Thanks for all your kind words. I'm glad you are all enjoying this.

- April :-)

Chapter 25

Elizabeth and Jane stayed behind after all the guests had departed. No one had seen Caroline since the announcement prior to dinner and Mrs. Bingley was beginning to worry. The Netherfield occupants and the Miss Bennet's gathered in the music room to sip tea or brandy and relax after the evening's festivities.

"Where do you think Caroline is?" Charles asked the room. An answer came in the form of glass shattering in the direction of his study. Everyone in the room was on their feet and out the door in seconds. Darcy told the ladies to stay behind them just in case it wasn't Caroline. Upon reaching the doors they heard another crash, but it sounded like books not glass. Charles threw them open and the party filed in. All were speechless at the condition of Bingley's study. Books were lying on the ground in heaps, the cushions of the chairs and sofa were thrown every which way and an empty brandy decanter lay in pieces near the desk. Caroline sat in her brother's leather chair with a glass in one hand and a pillow in the other. Strands of hair hung limply about her reddened face. The fires of Hell itself burned in her eyes. She leapt up and shouted, "How could you!" at Darcy before hurling the pillow at his head. He caught it with no problem and tossed on the couch where it belonged.

Mrs. Bingley had heard and seen quite enough. "Caroline Victoria Bingley! What in Heaven's name happened in here?" The old woman looked as if she would have her daughter over her knee before too long.

Caroline glared at her mother. "Don't use that tone with me, Mother, I am not a child!"

Her speech was slurred heavily.

"Well you're very well acting like one," she retorted, "And drunk? How disgraceful."

No one really knew what to say. Elizabeth hung back with Lady Abigail and Georgiana, observing quietly, lest Caroline shift her anger toward herself. Which is probably inevitable.

Caroline struggled to remain standing and lost her balance, flinging herself into the chair. The lasting silence was broken at last by Mr. Hurst, who burst out laughing. All eyes were upon him as he tried in vain to compose himself. Caroline focused her drunken rage on her brother-in-law.

"You think this is amusing?!" she screamed, throwing her now empty glass at him. Hurst ducked in time and it smashed into the bookcase behind him. He continued to laugh.

"As a matter of fact, I do. You should see yourself, Caroline. Hair disheveled eyes bloodshot, and screaming like a banshee. And so drunk you can't even stand. I never in my life thought I would see you like this." He chuckled to himself. "Yes, I find it highly amusing."

Elizabeth was surprised the he could even utter more than two or three words at a time. This was the first time she had heard him speak so many words together. Even worse, she found herself biting her lip to keep from laughing herself. Abigail had a similar problem as she exchanged brief glances with Lizzy. Georgiana was too shocked to do anything.

"Who are you to pass judgment upon me for drinking? Every night you lie dead to the world on a couch from drinking too much," she hissed.

"I lie down because I know I can't stand up," Hurst said between chuckles.

She scowled at him and turned to face Darcy. "Have you gone mad, Mr. Darcy? Are you so infatuated with her fine eyes that she could snare you so easily! You would never marry so low if you weren't under some spell!" She shot a fiery glare past him to Elizabeth.

Darcy knew she would react badly to the announcement, but he never thought she would become violent and hostile. He thought carefully about what to say so as not to get something thrown at him. "Miss Bingley, Elizabeth did not snare me, as you put it. She did not chase me as others have." He emphasized the word "others". "In fact it was I who chased her. We are in love, Miss Bingley, and I am sorry if you cannot accept that."

"You can't marry her! You are mine! She doesn't deserve you. She will reduce Pemberley to ruins and disgrace the good name of Darcy. Such an impertinent little harl…"

"Miss Bingley!" Darcy roared, now even more infuriated than before and not caring whether she threw the chair at him. He wanted to throw something at her for insulting his beloved Lizzy. "How dare you speak of my future wife in such terms! And I am not, nor was I ever, yours! I demand that you apologize this instant!"

"I most certainly will not!" Caroline looked to her sister for support. "Louisa, you feel the same as me. Tell him!" But she found none.

Louisa looked to Darcy, her eyes filled with embarrassment and apology. All her life Caroline was the strong willed one, even for being a year younger, and Louisa was bullied into things she really never wanted to do. It continued into their adult years. She thought by marrying Mr. Hurst she would escape Caroline, but Caroline just went with her. Everyone that Caroline hated, Louisa had to hate too. The older sister, being more insecure than the younger, never said otherwise. But Louisa did not hate Elizabeth. She rather liked her actually and thought that she and Darcy made a good match. Here was a woman who was confident, intelligent, and not afraid to state her opinions. She had both beauty and brains. Everything that Louisa wanted in herself. But she could never have that as long as Caroline was around. Finally after all these years, she had found the courage to stand up to her.

"No, Caroline," she said in a voice that startled her at first. It was authoritative and confident. Her sister stared in disbelief as did everyone else. "I am tired of pretending. For years I have simply gone along with all your plans and now I have had it. I look upon you now and I am ashamed that you are my sister! Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are well suited to each other and I wish them all the happiness in the world. You once said that her country manners were abominable, but look at yourself. You should take lessons from her. No, Caroline, you cannot control me any longer." She felt the pressure lift from her shoulders and her husband squeezed her arm in reassurance. He had always known that his meddling sister-in-law was too influential on his wife.

Elizabeth was confounded by Mrs. Hurst's change of mind, but found herself cheering her on for standing up to Caroline. They are just like Lydia and Kitty used to be. Of course with Lydia gone, Kitty was changing everyday for the better. Perhaps the same could be said for Mrs. Hurst. Mrs. Bingley was proud of the way Louisa handled herself and touched her shoulder affectionately.

Caroline began to panic. She was being backed into a corner and had no one to turn to. Her only ally defecting to the other side! She knew that she would never get Darcy for herself, but her arrogant pride wouldn't let her surrender. Oh, how I hate Elizabeth Bennet!

Charles, who up until now had remained silent, looked his sister straight in the eyes and shocked her with his tone of voice. "Caroline, apologize to Miss Elizabeth. I will not have a guest in my home, not to mention a future relation, so insulted!"

"Never!" she spat.

Mrs. Bingley knew she had to do something. She turned to face everyone but Caroline. "I would like to speak to my daughter alone, if you please." No one objected. Bingley was the last to leave and he nodded briefly to his mother before shutting the doors. She stood facing the doors a few seconds longer feeling her daughter's glare boring into her skull. Time to end this now.

"Caroline, do you have any idea how much I am appalled?" her mother asked, eyeing the damage done to the room.

"Really Mother I don't care. Spare me your lectures!" Caroline stood, rather shakily, and looked about for another brandy decanter. "Damn," she muttered when there were none to be found.

"I have had enough of your lip, girl! You are going to listen to every word I say, you hear me!" Caroline sat down hard on the leather, her mother's terrifying voice echoing in her throbbing head. Not since she was sixteen had she been scared of the older woman. "Good," Mrs. Bingley walked toward the desk and leaned in close, "You're a mess! I could take away your inheritance and your dowry for this you know. At least you didn't make a scene in front of all the guests at the ball. Then I would have taken those from you for sure. I think not only should you apologize to Miss Elizabeth, but you should apologize to Louisa and to Charles. I had no idea that Louisa felt that way. If I had I would have kept you with me instead of sending you off with her and Mr. Hurst!" She shook with anger and paused to catch her breath.

Her daughter simply watched without saying a word. Mrs. Bingley stood straight and her voice was much calmer, "Now, dear, I know you fancy yourself in love with Mr. Darcy," Caroline was about to protest, but her mother held up a hand to silence her, "But you know full well that he has never given you any indication that he felt the same for you. In fact I believe he tries to avoid you! You need to accept his engagement to Miss Elizabeth. And if you keep up this attitude you won't even be allowed to be his friend and that is all you can hope to be."

Mrs. Bingley, satisfied that she had said all she needed to, made her way through the mess to the doors. Opening them she called over her shoulder, "Tomorrow we leave for home; I will not have you bothering your brother or Darcy. I expect you to apologize to everyone before we leave. Good night, Caroline."

Finally alone, Caroline surveyed the damage she had done to her brother's study. Her head felt like it had been run over by a barouche. She went to the doors and listened for signs that her brother or anyone else was returning to the study. She refused to apologize to Elizabeth, but she could make it up to Charles by cleaning up a bit, she concluded. Silently she began to put the room back together.

Mrs. Bingley found everyone back in the music room. Darcy was still red with anger, even though Elizabeth was laughing and trying to calm him down. Her darling boy and his angel sat across from Louisa and Mr. Hurst speaking softly, while Georgiana, Lady Abigail and the colonel made up a trio near the pianoforte. All eyes were on her as she entered and made her way a chair without saying a word. "Charles, some wine please." Her voice sounded tired. Bingley obliged and handed his mother a glass.

"Are you well, Mother?" he asked, "You look awfully tired."

"I am tired, my son. Your sister has taken any energy I had left."

"What did you say to her?"

She sipped her wine slowly, letting the spirits calm her nerves. "I simply told her how much she has hurt her family and that she must apologize to Darcy and Miss Elizabeth, not to mention you and Louisa."

"Mother, you know she will not yield. She has a will of iron," Mrs. Hurst pointed out.

Mrs. Bingley nodded and took another drink. "Well, I am taking her back home on the morrow and, before either of you protest, that is my final decision."

A short time later saw the Bennet sisters to their carriage and all save Bingley and Darcy had headed up to their rooms. Both men remained watching the carriage until it was out of sight.

"Quite an evening, eh Darcy?" commented Bingley as they slowly climbed the stairs.

Darcy sighed heavily. "Yes, quite an evening. I cannot forgive your sister for saying such things about Elizabeth."

"I understand, old chap. I don't think I can forgive her that easily either. I am sorry for what my sister has caused."

"It is no fault of yours, Bingley. Do not worry. Perhaps your mother can talk some sense into her."

The gentlemen reached the top and bid each other a good night's rest before seeking the solitude of their chambers.