Chapter 2
The moment Charles Bingley kneeled down to pick up the ring that had rolled away from its abode, Melissa's brain went into overdrive. Her eyes widened as she saw something that didn't exist and shrieked out startling poor Charles. "Yes, oh yes, Charles! I had no idea you'd propose.." She started babbling out about wedding china,flowers, etc as Charles looked on perplexed. Hearing the commotion, Caroline headed outside and stopped short at the scene in front of her. There was her brother, kneeling on the ground,with a very familiar ring in his hand and an expression of utter bewilderment on his face. Opposite him, her best friend was squealing (read screeching) about a Hawaiian wedding. Now, Caroline Bingley may be many things but a fool she was not. She understood what had happened and decided to milk it to her advantage.
"You proposed?"she addressed her brother, expressing her delight in having a rich and upstanding expression on her brother's face changed from stupefaction to realization to horror at an alarming rate but she knew she could not let this opportunity go if she wanted to climb the proverbial ladder. So before Charles could explain himself, she shouted as loudly as possible. "Charles, this is the best gift you could have given me. Oh, congratulations you two..Welcome to the family, Melly."She went and air-kissed her soon-to-be sister, all the while smirking at her plan as several people had already gathered outside. Meanwhile, Bingley was spluttering and red in face. He pulled Caroline aside as the guests congratulated Melissa. "What are you doing Caro?" Bingley hissed. "I brought this ring for you as a birthday present and..and.. not for her. Louisa told me you were eyeing this ring for some time now. I was just showing my purchase to Melissa. I dropped it and then.." "Well there is nothing you can do about it now Charles. I knew that I had seen that ring before." She finished.
Before Charles interrupted, she continued "Look, you cannot break off the engagement now,.."
"There is no engagement" Of course, the statement was ignored.
"Do you have any idea how humiliating it would be for Melissa if the truth came out?" Seeing his resolve breaking, Caro ploughed on. "Also, I don't see what's wrong in it. You two have been dating for eight months now. This is the right course of action. Look how she glows. You have made her so happy Charlie. You have made me so you so selfish that you would willingly destroy our joy?"
She knew she had succeeded when she saw Charles' resigned expression. "Of course, we'll plan the best wedding for my little brother." She saw Charles' face paling and decided to help him before he fainted. She quickly commenced the dancing as Melissa basked in the attention of her peers.
Later into the night, Caroline approached her brother who was now drinking away his sorrows and mourning for his broken dreams. "I did not want this. How could she just misconstruct the situation?" he whispered. "It looked like to a proposal to us all, Charles" Caroline replied softly. "I don't understand what you are whining about, brother. You have been living together for three months now. Surely, you would've proposed to her in few weeks. Melly is a lovely girl. She is beautiful, rich, social queen and knows the difference between mahagony and tawny."
"Because that is the most important part" muttered Charles. The orange crow huffed.
"You know I'm right. Speak to Will Darcy if you don't believe 'll definitely agree with me. Speaking of which, he just sent me a text wishing me a happy birthday. Such a gentleman, he is. I expected him to be here poor Willy, he is always is he?"
"You know him Caro, he is busy with his wife."
"Wife?" the orange scarecrow shrieked. Charles winced. "Not literally Caro. You know how we always joke that Darcy is married to his work. Anyways, he is in Dubai right now. Some stupid deal or so."
"Dubai?" was the incredulous response. "You didn't know? Didn't he send you his greetings and leave of absence?" Charles asked sarcastically as splotches of red appeared on his sister's face.
She narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps he did drop a message. After all I receive so many messages. His message must be lost within the thousand others that I receive from my well-wishers." She fanned herself with that pretentious air that she typically possessed. "Of course" with that Charles rolled his eyes and left before he gouged out his own eyes. He didn't fault Darcy for ignoring Caro. She could tempt the strongest of men to jump off the bridge. He was witness to her maniacal acts when it came to Darcy. Perhaps seeing Caroline make a fool of herself would provide him with some entertainment.