Chapter Seventeen:

As Caroline Bingley dressed for the day obviously in Londons latest fashions, she had been daydreaming about her future, in that future, she was the only woman in the world, who was deserving to be the next Mistress of Pemberly, she would allow no one to get her way. It was true that her connection to the gentleman had diminished over the last few years but that could be fixed, they were often invited to Pemberly over the summer. As Mr. Darcy liked to spend the summer at his country seat with his young daughter and Charles had still yet to purchase his own estate.

It was true that he did know come with baggage know and being the second wife would come with its own difficulties but Caroline had been trained all her life to be his wife. He at one and thirty was still a handsome gentleman and any other flaws he had she could fix to make him the husband of her dreams. It was also true that she wasn't very maternal but he had enough money that she didn't need to be they could have plenty of nursemaids. There was something about Darcy's child she couldn't quite bear yes the child was attractive enough to look at but her manners and attitude would need sorting before Caroline could consider being her mother.

The season was coming to end and once again Caroline Bingley had not secured a husband at eight and twenty Caroline Bingley was considered by many to be an old maid, her brother and sister continued to hope that their sister's fortune of twenty thousand pounds would entice a man of means. It wasn't that she hadn't had any offers, it was in Caroline's eyes they weren't good enough, her brother had begged her to move on from darcy but she simply refused to do so, reminding him he would need an heir and would need to remarry soon.

Mr. Bingley knew deep down that Darcy would never propose to his sister, but he didn't want to be the one to tell her and encounter her rage. He also knew what the men at his clubs thought of Miss Bingley he heard the whispers and unkind words. Her standards were far too high for the daughter of a tradesman which was often commented on. Those god-awful brightly colored gowns she was fond of wearing didn't help, his sister was still pretty for her age. However, she was a slave to fashion rather than dressing to styles which suited her. Caroline Bingley was known to be a sour woman who was constantly disappointed in all around her no men were willing to take her on, not any of the decent ones anyway. Naturally, those are the first circles that could tell, that she wasn't from the first circles her manners showed she wasn't one of them she was constantly trying too hard to be a lady in tons opinion, and they all could see it. Charles needed to stand up to his sister he needed to arrange a marriage even if it meant facing her rage, she needed to be married as quickly as possible.

"Charles.." she greeted as she sat at the table, her brother was reading the paper.

Charles quietly put down her coffee cup and nervously glanced at his sister.

"Good morning Caroline, I'm glad you are down I would like to talk to you" he shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.

"Brother what would you like to say" Cooed Caroline knew she would need to manage her brother she was well versed with managing him, he would do almost anything for an easy life.

"You know you can always talk to me" she replied

"Well this is difficult to broch if I'm honest sister, but I will just come out and say it, at eight and twenty it is time that you should be married I have given you enough season to find one on your own if you haven't within the next two months I will find one for you," Bingley spoke firmly, he gave her a long pointed look before rising to leave the table.

Caroline was shocked by her brother to insist that she marry was ridiculous, didn't he realize she was waiting for Mr. Darcy that she would be mistress of the finest estate in England and married to one of the richest men! she huffed to herself, he should have been helping her gain Mr. Darcy's attention. She would have to speed her plan along, she would need to be in his company as soon as possible. Caroline would have to get her brother to get them invited to Pemberly over the summer and by the end of the summer, she would be Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

After breakfast, she sat in the Hurst governor street parlor contemplating her plan, when her sister Lousia made, her entrance, Louisa usually spent the breakfast hours in the nursery with her children rather than with Caroline and her husband. Louisa had given birth to twin boys the previous year and become a doting mother she was rather proud that she had delivered an heir and a spare for her husband. Caroline thought it was a ridiculous notion for a mother to want to break her fast with her children especially when they lacked table manners. It was very common and not a noble thing todo she was sure none of the great ladies of the ton would act in that manner. Caroline thought the notion of growing and birthing children to be disgusting as soon as she had given Mr. Darcy his heir she would refuse him access to her chambers.

"Louisa what brings you done so earlier this morning, I hope your dear boys are well.."

"Yes sister they are fine, they are with the nurse. I came to see you I wanted to share some news I heard last night when we dined at Lord and Lady Benedicts"

Caroline was annoyed, she hadn't been invited along with her sister and brother-in-law to dine at Lord and Lady Benedicts, she had falsely claimed she already had plans to dine with her own friends. Louisa felt this was a blessing as her husband's parents had refused, to invite Caroline yet alone be seen out with her sister they claiming she was ill-mannered and common that Caroline wasn't a suitable dining companion for any of their acquaintances.

"Ow and what would that be" sniffed, Caroline

"That we are acquainted with the new Countess of Ashbrook, Lady Benedicts is close friends with the Dowager Countess of Ashbrook and she related all the news to me"

"And pray who is this acquaintance that this new is so exciting" huffed Caroline she had no time for her sister she had plans to make.

"Jane Brodwick Nee Bennet raised at Longbourne Hertfordshire"

Caroline refused to believe it, there was no way a simple country chit like Jane Bennet could become a countess.

"No Louisa you must have heard wrong"

"No dear sister, I didn't... Jane Bennet is the countess of Ashbrook, they had settled in the Americas she had married the second son, but since the viscount death last year and then the earls. They were required to return home and come back to England, furthermore, the countess sister Elizabeth is now residing with her and will be part of the first circles The Bennets ladies have done well haven't they."

Caroline rose, her anger was rising how dare they! Them chits! Eliza and Jane thought that they could become part of the first circles. Surely it wouldn't be true, but she knew she had to find out. She decided to visit her friend Lady Grafton she knew all that happen within the ton and she was even sure Lady Grafton was related to the Ashbrook.

At a suitable hour for making calls, Caroline Bingley presented herself at the home of Lord and Lady Grafton she handed her calling card to the butler and waited to see if the lady would receive her. Caroline was shown into a gaudy parlor where the lady liked to receive her morning calls. After the women had greeted each other and other small talk had been made. As the Lady Grafton served tea, Caroline spoke

"Dear Lady Grafton, I believe your cousin the Earl of Ashbrook has finally arrived in London"

"Ow Miss Bingley he had indeed and he has the most beautiful wife, she is such a kind soul, I find myself rather attached to her, I believe you may know her Miss Bingley she hails from Heartfrodshire near the estate your brother leased"

Caroline bingle choked on her tea her sister had been right.

"And her sister such a charming beauty too and she is ever so witty, she will be the bell of the next season I believe, she is such a breath of fresh air!" cried Lady Grafton.

"We had many acquaintances in Hertfordshire my lady my I enquire her the ladies names"

"The countess was Jane Bennet and her sister name is Elizabeth Bennet"

"Ow yes Lady Grafton, Dear Jane, and Eliza, Jane ... Countess Ashbrook was a favorite of mine, it's a shame we lost touch... I'd heard they'd left the country."

Ad the appropriate time for a call came to an end, Caroline rose to leave and thanked the lady, for her time. As she entered her brother's carriage she glanced across the square to the handsome London townhouse of the Earl of Ashbrook, in a fit of rage she thumped the window of the carriage, she was furious that Jane Bennet was a countess and with that would gain all the rank and fortune that came with it. Her anger rose as the thought of the fine dress and jewels the lady would have the great estate and finally how her husband was rumored to be a very handsome gentleman.

Well, she would know when she became Mrs. Darcy. Then she remembered from their time at Netherfield how Mr. Darcy appeared to be besotted by Eliza Bennet, it was as much the reason they needed to leave that nasty place as well as keep her brother away from Jane Bennet, she must gain Mr. Darcy's attentions before he realised that the Bennet sisters where back in town and with better connections then she had.