Both Caroline Bingley and Tessa Michaels knew they would never be friends from their first meeting. Tessa was put off by Caroline's rapacious tendencies, which were on full display even then. She found Caroline's failure to understand society, how it worked, and her position in it rather humorous. It was the contempt Caroline directed towards her family she found most detestable.
Caroline thought the Hurst family foolish for keeping close to their estate. As much as she appreciated those of the lower classes knowing their place, an irony she did not recognize, she could not abide people who did not take advantage of what little social standing they did possess. She was mystified by those who seemed content with their current fortunes, with no designs on attaining more.
Caroline had been at an overpriced seminary that had brought out her worst qualities when Louisa and David had first met. Then there were visits with friends as she tried to connect herself with higher circles by enticing one of their brothers into marriage. Without her younger sister at her side, Louisa Bingley had seemed a simple tradesman's daughter - quiet, undemanding, if a bit pretentious. Tessa had thought her an uninspired choice of wife but as Louisa was David's choice, she would respect that. Thus, she welcomed Louisa into the family.
Tessa had already married Henry Michaels when Louisa became Mrs. David Hurst. Louisa and David lived at Raber Hill immediately after their marriage. During that first year, Tessa was there as well during her difficult first confinement, while Henry was working as a barrister in Birmingham. She and Louisa had spent a good bit of time together and Tessa was surprised to discover a friend in her new sister.
Very soon, Caroline's invitations dried up. At Louisa's request, Caroline came for an extended visit to Raber Hill. Caroline, who had already made her distaste for her sister's new family known, was true to form and proved to be a most undesirable houseguest. She took to sequestering Louisa away with her. Louisa became more difficult and began displaying a marked disdain for all around her. It got to the point that Mr. and Mrs. Lee banished Caroline from Clessondale. The Hursts soon followed suit and she was no longer welcome at Raber Hill.
Kinder than they needed to be, the Hursts allowed for David and Louisa to make their home at their London townhouse, thus removing Caroline from their country homes. The townhouse had sat empty for a few years after Elizabeth's disappearance, the family having no heart for the frivolity and falseness of London. It had then been leased until they decided it was the solution to the problem of Caroline. Sad though they were to lose the company of their son, they were also dismayed at the change in Louisa. They had hoped for a happy marriage for David. He had changed so under the weight of guilt and loss. They wished to see him happy again.
Caroline had scoffed to learn Tessa was married to a second son and a barrister at that. She could see no advantages to such a match. He was not even a barrister in London but Birmingham. When tragedy befell the Michaels family and Henry inherited Lanston, she was indecorous in acknowledging what she considered Tessa's good fortune.
Now Tessa found herself residing under the same roof as Caroline once again. She had pledged she would never do so again. However, Tessa had decided she could put up with a great deal now that Elizabeth was found.
Making their way to Netherfield after their day at Longbourn, Tessa was not disappointed to find Caroline keeping to her room for the evening. Morning, and Caroline, would come soon enough. Elizabeth had been invited to join Louisa and Tessa at Netherfield the next day. Bingley offered to show Henry around the estate to leave the ladies to themselves. Tessa knew it was inevitable that Caroline would make her presence known.
This concerned her little, for she had long ago honed her strategy for dealing with Caroline. More than anything, that woman hated being ignored and she liked to watch her arrows hitting their target. Like many with no true power, Caroline found hers in getting a rise out of people, even if, especially if, it resulted in a hostile response. Well, she would not achieve it this day.
Tessa, Elizabeth, and Louisa had been settled in the sitting room for at least an hour before Caroline decided to make her appearance. Not caring she was interrupting their conversation she addressed Elizabeth directly, "Miss Eliza, how nice for you to find your real family. Those Bennets are so secretive and deceitful, misrepresenting your origins to us all. It must be a relief to discover you are not actually one of them, though the Hursts can hardly be considered a more attractive prospect. I imagine you must be disappointed not to find yourself a royal princess, lost these many years," Caroline tittered snidely.
"I have long been aware I was not a Bennet, Miss Bingley. There was no deceit perpetrated. We have always been open with our friends and those who care about us." Knowing of Caroline's earlier reaction, Elizabeth's response was brusque.
"Lizzy, how heartening it must be to know you are part of two loving families. That is a wealth few will ever attain." Tessa's tone was pleasant and her smile warm. Caroline frowned as her words were so handily dismissed. "Tell me, how did you come to stay at Netherfield Park? I understand that is when a stray comment first spurred David's notice of you."
Elizabeth nodded toward Louisa, who colored as she remembered her behavior that evening. "Mr. Bingley's sisters invited Jane to Netherfield one day when the gentlemen were dining with the officers. She took the gig, she is quite an adept driver, but on her way, she was caught in a surprise rain shower. She was soaked to the skin by the time she reached Netherfield. During the course of the evening, she fell ill. I came the next day to tend to her."
"Miss Eliza was not fit to be seen upon her arrival. She scampered through the fields over a distance of three miles. As if her precious sister were at risk. Nobody dies of trifling colds." Caroline took aim again.
"Poor Miss Bennet, she must have been greatly comforted by your presence. Sisters are a very precious thing." Tessa said sincerely. She then cocked her head and winked at Elizabeth. "I am sorry if I have been referring to you by the incorrect name. Do you prefer Eliza?" As they had already had this conversation, Elizabeth instantly recognized Tessa's intent.
"I prefer Lizzy. However, I do not mind Eliza. Sir William Lucas began calling me 'Miss Eliza' when I was young. He and his daughter, my dear friend Charlotte, are the only ones who do so. And now Miss Bingley. I imagine she is impressed by Sir William's great distinction of being presented at St. James. She surely wishes to emulate that good man in calling me Eliza. Or perhaps she wishes to indicate a closer intimacy, like that which I share with Charlotte. I do look forward to introducing you to Charlotte, a better woman you will never meet. So, you see, Miss Bingley is following the example of two of my favorite people."
Elizabeth hid her smile behind a sip of tea while Miss Bingley sat speechless. She was annoyed that her use of Eliza did not get under her target's skin. And the thought she would wish to copy the Lucases, of all people, or wished a greater intimacy with Elizabeth Bennet was insupportable.
Louisa was vastly amused at Elizabeth's comments. Redirecting the conversation, and unwittingly following Tessa's plans, she asked about David's grandparents. "Will Mr. and Mrs. Lee be joining the family soon?"
"I rushed off to Longbourn before I could learn of their plans, but I do not think so." Turning to Elizabeth to continue the explanation. "The grands are quite aged. They do not travel well. I imagine they will be awaiting your return at Raber Hill. Oh, as will Dogberry."
"Dogberry, the cat? He must be quite aged himself."
"That ginger menace that was allowed run of the house is still alive? His place is in the barn." Dogberry hissed a daily greeting to Caroline as she lived at Raber Hill, swatting at her if she happened to close. Caroline kept her distance from the feline who she knew was more welcome in the home than she was.
"Dogberry was but a kitten, not even a year old, when you…last saw him. He is a sweet cat, and very spoiled. My children adore him." She had met all Caroline's sad attempts with equanimity, but it was amazing how an insult to a cat would almost incite Tessa to break her vow that she would never rise to Caroline's bait. As Elizabeth's favorite, Dogberry held a special place with the Hurst family. It was a living representation of Zibby's love.
"Will you tell me of your children. I hope they will be excited to have a new aunt." Tessa and Henry had left the children at Lanston with their nurse.
"They will love having a new aunt and they will love you. Elise is three. She is named after you." She ignored Caroline's snort. "She loves music and always wants somebody to play for her. We have had a small harp and pianoforte moved into the nursery. Do you happen to play?"
"How grossly indulgent," Caroline muttered under her breadth. Her comment was ignored.
"I do play. I always teased Jane that I would move in with her after she married and teach my nieces and nephews to play their instruments very ill. I, now, have more beneficiaries for my services," Elizabeth laughed.
"You would be very welcome. As I said, the children will love you. Sam will follow you everywhere. He is very observant. He is five and at that age where he wants to know how things are made or how they work. He can watch the carpenter or the chandler for hours. He has taken to dismantling things, his toys, clocks, books."
"Really, do you think you should encourage such behavior? It is not as if you have much of value in your home, but it shows an abominable sort of curiosity that can only be deemed imprudent." Caroline found children as unpleasant as cats. She did not like either roaming about her.
"Lanston can support the curiosity of ten such children. But then we value knowledge and intelligence over more tangible shows of riches." Tessa could not help herself, answering Caroline directly but more politely than the woman deserved. "Louisa, Sam loves the present David made him for his birthday."
Louisa could not remember what they had gotten the boy. She assumed it was some toy soldiers, but she did not want to admit she did not know her husband had actually made something for the boy. "How wonderful. I am glad he enjoyed it."
Tessa was not surprised that Louisa did not know of her husband's habit. She described it, ostensibly for Elizabeth's benefit. "David is a very good artist. He draws little books for the children based on their interests. Even when he was much younger, he was very good. He did one for me when I was wild for all things floral. It is of the flowers that grow on the estate. I still have it. It started when he went to Harrow. He drew scenes of his life there. He thought Papa would enjoy it since he had gone to Harrow himself. For Sam, he made these diagrams showing the inner workings of things or how the parts fit together. It must have taken him weeks to complete. It was so detailed."
"I have the book he did of me and Dogberry. It is one of my most treasured possessions." Elizabeth thought David's efforts illustrated a thoughtfulness she was coming to see was an inherent characteristic of her brother.
"That is right. You had it with you. Will you show it to me one day? I would love to see it again."
"May I see it as well?" Louisa asked.
"You mean that sot has the inclination for something other than his next drink or meal? I am all astonishment." Caroline sniggered to herself. Both Louisa and Tessa were prepared to come to David's defense. Elizabeth put a restraining hand on them both to stop them. She had picked up on Tessa's strategy as it was not to far from her own for dealing with lady.
"David is very talented. The care and attention he took with each drawing are heartening. I have a feeling he only shows his true nature with those he considers worthy. But I should have thought to show it to you last night. I have the other things from that day as well. There is a blanket, with similar care and attention taken with embroidered tulips. Both done to please a baby sister. With such a sister and brother, in addition to my Bennet sisters, and now Louisa too. I have no cause to repine my situation."