Author's note: after getting so many comments about Elizabeth being too harsh with Caroline, I realized I hadn't actually written down everything Caroline had said. I do a lot of "writing" in my head while driving my kids around and playing with the baby, but then when I get to my computer to write the ideas down, I sometimes leave things out. That's what happened here.

So here is what Caroline said: "I heard from an acquaintance that your sisters will each share five thousand pounds upon your mother's death. She must have brought quite a dowry with her, seeing as the estate is entailed. Given the recent news about Jane…" Miss Bingley's voice trailed off suggestively.

She's hinting that Mrs. Bennet's and Jane's deaths will be a blessing for the other girls because it gets the more money sooner. That's what causes Elizabeth to lose her cool.

Anyway, so here's what happens that night. I know it's a shorter chapter, but I promise I'm writing as fast as I can! There are SO many ideas in my head, but it's getting them down onto the computer that's the time-consuming part.

Chapter 10

Elizabeth sighed with relief as she sank into her pillow. As much as the maid had tried to be gentle, Elizabeth's feet were throbbing after being bathed, poulticed, and bandaged.

Three quick raps, followed by three slow knocks came at the door. A smile crept across her face at the childhood tradition her father instilled in her when she wanted entrance into his private library.

"Come in, Papa," she called.

Mr. Bennet entered the room, his brow furrowed. For the first time, Elizabeth was struck by just how old her father was. He had married later in life - preferring books to balls - and was now in his sixties. Deep creases in his forehead and around his eyes, coupled with stark white of his hair, made him look positively ancient compared to the energetic Papa of her youth.

He sat down heavily on the chair next to her bed. "How are your feet?"

"They ache quite fiercely, but I daresay I deserve it," she said lightly, trying to ease his spirits.

To her chagrin, the furrow in his brow only deepened. "Yes, Elizabeth, I daresay you do deserve it. Not only for your wild behavior - as your mother would call it - in running outdoors without the proper footwear, but your wild behavior at running on at Miss Bingley."

Elizabeth winced at her father's echoes of a commonly used refrain from Mrs. Bennet about her second daughter's character.

"I did not mean to, Papa," Elizabeth said. "The words just came out. I couldn't stop them."

"Lizzy," he warned.

"But you didn't hear what she was saying!" cried Elizabeth. "After her awful comments at dinner about Jane's uniqueness and the goodness of the Darcys to pay attention to us, she then began to hint at how fortunate Mama's death would be for us, and Jane's! When we only just learned about Jane -"

Elizabeth's voice broke on the last word, and she could speak no further. Tears poured down her face, and she looked pleadingly at her father. To her astonishment, his eyes were wet as well.

"How can anyone think that Jane's death will be anything but a tragedy?" she finished in a whisper.

"This is why I never liked London," Mr. Bennet said with a heavy sigh. "I know your mother has begged me to take all of you, and I usually blame the expense and the noise. But really, it's about avoiding the narcissists that make up the ton. The people that make the beau monde are anything but beautiful, for all their finery."

"They're horrible," Elizabeth said fiercely. "Miss Bingley's soul is full of avarice and selfishness."

"Not all of them are wicked, my dear. We must judge them each on their merits, of course, just as we would expected them to do for us. You would not wish to be lumped with Lydia, for example."

Elizabeth managed a small, rueful smile. "No, I suppose not," she conceded.

"But you must be cautious, my girl, that in your interactions darkness, you do not allow it to pollute your own light. Miss Bingley's nastiness does not mean you can be rude and disrespectful in turn."

Elizabeth hung her head in shame. "I don't know what came over me."

"Well, I daresay it's your first time experiencing such cruelty firsthand, and from someone your own age. For all your mother boasts of dining with four and twenty families, your circle of acquaintances is quite limited, and they're people you've known your entire life. You know not take your Aunt Phillips seriously when she comments about your beauty compared to Jane's, or when Charlotte Lucas rolls her eyes at Lydia's behavior."

"You're saying that by knowing their character, I'm able to better dismiss their words?"

"Precisely. These new ladies are sharing their first impressions of what they see, and you therefore feel it more deeply when they aren't pleased."

She nodded slowly. "I think I understand. Thank you, Papa. I promise to do better next time; it won't take me as much by surprise."

He gently patted her shoulder. "You're a good girl, Lizzy. I hope you'll also understand why I will be requiring you to apologize to Miss Bingley tomorrow."

Sighing deeply, Elizabeth acquiesced. "As much as I hate to let her have the satisfaction of me humbling myself, I would much rather prove my good breeding. I won't let her to influence me in that way."

As Mr. Bennet left his daughter's room for his own, a similar conversation was being conducted in the family wing.

"Caroline, your behavior was deplorable this evening! I still cannot believe what you said to Miss Bennet. If I hadn't heard it with my own ears…."

"Nonsense, Charles," Miss Bingley drawled. "It was all a simple misunderstanding."

Sitting on a comfortable chair in front of her vanity and mirror, she focused her attention on watching the maid brush her hair out. She hardly listened to her brother's words, being intent on counting to make sure the lazy girl did the full one hundred strokes.

"A misunderstanding?" Bingley's voice cracked on the last word.

"Yes, a misunderstanding. The foolish girl took offense where none was meant, I assure you. I only wished to cheer the girl up, and she took what I said completely out of context."

Bingley frowned doubtfully at his sister. "Let's just say for a moment that I believe you. You should have spoken with more care to her. She just discovered that her sister is going to die, and your words were thoughtless."

"Well, how was I to know that she would be so sensitive? She seems quite arrogant most of the time."

Bingley sighed and rubbed his temples. "Be that as it may, it does not excuse the fact that your behavior was left wanting. I expect you to apologize tomorrow."

"Apologize, me? I wasn't the one who lost her temper!"

"Caroline, don't push me on this. You will apologize, or I will not subsidize your allowance this quarter. You'll have to make due with what you have left."

"But I've already spent it all, Charles!"

"Then you'll apologize."

Miss Bingley huffed and crossed her arms, slouching back in her chair. The maid, startled by the sudden movement, yelped and dropped the brush.

"Stupid girl," Miss Bingley said crossly. "Pick it up! If it's damaged in any way by your carelessness, I'll take the cost of it from your wages."

"Caroline, I mean it. You will apologize."

"Oh very well," she snapped. "I'll apologize to the chit. Happy?"

Bingley frowned at this appellation, but he was reluctant to take his sister to task once again. "Thank you," he said, choosing to take the small win.

"Now, if you don't mind, I need to get to sleep. I want to be up early for breakfast, and I can't appear in front of Mr. Darcy with shadows under my eyes."

Rolling his eyes, Bingley left his sister's room and walked to his own, all the while remembering the comfort of a gentle smile and soft voice.

Please, God, keep her healthy for as long as You can.