Hi!

Thanks for all the continuing support for this story. I'm glad so many people seem to be liking it. In this chapter, we have a bit more of the Bingley sisters, with Louisa finally deciding to be her own person.

Enjoy!

On Wednesday morning Jane had been pleased to receive an invitation to tea from Mrs Hurst, correctly seeing this as an offer of friendship from the sister of her betrothed, and accordingly, on Thursday she proceeded to the house on Grosvenor street with her Aunt. She attempted to push the unpleasantness of her last visit to this house out of her mind and focus on the present, thinking with excitement that Mr Bingley himself was likely to be there. He had sent a brief note the night before to inform the Gardiners that Mr Bennet's permission had been granted and the letters written to them by the Bennets had also been passed on, but it had been too late for him to actually call.

Jane smiled to remember the contradictory instructions which she had received in the letters from each of her parents. Her mother had effusively ordered that no expense should be spared on anything - only the best for her most beautiful daughter! In contrast, her father had detailed the exact amount of money available for her to spend and assured her that she could ignore any of her mother's instructions which were not practical. While her mother had also written to Aunt Gardiner to repeat all of her instructions, her father had written to her uncle to ensure that she would receive all the help she required and that her own wishes for her wedding would not be overlooked in favour of her mother's.

When Jane and Mrs Gardiner reached Grosvenor Square and were shown into the house they found that Mr Bingley was indeed present and was also eagerly anticipating the presence of his beloved. One day apart had seemed like years to the gentleman in question now that Miss Bennet had agreed to make him the happiest of men, and when he saw her face again he felt like a starving man sitting down to a banquet.

'Miss Bennet, Mrs Gardiner!' He cried before his sister had a chance to welcome them, striding over to kiss Jane's hand and bow to her Aunt. 'How glad I am that you are here today. I hope you are both well?' Louisa could only smile fondly at her brother's enthusiasm. Although she was not a woman of great understanding, she did wish for her brother's happiness and also knew that she would gain nothing from being at odds with his fiancé.

'Yes, sir, we are both very well, and yourself?' Mrs Gardiner replied as Bingley and Jane gazed lovingly at each other.

'Yes, I have never been better!' The gentleman announced, still entranced by the sight of his angel. At this point, Louisa thought that she had better join in before the couple forgot her presence entirely and neglected to introduce her to Mrs Gardiner.

'Miss Bennet, how wonderful it is to see you again, it has been too long since we last met. I hope you will feel very welcome here and visit us very often during your engagement. I have never seen my brother as happy as he is in your company and know that your marriage shall be one of great joy. Would you introduce me to your companion?' Jane was gratified by this warm reception and turned immediately to make the introduction, flushing with embarrassment to have been so caught up in Mr Bingley as to almost forget the demands of propriety.

'Of course, Mrs Hurst, this is my Aunt, Madeline Gardiner. Aunt, Mrs Louisa Hurst.' Curtseys were exchanged.

'I think you have met my sister?' Louisa asked carefully, gesturing to Miss Bingley who had positioned herself in a far corner of the room. She was well aware of her sister's poor treatment of the Gardiners and was embarrassed that she could be seen as an accomplice since she had done nothing to prevent it. Though it might not always seem like it, they had both received a proper lady's education and knew how to behave in polite society. Caroline merely ignored this in favour of her petty ways.

Her sister's comment forced Caroline to approach and curtsey, but it was done with an obvious reluctance which could only be designed to insult their guests. She paid no complements to them or well wishes for the engagement with her brother, only offering a curt greeting. Mrs Gardiner had been prepared for this and ignored the affront while Jane glossed over it, determined to think no ill of her future sister.

The greetings having been exchanged, the party sat down and Mrs Hurst rang for tea. Mr Hurst was not present, but Louisa assured them that he sent his warmest wishes for Miss Bennet's nuptials. She did not feel it appropriate to tell them that he was locked in the study drinking to try to become oblivious to his toxic sister-in-law's acerbic tongue. Now was not the time to mention to her brother's future wife that Caroline would probably ruin her marriage.

Polite conversation was made, with Louisa attempting to be as clear as possible that she would welcome Jane Bennet as a sister and wished for them to get along. She also happened to drop into conversation that she and Mr Hurst would now be permanently residing in their own house so that the new Mrs Bingley would be able to learn how to run her estate with no competition.

Miss Bingley added little to the conversation at first, only speaking if she could think of a caustic remark. After a while, she grew bored with this and began to think of how she might profit from her brother's marriage. She was determined to gain something from this dreadful business.

'You shall, of course, wish to purchase your own house in town after your marriage.' Caroline pressed her brother and soon to be sister, eagerly anticipating that she would have their townhouse to herself while they spent most of the year residing in the country.

'Perhaps,' Charles answered, 'but we shall first have to establish whether we wish to continue to reside at Netherfield or look to purchase elsewhere. I think it may be some years before we have time to think of a townhouse.'

'We shall always be pleased to accommodate you here brother.' Louisa assured him. 'You need not take on the extra expense of another house yet.' As she said this she attempted to give Caroline a warning glare, but her sister was oblivious. Perceptive as ever, Mrs Gardiner quickly cottoned on to Miss Bingley's scheme and backed Mrs Hurst up.

'Yes, and you will always be welcome with us in Gracechurch Street when the Hurst's are not in town.' She reminded the couple, placing particular emphasis on the fact that they were not in the fashionable part of town to rile Miss Bingley up.

Caroline was fuming at having her attempts to benefit herself so thoroughly undermined. Her conduct grew more and more hostile as the visit continued until finally, Bingley would take her snide comments to his betrothed no longer.

'Do forgive me, Mrs Gardiner, Miss Bennet, my sister is not feeling quite herself.' He said stiffly, taking Miss Bingley by the arm and marching her from the room. She was too shocked to react until they were halfway up the stairs, at which point she was finally able to look at her brother in horror.

'What on earth are you doing Charles?' She asked, trying to wrest her arm from his grip. He kept his hold on her firmly and did not stop moving.

'I warned you before that if your behaviour continued I would be forced to take action, Caroline.' He told her grimly. 'I do feel partly responsible for this as I have let you go unpunished for far too long, but it cannot continue now that I am taking a wife. I will not have her made unwelcome in her own home. I intend to write to our Aunt in Huddersfield and request that she allows you to stay with her for a month. You know that she is widowed and will be glad of the company, but she will not take any nonsense from you either. If you behave well then I will allow you to return to attend my wedding.'

'Huddersfield?' Caroline snorted in disgust. She could not imagine anywhere less fashionable. What would her friends think? What would Mr Darcy think? No, it could not happen. 'Do not be ridiculous, I will not go! You cannot make me!' Once again he ignored her protests and pulled her through the door to her room.

'I am your brother, Caroline. You are my responsibility and I say that you will not remain in this house, which means that you will not! There is no point in trying to defy me. I will see that your meals are brought to your room until arrangements have been made.' Not giving her a chance to speak further, he turned and left. After pausing to think for a moment he locked the door for good measure. From the other side, he heard Caroline try the handle and then let out an awful wail, but he brushed aside his guilt and tried to remain focused. He would not let his sister be an obstacle to his happiness anymore.

With this in mind, he informed the housekeeper that Miss Bingley was not to be let out under any circumstances. She was relieved that the atrocious woman was finally being dealt with and happily followed orders, spreading it around to all staff. It is said that the cheer that went up when this was found out was loud enough to be heard in the next house along, but no one knows if this is true or just an exaggeration.

Mr Bingley took a few deep breaths to calm himself, feeling proud that he had finally stood up to Caroline and taken action. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders knowing that he was staying true to his word to Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner that he would protect Jane's best interests if they allowed him to marry her. Re-entering the parlour he fixed a glowing smile in place and bowed to the ladies.

'I am sorry about that.' He told his guests graciously. 'My sister is to spend some time with our widowed Aunt in the north and has some preparations to make for her journey.'

Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Hurst understood his meaning immediately and each woman privately thought such a punishment was well deserved due to Caroline's unladylike behaviour. Jane, innocent as ever, thought it very kind of Miss Bingley to think that her lonely Aunt may wish for some company and was sorry to have ever thought harshly of her. In her mind, she quickly explained away the woman's hostility as awkwardness and stress in anticipation of her long journey northwards.

With Miss Bingley removed the remainder of the visit went far more smoothly. Jane and Louisa soon agreed that they should use each other's first names if they were to be sisters and it seemed that they would be able to get along quite easily. Mrs Gardiner was pleased that at least one of Mr Bingley's relations was prepared to support her niece and hoped that this would assist Jane in entering into the ton. When they returned to Gracechurch Street she was quick to inform her husband of Miss Bingley's fate and he was glad to hear that the young man was taking his advice.

Back at the house in Grosvenor Square, peace finally reigned. The servants were no longer afraid to do their duty since Miss Bingley was not allowed to leave her room and so could not torment them. That is to say, all except her poor lady's maid who still had to wait on her. After Mr Bingley received word that his sister had been throwing things at the poor girl he declared that Caroline would have no maid to assist her until she left and her meals would be taken to her by a housemaid accompanied by a footman for protection.

Taking pity on the girl who had served Miss Bingley for such a long time in spite of the poor treatment she received, he persuaded his sister to keep her on as a housemaid until his wedding when he would offer her as a candidate to act as the maid for his wife. This settled, Bingley sat down to write a long letter to his Aunt in Huddersfield, explaining all of Caroline's recent behaviour and begging her to take her in. Remembering Darcy's comments on his writing skills, he was sure to rewrite the letter after he had made the first draft so that it would actually be legible.

Miss Bingley attempted to appeal to her sister to intercede on her behalf, begging that she be allowed to remain with the Hursts for after all this was their house and not her brother's. For the first time in years, Mrs Hurst stood up to her sister, informing her that her presence was not desirable to any member of the household and flatly refusing to be of aid.

Once his harpy of a sister-in-law was out of the way, the master of the house also felt less inclined to closet himself in a locked room with a bottle of brandy. That evening as they retired his wife informed him that her sister would be leaving for Huddersfield and was not to return to their house unless she reformed her behaviour. Glad that his wife finally seemed to be free of her sister's poisonous influence, the couple made love for the first time in far too long, rediscovering the passion of their early marriage.

Next up, Lizzy finally gets to London! :)

©Isabelle Lowe, 2018