Getting out of the carriage Lizzy dried her eyes once more, and once on solid ground straightened out her dress and repositioned her wrap.
Before she had an opportunity to review her strategy once more, Caroline Bingley had descended upon her.
"Miss Elizabeth, there you are!" Caroline's words seeped off her tongue, a twisted sneer forming on her polished face. "Everyone has been looking for you dear, and your mother said that Mr. Darcy escorted you from the church, but Mr. Darcy is inside and you are still out here! How can this be? Is something amiss?"
After all the events of the last two days Lizzy was beginning to feel that she was living a purgatory on earth, and now this! How she wished she had stayed in the carriage.
Controlling herself, and picking the precise words as to not offend her new in-law Lizzy responded.
"How attentive you are Miss Bingley, and how generous you are to forge the wedding celebration to search me out." Lizzy smiled, wondering why her usually uninteresting existence was now occupied with some many trials.
"It was no trouble at all Miss Elizabeth. When I saw Mr. Darcy arrive to the house alone I feared that something had gone awry during your travels." Caroline almost cooed as her last words escaped her mouth.
"Something awry? Why would you think something could have gone awry between myself and Mr. Darcy?" Lizzy countered while walking towards the path back to the house, hoping to escape her newfound inquisitor.
"Miss Elizabeth, please do not consider me too forward if I offer you counsel." Caroline spoke while trailing Lizzy to the house.
Lizzy stopped walking to face Caroline. "No, how can I deny such gracious counsel from my new brother's sister."
With that Carolin's smirk seemed to weaken, knowing too well that today marked the joining of her family with the detestable Bennets.
"Yes, you are too right Miss Elizabeth, today we are as good as sisters, and because of that new bond I offer you this advice." Facing Lizzy, Caroline continued. "Do not attach yourself to Mr. Darcy. He is a man of noble blood, a man who should not be trifled with, and more significantly a man who will not take no for an answer. I saw you today at the church with him. Be warned Miss Elizabeth he is not the right sort of man for you."
"I thank you for your advice Miss Bingley, but I believe myself to be skilled in the matter of judging a person's character, and I think I can decide who is right for me."
"Really, just as you were correct in assuming Mr. Wickham was an honourable gentleman?"
Caroline's words cut deep and Lizzy felt the attack.
"I wonder Miss Bingley why, with so little an endeavour at civility, you aim to insult me? Do you wish to make Mr. Darcy your own and his fortune along with him?" Lizzy was finished being civil.
"Miss Elizabeth I believe you have me mistaken. I am only offering a friendly piece of advice." Caroline continued speaking even though Lizzy had continued her walk to the front of the house. "Today marks the joining of our two families, but do not be naive enough to believe the Darcy name will be so easy to infiltrate as the Bingley. His family will put up a great fight Miss Elizabeth. I am just concerned if you are aware how difficult it will be to win his heart, and how chilly Pemberley will be without any visitors."
With that Lizzy and Caroline came to a halt.
"I thank you for your lovely advice Miss Bingley, you are always so pleasant and ever so enlightening." Lizzy said sarcastically, curtseying to her foe.
Lizzy neared the entrance to Longbourn with Caroline closely following.
Lizzy could still fell Caroline's daggers stinging her heartstrings as she entered the wedding celebration.