Chapter 3

Caroline Bingley swept down the stairs of her brother's house, yes it was a very nice house once she had put her own stamp on it. The countryside was also very nice. The fact that Mr Darcy had arrived yesterday was very very nice. She smiled to herself as she swept into the breakfast room and greeted her brother. "Good Morning" she went to the sideboard and chose a small breakfast for herself. Sitting down she gazed out of the window. She watched as a lone horseman galloped up to the stables. She almost purred when she realized who that person was.

"Ah, Darcy is back" her brother looked pleased. She glanced at her watch and sniffed. She watched her brother pour himself another coffee. A footman came in to replenish some breakfast items. "Will there be anything else Madam" he asked.

Caroline looked around but couldn't see anything amiss. "Have the Hursts breakfasted in their room?

"Yes Maam" he bowed and slowly went out of the room.

Caroline sat a little straighter as she heard the quick footstep of Mr Darcy. He entered the breakfast room and saw who was there. Mr Bingley put down his coffee cup "Good ride Darcy did you get lost at all"

Darcy smiled at his friend "no, I ran into a maiden in distress and she invited me to breakfast" he smiled again at the memory.

"Any of the families I have met?" asked Charles having only met fathers in the week that he had been here.

"The Bennets" said Darcy.

"Oh, Sir William mentioned them and that the father had been in a carriage accident and didn't travel much, and the fact that there are five daughters" Bingley looked at Darcy hopeful for information.

Darcy smiled and said "Yes there are indeed five daughters".

Caroline listened to their conversation and felt a tingle of unease.

"We are to go to the assembly this evening so I will meet them then" said Bingley happily.

"Only two are out and the middle one Miss Mary doesn't care for dancing apparently" Darcy said whilst helping himself to another coffee.

Miss Bingley listened carefully to every word and how he said it. He was attracted to one of the family members and she could not let that happen. She had too much time and effort placed into the relationship she wanted Pemberly was hers.

Mr Darcy stood and finished the last of his coffee "I need to write a couple of letters Bingley and then we should meet with your steward"

"Yes" said Bingley "I will meet you in my study when you are finished. I have some letters to write myself"

Miss Bingley removed herself from the dining room to the parlor she had a lot to think of and she was happy to find it empty. She paced for a while replaying the conversation that had just taken place in the dining room. She had been chasing Darcy for five years and was still no closer to catching him so new tactics would have to be thought of. Both her brother and sister had told her Darcy would never marry her, but she dismissed their comments as rubbish. Darcy didn't know he needed her yet. She was still sitting in the same attitude when the Hursts entered the room. Hurst gently helped his wife to a chair and moved a small footstool closer. He picked up her work basket and placed it closer then lifted his wife's hand and kissed it. Caroline was amazed to see her sister actually blush at all this attention.

. They had been married nearly three years now. Personally she thought them a little ridiculous with their billing and cooing to each other. No I must think of a way to engage Darcy to finally propose.

"He wont Caroline" Louisa looked at her sister with something akin to pity.

"What can you mean" Caroline was shocked

"Darcy has told both our brother and myself that there can never be an attachment and even if you were to try and compromise him his standing in Society would weather any storm and you would be ruined not him." Louisa stated quite calmly.

Caroline felt herself grow more angry than the conversation warranted. "Darcy said that" she spat.

Louisa picked out her knitting from her workbasket and prepared to carry on with the blanket she had been working on so diligently "Yes, before he would agree to come and help Charles"

Caroline didn't know what to do with herself "but I want him" her answer was petulant even to her own ears.

"No, you just want Pemberly, you also forget Darcy is basically a country farmer who hates town. He much prefers to be at home and is only usually in town for business." Louisa was very satisfied with how her blanket was progressing. She looked at her sister to see how she had taken her words and knew her clever mind was digesting everything. "He and his valet have the keys to his room that he locks every time he is in and sometimes even when he is away.

If Caroline had been standing she would have stamped her foot at another avenue being lost to her. "I should have accepted Mr Hargreaves shouldn't I"

Louisa looked up in surprise "I didn't know he had asked you or the courtship had progressed that far"

Caroline smiled a small smile that didn't reach her eyes "Yes, and he was devastated when I said no" her eyes took on a far away look "he would have been a good match even though he didn't have a title"

Dearest Richard,

Get ready to pay up, 1. Be agreeable in Company. 2. Meet the principle families 3. Dance.

Tick tick tick.

FD