Caroline Bingley: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Becton Jennifer

Author:Becton, Jennifer [Becton, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Whiteley Press
Published: 2011-09-30T04:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

The best course of action, Caroline decided, was to apply to Lavinia for assistance in her quest to marry Mr. Charlton, and she must do so as soon as possible, for the London season was already in progress, and though her friend's brother seemed to show an interest in her at times, he had not yet proposed. And Caroline had the greatest wish to rejoin society as the wife of a future baron. Then her triumph would be complete, her humiliation finally forgotten, and the requirement to make amends with Miss Elizabeth Bennet nullified.

"Do get your bonnet, Mrs. Pickersgill," Caroline said into the quiet sitting room where the ladies had been reclining, "for we must pay a call on Oak Park this morning."

"Yes, Miss Bingley," Rosemary said as she rose to gather her outerwear.

Once in the carriage, Rosemary looked at Caroline with curiosity.

"You seem to be rather purposeful in this visit, Miss Bingley. Is something amiss?"

Caroline scowled and lied, "Of course not. It is a visit. Nothing more."

"Ah," Rosemary said, not sounding convinced at all.

They remained quiet on the remainder of the ride, and when they arrived, they were escorted again to the cavernous drawing room.

Caroline joined Mrs. Winton on the sofa, while Mrs. Pickersgill chose a seat on the opposite one and took a book from the nearby table, obviously giving Caroline her privacy.

After a bit of polite conversation, it was time for Caroline to reveal her motivations for calling.

"Lavinia, I have come to speak with you about a matter of a deeply personal nature," she whispered as she glanced across the room at Mrs. Pickersgill, who appeared to be engrossed in her book. It seemed safe to speak, albeit softly.

"Oh?" Lavinia asked as she leaned in, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"I trust that we have been friends long enough that you must have already guessed what I might say."

Lavinia blinked at her and then laughed. "You could not be more mistaken, for though you are one of my dearest friends, I have not the slightest conception of what you might say."

That disclosure did not hearten Caroline. She had hoped that her friend might already be aware of her desire to marry her brother and that she would approve and assist her in that goal.

"Then, because you have not guessed already, I will speak plain. Our families have long been acquainted, and, I daresay, no one would argue that we have been the closest of friends for many years."

"No indeed," Lavinia said. "No one could argue that point, but I do not comprehend your hesitancy to speak such an obvious truth."

Caroline took heart at Lavinia's tone and pressed onward. "I hope you will not think me too presumptuous when I say that our families could only grow closer by the arrangement of a strategic union."

Had Lavinia not been one of her dearest schoolfellows, Caroline would have thought her expression momentarily registered shock. However, the look lingered but briefly, so she could not be certain that she had seen it at all.

Download

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