Summary: Miss Juliet Carteret (daughter of the former Miss Bingley), an accomplished young lady of almost eighteen, is set on making an unexceptional match. She did not factor in meddling cousins, a boorish acquaintance, a wayward sister, and a ludicrous notion called love.

This story is set in the Odd Duck's Quest universe (next-gen), but can be read as a stand-alone.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Jane Austen's genius. Only this plot is mine, along with a few original characters.

Extracts from the diary of Miss Juliet Carteret

As I write these lines, Mother is parading Selina and Grace around town. She is determined that they shall be a success; and so are they, after respectively twenty-one and near twenty years of training to that effect.

They have received a thorough instruction in music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages. While not assiduous pupils, they have been taught enough to acquit themselves creditably when prevailed upon to exhibit, though by no fault of their own.

They also possess this ineffable yet unmistakable something in their air and manner of walking, in the tone of their voice, their address and expressions, through which they shall distinguish themselves as ladies of quality. We are Carterets, by way of our father, whose ancient name gives us claims on the most eligible gentlemen who might be thrown in our way. Since this might be the only valuable thing Father has ever bestowed on us, Mother does not scruple to make the most of it. We are Carterets; so is she; she cannot recall a time when she was not a Carteret, and one might be forgiven for believing that her brother Mr. Charles Bingley had been acquired without her knowledge.

As the youngest, I must wait my turn. Three unmarried daughters cannot be out at once, Mother said definitely. I also suspect that she is not keen to flaunt my unfashionable red hair and dust of freckles across my nose and cheeks until my conventionally beautiful sisters have acquired a husband. She is mortified that the Bingley northern heritage should be reflected in my person. I might argue that the Carterets have Irish blood, but Father would never acknowledge his responsibility in transmitting such common looks.

However, I have no fear that when the time comes, I shall deal quite well. Selina may be elegant and Grace handsome, but I am the most accomplished.

I shall be visiting my Aunt and Uncle Bingley in the meantime. Being almost eighteen, I am quite out of the schoolroom and out in society. My sociable Uncle has promised that there would be enough visits and local assemblies for me to attend. I do not expect to derive much enjoyment from them; I can only hope that Selina and Grace will be swiftly and advantageously disposed of so that I might have my share of pleasures in London at the earliest convenience.

Extracts from the diary of Miss Juliet Carteret

My Uncle and Aunt held a small dinner party tonight. They invited their most immediate neighbours. While I saw quickly that the rather provincial guests would not be likely to have refined tastes, I did not shy away from the pianoforte when our group of ladies was called upon to entertain. One should always seize upon any opportunity to exhibit; this makes for good practice for the future.

My misgivings proved to be correct. Nobody knew anything about music. Mediocre performances were as warmly applauded as the more superior one. I was positively vexed when a Miss Holford's simplistic reel was greeted with enthusiasm by the company.

Without anyone of discerning taste to be suitably awed by them, what is the point of accomplishments? Indiscriminate applause is intolerable. I am sorry to write that my Uncle was the most guilty of it.

"Upon my soul, Miss Carteret," Mr. Watson, a stout man of forty, called out after my song ended. "You must be the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood!"

I believe he was meaning to pay me a compliment; but from the state of the neighbourhood, this is not a feat I can boast of.

Extracts from the diary of Miss Juliet Carteret

Cousin Caroline is my age and quite unlike her namesake, my mother. She is very liberal with her smiles- and displays the prized sweetness of temper and softness of heart any young lady should possess, or at least should pretend to.

I went with her and Aunt Jane to visit a friend of theirs who had just come out of confinement. We were expected to admire her new-born son. I do not understand why I am supposed to coo over infants. They are unfinished and hardly remarkable. When my opinion was asked for, I claimed that he had his father's nose. Both parents were exceedingly pleased with my answer, which had been half-given in jest, for it was not an attribute one ought to wish upon the innocent boy. It just comes to show that Mother is right when she says that people will believe anything as long as it is couched in flattering terms.

Extracts from the diary of Miss Juliet Carteret

My Uncle, looking very pleased with himself, informed us that we would remove to his house in the Derbyshire that is happily situated within a few miles of Pemberley.

William, Henry and Edward, my younger cousins, expressed their pleasure at seeing again the Darcy cousins they were so much close to.

"There will be other young people in attendance," my Uncle went on. "This is a very fortunate time of the year for visiting family."

"Who are these young people, Uncle?" I asked.

"Darcy's cousins, from the Matlock and the Fitzwilliam side."

I tried to hide my interest and appear quite uninformed. I have never met them, but I am very knowledgeable on their genealogy.

Mother always made sure that her daughters knew everything about which acquaintances should be cultivated, which connexions could not be neglected, and which must be ignored entirely. My Uncle's friendship with Mr. Darcy, with its potential access to other prestigious connexions, was his only success she could not refute.

"His nephew, too- young Harding."

At my interrogating look, he explained:

"Darcy's sister is Mrs. Georgiana Harding."

Cousin Eliza, a twenty-year old harpy with sharp eyes, gave me a long, suspicious look. She distrusted all the Carterets equally. The dislike was mutual; I found her to be a very impertinent girl, who prided herself on being the wit of her family, which was akin to calling me the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood. My Uncle, my Aunt and her siblings are so well-disposed towards anyone that she only has to display some scepticism regarding the inherent goodness of perfect strangers to be thought sagacious.

"My nephew Samuel may come with Mr. Harding- both are neighbours in the Northamptonshire," Aunt Jane added.

Mother had been less exhaustive on that point; the matches and offspring of the other Bennet sisters- "these conniving Bennets"- remained something of a sore point. Talking of the Darcys usually left her ill-tempered enough.

Mr. Harding, the Earl of Matlock's sons, the Fitzwilliams: I might meet them in Derbyshire. I must be prepared to make the very best first impression.

There is no such thing as a simple family visit. My whole future might depend on it.

-this will probably a rather short romp, told mostly through Juliet's diary entries. I hope you'll enjoy her voice- although she might not be your usual charming heroine ^^

-feedback, comments, suggestions... are what keeps this author happy :)