Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on our journey as the Austen Variations authors post the events of 1811 in real time on the date they happened – 214 years in the future.
Caroline Bingley Decides
May 21, 1811
Caroline Bingley stomped into the room, her jaw clenched, and prepared to slam the door before stopping mid-swing. A lady of the upper class never slams a door. She could hear Miss Dennis’s voice from the Ladies’ Seminary in London in her head. You must remember that control at all times is what sets you apart from the lower classes. Control and wealth.
The girls would all giggle at her statement, but Caroline was not giggling now. She had wealth in spades, but it did not give her what she truly wanted; what she deserved. Pushing Miss Dennis to the back of her mind, she inelegantly flopped on the settee beside her shocked sister.
“What has happened? You are not behaving like yourself,” Luisa Hurst, asked her younger sister by three years. “Did you enjoy the exhibit with the Richmonds?”
Caroline was silent for a moment. “They did not come.”
“They did not come? What do you mean?”
“I mean they did not come. I waited at the exhibit with my maid for an hour, and they did not come.”
“Ther must have been an accident, or maybe you confused the date?”
“I did not confuse the date, and there was no accident.”
“Then what happened?”
“What happened was that although I have a larger dowry than Althea Richmond, and am ten times in better looks, our brother is not a gentleman. We have no ancestral home in Scarborough. Instead, we have factories that billow out black smoke and grubby people with unclean bodies. That is what is associated with the Bingley name. Not bucolic fields, a relic of a hermitage or an ancient title. Trade, Luisa. Who wishes to be associated with trade?”
Caroline stared blankly into the distance ignoring the platitudes of her older sister before finally standing and cutting her off. “Where is Charles?”
“He is at his club with my husband but said they would be home for dinner.”
She began to pace. “You need to help me.”
“With what?”
“Convincing Charles to stop dragging his feet and finally do what father asked of him. Purchase an estate.”
“Yes, but—”
“No, Luisa. Listen to me. You made an advantageous match…well, as much as Gilbert can be called advantageous.”
“Caroline!”
“I will not be in the sphere of consideration by…by a suitor until my brother elevates us.”
“Caroline, you reach too high.”
“I do not! Fitzwilliam Darcy is my brother’s dearest friend. He has complimented my table when he has dined with us and has even allowed me to meet his sister.”
“We have all met Miss Darcy.”
“But, I am a single woman. That is the highest form of notice, to be introduced to ones intimate family members.”
“Yes, it is but—”
“I bet Althea Richmond has never met Miss Darcy.”
Luisa Hurst shook her head. “No, I distinctly remember Mr. Darcy saying he did not frequent their circles when Charles asked him his opinion on your friendship with the family.”
Caroline spun around, her gaze finding her sister. “You never mentioned that before.”
“I did not think it merited repeating.”
“Oh, Luisa. I would not want Mr. Darcy to imagine I would associate with someone he felt was beneath him. How can I trust you or Charles to put me in a position of proper notice with the man I love.”
“The man you love? You sound ridiculous!” Luisa rolled her eyes.
“You are right. I do not love him, but I do love Pemberley.”
Luisa chuckled. “You and every other woman in the ton.”
“Quite so, but I have a better advantage than the rest, and all I need is an opportunity to demonstrate how well I can keep a house. Then he will make me an offer.”
“Caroline, he has had ample opportunity to do so in the years our brother has been his friend, yet he has not. Also, he is betrothed to his cousin Miss de Bourgh.”
Now it was Caroline’s turn to roll her eyes. “Betrothed is not married, dear sister. A man might be beholden to the ideas of his family, but…but…that is it.”
“What is it?”
Caroline clapped her hands and beamed at her sister. “That is why he has not spoken to me about our future. He has a responsibility to his family, and feels the weight of their expectations. I am certain he feels concern they will not accept me because our family has no estate.”
“Sister—”
Caroline let out a hearty laugh, relief tinging her voice. “To think I feared he did not have any interest in me. That is not the case at all. No, instead he is waiting until we are recognized by others as his equals.”
“We will never be his equal, Sister. He is the nephew of an Earl and we are the grandchildren of Simon Bingley from trade.”
“Yes, that has been established, but there is no need to revisit that topic. Instead, let us focus on the decision we have made here today for our family.”
“What decision?”
“Why, that Charles will purchase an estate, and invite Mr. Darcy to stay, of course. He will then be convinced I will be the next mistress of Pemberley.” Take that, Althea Richmond.
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