P&P: Behind the Scenes – Caroline Detects Danger of Elizabeth

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November 15, 1811

With Jane ill upstairs at Netherfield, Elizabeth is forced to spend long hours in the company of Mr. Bingley’s sisters and his unsociable friend. While Caroline entertains at the pianoforte, Mr. Darcy is drawn to Elizabeth’s side – noticing her intriguing mixture of sweetness and archness of manner. And Caroline has noticed him noticing. (P&P chapter 10)


While she had been playing the Italian tunes, which she knew by memory, Caroline had also been watching Mr. Darcy – normally one of her favorite occupations. On this occasion, however, she had derived little enough pleasure from it. For it seemed to her that the gentleman in question, rather than listening to the music she skillfully performed for him, had been paying far more attention to Miss Bennet. He had tried to be inconspicuous – pretending to look beyond her and averting his eyes if Elizabeth should turn his way. But Caroline was not deceived; she knew him too well.

The situation had gone from bad to worse when she had next launched into a Scotch air, hoping to redirect Darcy’s attention to herself by the liveliness of the tune. It seemed to have only driven him closer to Elizabeth, though. Now he was actually taking the trouble of speaking to her! Caroline could not hear the content of their conversation, but she observed the lady’s sportive manner, although it was not quite clear if this was meant to provoke or flirt. She could also see Darcy’s bemused countenance. The poor man looked positively bewitched!

Caroline stumbled uncharacteristically in her performance, sounding a discordant collection of notes too loudly to go unnoticed. Mr. Darcy did then, at last, render her his full attention, as did the others.

“Sorry,” she said to the room in general. “I cannot imagine how that happened. I must have played this piece a hundred times without once making such a mistake.”

Caroline resumed her playing, trying to be more attentive to her task. But the distraction of Darcy conversing with Elizabeth – by choice, this time, and not by necessity – persisted.

There was danger here. Mr. Darcy might not yet see it, but it should be plain enough to his true friends. How earnestly then did Miss Bingley wish for the invalid’s immediate recovery. Parting with Jane would be a small price to pay for also getting rid of Elizabeth!

In the meantime, the presumptuous female’s mesmerizing effects must be counteracted as much as possible, before things were allowed to progress too far. Surely the man was not yet slipped beyond the influence of reason. Perhaps a few well placed words about Elizabeth’s low connections, a few well drawn portraits of what life married into such a family would look like, might wake Darcy from whatever delusions he currently suffered. It would be risky, but Caroline saw no alternative.

And it was for his own good, after all. Darcy might be irritated with her for a time, but he would thank her in the end, once the danger had passed and he saw how she had saved him from it. Caroline could picture it now. He would take her into his arms, just as she had imagined a thousand times, and he would say,

“My darling Caroline, can you ever forgive me for looking at another woman? You have been as patient as a saint, you noble creature. I am so grateful that you showed me the error of my ways in time. There never could be anyone for me but you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes! Oh, yes!” she cried, closing her eyes to receive her beloved’s kiss.

“What was that, Caroline?” said Mr. Bingley, unpleasantly drawing her back to reality. “Do you have a headache or is the light too bright?”

Realizing that all eyes were once again trained on herself, and not necessarily with the admiration she could desire, Miss Bingley grasped at the offered excuse. “Yes, a headache,” she said, abandoning the pianoforte and rising, one hand held to her forehead. “Perhaps I will go to bed now.”

Her campaign to undermine Miss Elizabeth Bennet would have to wait until morning.

 

18 comments

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    • Deborah on August 27, 2015 at 8:31 am
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    How funny! Poor deluded Caroline. Darcy would never use such words or make himself vulnerable to someone. Her machinations in the evening to put Elizabeth in a bad light back fired with Carolinr undermining herself. Thank you for such a fun post.

    1. So true, Deborah. She’s right in sensing danger but wrong about everything else!

    • Stephanie L on August 27, 2015 at 9:36 am
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    “…you noble creature…” seriously deluded Caro. It just shows how much she doesn’t know Darcy if she thinks her well placed words will sway him.

    1. I admit, I did sort of crack myself up writing that line, Stephanie. 😉

  1. Who knew Caroline had such a vivid imagination! Haha Noble, indeed. All she has to do to get Darcy’s attention is to scew up her musical performances *snicker*

    1. Yes, Monica, a large crack has appeared in her polished facade!

  2. An imagination? Miss Bingley? Never!!

    And she thinks that Mr. Darcy is “currently suffering delusions”!

    Poor woman. If she were not so awful, I *might* feel sorry for her.

    Excellent vignette, Shannon! It’s nice to start my morning with a little humor. Thank you!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Glad to have made you smile, Susanne!

    • Sandy Fillmer on August 27, 2015 at 5:14 pm
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    These blogs are great but I would love to see them worked into a full length pf a novel. I definately would love to read these versions in a full what if novel.

  3. I’m glad you’re enjoying our little additions to Pride and Prejudice, Sandy! The plan is that all the episodes will be compiled into one volume in the end, not as a “what if” variation novel, but as a supplement to the original, much like the now out-of-print P&P: Scenes JA Never Wrote, proceeds going to a JA charity as before. Keep it under your hat for now, though, as I don’t think it’s been officially announced. 😉

    1. I hope that a volume is published! I love curling up in bed with a delicious book and these snippets would more than fit the bill! Would they be arranged in order according to P&P? I hope so.
      I love each one of the mini-stories and it makes my day when I log onto this site and discover a new one! Thank you all for your wonderful work!

      1. Yes, the plan is to put them in chronological order according to the original P&P. So glad that you’re enjoying these!

    • Linda Clark on August 28, 2015 at 9:11 am
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    Shannon, I have the “Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote” and a delightful book it is. I agree with Sandy, it would be wonderful to have another compilation of vignettes to add to the original.

    Poor Caroline. I wish I could feel sorry for her, but I don’t. JA included a few unlikable characters in P&P and Caroline Bingley is one of them. Afterall what is a story without its heroine and its villain? Your scene, I believe, is the first to put Caroline’s thoughts about Elizabeth/Darcy into words….. wonderfully written. Thank you!

    1. Good news, Linda! Another compilation is exactly what we are planning! We’ll share more about it as we get more firm dates established.

    2. I’m pleased you enjoyed it, Linda. We have more good stuff coming your way here at Austen Variations!

    • Sheila L. M. on August 30, 2015 at 4:55 pm
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    Well, I never thought of Caroline as stupid – just delusional, but is this characteristic part of her personality or has her family fed into her self-centered/egotistical behavior? She does plan her brother’s ball successfully. But she, like Darcy, has all the pride money and the class structure can bring. Country misses have no standing and the Bennets sisters are without dowries and no connections to any peer. And then there are Mrs. Bennet and the two youngest and Mr. Bennet who adds nothing. Is it any wonder that Caro can only envision success in pointing out certain lacks to Darcy?

    1. Her snobbery is particularly ridiculous because of her own background. She’s not from a noble family and old money like Darcy. The Bingley fortune was made recently in trade, which means the Bennet daughters would outrank her in everything but money.

    • TLeighF on September 3, 2015 at 6:15 pm
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    Caroline is so delusional! Thanks for the chuckle!

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