Section I, Next Section

Part 1

t is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife, just like a single young woman in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a husband. The latter was the case of Miss Caroline Bingley. Or rather, it was her father's opinion of the case of Miss Caroline Bingley.

The late Mr. Bingley had had a burning social ambition. Money and standing were all important to him, and he didn't care much for love or affection. He had worked very hard, and with a bit of luck, he had made a fortune in trade, which elevated his social standing considerably. To his children, he had always stressed the importance of marrying well.

"Louisa, Caroline, you must never accept a man who has less than five thousand a year. It would be a disgrace to our family."

He had told them this so often, that they had come to believe him. To his son Charles it did not matter much; he had a fortune of his own, and he couldn't care less about it. He always let his father ramble on, and nodded at the appropriate moments, but he never listened. But Louisa and Caroline were different. They were not as carefree as their brother, and they had different friends. Their friends were all highly fashionable snobs, who influenced them greatly, though Caroline always prided herself on her independent mind.

"Girls, a good fortune is not enough. You must also choose a wise husband, lest he should squander our family's money. And you and he must be an elegant and admirable couple. He must be representative."

"Representative?" Louisa frowned.

"Handsome," Caroline whispered to her sister.

She really believed what her father said. After all, he was her father, and one did not doubt a father's opinions. Louisa and Caroline were taught to care solely for outward appearances.

The old Mr. Bingley was still alive when they became acquainted with the Hursts. They were a wealthy, aristocratic family, and they had a son who was a few years older than the Bingley children. It was common knowledge that Mr. Hurst had six thousand a year. Besides that, he did not have much to recommend himself to young ladies who were not preoccupied with money.

Being only a year apart in age, Louisa and Caroline were very close, and discussed everything. Mr. Hurst was quite taken with Louisa, being a little afraid of the sharp-tongued Caroline.

"What do you think, Caroline? Do you think Mr. Hurst will propose to me?"

"It is not unlikely."

"What shall I do?"

Caroline looked doubtful. Despite Mr. Hurst's six thousand a year, she wasn't sure if she would accept him, should he ask her. His understanding was somewhat lacking. Would that matter to Louisa? She thought not, he was certainly a good catch for Louisa. "Papa..." she began.

"Papa will approve of it, I'm sure. In fact he has already hinted to me that Mr. Hurst would make an excellent son-in-law, you said so yourself."

"Then you must certainly accept him. You will do very well with him."

Thus when Mr. Hurst asked for Louisa Bingley's hand in marriage a month later, it was readily accepted. She became Mrs. Hurst, while her sister was still watching out for the richest, most admired man, preferably titled, who would make her the most enviable woman in England.

Part 2

One day, the Bingley's were invited to Pemberley, where Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy lived. Caroline had never met Mr. Darcy, but she had heard from Charles that he was a very rich man, so she had decided that he would be quite a catch. They neared Pemberley, and Caroline gasped at the sight of it. It was very grand. How wonderful if she could say she lived there. She was temporarily lost in a reverie, until she noticed some people coming out of the house.

"Who are those people welcoming us there?" She craned her neck to get a good look at those people, and tried to figure out which one was Darcy.

Bingley pointed them out to her. "The one with the blue coat is Darcy."

Caroline's eyes fixed on him. Yes, very handsome indeed.

"The one with the red coat is his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam."

Caroline didn't even bother to look at an officer.

"The girl is Georgiana."

What? Competition?

"Darcy's little sister. The one in the green coat is Darcy's cousin the Viscount."

Caroline's little Viscount-radar began to bleep, and she switched her attention from Darcy to the Viscount. Even more handsome.

"And the last one is the Viscount's fiancée, but I forgot her name."

Caroline looked disappointed and returned her attention to Darcy.

Georgiana was playing at the pianoforte, and the Viscount and his fiancée were dancing. Mr. Darcy occupied himself by turning Georgiana's pages, and Caroline was praising Georgiana to him. To her great disappointment, Mr. Darcy did not show her anything more than common courtesy, in spite of all her praise.

Bingley came up to his sister and whispered in her ear, "You ought to make yourself available to dance, we are a bit short of ladies here, and the Colonel can't dance with Louisa forever. Give him a chance to switch."

Caroline glared. How dared he obstruct her plans to gain Mr. Darcy's attention? "The Colonel! I don't care much for Colonels."

She was forced to take a seat near the dancers though, because Bingley had taken Georgiana's place at the pianoforte. He had encouraged Georgiana to dance herself, something she did not want unless it was with her brother. Caroline was approached by the Colonel, who asked her to dance. She wanted to decline, when it occurred to her that Mr. Darcy might think it odd if she did not dance at all, so she accepted. Though the Colonel did not step on her toes, she stepped on his, because she was paying more attention to Darcy than to her partner.

"I will tell him you are a very good dancer when you are not distracted," her partner whispered to her in a conspiring tone. Caroline blushed furiously and paid more attention to her footwork.

She saw Darcy several times after that, either when he came to visit Bingley, or when they went to Pemberley or his house in London, but though he was polite, he did not give any indication of falling in love with Caroline. It was truly infuriating.

Part 3

One day, when Charles first went to Netherfield, his sisters joined him since they had nothing better to do. They fancied themselves to be much above the local society, especially because Darcy was with them. Caroline knew she would compare favourably with the local ladies, and she had not even been a trifle worried when Sir William Lucas had informed them about the families in the neighbourhood. He had said there was a family with five wonderful daughters, but when she set eyes on them it was especially that family that made her long for her sophisticated London acquaintances. Their name was Bennet and Caroline thought they were an ill-mannered lot.

Mrs. Bennet was definitely after Charles for one of her daughters, and she did not even attempt to disguise that, Caroline thought when she saw Mrs. Bennet obviously bragging about Charles dancing with her daughter.

The eldest Miss Bennet was rather a nice girl, though Caroline was not really happy that her brother seemed so taken with her. A connection with her family would be unthinkable. Oh well, a few dances can't do much harm, I suppose.

The two youngest Bennet girls were practically throwing themselves at anything in a red coat. Sir William had described them as two pretty and lively girls. Their liveliness is bordering on the vulgar. Bordering? No, that was an understatement. Very unsuitable behaviour.

Then there was a nondescript girl who was supposed to be the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood. Caroline did not see anything so very accomplished about her; she was merely sitting there looking morose. How are you ever going to catch a husband, dear? She was eager to show off her musical abilities, though Caroline winced at hearing her. Mary Bennet was not exactly her idea of an accomplished musician or singer. Perhaps you mean to scare potential husbands away? She giggled maliciously.

Elizabeth Bennet could have been a nice young lady, but she did not show the admiration Caroline was used to, she was actually rather respectless. Caroline tried to establish her natural superiority by showing Miss Bennet that she was far more sophisticated, but it did not seem to affect the girl at all.

She invited Jane Bennet to Netherfield one day, but could not foresee that Jane would fall ill. It was impossible to send her home of course, and Jane had to stay. At first, Caroline thought it was merely a Bennet scheme, but she needed not look at Jane twice to see that she was really ill. I hope that Jane will recover soon, and that Charles won't be seeing her pretty face so very often. Although...people who are ill generally look pretty bad. Might a Jane looking her worst help him change his mind about her?

Unfortunately, Jane's condition was bad enough to have her sister over at Netherfield. She had walked the whole distance, something that was wholly incomprehensible to Caroline and Louisa, who liked to be driven in a luxurious carriage, preferably through the centre of the town. Caroline didn't very much like Elizabeth Bennet's conversations with Darcy, especially not since he had said that about her eyes. She wished she knew if he had been in jest then. He seemed to be paying very much attention to someone whose mouth was too big for her situation in life. She tried to show Darcy that she was far more superior, but she never quite knew what to make of the things he said to her.

Charles, the fool, had promised to give a ball at Netherfield. Caroline and Louisa did not really look forward to receiving the peasantry in their home, the prospect of showing their elegance off was rather agreeable. Jane told her that Elizabeth thought Wickham rather charming. Caroline did not know much about him, except that Darcy had a great dislike of the man, and that he was some kind of rogue, and that was enough to turn her against the man. She decided to let Elizabeth know that she was better informed on the subject of Wickham, and she was offended when Elizabeth did not thank her for the information but seemed angry. I was only doing her a favour. Insolent girl! Have it your way then.

She was very glad when they were finally able to leave the unsophisticated Meryton society behind. She wrote a letter to Jane, saying she hoped they would correspond frequently, and that it was not very likely that their party would return to Hertfordshire any time soon.

"Perhaps after Charles has married Georgiana," she mused, certain of her influence on Charles. "He may spend the rest of his life in Hertfordshire if he likes, though I can't imagine anyone who would, but not before he's married. I will see to it that he doesn't see Miss Jane Bennet before then."

When the Bingleys were in London, Miss Bennet came to see them. Caroline had been corresponding with Jane, and had written that she should visit her some time when she happened to be in London. She hadn't thought that Jane actually would.

"I have nothing against the girl, really," she sighed to her sister. "But imagine her as our sister, with those relatives of hers!" She shuddered theatrically, thinking of Mrs. Bennet especially.

"Oh no!" Louisa squealed. "He ought to marry that dear Georgiana!"

"Exactly! I shall hint at this to Miss Bennet very gently. To let her know that she should not be counting on anything, and that she had best forget about Charles."

Darcy visited Charles often, to Caroline's delight, and on one such visit he brought his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam with him. "We have saved Charles from a most imprudent connection," she said to him confidentially. One never knew what he might tell his cousin about her. It could never hurt to befriend all of Darcy's relatives. The Colonel expressed his interest in the matter, and Miss Bingley acquainted him with all the particulars of the savage Meryton society. Caroline was not unamusing when she told stories, and the Colonel laughed heartily at her description of the various inhabitants of Meryton and its surroundings.

"A most imprudent connection, indeed," he remarked, but his sarcasm was lost on Caroline, who thought he agreed with her, and was too busy imagining what he could tell Darcy about her.

Part 4

In the course of time, Caroline came to suspect that Darcy admired Elizabeth. She did everything to get him to change his mind, but it was useless. He still only treated her like his best friend's sister.

Just before they left for Rosings, Darcy and the Colonel came to visit the Bingleys once more.

"So you are off to Rosings tomorrow? What fun!" said Bingley, who had made Lady Catherine's acquaintance and was not particularly fond of her.

Darcy was silent, but the Colonel laughed. "I don't think Darcy is going for her Ladyship's sake."

Lady Catherine had written to them both about the guests staying with the Collinses, and her condescension in having them over at Rosings so many times. The Colonel was surprised when Darcy suggested they go to Rosings, but after much probing he found out that Darcy was acquainted with the young lady staying with the Collinses. Darcy was full of praise of Miss Bennet, which was very unusual for him, and piqued Colonel Fitzwilliam's curiosity enormously.

Caroline listened to their conversation with growing alarm. Surely Darcy would not go to Rosings because of Anne? She knew that he did not care for Anne at all, and that he certainly wasn't planning on marrying his cousin. Did he change his mind?

"What is the attraction then, Mr. Darcy?" Caroline tried not to show her curiosity.

Darcy did not answer, but sent commanding looks to his cousin. The Colonel ignored his looks and said gaily, "Darcy has gotten me quite interested in this Miss Bennet myself with all of his stories," and he gave him a wink saying 'loosen up'.

"Miss Bennet?" Caroline gasped. Miss Elizabeth Bennet? No! What does Miss Bennet have to do with this all? Could she be staying at Rosings?

The Colonel read Caroline's alarm correctly and said with an amused grin, "There is a certain Miss Bennet staying with Lady Catherine's parson, whom I believe to be her cousin."

So it is Elizabeth Bennet they are talking about. That odious cousin of hers whom I liked to imitate is indeed Lady Catherine's parson. Caroline was quite desperate. He can't like that girl! What does she have that I do not? She has no connections, no fortune! And her family!

"Do you know Miss Bennet?" the Colonel asked.

"I have made her acquaintance," said Caroline disapprovingly, determined not to say anything in Elizabeth's favour. She had to make Darcy see some sense.

"And what do you think of her?"

Caroline hesitated. How do I sketch Miss Bennet as unsuitable, and myself as highly suitable in one go? I might lose Darcy's good opinion if I'm too bold. She could not think of anything. "I thought she was a very insolent unfashionable country girl," she said at last. "And her family is absolutely dreadfully vulgar."

"You may have described them to me on my previous visit," Colonel Fitzwilliam said thoughtfully. He was sure that Caroline was exaggerating about the person of Miss Bennet; Darcy had not mentioned her being insolent at all. But then, Caroline's words always had to be taken with a grain of salt.

Just to rub it in securely, Caroline proceeded to describe the Bennet family in great detail once more. "...and the two youngest girls, who are not supposed to be out at all, were chasing after officers!" She had forgotten that she was talking to one herself.

"Ooooh!" said the Colonel, "imagine that -- officers!" He was quite enjoying himself. Miss Bingley's odd beliefs were always good for a laugh, though he always kept a straight face.

Bingley, who feared that the Colonel might be offended, silenced his sister. "Caroline!" and he changed the subject. Caroline sat listening to the conversation with a heavy heart. She felt her chances of ever marrying Darcy were slipping now that he would be in Elizabeth Bennet's presence again. She remembered his comment about her eyes and sighed.

Part 5

Caroline eagerly awaited any mail from Rosings, especially anything from Darcy. She grew more and more chagrined when days and days passed without any letter from Rosings for her. Her brother received several, and though she tried very hard, she could not get hold of them. He usually stuffed them in his coat pockets when he had read them, instead of leaving them lying about. This meant that she had no clue what had happened while Darcy was at Rosings.

She divided her time between visiting Louisa, Georgiana and a few other selected friends. Georgiana, being only sixteen, was not really her friend, but she was a Darcy, and that was reason enough to visit her.

"Hello, dear Georgiana," said Miss Bingley when she called upon Georgiana with the purpose of finding out more about Darcy at Rosings. She was especially interested in whether he had seen Miss Bennet at all. Caroline doubted if he would share this information with Charles, but she was sure that he would have written to his sister about it. "You look so well, have you grown? I believe you have!"

"Hello, Miss Bingley."

"How many times have I told you to call me Caroline? You must call me Caroline, I insist! Why, we are almost like sisters," Caroline smiled, hoping that Georgiana would say something affirmative.

Georgiana did not. She knew Caroline was after her brother, and she felt a little sorry for her. Her brother had never been interested in Caroline, and it was not likely that he ever would be.

"How have you been all this time? I hope you do not miss your brother too much," Caroline asked in a sympathetic voice.

"I'm quite all right, thank you."

"I suppose he writes to you?" Caroline said innocently.

"Yes, he does."

What does he write? "I hope all is well at Rosings." This sounded like a invitation to speak about Rosings and what Darcy was doing there.

"I think it is," Georgiana replied.

"Don't you wish you could have gone too?"

"No, not really."

"Why not?" Caroline pretended to be surprised. "You could have been with your brother, and you would have seen your aunt and cousin too."

"I saw my aunt when she came to London," And that was enough to last me for a long while, "and my brother will be back. Besides, he writes to me what they do and it's not very interesting."

"Oh! What do they do?" Caroline asked in a very interested tone. She made sure she did not sound too eager.

Georgiana shrugged. "They entertain guests, or they entertain Lady Catherine, or they walk."

"Guests! Who are they, do you know?"

"I believe some boring people from the neighbourhood."

"I met a young lady who is staying in that neighbourhood at the moment, maybe she visited them?" Georgiana was so uninformative that Caroline decided to change her strategy and ask a direct question. "Her name is Bennet."

So, Caroline must be jealous of the Miss Bennet Fitzwilliam writes about! That's what all her questions are for! I wonder if this is one of the Bennets from Hertfordshire she always speaks so lowly of. "Is she a friend of yours?" Georgiana asked sweetly.

"No, no," Caroline assured her hastily, "she's merely an acquaintance."

"Oh, I see," Georgiana said vaguely, without answering the question. Now that she had caught onto Caroline's purpose, she decided to play the game.

"I believe she is staying with her cousin who is Lady Catherine's parson," Caroline ventured.

"I wouldn't know if Lady Catherine's parson had a cousin."

"He does, he does. He has five of them. I met them in Hertfordshire. Your brother met them too," she added in case Darcy had mentioned meeting a Hertfordshire acquaintance in his letters.

"It's such a small world!" Georgiana exclaimed enthusiastically, and she wondered immediately if she had not overdone it a small bit. Caroline was too preoccupied with the topic to notice though.

"Yes, I'm sure he would have mentioned her in his letters. It would have been such a coincidence," Caroline was disappointed. Obviously Darcy had not written anything about Elizabeth to Georgiana, or Georgiana would have told her right away.

Caroline abandoned the subject and chatted dully about other subjects to justify her visit, and she did not stay long after that.

Georgiana was very satisfied with herself after Caroline had left. I handled that very well. It was such a pity that she dropped the subject before I could enlighten her - I would have loved to see her face. But all is not lost, knowing Caroline, she will be back!

Part 6

Posted on April 27, 1998

On the days that Caroline did not go out, she was visited by one of her friends. On Tuesday, her friend Annabella always came by to chat and gossip. It was a lovely spring day, and the girls decided to take a little walk. This required a lot of preparation, for one never knew which eligible bachelor might pass by. When they finally were ready to go, they set off at a very leisurely pace.

"Well, Caroline dear, tell me about your progress with the gorgeous Mr. Darcy!" Annabella pressed her.

Caroline winced. Annabella was always hearing her out about Darcy, and scolding her for not having secured him yet. As if Annabella is so good at this herself! She's been after this Duke of hers for far longer and with the same success, although she keeps saying that the engagement won't be long off!

"Go on, tell me! You can trust me, you're my best friend. I can keep secrets very well," Annabella lowered her voice.

Caroline turned her head to roll her eyes at a horse. You can keep secrets only as long as you don't see anyone to talk to. "I don't think it's going to work out," she had to admit.

Annabella practically screamed. "What? Why?"

"I don't think he's interested," she said softly.

"Are you sure you followed my advice?"

"Yes." Praise him, agree with everything he says, engratiate yourself to all of his friends and relatives, put down other ladies' accomplishments...

"Poor Caroline," Annabella said without feeling, "well, all you have to do is try harder until you succeed. Do as I did. I'm almost there! I think it will be no more than two weeks before my engagement to my dear Duke will be announced."

Frankly, Caroline was getting a bit tired of Annabella's Duke, and she looked around for something to change the subject.

"What are you looking at?" Annabella asked curiously.

Caroline shrugged. "Nothing." She didn't want to tell Annabella she had been looking at a dog.

"Now don't lie to your dearest friend!" Annabella chuckled. "I know you looked at those two men who passed us just now."

"Which two men?" Caroline hadn't noticed any men and she looked over her shoulder.

"Oh they're gone now, but don't pretend you didn't see them. I know very well you did. They were eyeing me most improperly," she said, revelling at the thought. "When I go for walks with my friend Isabella - of course she's not such a good friend as you are, but she can be fun - we are positively harassed by all sorts of men. It is really very disconcerting. Sometimes they even follow us home!"

Caroline sighed. She wondered why she could not endure Annabella today. She blamed it on the headache she felt coming on. "Shall we turn back?" she suggested.

Annabella looked disappointed. She had spotted a fashionable carriage down the road and was dying to walk past, so the owner might notice her. "Do we have to? Just until the next corner..." she tried, but Caroline was determined.

"You can go on, if you wish. I am going back."

Annabella hesitated. The victory of being seen would be considerably less without Caroline, and Caroline seemed pretty determined. "Alright, I shall come back with you," she said with enough reluctance in her voice to let Caroline know that she did not really want to.

Part 7

Posted on May 09, 1998

When Darcy returned from Rosings, Caroline observed him even more than she usually did, eager to learn more about his feelings for Elizabeth. He was not engaged, that was one thing she could rejoice in. There was still a chance that he might prefer her, although she increasingly felt that it would never be. Darcy seemed even more quiet than usual when they saw him at all, because he spent most of his time at Pemberley. He came to London for business several times, and on one such occasion he invited them to Pemberley. Caroline was thrilled at the prospect of spending some time at Pemberley. She had stayed there before of course, but it was always a joy to walk around the place and dream of the day that she would be the lady of the house and receiving visitors.

She, the Hursts and Bingley would accompany Darcy and Georgiana to Pemberley. Caroline was a little disappointed that Darcy needed to go ahead a day earlier, but her consolation was that she would see him there.

When the party arrived at Pemberley, Darcy took Georgiana aside, and not long after they had arrived, Darcy went away with Georgiana and Bingley. Caroline and Louisa were very curious and more than a little jealous.

"Where can they have gone, Louisa?" said Caroline, pacing up and down the room.

"I don't know."

"Why would they ask Charles and not us? I can understand if he takes Georgiana if it's family business, but Charles? And I can't imagine Darcy asking Charles for advice on any other business, after all, I am always the one who advices Charles and he usually listens to me. Except in the matter of Netherfield Park, he chose not to listen to me and see what happened," Caroline ranted.

"Maybe Mr. Darcy thinks of Charles as his future brother," Louisa guessed wildly.

Caroline winced. And he obviously does not think of me as his future wife.

The two sisters were rather out of sorts when the Darcy's and Charles returned, also because Mr. Hurst had been constantly persuading them to play a game of cards with him.

"Where did you all run off to so suddenly?" Caroline pouted.

"I took Georgiana to meet Miss Bennet and her uncle and aunt," Darcy replied.

Miss Bennet! There was only one Miss Bennet important enough for Darcy to introduce Georgiana to...Elizabeth is here. What is she doing here? She was shocked into silence for a few moments.

"Georgiana has invited them to dinner before they leave," Darcy continued, and Georgiana looked alarmed at the mention of her name, fearing that Miss Bingley would hold her responsible.

"What? Her aunt and uncle too? They are not her Cheapside relatives, are they?" Louisa voiced Caroline's concerns.

Darcy didn't look very pleased with that question. "They are," he said curtly.

Louisa and Caroline shared a look of horror. Was Darcy lowering his standards so much as to actually entertain people from Cheapside at Pemberley?

The next morning the gentlemen had gone fishing and the ladies sat in the saloon. They were surprised by an unexpected visit by Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner. Caroline and Louisa curtsied and sat down again. Louisa never spoke before Caroline, and Caroline did not know what to say, so they were both silent and an awkward pause followed until Mrs. Annesley and Mrs. Gardiner kept the conversation going.

Caroline could not help watching Elizabeth to see if there were any signs of her being violently in love with Darcy. It did not look like that to her. "I hope your family is in good health," she said when Elizabeth caught her staring at her. She was rather relieved when Elizabeth gave her a very short reply that didn't encourage more conversation, and heartily wished for the men to return so this uncomfortable situation would end.

Part 8

Posted on May 17, 1998

The men returned to them, and Caroline observed Darcy and Elizabeth with great care to see if she could discern any attachment. She recovered her tongue and spoke to Darcy and Georgiana, but she saw very well that Darcy was more anxious to get Georgiana and Elizabeth talking. It stung her, and it forced her to inquire after the whereabouts of the militia that had previously been stationed in Meryton, with the intention of eliciting a response that proved Elizabeth's partiality for Wickham, and showing Darcy how foolishly the Bennets had behaved around the officers. Unfortunately, Elizabeth saw through Caroline's little plan, and answered in very indifferent tones. Caroline gave up talking.

When Darcy was showing their guests out, she could not help venting her emotions to Georgiana. "Georgiana, what did you think of Miss Bennet's looks? Did she not look very savage to you, with her skin as dark as that?"

Georgiana mumbled that she did not think so.

"And her gown was in fashion, when was it? Ten years ago?"

"It became her very well, I thought."

Caroline could not change Georgiana's mind. Darcy must have given her a very rosy image of Miss Bennet.

Something induced her to repeat her criticisms to Darcy himself, wanting him to see reason, or maybe hoping that he would say she was right. She was determined to get some kind of reaction from him, and continued until he did say something. It was not was she had expected however, and it hurt her very deeply.

She sat in silence, tears pricking in her eyes. He considers her as one of the handsomest women of his acquaintance! How could he? Doesn't he see? How can he overlook her low connections, her family's behaviour, her own behaviour? Why did I speak? I could have known I wouldn't hear what I wanted to hear, and instead I heard the only thing I did not want to hear. It's all my own fault. My behaviour was abominable. I ought to be ashamed of myself. I guess this is it. He does not love me. He never will. He loves her. I cannot change it. I need to be alone...

Caroline had not paid much attention to Darcy's whereabouts, knowing that seeing him would only cause her more grief for the time being. However, when first Elizabeth did not come to Pemberley because of urgent family business, and the next day Darcy left for London, also because of urgent business, Louisa's curiosity was piqued.

Could those departures be related? Louisa generally did not think much about coincidences and relations, but this time her sister's wellbeing was at stake. "Caroline, what do you think?" She asked, not knowing Caroline's acceptance of her defeat. "Do you think they eloped?"

"Who?" said Caroline absentmindedly.

"Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet! You must agree that it is too big a coincidence, both of them leaving so suddenly, and after he visited her at the Inn." Louisa had picked up some gossip from the servants.

Caroline awakened. "What do you say? Don't be ridiculous! They must have eloped and taken her uncle and aunt with them as chaperones!" she said with obvious sarcasm.

Louisa realised the folly of her idea and blushed. "I was only concerned!"

Caroline felt sorry for her. "I am sorry, sister. I should have confided in you. I...I...no longer..." How do I say this? "...hope for Mr. Darcy's attentions." There, I said it out loud, to someone else.

Louisa was stunned. She was speechless for several minutes, while Caroline tried not to cry.

"You have given up?"

"I was only fooling myself. I feel like such a fool."

"But you love him!"

"Do I?" Caroline said bitterly. "If I ever did, I must forget about it, because it's no use anyway," and she cried.

Part 9

"I shall never try to gain anyone's attentions anymore," Caroline said.

"Don't be so foolish!" Louisa scolded her. "You'll die an old maid."

"So be it. I have more than enough money."

Louisa knew she could not mean that. It was almost the exact opposite of what she had always said before. This has to be a temporary phase. She tried to find something that would cheer her sister up. "You're just saying that. You know you don't mean it. When we get back to London--"

Caroline interrupted her. "We might as well return straight away. Now that Mr. Darcy has gone to London, there is no point in staying here. Georgiana will be glad to see us go."

"Georgiana would not--"

"Georgiana prefers Miss Bennet," Caroline said curtly.

Louisa was confused. She was used to repeating Caroline's opinions, and she thought she knew what Caroline liked to hear, but suddenly it seemed as if Caroline disagreed with everything she said. Caroline's tears had shocked her. She had never seen Caroline cry before, not even when they were young. She did not know what to do.

"Go tell Charles I want to leave."

Georgiana entered at that moment and overheard Caroline's last words. "You want to leave?" She said incredulously.

"I feel we cannot stay when the host is absent. We would be imposing," Caroline said.

"No!" Georgiana cried. "You would not be imposing at all." Caroline and Louisa were not the people she liked best, but to be honest, she preferred Caroline and Louisa's company to being alone. Her brother had left, Miss Bennet had left the inn, and now her brother's guests were also threatening to leave her. She felt quite alone. She was always alone with Mrs. Annesley and it was beginning to bore her. Mrs. Annesley was very nice, but she was old in Georgiana's eyes, and she could hardly call her her friend. I must mean nothing to them if they do not want to stay, she thought sadly. I am only Fitzwilliam's little sister.

Caroline looked surprised. "You mean you want us to stay?"

"Why, yes! You must stay for as long as you had originally planned, if you don't mind," she added anxiously.

Part 10

Darcy's guests stayed until he had returned to Pemberley. They did not know what kind of business had taken him away, not even Georgiana. He had sent her a brief letter, saying that he would be returning as soon as possible, but with no details about his business.

Georgiana missed her brother. Suddenly she had to play hostess now that he was gone. Contrary to her previous fears, her guests had behaved themselves rather nicely, and they were at times rather amusing. Miss Bingley seemed to have given up her urge to please her, which made her a whole lot less irritating. Now she would listen to Georgiana play the pianoforte without praising her, indeed without commenting at all. Georgiana had always felt embarrassed by Caroline's excessive praise, feeling that she did not deserve half of it, and she was very grateful that Caroline kept her mouth shut so she could concentrate on her playing.

Miss Bingley behaved very odd indeed, in Georgiana's eyes. They way she had reacted when Georgiana had said they were welcome to stay was very out of character. Almost as if she had expected Georgiana to send them away. And now, she was very quiet and did not speak much, whereas previously she had always been the one who spoke the most, together with Charles.

Georgiana thought that Bingley minded Caroline's silence. She was always the one who joined in on his conversation. Louisa hardly ever said anything if Caroline didn't, and Hurst was even duller. But Mr. Hurst was the only other man, so he was forced to spend a lot of time with him.

Georgiana laughed secretly at one of Caroline's rare remarks when Bingley tried to make Hurst enthusiastic for a game of billiards. Mr. Hurst replied that he'd much rather play cards.

"Heaven forbid that you should take part in any active game, Mr. Hurst!" Caroline snubbed cattily.

Mr. Hurst looked astonished, Louisa cried, Bingley smirked, and Mrs. Annesley looked shocked. Georgiana tried very hard not to smirk along with Bingley. Mr. Hurst was an exceptionally lazy person who only seemed to enjoy activities that allowed him to stay in his chair with his glass of brandy at hand. How odd that he should like playing cards and not reading, for both require some mental activity, Georgiana wondered. Or perhaps they are playing a very simple game of cards, but what would be the fun of that? She felt sorry for Louisa, to be married to such a man; although Louisa did not seem to mind.

Mr. Hurst had decided to defend himself. "I'm tired. I have been out fishing all morning."

"Fishing?" Caroline cried mockingly. "To be sure, that is very exhausting!"

Her brother-in-law knew she was right, and he didn't want to let her win the argument in front of all these people and stood up. "Very well, Bingley. I shall join you for a game of billiards." Everybody looked surprised, including Caroline. She had wanted to provoke Mr. Hurst into some kind of action, but had thought that he was too far gone to actually get up and do something.

Louisa was still sniffing, and somehow Caroline got the feeling that it was her fault. She sat down next to her sister, as if that would make her stop. It didn't. "Stop crying, Louisa, it's very bad for your complexion. Your eyes will get all puffy. I hope you're not crying because I offended him."

"Oh Caroline! I can't get him to do anything!" Louisa whined. Georgiana listened to the conversation with interest, ignoring Mrs. Annesley's disapproval of her eavesdropping.

"That is because he is bored. He has nothing to do. Get him something to do."

"Like what?"

"How should I know? I'm not married to the man. Every man should have some occupation, or else he gets bored."

Georgiana frowned. Is Caroline changing her ideas? Didn't she use to think that idleness was the height of fashion?

After Darcy returned to Pemberley, his guests stayed with him for a few more days. Georgiana noticed that her brother seemed much relieved, and yet anxious about something. She was too much in awe of him to ask directly, and he ignored her hints. She was happy to note that Miss Bingley seemed to have abandoned her idea of marrying Fitzwilliam--it almost seemed as if she avoided him. Georgiana thought that her brother would only be glad for it. He had never encouraged Caroline in any way, and she was sure that he was in love with Miss Bennet, as far as she could see. I'm not very good at judging situations like that, she remembered Wickham with shame. I'm so ashamed of that! How could I ever think....I wouldn't know where to look if I were to see him now. I'd probably avoid him as much as possible. Hang on, is Caroline ashamed of herself too maybe? She does behave rather differently, like she's avoiding Fitzwilliam. Yes, I think she might be...how interesting...

Part 11

Caroline returned to London with her brother and the Hursts. She felt very bored. Her life used to be filled with chasing after Darcy, with everything she ever did she had only one goal in mind, and now suddenly she had nothing to do. She paid a few visits to her friends, but it did not satisfy her restlessness. Her friends were behaving exactly like she had always done herself. It had never occurred to her before to look at their behaviour from an outsider's point of view, but now that she did, they struck her as being extremely silly.

She had always considered Annabella as one of her best friends, because Annabella was a pretty, well connected girl. Never had she given much thought to Annabella's understanding, because they shared the same ambition. Now that Caroline's ego had been somewhat dented, she had given up on that ambition entirely, and there was not a lot she and Annabella had in common anymore. Her friend's incessant talk of her Duke, and everything she was going to do in order to secure him, bored and annoyed Caroline to death. Don't be so shallow! Is there nothing else you can think of?

Bored with her sophisticated London friends, she decided to write a letter to Georgiana. She frequently wrote to Georgiana, but her previous letters always had always been full of praise. Georgiana had been very nice to her at Pemberley. Maybe she even liked her.

Dear Georgiana,

I hope you are still in good health. When you return to London next week, I would be very pleased if you'd come and visit me. There is a lovely new opera that I'm sure you will enjoy. I have read that it's truly excellent. Unfortunately I know noone who is willing to accompany me at the moment. You know Charles, he thinks operas last far too long and he begins fidgeting halfway. Louisa will not come because she has already taken Mr. Hurst to see it. Heaven knows how she accomplished that--it's a mystery to me. I cannot imagine he did not fall asleep after ten minutes, but Louisa assures me he stayed awake all the time! She must have forced him to drink a lot of coffee beforehand, I see no other explanation. That is how the situation is at the moment. There are very few people whom I'd call friends in town at the moment, and most of them are too busy to attend the opera unless they are certain that they will be 'seen' by someone they particularly wish to be seen by. They would not make fun company, I am sorry to say. This would be a wholly selfish plea were it not for my absolute belief that you will enjoy this opera very much. You see, we discussed it when I was at Pemberley, and I beg to be excused for my selfishness!

Your friend &c.

Caroline sealed the letter and hoped that Georgiana would believe her. For once she had written a completely honest letter, without all of the false sentiments she was accustomed to write. It usually took her an hour to write a letter to Georgiana, and her drafts looked like one of Charles' letters with all of its blotted out words and sentences, but this one was completed fairly quickly. She hoped she did not give Georgiana the wrong impression, she had tried to write down what she really felt, but she was afraid that Georgiana would take it as another of her ingratiating letters.

She rang the bell for a servant and handed him the letter. "Now what?" she murmured, staring around the empty drawing room. "Where is Louisa?" Then she remembered that Louisa and Mr. Hurst had gone away to visit Mr. Hurst's mother, for the whole day. Since it was not even midday, they were not to return very soon.

With a sigh Caroline picked up her needlework, but threw it away angrily when she pricked in her finger. She got up and walked around the house restlessly until she came to the library. She looked at the books and started talking to herself as if she were two people, cocking her head to the left when she spoke as one person, and to the right when she spoke as the other.

"Shall I read a book?" Caroline with her head to the left side asked tentatively.

"But you don't like reading books..."

"How would you know? I never read them."

"Why don't you read books? Surely because you don't like reading?" The right side was obviously trying to persuade her not to read.

"Maybe I had better things to do..." Her left side didn't want to give up.

"Like what?" the right side asked, knowing full well that this question was going to be painful.

"Shut up!" Caroline did not want to be reminded of that anymore, and she grabbed a book. "I can't believe I'm talking to myself! Ugh!"

Part 12

It was a lovely day and she longed to take a walk with her sister, but Caroline was alone again. She thought of her situation and smiled in spite of it. Louisa forced Mr. Hurst to see one opera and now he's simply addicted to plays and operas! Well, I really should not complain. It's my own fault that they leave me alone all the time. Wasn't it I who told her to get him something to do? Now he enjoys something. I should be glad for my sister. He's a lot less idle now they go out at night.

After staring out of the window for some time, she decided to walk to the park by herself. It was such a short distance that she needn't be accompanied by anyone. There will be so many people and things to watch there, much more than in here. I will take my book with me too so I won't get bored. She had found a few books in the library that interested her.

Caroline changed into another gown and picked up her umbrella and book. "I shall be in the park," she informed their housekeeper, who looked very surprised.

"There was a letter for you, Miss Caroline," the housekeeper told her as she handed her the letter.

"From Georgiana! Thank you."

Caroline hurried to the park, eager to read Georgiana's letter. She sat down on a bench and opened the letter. Georgiana wrote that she would be very happy to accept Caroline's invitation and that she would not be able call on her until Thursday, because she had a previous engagement with her cousin as soon as she got to London.

"Thursday is tomorrow," Caroline said with satisfaction, happy to know there was a little diversion to look forward to. She folded the letter and stuck it between the pages of her book. For a while she watched two children who were floating a boat in the pond. They were wellbehaved children and they did not scream or shout once, she noted. When they left, there wasn't much to see except people walking, but there was no one she knew so she opened her book. Soon she was engrossed in the story.

Georgiana had returned to London and she was being entertained by her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam who was on a short leave, because her brother had gone to hunt at Netherfield with Bingley. They had taken the carriage to watch a parade, but since the weather was so agreeable the Colonel thought it might be just as nice to walk back.

"Shall we walk home, Georgiana?" he suggested.

Georgiana agreed, and so they set off on foot.

"How was Pemberley, by the way?"

"I met Miss Bennet," Georgiana said with a grin.

The Colonel was amazed. "Miss Bennet was at Pemberley?"

"No, not exactly. She did come to call on us once, but she was staying in Lambton with her aunt and uncle. Her aunt grew up there, and it was a coincidence that William met them."

"Oh! I thought your sly brother had invited Miss Bennet without telling me about it."

"He would never do that!" Georgiana cried.

"What, not tell me about it?"

"No, I mean inviting a lady!"

The Colonel laughed. "True, true. Did you like Miss Bennet?"

"Yes, I did. Very much."

"So did your brother, I gather. Did he behave nicely to her when she was at Pemberley?"

"Yes, I thought so, but she was called away on urgent family business after only a day."

"I hope it was nothing serious."

"I do not know, but William had some urgent business in London to take care of the day after too, so he left me alone with Bingley and his sisters."

The Colonel raised his eyebrows. What a bizarre coincidence. "I'm sorry to hear that. I know you had looked forward to spending some time with your brother. Did you amuse yourself with his friends though?"

"A little."

"Only a little? Poor Georgiana! Bingley is a nice chap, and I'm sure Miss Bingley would have been falling over herself trying to please you like you write she always does?"

"Oh no, she was unusually quiet."

Colonel Fitzwilliam thought it all very bizarre indeed. Miss Bennet suddenly leaving, Darcy suddenly leaving, and Miss Bingley being quiet. If I didn't know Darcy as well as I do, and if I had not seen him two days ago I would have thought that this meant that he had eloped with Miss Bennet and that Miss Bingley was upset about it. "What business did Darcy have that needed to be attended to so suddenly?" he asked curiously.

"He didn't say."

"Two days ago he said he was going to Netherfield to shoot with Bingley. That is close to where Miss Bennet lives, isn't it?" To shoot, my foot!

"Yes, I believe so," said Georgiana, who began to suspect an ulterior motive too.

They entered a park they passed because Georgiana wanted to feed the ducks when she suddenly nudged her cousin. "Look there!" she said in a surprised tone.

Part 13

"Where?" The Colonel didn't see anything.

"On that bench," Georgiana said excitedly.

"A lady reading a book, yes, I had noticed her."

"Does she not look familiar to you?"

The Colonel looked again. "Well, if we did not know any better, I would have wagered that it was Miss Bingley, but we know that to be utterly impossible. Besides, I'm not well enough acquainted with Miss Bingley to be able to recognize her from such a great distance."

"I am, and I assure you, it is Miss Bingley, and the distance is not as great as that if you had already noticed her."

"I notice all ladies," the Colonel replied teasingly, but looking at the alleged Miss Bingley with some surprise. She had never struck him as being a great reader, or someone who would enjoy an afternoon in the park. He recalled her calling Miss Bennet brown and coarse from being too much outdoors. "Let us go over and greet her. Do you not think it would be interesting to hear what motivates her to sit in this park?" The Colonel was looking forward to hearing another of Miss Bingley's absurd notions.

"Yes, it would be very impolite to ignore her," Georgiana agreed. "Especially since I promised to call upon her tomorrow. The ducks can wait," she said as she looked at the piece of bread she was holding.

Georgiana and the Colonel made their way over to the bench where Caroline was sitting, book in one hand, umbrella in the other. She did not notice their approach at all.

"Good day, Miss Bingley," the Colonel said, with the intent to startle her, and he succeeded, for Caroline dropped her umbrella at the sound of his voice.

"Georgiana!" Caroline said as the Colonel bent to pick up her umbrella. Her warmth sounded sincere. He handed her her umbrella. "Thank you, but I was quite able to pick it up myself," came out a little harshly, because she was still embarrassed about letting it fall.

"Really?" said the Colonel, with genuine interest. He was already enjoying himself. Somehow he couldn't picture the elegant Miss Bingley bending over to pick something up. She would be too afraid that the blood would stream to her head, and that she would get a red face.

Caroline ignored him. "How are you, Georgiana? You look very well. I hope you had a pleasant journey?"

"I am very well, thank you, and my journey was indeed very pleasant. The weather was as lovely as it is today."

The ladies fell silent as Caroline adjusted her umbrella. The Colonel could not contain his curiosity much longer. "What brings you out into the park, Miss Bingley?" he blurted out.

Georgiana looked alarmed. She was just as curious as her cousin, but she did not have the nerve to ask. She thought it would be impolite to ask it so directly.

"Did you not hear Georgiana say it was a lovely day today?" Caroline answered.

"You must be very glad to have your umbrella with you," the Colonel said feelingly.

"Yes, certainly. It will be quite useful if people start bothering me." Caroline sounded as if she meant it.

The Colonel's eyes widened. What does she mean? Is she really capable of hitting people with it? But that is a most unladylike thing to do!

Part 14

"Thank you for your letter, Georgiana. I got it today," Caroline said, while the Colonel was still trying to picture Miss Bingley wielding her umbrella.

"It is very kind of you to invite me," Georgiana said politely. "I have always wanted to go."

"That's what I thought too." Caroline was glad that Georgiana seemed enthusiastic.

"Is Mrs. Hurst not with you today?" Georgiana blushed as she asked this, fearing she was being impertinent, but Caroline did not mind the question.

"No, Louisa and Mr. Hurst have gone away to visit some friends today, because they are going on a tour of the Continent next week."

"They are?" Georgiana exclaimed. She would have never thought it possible.

"Sit down, dear. You're standing in the sun there," Caroline said. Georgiana was grateful she could sit after her long walk, and she took her place beside Caroline on the bench.

"And me?" the Colonel inquired.

"If you wish," Caroline answered, and the Colonel sat down on Caroline's other side because she happened to be sitting in the middle of the bench.

"They met someone at the theatre last week, and they are going to visit him. He lives in Italy and he has invited them." I'm happy for Louisa, but I'm going to be so bored! Why didn't I go to the theatre that day too, and I might have been invited as well.

"I must say I am surprised," said the Colonel, who had been craning his neck in trying to see what Caroline was reading.

"I was surprised too," said Caroline, thinking he was referring to the Hursts' trip.

"You were?" the Colonel was getting confused, not really understanding why someone should be surprised at herself for suddenly reading a book.

"Yes, it was wholly uncharacteristic," Caroline agreed.

"I wonder what brought on the change?" the Colonel was fascinated.

"Love?"

"Love?" the Colonel repeated, not sure how to fit this answer into the puzzle. I thought you had been imagining yourself in love with Darcy for a long time, or infatuated, rather. Why should you suddenly start reading good books because of it?

"I don't understand it myself either," Caroline sighed.

Georgiana had been on the right track, and gathered enough courage to comment. "I think you started it at Pemberley when you told him..." her voice trailed off.

The poor Colonel was now completely confused. What happened at Pemberley? Who did she tell what? Did something happen between Darcy and Miss Bingley? How about Miss Bennet?

"Do you think so?" Caroline said thoughtfully. "It had to be said, you know."

"Ladies, ladies. Exactly what are we talking about?" The Colonel had to know what was going on.

Georgiana giggled. "Are you confused, cousin? You should have been there, it was capital."

Caroline looked a bit surprised, and the Colonel asked what had been so capital.

"Well," Georgiana blushed. "What Caroline told Mr. Hurst when he preferred cards over billiards. Heaven forbid that you should take part in any active game, Mr. Hurst! It was quite funny."

"Good heavens!" the Colonel exclaimed.

"What?" both young ladies said in an alarmed voice. "You do not think it was funny, cousin?" Georgiana added.

"No, it's not that. I can very well imagine Miss Bingley making such a comment, and I have no doubt that it was very amusing, but I was thinking you were talking about something else. No wonder I was getting very confused."

"That comment was not meant to be amusing," Caroline said, "but what did you think I was talking about?"

"Your book. You had me wondering why love induced you to read a book."

"I see. And could you come up with a good reason?" she challenged him.

"No, I could not, because I did not think you were in love." Now what will she say to that?

Caroline surprised the Colonel by saying gravely, "you are quite right, of course."

Part 15

Posted on Friday, 3 July 1998

Caroline's answer kept both Georgiana and the Colonel silent for a while. Georgiana was not as surprised as her cousin, because she had already witnessed Caroline's altered behaviour at Pemberley. She felt she had to keep the conversation going while the Colonel was obviously thinking this answer over at length.

Georgiana wondered if Caroline had to spend the whole evening alone. If that was the case, she pitied her. She was alone with Mrs. Annesley most of the time, but Caroline did not even have a Mrs. Annesley. Georgiana was going to a play with the Colonel and his younger sister Catherine, who lived in London.

"Will your sister and brother return shortly?" she asked shyly.

"Or are you forced to spend the whole day in the park?" the Colonel finished her sentence for her.

Caroline coloured. "They will not be back until very late," she said stiffly, "and I am sitting here out of my own free will."

"Are you not afraid to ruin your complexion by sitting out of doors?"

"Really, your originality amazes me, Colonel. You have hinted at that before," she snapped.

"You cannot blame me, Miss Bingley. In my previous conversations with you, your disapproval of the complexions of young ladies who had spent too much time outdoors was a recurrent topic."

Caroline gave him a furious look. Why does he have to bring that up again? I do not want to be reminded of those times. It is very painful to be reminded of my own silly behaviour.

"Perhaps..." Georgiana began tentatively. "Cousin, aren't we..."

"What, Georgiana?"

"Can't Caroline..."

"Can't she what?"

"Come with us?" Georgiana blushed. She wasn't sure how her cousin would react. Perhaps he would not like it at all.

"Certainly," the Colonel said amiably. "If Miss Bingley has no objections, she is very welcome to join us."

Caroline looked surprised. She was touched by Georgiana's kindness. What have I ever done to deserve any kindness? And who is we and where are we going? A thought struck her, and she looked alarmed. "I hope you do not think I said that because I was hoping for an invitation."

"Not at all," Georgiana assured her quickly.

"The company will not be below you," the Colonel added. "There is Georgiana here, and Catherine who's the daughter of an Earl. And of course there is me, but I shall take care not to come too close so your reputation shall not be blemished by your being seen in the company of an officer."

The Colonel did not trust the dangerous gleam in Miss Bingley's eyes, and the way she suddenly gripped her umbrella, so he stood up quickly, grabbed Georgiana's piece of bread and walked over to the pond to feed the ducks.

Caroline gave a sigh of exasperation. Georgiana was worried that she was angry with her cousin. "He is only teasing you. He doesn't mean it. It's his normal behaviour," she defended the Colonel.

"I shall just have to put up with it then. It was very kind of you to invite me."

"You will join us then?"

"I will be glad to join you, I shall hope your cousin keeps his mouth shut."

"Do not worry, Caroline," Georgiana smiled. "Everybody will want to talk to him, so I expect he will be too busy with other ladies to tease us."

"Ah, he is one of those, is he?" Caroline said disapprovingly. "You have not told me where we are going yet."

"We are going to a play Catherine chose. I do not know which one yet."

"Who is Catherine?" Caroline asked.

"She is my cousin. Did you think it was my aunt?"

"I do not dislike your aunt. I must be the only one I suppose?"

Georgiana giggled.

The Colonel returned, figuring it was safe now. "Ladies, we shall have to go home to change now, if we do not want to be late for the play."

"It's very presumpious of you to assume that I am coming," Caroline said coldly.

"Not at all. Who says I assume you are coming?"

"You said we shall have to go home now, if we do not want to be late."

"I might have been talking about Georgiana and me."

"You would not have said ladies if that were the case."

The Colonel grinned goodnaturedly. "I see I shall have to watch my words when I'm around you, Miss Bingley."

"Thank heavens you're never around me," Caroline retorted. Immediately she wished she hadn't said that, but around was such a silly word.

Georgiana looked baffled when the Colonel laughed heartily. He winked at his cousin who obviously had no clue what Caroline meant, and whispered in her ear, "like an embrace, Georgiana."

Part 16

Posted on Saturday, 4 July 1998

"We shall escort you home safely, Miss Bingley," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, still standing in front of the bench.

"There is no need, Colonel. I am perfectly capable of finding my way home by myself."

"Oh, I do not doubt it. In that case, we shall walk directly behind you, as I am escorting Georgiana home."

Caroline raised herself from the bench. "As you wish," she replied haughtily. "Are you sure you do not need an escort yourself? I am very well acquainted with London, but I can imagine that you would have spent more time in the country, or in your barracks."

"True, true, I grant you, but if you were to escort me home, you would not have adequate time to get dressed for your evening out."

"I see you are still under the impression that I am going."

"But naturally, it was an offer you could not refuse." The Colonel held out his arm to Georgiana, who took it. He held out his other arm to vex Caroline, and he was not surprised to see her shake her head stubbornly. He grinned to himself as he and Georgiana followed Caroline home. He bent over to his cousin's ear. "Is she coming or not?"

"Yes," Georgiana smiled.

They took their leave of Caroline, and Colonel Fitzwilliam promised her to send the carriage round to pick her up later.

"Are you sure you do not mind that she is coming, cousin? And Catherine?" Georgiana asked anxiously.

"Not at all," her cousin said assuredly. "You know Catherine, she loves a laugh, and I am sure she thinks Miss Bingley is highly amusing. She will probably insist she is not going to come even when the carriage has picked her up!"

Georgiana smiled, but she dared not tell her cousin, who was so many years her senior, that he ought not to tease Caroline so much. Not only did she fear it would be impertinent of her, but also did she think that it would be a waste of time because he teased everyone.

"Richard! What took you so long?" his sister Catherine asked him as he returned to her house. "Robert has been wanting to play with you for ages."

"I'm sorry," the Colonel mumbled. "We decided to walk back and then we ran into a friend of Georgiana's...and she is going to join us this evening."

"I could have known," Catherine sighed theatrically. Her friends had all had crushes on her brother and she knew he had more admirers than he knew about. "I assume you did not have to go to great lengths to get her to join us?"

"I did not have to do anything at all. It was all Georgiana's doing," he replied seriously. "Why would I invite her? We are talking about Miss Bingley here."

Catherine had never met Miss Bingley, but she had heard her relatives mention her. "Ah, Fitzwilliam's devoted admirer."

"She will deny that, of course."

"Sounds like you have tried, Richard." His sister grinned over her needlework.

"Not in so many words, no," he answered innocently. "But she seems to be of a disposition to disagree with everything."

His sister did not speak, but bit her lip as she was bent over her work. This is going to be an interesting evening.

"Where is my favourite nephew then? I still have a little time to play with him." "You only have one nephew! Robert is in the nursery. He will be glad to see you, he has been waiting--"

He held up his hands. "I know, I know! I'm going already."

Part 17

Posted on Wednesday, 8 July 1998

Caroline walked up to her room and rang for her maid to help her get ready. She was glad to have something to do this evening, and although Colonel Fitzwilliam was a most vexing man, she was not prepared to let him spoil her night. She could always concentrate on the play if he got too annoying.

She lingered over her choice of gown. Why do I have to have so many of them? It always makes it so difficult to choose one. Orange? Blue? Orange? Green? Orange? Caroline settled for a dark blue one. Her maid had prepared a bath for her, and it was more than an hour later that she was ready to have some tea.

The carriage picked her up after tea time, and until they reached Darcy's townhouse, she had it all to herself. There she was joined by Georgiana, who looked adorable in a green gown.

"You look very nice, Georgiana. Is it new?"

"Thank you," Georgiana blushed. "My brother gave it to me."

"It looks very nice on you. You should wear more green."

"You look very well in dark blue as well. I do not think I have ever seen you wear it," Georgiana said. She usually goes for orange, yellow, red, and other bright colours. When did I ever see her wear a dark colour?

"No, I do not wear much blue."

"Why not?"

Caroline sighed and looked out of the window. "Because it is so unnoticeable." No one could overlook me in a colourful gown, especially not... She winced.

"Do you want to be noticed then?" asked Georgiana, to whom this was wholly incomprehensible. She hated being the center of attention.

"Not anymore."

"Why not?"

"I have decided I do not want a husband."

How extremely odd! Caroline's main objective was always to get herself a wealthy husband. Georgiana looked surprised. "Never?"

The thought of spending her life being jo-joed between her sister and her brother was not very appealing, so she was in a bit of a quandary. Still, it is more appealing than having to make a fool of myself another time. "No, never," she said firmly. For the time being, at least. I realize my thoughts are not very consistent...

"Oh," said Georgiana, "what if you fall in love with someone?"

"I will not," Caroline declared.

"Look, we are here," Georgiana said excitedly as the carriage slowed down, glad that she was spared from having to say "why not" another time.

Part 18

Posted on Sunday, 12 July 1998

Georgiana and Caroline were helped down from the carriage and they were shown in to the drawing room, where the Colonel and his sister were waiting. Caroline's eyes flickered round the room. She did not even consciously know she was doing this, but it had become a habit of hers to judge people by their material possessions and outward appearance. The furnishings met with her approval, and she directed her look at Colonel Fitzwilliam and his sister. The family connection was very obvious--Lady Catherine had the same hair colour, the same eyes and the same bone structure as her brother.

The Colonel introduced Caroline to his sister, who greeted her politely, curious about the Miss Bingley she had heard much about. "We have to leave straightaway, I'm afraid. We do not have the time to sit for a while. My brother," she gave her brother a reproachful look, "sent off the carriage too late because Robert and he were--"

"Yes," the Colonel coughed. "No need to go into that." He saw no need to tell Miss Bingley and Georgiana that he and Robert had been chasing eachother through the house with wooden swords and with table cloths around their shoulders.

"Who is Robert?" Caroline asked.

"He's my son," Lady Catherine laughed. "Now, Richard, you and Miss Bingley must take the Darcy's carriage for Georgiana and I shall take ours to pick up Mrs. Barr." Seeing the look on the Colonel's face, she laughed again. "No, no, do not worry. She is not going to join us! I was merely asked to take her to the theatre and there she will be taken care of. It is a pity we cannot fit the whole party into one carriage, but alas, it is so."

"It is a blessing! A carriage ride with four women and their incessant gossip would drive me crazy."

The Colonel helped Caroline into the carriage, and then got in himself. The carriage rode off and they sat for a few moments without speaking before he said, "You are awfully quiet tonight, Miss Bingley. Are you ill?"

Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Did I not hear you say just now that talking women drive you crazy?"

"I had not thought that would deter you."

"I am in a benevolent mood."

"I am so glad! We do have to pass some time in this carriage together. It might be nice if we talked a bit. Have you received any news from your brother?"

"He has gone to hunt at Netherfield, I have not heard from him yet. He never writes very often."

"What a bad brother he is. I write my sister very often."

"Oh yes, I am sure you are very responsible," Caroline said sarcastically.

"You do not believe me?"

"You are Georgiana's other guardian, are you not?"

"Yes, I am." The Colonel gave her an odd look. "Why do you ask?"

At that moment, there was a loud noise and the carriage suddenly inclined to one side, as if one wheel had gone missing.

"What was that?" cried Caroline, who had been thrown rather unelegantly across the carriage.

"I do not know," the Colonel said as he returned Caroline to her original seat, "but I shall step out to have a look."

Stepping out proved to be a little difficult, and he had to jump. Quickly it was ascertained that one of the wheels was broken. He conferred with the driver, who told him it was not possible to repair the damage then and there. Luckily they were not far from the theatre and he estimated they could walk it in half an hour.

"Miss Bingley," he called into the carriage, "jump out and we shall walk on from here."

Part 19

Posted on Thursday, 16 July 1998

Caroline allowed the Colonel to help her out of the carriage. "We are going to walk, you say?"

He gestured at the broken wheel. "I'm afraid we have no other choice. There is no repairing it at the moment."

Caroline frowned. "How far is it?" She looked around herself, but her surroundings did not look very familiar. "Quite far, I gather."

"About half an hour."

How would he know that? Does he know London better than I do? That's impossible! "How do you know? You do not live in London. You cannot possibly know how far it is to the theatre."

He offered her his arm. "Why did you ask me, if I you already knew that I could not possibly know?"

She took his arm without hesitation and they started walking. "I did not ask you."

"Then who did you ask?"

"No one in particular," she said haughtily.

"And were you expecting an answer from no one in particular or were you merely talking to yourself?" the Colonel said in a grave voice.

"I do not talk to myself," she said a little quickly, remembering that she had done so on one occasion.

"That proves it. You were talking to me. There was no one else around."

He is insufferable! "Why would I talk to you? You question everything I say. It's not very gentlemanlike to do so," Caroline replied cattily.

"What do you expect, I am an officer!" he said with a slight edge to his voice. "Though may I remind you that it was you who started to question what I said?"

"I had every right to question what you said. During all of our acquaintance I have never heard you utter anything remotely serious."

Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. "For your sake, I hope that the things you utter are not meant to be the least bit serious either."

Caroline reddened with anger. "Are you suggesting that what I say is always ridiculous?"

"Not at all, Miss Bingley."

"You are mocking me, Colonel," she said accusingly.

"But of course," replied the Colonel, "you have just very rightly remarked that I never utter anything remotely serious, so if you take my statement in that light, I was probably not suggesting anything at all. In case you felt offended by my suggestion I apologise most profusely, for everyone, even you, has a right to their opinions however incomprehensible they may seem to me."

"Oh!" Caroline cried in vexation. "I shall not speak one more word to you until we are at the theatre. All you do is twist my words and you are determined to find fault with anything I say."

"Where are Richard and Miss Bingley," Catherine said, a little worried, for the play was about to begin. "They ought to have been here before us. They are going to miss the first act if they do not arrive soon."

"Perhaps they are acting out the first act," Georgiana said with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Is it that bad?" Catherine asked. "Richard did not say very much about her except that she is of a disposition to disagree with everything."

"That is not exactly true," Georgiana giggled. "Did he not mention that he was teasing her mercilessly?"

"No, but I can well believe it. They are not the best of friends then? Oh dear, what have I done by letting them travel in the same carriage? I thought I was doing my brother a favour by sparing him Mrs. Barr's company."

"I should think he is enjoying himself. He likes to tease," Georgiana said carefully.

"But does Miss Bingley enjoy being at the receiving end of his wit, although I understand she she has a very capable tongue herself?"

"She is much more capable than I am..." said Georgiana, and her cousin laughed.

Part 20

Posted on Monday, 20 July 1998

Caroline's feet were killing her when they got to the theatre, but she was determined not to say anything. She would only be teased, she suspected. They were not the only late arrivals at the theatre, an older lady accompanying a young girl had also just arrived, and they were looking back at the Colonel, evidently waiting for him.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam!" the girl exclaimed with a delighted smile. "What a fortunate thing that we are both arriving late! Had we been on time, we might not have seen you, and I would have been so miserable to find out you were here too afterwards!"

Caroline suppressed a snort. Really! Is this one of his friends? She can't be more than eighteen, I am sure.

"Miss Payne," the Colonel bowed. "Mrs. Payne."

Yes, she sounds like a pain too.

"I had a ball last week," Miss Payne chatted on. "It was such a pity that you were not able to attend. Your presence was sorely missed, especially by the Miss Stantons, but you do not care for them, surely?" she asked anxiously. "They said you had promised them something. What was it? They would not tell me."

"The Miss Stantons," the Colonel murmured, a blank look on his face.

Caroline suspected he had no idea who the Miss Stantons were, much less what he had promised them. The rascal has been promising things to ladies he does not even know? Oh, ladies? Excuse me! Babies is more like it.

"I do not recall promising anything to the Miss Stantons," he said carefully. Luckily they had reached their box at that point, so the conversation would have to come to an end.

"I am glad," Miss Payne cried. "For I think that they are so very ugly that they will never marry you even if they are set on it."

The Colonel looked a little taken aback at this revelation. "Both of them?" he asked seriously. "How...?"

"I would not put it past him," Caroline said to Miss Payne, who reminded her a little too much of Lydia Bennet. "But do not despair for what could be the difference between two or three wives? He might marry you as well."

Both Mrs. and Miss Payne looked shocked, and the Colonel practically dragged Caroline into their box, hastily saying good bye to the Paynes, but without being able to escape the invitation to come to their box later on.

"Was it necessary to dislocate my shoulder, Colonel?" Caroline asked once they were in the box.

"It was not," he replied, ignoring the surprised looks of his sister and his cousin, "but it was necessary to dislocate you."

"What happened? Why are you so late? And please keep your voice down," Lady Catherine said, obviously very curious. Georgiana looked just as curious, but she was afraid to ask anything.

"The carriage lost a wheel and we were forced to walk."

"And what happened to Miss Bingley's shoulder?"

"Nothing," said the Colonel. "She likes to exaggerate. If it had really been dislocated she would have made some sound." He looked at the stage. "So, what play are we watching?"

Part 21

Posted on Friday, 24 July 1998

"Much Ado About Nothing," his sister replied, eying him carefully. She remembered a few lines spoken before the Colonel and Miss Bingley arrived. I am loved of all ladies...Yes, he certainly was. Truly, I love none...She had heard him say that too. When she had remarked this to Georgiana, her cousin had told her of Miss Bingley's declaration that she did not want a husband. They had had some fun over the dialogue, because Beatrice had said, "I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me." Apparently neither the Colonel nor Caroline seemed to make the connection, because they said nothing.

When the first act was over, Miss Payne appeared. "Colonel, will you come and sit with us now?" she said rather breathlessly. "You did promise you would come."

"If it pleases you, Miss Payne," he said gallantly, "who am I to deny you such a pleasure?" He followed her to the Paynes' box.

"Well, that was Miss Payne," said Catherine drily, "he will be very lucky if he can spend the third act with us, because I have already seen Miss George and Miss White, who usually come to abduct him as well."

Caroline looked shocked. The Colonel seems to encourage all the ladies to pay their attentions to him, and he even seems to enjoy it. Why else would he go with them?

Caroline liked the play, she thought Beatrice and Benedick were so obviously well suited that it was a miracle to her that they did not realise it themselves.

Lady Catherine had been right. The Colonel did not return to their box after the second act. They saw him give a little wave from across the theatre, apparently being agreeably entertained by a young lady in a yellow gown.

He did not return until the beginning of the fifth act, when he resumed his seat with a cheerful, "I'm back!"

"Where have you been, Richard?" his sister chided him. "It is no fun at all taking you to the theatre if you do not sit with us."

"Did you not see me wave?"

"Yes, we saw you wave, that is exactly the point."

"Perfect. You could see me, but you could not hear me."

"Yes, I am very glad that we could not hear you making more promises to silly young ladies," Caroline remarked. "We could now enjoy the play in silence."

"Great minds think alike, Miss Bingley," he said with amusement. "You found me out perfectly. By no means would I spoil any pleasure of yours."

"By no means would you spoil any pleasure of your own, you mean," Caroline whispered, because the fifth act had begun. "Do you say that to all the ladies? You said something of the kind to Miss Payne as well, but perhaps she believed you?"

"Of course she believes me."

"Poor girl."

"Do you pity her and not me?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked mockingly. "I have had to endure them for a whole act."

"I certainly do not pity you. Far from it--it is all your own doing." She was silent for a while, trying to catch up with the play, when she suddenly addressed him again. "On second thoughts, I do pity you."

He looked a little surprised. "You do?"

But he ought to have been suspicious of that mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Yes, I pity you, for you cannot escape marrying them after all that you have promised. You shall be stuck with a few very silly wives, and spend the rest of your life in prison for polygamy."

Part 22

Posted on Sunday, 26 July 1998

"But think about it," he replied seriously. "Is it not a perfect lot? If I get myself seven wives, I will have a visitor a day and I shall never be lonely."

"Ugh," said Caroline. "You do not seriously think there are seven women who are willing to marry you? Even if I have already heard of five on only one night... And why do you assume that they will visit you on different days? It is quite possible that they shall all come to visit you on a Saturday--to do their procrastinated good deeds before the end of the week--and they will all start fighting over your attention, though I suppose you are the sort of person who likes to get attention, and you may not think it so bad that they fight. I really cannot imagine any women fighting over you anyway. I think it much more likely that your wives forget about visiting you altogether."

"In that case, I shall keep marrying until I find one who does visit me." The Colonel was greatly amused. Their procrastinated good deeds, indeed!

"Hush," Lady Catherine said. "You are very distracting. What are you talking about?"

"I am treating Miss Bingley to one of the senseless conversations I usually reserve for silly young ladies." He winked at his sister, who rolled her eyes and motioned him to keep his voice down, which she actually hoped he did not, because she was far too interested in what they were discussing.

"You speak as if you are capable of any other kind of conversation," Caroline said, sounding as if she seriously doubted that possibility.

Colonel Fitzwilliam looked hurt. "Oh no, Miss Bingley! How could you suggest such a thing! Me? Capable of conversations that are not senseless? Please, do not offend me in such a way."

Lady Catherine and Georgiana bit their lips to conceal their laughter. Listening to their conversation had actually gotten more interesting than the play.

"I should think that anyone would be offended by the contrary," she said.

"I see you were trying to offend me, but you know that you will not succeed," he said amiably.

"Then it does not signify if I was." She said cattily. Caroline was getting a little uncomfortable with herself, knowing full well that she had quite a history of saying insulting things to people.

"Shall I make you a promise?" he asked, feeling some guilt because he was keeping her attention from the play.

"Oh, please, refrain from making promises in my presence. I fear I do not believe you capable of keeping any, so do not trouble me with them. You promise such meaningless things that I think you have a habit of forgetting what you promised."

"I have never promised you anything, have I? Perhaps I have, but it was so meaningless that I forgot. You cannot know what I usually promise or what I wish to promise you now."

"No, and it is such nonsense that I probably cannot even begin to guess."

"You cannot? I am severely disappointed in you, Miss Bingley! Your imagination is lively enough in other instances," the Colonel replied. "But I shall not protest! If you are determined not to allow me to promise that I shall not speak another word, I shall just keep on talking nonsense."

Caroline opened her mouth as if to say something, but she did not know what. She felt a little stupid.

Catherine saved her by saying, "please, do not speak another word. I do not think I can bear any more." I'm afraid I shall laugh out loud if you say another word. "Let us watch the final act in silence."

Part 23

Posted on Tuesday, 28 July 1998

"What a depressing play," the Colonel remarked to his sister as he led her to the carriage.

"Depressing?" she asked. "It was a comedy! How can it possibly be depressing?"

"It always pains me to see another sensible man lost to marriage," he replied seriously. "Darcy and Bingley are 'hunting' in Hertfordshire, and I do not doubt that they will both return an engaged man."

"If you had joined them, you might have talked differently. Did I not hear there were five sisters?"

"Cathy!" he cried. "Apart from the fact that I have an adversity against marriage, they are also penniless, and you know that a younger son cannot marry without some attention to money."

"In that case, there is Miss Bingley and her twenty thousand pounds."

"Even if Miss Bingley were to have a hundred thousand pounds, I would not be tempted to marry her," the Colonel declared.

"Perhaps someone else then," his sister suggested. "I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love," she said, quoting Don Pedro.

"Hmmpphh," her brother answered. "With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my Lord, not with love."

Catherine looked surprised that he could quote back in return. "I did not know you had paid attention to the play."

"Not very much, no, but that does not mean I cannot quote any lines from it."

"Colonel!" it was the breathless Miss Payne again, who had been running down the stairs when she caught sight of him. "What was that sonnet of Shakespeare you quoted to me again?"

"To me, fair friend, you can never be old," he recited, then frowned. "Or was it 'O! how I faint when I of you do write'?" He could not quite recall.

"The second! It was so beautiful! But we must be gone now, I do hope to see you another time," said Miss Payne. The Colonel took his leave of Miss Payne and her mother and rejoined his sister, his cousin and Miss Bingley.

Miss Bingley was giving him a mocking look. "Can you not even remember which sonnet you have been meaninglessly quoting to which girl? That is really wicked." He gave her an apologetic smile and quoted the first two lines of Shakespeare's Sonnet CXLII. "Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate, hate of my sin, grounded on sinful loving." He thought it wisest not to quote the rest of it, but these two lines seemed rather well suited to her image of him.

Caroline glared. He always seemed to have anticipated her attacks and be prepared for them. Perhaps that was because he was a Colonel, she thought. I must look up that sonnet and see what the rest of it says. But really, I had not expected him to be able to quote any sonnets at all.

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