Mr. and Mrs. Hurst asked for an audience with Caroline and Bingley once they all finished their morning meal. Caroline was surprised by the request. Very seldom did the couple present a united front. She feared the reason was to share the unfortunate news that Louisa was expecting. She could well do without being aunt to a wailing, sticky brat. She supposed it was an inescapable outcome of her sister's marriage, unwelcome as it may be. The unhappiness she felt at the thought was quickly surpassed by that which resulted from tale told by Mr. Hurst.
"That is a most astonishing story. Eliza Bennet is your sister. Are you sure? How dreadful for us all," she sneered.
"Caroline!" A chorus of three voices chided the disagreeable woman.
"Our brother and his family have persevered under the most distressing circumstances for years. We should rejoice that his family will be whole again. Hurst, I, for one, am elated for you." Bingley clasped Hurst's shoulder fondly. "Though it is quite astonishing. You are Miss Elizabeth's brother, how marvelous. I look forward to when I may have leave to call her Miss Hurst."
"I am sure she will be content for you to call her Elizabeth. You are sister and brother, after all."
They all turned at the very unladylike grunt emitted by Caroline.
"You cannot be expected to recognize the connection. You must question the authenticity of the claim most vigorously. Those scheming Bennets no doubt contrived to manufacture a relationship where there is none. They are taking advantage of you to force their presence on you and your parents. Everybody knows the daughters have very little to recommend them. Certainly, they have no dowry to speak of, so they are trying to tie themselves wherever they may find benefit.
"I thought myself a worldly man, but I did not know you could be compromised into a familial relationship, as such." Darcy whispered to Bingley, who had retaken his seat after congratulating Hurst.
Caroline frowned as her brother tried to stifle a laugh. She had forgotten that Mr. Darcy was in the room. He had remained quiet until that moment.
"Of course, I am not suggesting a compromise though the spirit behind their grasping is the same."
"Caroline, the Bennets were not aware of the relationship until I brought it to their attention. After all, you and Bingley did not even know. What you are suggesting is ridiculous." Mr. Hurst shot an angry glare at his sister, his voice hard.
"Why was Mr. Darcy informed, but none of us? Are we not entitled to more consideration?"
"I have always known Caroline." Surprised, Caroline wheeled on her sister.
"And you did not tell me? Do you not trust me?" Caroline pouted. It was unconvincing. It was also short-lived when her sister did not try to reassure her.
"It was not my story to tell. David asked that I not tell you. I respected my husband's wishes." Mrs. Hurst declared. "I will not be made to feel badly about that."
"As for me, I knew Hurst had another sister. A mutual acquaintance once mentioned it. Times as they are, I assumed she perished as a child. Hurst told me the full story only yesterday."
"Why do you think you are entitled to know our anguish? You have never cared for my family. What would you have done with that information? Would you have relished in dissecting the events of my family's greatest heartbreak?" Hurst demanded, heatedly.
"You have to admit, it does not speak well of your family that they allowed such stupidity to occur. And the Bennet's were equally stupid to take in an abandoned waif. They already had one daughter and an entailed estate. They would have been better off letting the parish keep her."
"If that had been the case, we most likely would have never found her." Hurst growled. He once read an article about marital emigration to Jamestown, in the former colony of Virginia. He wondered if that was still a possibility. Would there be a man willing to part with 120 pounds of tobacco in order to secure Caroline? He shook off the fantasy as he realized she was still talking.
"Would that have been so bad? What benefit does her recovery bring to your family? Even as a Bennet she brings nothing with her - no money, no connections; she is but a county nobody. You gain nothing." She emphasized the words. "If only you could have found a sister who was the daughter of a peer."
"Do you hear yourself? It is not like the marriage mart. My family is not seeking to make the most advantageous match. We want our Elizabeth. No other will do. And we will accept her and everything that comes with her. And whatever her connections may be," said Hurst, "if my family does not object to them, they can be nothing to you."
"If only one could choose one's own sister," Bingley sighed wistfully as Darcy chuckled. "My life would be very different."
"Gentlemen." The corners of Hurst's mouth lifted, belying the severe look he directed at them.
Choosing to ignore them, Caroline continued her rant. "Nothing to me? Am I not related to her as well, now? Does nobody care of my prospects and how she may materially lessen them? What must Mr. Darcy think?"
Mr. Darcy sat up in his chair, startled at hearing his name. Good God, was she actually going to state her aspirations right in front of him.
"Darcy? What does Darcy have to do with anything, Caroline?" Bingley asked.
"Must you be so obtuse. You have no concerns, as this will only further your interest in that insipid Jane Bennet, but some of us have greater destinies. Mr. Darcy cannot wish to be connected to such rabble. I could not expect him to be happy that I would be so burdened. He-"
"Will never marry you. Ever. Believe what I say, I will never marry you." Darcy was forceful in his denial, stressing each word. It was not polite, he knew, but then neither was Caroline. It was imperative to curtail her ambitions once and for all.
Mr. Darcy, how can you say that? Are we not dear friends?" Caroline was aghast.
"We are not. If you believe so you are a candidate for Bedlam. Your pursuit of Pemberley was always doomed to fail. But beyond that, your attitude today has shown you to be heartless and arrogant, and completely self-absorbed to an extent I had not thought possible."
"Charles, will you say nothing in my defense? You sit there as if you are enjoying this."
"Truly Caroline what do you expect me to say? How am I to defend you when your own delusions are the cause of your current turmoil."
Angered at being so dismissed by everyone, Caroline huffed and kicked over a nearby chair. "Why should I not be in turmoil? This is all because of Eliza Bennet. She is ruining everything. You would do well to remember that I was you sister first. You owe me some allegiance."
Furious could not even begin to describe Hurst at that moment. "You were not my sister first. Elizabeth was there well before you. And as your behavior is so abhorrent when she is not even in attendance, you will understand that you will not be welcome in her presence, in her homes. You should prepare yourself to find other lodgings in London. You are now banished from three of our family homes. That is quite the feat."
"Louisa, you will not allow me to be tossed aside in such a manner, will you? In favor of your new sister? It is just like when you abandoned me for Tessa." Reminding Mrs. Hurst that she snubbed Tessa's overtures of friendship was not the wisest course of action. She was not swayed.
"If the Hursts and Lees were more incline for town you would not have had the privilege of residence at the Hurst townhouse, as you have these last few years. They have been exceeding generous. And we have both behaved hideously toward them. I am surprised I am allowed at their homes."
"You cannot mean it." Caroline looked wild, nostrils flaring, eyes wild. Spittle was flying as she spoke.
"Of course, we do. My loyalty is to my husband. It should have been all this time. I will take responsibility for my past actions. I have many amends to make and will bear the consequences. But I will no longer take responsibility for you."
Outraged, Caroline swept an arm across the nearby table knocking its contents, including the tea service, to the floor.
"Caroline if you cannot control yourself, I will send you to our aunt in Scarborough." More than ever before, Bingley was embarrassed to be related to Caroline. It was ironic she was bemoaning the existence offensive relations.
"I always liked your aunt. Damned fine woman," Hurst replied. "Why would you do that to her?"
"Well, I do not want her living with me here at Netherfield."
"Just set up an establishment for her with a companion and be done with it," Darcy suggested. With that comment, he rose and left the room.
Following his lead, one by one, they exited and left Caroline to herself.