“It’s hard when you cannot see it,” Mabel was saying. “I got one, not quite this bad, in my hair, and I eventually had to get assistance. How long have you been up here by yourself, ma’am, no one to help you comb your hair?”
“Oh, well, just since we arrived,” said Elizabeth.
“Yes, that was a foolish question,” said Mabel, chuckling. “Obviously, you all came together.”
Elizabeth could hear someone ascending the steps, now. The footsteps were forceful as they came closer.
“Someone is walking with a purpose,” said Mabel, and dragged the comb over her hair, all the way through. “Well, then, almost there with this. I think we’ll have it entirely free in—”
The door burst open.
Caroline Bingley was standing there. “Get out,” she said to Mabel in a tight voice.
Mabel hesitated. “Well, the master told me to—”
“Out,” said Caroline, coming across the room, taking the comb from Mabel and gesturing with it towards the doorway.
Mabel inclined her head. “As you wish, ma’am.” She walked out.
“Close the door,” said Caroline.
Mabel shut the door.
Caroline stared at Elizabeth for several long moments and then stalked over to drop the comb in Elizabeth’s lap.
Elizabeth turned it over in her hands.
Caroline flung herself down in the chair opposite her in front of the fire. “I did not do it to be vindictive. Well, maybe I did. I do not know what it is about you, Eliza Bennet, but you seem to bring out the absolute worst in me. I don’t take delight in other’s suffering, but you… you…”
Elizabeth was very confused. “Didn’t do what to be vindictive? Do you mean all of this? Because if we are being very plain with the other, it has been quite clear from the beginning of our association that neither of us cared for the other.”
“It was you,” said Caroline. “You started it. You were always so dismissive of everything I said.”
“It was me?” said Elizabeth. “It was very clear, when I came to Netherfield to see to Jane, that you did not wish me to stay.”
Caroline licked her lips. She started to say something, stopped, shook her head, and folded her hands in her lap. “I told him the babe is Mr. Wickham’s.”
Elizabeth’s heart squeezed.
“I did not think he would react the way he did, I must say,” said Caroline. “I know he does not like him. I thought he’d be angry or that he’d go red in the face or… I think it broke him, though.”
Elizabeth drew in a breath, but her lungs were not working. It was only a half breath. It came back out as a wheeze.
“He could not stand upright. He walked out of the house holding the walls. He was sick all over the walkway. And then hejust left without another word.” Caroline dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. “I’m sorry,” she breathed.
Elizabeth still could not quite breathe properly. She was sucking in quick, noisy shallow breaths.
“No, I truly am,” said Caroline. “I have been awful to you, and I see that now, and I don’t really have a good excuse, it’s only…”
Elizabeth continued to wheeze.
Caroline got out of her chair. “He is never going to want me. I think I knew it, deep down, but I did not want to know it, and I kept shoving it down so that I did not have to know it, but this has been so, so very pathetic, truly, and I, oh, Lord, Elizabeth, I repent of this with you. Truly.”
Elizabeth managed to get in one decent breath.
“Well,” said Caroline. “I do feel better, having apologized.” She waited, as if she expected Elizabeth to say something. When Elizabeth did not, she squared her shoulders and turned to the door.
Then she walked out of the room, leaving Elizabeth to continue to try to remember how to breathe.