The Redemption of Caroline Bingley: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice by Carrie Mollenkopf

Author:Carrie Mollenkopf [mollenkopf, carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The occasional drop of rain does not ruin a sunny day

Port Kingston, Bermuda, a few days later….

“No really, I am quite well now,” Caroline reassured her worried husband. It had been two days since her severe bout with sickness. Still a bit weak, she had insisted upon going ashore while the ship took on supplies on the tiny island of Bermuda.

“I may never get another opportunity to experience a place like this. Besides, the exercise on land should do me a world of good. I feel as though I have been cooped up forever.”

Not entirely sure that Caroline had indeed recovered; Drew nevertheless consented to accompany her on a tour of the port town. He well remembered that she was still nervous about being in enclosed spaces since her imprisonment in Rand Eccelston’s house.

Relieved, Caroline happily prepared to go ashore. When she had woken the first day after her illness, she had been alarmed to discover that her clothes had been changed and she had been bathed while unable to care for herself. She hated the feeling of helplessness and the knowledge of such intimacy was a bit unnerving. A distraction was just what she needed to put aside those thoughts and would quickly restore her spirits.

*****

The short distance from the ship to town was almost more than Caroline could bear, but she refused to acknowledge any weakness. The exotic sights and smells tantalized her eyes and a stomach that had not seen solid food in days. Stopping at a nearby café, they enjoyed a light breakfast and watched the locals rush past on the business of the day.

“I did not imagine that there would be such a variety of people in Bermuda. Is it not a British colony?” she asked with surprise as she peered at the crowded street.

“Yes, but you did not think that the local population had disappeared did you?” teased Drew with a wink as a madras draped mulatto woman pushed her fruit laden cart towards the crowded marketplace a few streets away.

“Bermuda is the crossroads of the Atlantic for almost all ships headed to the American South, both from Africa as well as Europe. The population shows the results of years of cultural blending. One can buy practically anything in Bermuda, it has made the British crown very wealthy in trade,” he explained with a more serious tone.

“You make that sound like a bad thing. Prosperity generally makes people happy,” she said with a laugh as she eyed the shops that lined both sides of the street.

“Haven’t you ever wondered who does the work that creates such wealth? I don’t criticize those who have money, or work in trade, that would be rather hypocritical, but often times there can be much suffering.”

“Oh really, I think you are exaggerating.” Putting it out of her mind, Caroline replaced her empty teacup in its saucer and held out her hand to Drew.

“Come now, no thoughts of ugly things, I want to see everything before we have to

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