On a Tuesday in early August, Jane and Caroline were taking tea in the drawing-room. Jane heard the sound of the mail being delivered and presently a footman entered the room with the ladies' correspondence.
Jane went through her stack. The first letter was from Emma Hart. Jane smiled and made it the first item in her 'social' pile. The second letter was from Elizabeth, and Jane opened it immediately. Elizabeth should have been almost out of Derbyshire by now and heading south again, Jane thought, based on the itinerary she was using to address mail.
Smiling in anticipation, she started to read Elizabeth's letter. What she saw shocked her. She stood up and ran towards the door.
As she almost reached it, Charles ran in, and they both said at the same time "They are engaged!"
Jane reached for Charles' hands and they both laughed.
"I can't believe it!" squealed Jane, at her most girlish, "I can't believe Lizzy and Mr Darcy are actually engaged".
"My letter from Darcy said the same thing" answered Charles, "I haven't even read the details yet, I ran straight to tell you." They linked arms and started to walk out of the room together when the sound of a strangled cry came from behind them. They both stopped. Caroline they both thought as they turned to face each other, a horrified look of realisation dawning on both faces, and then they turned to face the room.
Behind them, Caroline had risen with a distraught look on her face. "What… what did you say?" she asked, a hesitant tone in her voice. Her hand went to her mouth.
Jane pulled herself together and took a breath, "My sister has written me to say that she and Mr Darcy are engaged. Mr Darcy has written to Charles of the same thing. It is beyond doubt".
"What? No, no - Mr Darcy was to marry me!" Caroline looked from one to the other, disconcerted.
"It seems that is not going to happen," said Charles levelly.
"But… but he was supposed to marry ME!" Caroline's voice was a rising crescendo and one hand curled into a fist.
"Well, I'm afraid-" but Charles was interrupted.
"Mr. Darcy is MINE!" Caroline looked back and forth between them, then screamed. "HOW HAS THAT IMPUDENT CHIT COMPROMISED HIM INTO PROPOSING!"
Jane and Charles both stood stunned for the moment by the sudden rise in Caroline's temper and the extreme response.
Caroline screamed in frustration. For a moment, Jane thought her expression was such that she would drop to her knees and cry, but suddenly Caroline instead reached for some china on the mantelpiece. "Oh no," muttered Charles.
Jane stood shocked as the china smashed on the floor and a second piece followed it. Even Lydia at her most tempestuous was never this bad!
When the third piece of china smashed on the floor, Jane had had enough. She walked over to Caroline and slapped her sharply across the face.
Caroline sat down in shock, her hand to her cheek.
Jane sat down beside her and took her other hand "Are you a little calmer now?" she asked.
Caroline looked at Jane with her eyes wide. No one had ever struck her before!
Jane blushed at the shocked look on Caroline's face.
"I am sorry, dear Caroline, I felt you were getting a little hysterical there".
Caroline was still unable to speak.
Jane patted her hand and said "Perhaps we should take you up to your room for a bit so you can rest and think things through".
Caroline rose as Jane prompted her and, together, Charles and Jane escorted her up the stairs.
A/N I always wondered exactly what Caroline did when she found out about Darcy and Lizzy being engaged!
We could argue about the correctness of Jane striking Caroline, and we could go through the whole "these are different times" thing, but I'm justifying myself with "Caroline needed a short sharp shock to bring her back to earth before she set the house on fire!"
