride and Prejudice Resolutions

"It was not nothing," Mrs Darcy said softly. "Kindness is never nothing. Even when we pretend it is."

Before Caroline could respond, the door burst open with the subtlety of a cannon blast. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam strode into the room, still in his scarlet regimentals, his face flushed and his cravat a casualty of haste. He looked as if he had run across half of London without stopping.

His eyes swept the room, landed on Caroline, and his entire body sagged with relief.

"Miss Bingley," he said breathless. "You are here."

Caroline stood, her heart doing traitorous, inconvenient things inside her chest. "Colonel. What are you doing here?"

"I came to—" He stopped, glanced around the room, seemed to notice for the first time that they had an audience. "That is. I was informed. By Georgiana. That you were attending tea."

Miss Darcy looked as though butter would not melt. "I may have mentioned it. In passing."

"You sent me a note," the Colonel said flatly. "With explicit instructions to arrive by half past three to 'ensure Miss Bingley was not overwhelmed.'"

"Did I?" Miss Darcy examined her fingernails. "How thoughtful of me."

Mrs Darcy and Lady Keathley exchanged glances. The Viscount grinned like a demon.

Caroline's face burned. "I am not overwhelmed, Colonel. As you can see, I am perfectly fine."

"You were perched on the edge of your chair like a bird preparing for flight."

"I was sitting."

"Defensively."

"There is no such thing as defensive sitting!"

"There is when you are doing it," the Colonel countered. He turned to his family. "Have you been interrogating her?"

"We have been offering her tea," Mrs Darcy said, her voice dripping with innocence. "And lemon cakes. And pleasant conversation."

"How dare you," the Colonel said, his eyes narrowing.

"Richard," Lord Keathley drawled, "are you accusing us of being kind? How scandalous."

"I am accusing you of scheming."

"We do not scheme," Lady Keathley said gently. "We facilitate."

"It is the same thing!"

Caroline, who had been watching this exchange with growing bewilderment, sat down and cleared her throat. "Colonel. I do not require rescue."

He turned to her, his jaw set. "Are you certain?"

"Quite certain. Lady Keathley has been nothing but gracious. Mrs Darcy as well."

Mrs Darcy laughed. "Gracious! Mr Darcy, did you hear that? I have been elevated to gracious."

"A significant improvement," her husband agreed. "You were insufferable this morning."

"I was not!"

"You hid my boots."

"You deserved it."