Chapter 15 - The Engagement

Mid December, 1811

It is a truth universally acknowledged by all mothers of newly engaged young women, that the engagement may as well not have happened if the engaged couple cannot be taken around to all the neighbourhood families to be shown off.

"But we must visit the Oatleys, Jane!" cried her mother.

Jane sighed. She was very aware that Charles, as fond as even he was of society, was becoming tired of the apparently mandatory visiting. He had said to her yesterday that the matrons looked at him like a trussed pig, ready for Christmas. Her own patience had worn out somewhat earlier.

"Mamma, we saw the Oatleys three days ago. The only people we have not visited are the Gouldings. Charles and I would be very pleased to visit them, but then I think we may call 'Hold, enough!' We do not need to visit over and over. They will be sick of seeing us!"

"But Jane!" cried her mother. "Soon you will be married and away on your honeymoon and I won't be able to show off how proud I am of my daughter and soon-to-be son!"

Jane smiled sadly and kissed her mother on the cheek. Then, taking both her mother's hands, she said "mamma, I am glad I have made you so happy by becoming engaged. Almost as glad as I am to be engaged to Charles, but… you don't have to show us to everyone to be happy about it".

Her mother pouted then sighed and then said, "Very well, but the Gouldings, you are willing to join me to visit the Gouldings, yes?"

Jane laughed, "Yes, mamma, we will go with you to see the Gouldings".

Her mother smiled, stood, and left the room. Jane settled back with the stitching she was doing.

~~ HoL ~~

At Netherfield, Bingley sat alone in his drawing room reading a book on estate management, with his feet up on the central table as there was no one to complain about it. The sound of a carriage pulling into his drive came to him. He looked up at the noise and then arose to see who had come. He hoped it wasn't Jane, as etiquette meant he could not entertain a young woman as he had no hostess. But Jane was the most perfectly mannered woman he had ever met, so he knew it was unlikely to be her.

By the time he reached the front door, he could hear a voice. An excited voice. A familiar, excited voice. He sighed. Caroline had come. Chambers, the butler, bowed him through the front door and two footmen had proceeded him out to help with the carriage.

"Charles," Caroline turned to him with a delighted smile as he trudged down the stairs as Hurst handed Louisa down from the carriage. She sounded absolutely ecstatic to see him and stood, posed like a fashion plate, in an exquisite deep aqua gown that was probably brand new to match that month's fashion and probably cost most of the allowance she always overran.

"Caroline," he replied in a suspicious tone, "I am surprised you have come back".

"Oh, Charles, don't be ridiculous. You know I adore your company. Why would I not come to visit you?" She batted her very expressive eyelashes at him.

Bingley looked at her in thought, then he said "All your friends have left London to go home for Christmas, haven't they? You were bored and wanted to be able to say that you had gone home to your country retreat too, didn't you".

Caroline laughed "Oh, Charles, you are so dramatic. But, yes, if I have a country retreat, it makes sense to make use of it! And so convenient too, it only takes three hours to get here! Not like some of my friends, who must travel for simply days to reach their country home." She strolled past him to the house.

"I have a country retreat, not you," he called at her back as she entered the house "and you could at least have let me know you were coming so the housekeeper could have had your room ready." He looked at her walking away from him, "And don't think you can take the mistress suite again! I am having that redone for Jane!"

She waved a hand at him without looking back as she entered the house, ignoring the butler as she passed him.

Bingley turned to greet his other sister and brother. "Hurst, Louisa, it's good to see you, and you are always welcome, but you could have let me know that you and the hoyden were coming".

"I am sorry, Charles." Louisa looked quite wan. "She swore you knew we were coming. I should have known not to believe she had taken the trouble." She took her husband's arm, and they started a slow trip to the front door. Bingley frowned. "Are you quite well Louisa? You don't seem quite yourself." Louisa smiled slightly at him and patted his arm. "Just a little motion sickness from the carriage, I'm sure. I shall be well", she said. Together the three entered the house and went to the drawing room. "Have the mistress suite doors locked, would you, my man?" he muttered to the butler as he passed. Chambers bowed in response.

In the drawing room, Caroline had already called for tea, and Bingley recalled that he had told the housekeeper she would still have hostess responsibilities, so calling for tea wasn't an outrageous breech of proprietary for a "guest".

"So," she asked, beaming up at him, "when can we expect Mr Darcy?"

~~ HoL ~~

Charles arrived at Longbourn the next morning to make the planned call on the Gouldings. Jane met him in the entry. He smiled to see her and kissed her hand. "I would kiss you properly if we were not so public" he whispered. "Charles!" Jane was quite shocked. "You just wait until we are properly married, Miss Bennet!" he smiled at her. "Charles!" she simpered and took his arm. They started to walk to the drawing room when Charles burst out with "Well, Caroline has returned." Jane stopped and turned to look at him. "And what are her intentions?" She wondered if Miss Bingley was going to try to put a stop to the wedding. "Oh, I don't think she has any. She is in fine spirits. She just wants some company after her circle of friends have gone home for Christmas. She is feeling very smug that this year she too has a country home to go to".

"So, you don't think she'll be a problem?"

"Huh" he snorted, "Caroline is always a problem. But a specific one, for us? No, I don't think so".

She smiled and took his arm again.

"Will you come for tea on Tuesday?" he asked, "Bring Lizzy with you. One positive of my sister's arrival is that I can entertain you - I have a hostess. Oh, and Hurst and Louisa came with her. The house is noisy again! Much more pleasant!" he smiled. Jane hugged his arm - she knew he had been lonely on his own at Netherfield but couldn't do anything about it. She had suggested inviting some friends, but he didn't want to turn it into a bachelor do as he wanted to spend time with her, so friends as guests didn't make sense.

"Of course," she said. "And I will attempt to make peace with Caroline. I don't think being at war with my new sister will make for an easy marriage!"

Bingley laughed. "I wish you luck with that, but I will appreciate the attempt!"

~~ HoL ~~

Charlotte was to marry before Christmas and leave for Kent the same day as Mr Collins must be present for Christmas services at Hunsford.

The day of Charlotte's wedding dawned bright and sunny, the Bennet family were happy to find, as the household awoke and prepared to attend the wedding. As the Lucas family and the Bennet's were so close, there had been little doubt that they would attend, but the double relationship, with the groom being a family member, meant their attendance became almost mandatory, out of respect, little though they had any for Cousin William. Collins was staying with the Lucas family before the wedding.

The entire family attended the service, including the not yet out younger ladies. Jane watched Charlotte walk down the aisle, a tear in her eye, knowing that soon it would be her turn. Their childhood was completely over now with marriages happening and there could be no looking back. Jane knew that neither she nor Charlotte had believed for a long time now that they would marry, and Jane had sometimes mused that perhaps, if all her sisters had married, that Charlotte could have come and acted as some sort of companion to herself, to preserve her respectability. However, that was never to be now, with both expecting happiness in matrimony. Jane was too kind-hearted to consider that her own marriage had much greater prospects of happiness than Charlotte's. She considered that happiness came from within, and you took it with you rather than having it due to the felicity of those around you.

The ceremony was finally finished with a sloppy kiss from Mr Collins for the new Mrs Collins and all the attendees proceeded to the wedding breakfast at Lucas Lodge. It was a pleasant affair. Elizabeth spent quite some time talking to Charlotte and then the newlyweds left to go to Kent.

As they walked back to Longbourn after the breakfast, Elizabeth took Jane's arm and told her "It seems I am for Kent at Easter, if papa agrees".

"You are?" asked Jane.

"Yes, Charlotte has asked if I will come and see her then. Her father and her sister Maria are to go in March and she would like me to consent to be one of the party. I suspect she feels she will miss all the company in Hertfordshire. I am sure she will form new companionships there, but if she would like me to visit, who am I to decline, provided papa agrees".

"I can't imagine he won't, so I expect you will then be for Kent in March".

The two young women laughed together as they strolled in the sunny but cold December afternoon back to the carriage.

~~ HoL ~~

The following day, Jane and Elizabeth took the gig over to Netherfield, to take tea with Bingley - and Caroline. Clearly, Bingley didn't think Caroline would be a problem, and Jane had thought Caroline quite a charming neighbour until she had received that note, and she was prepared to be friendly, if it seemed like it would work.

Bingley practically bounded down the front stairs of Netherfield to greet them and handed the ladies out of the carriage.

"Charles," Jane greeted him with a smile that could have lit the house on fire - she loved how he was always so pleased to see her.

He stepped close to her, took her hand, and kissed it while maintaining eye contact with her.

Elizabeth coughed and Jane looked at her and grinned "My fiancé was just kissing my hand, Lizzy!" she taunted.

"You two!" Lizzy shook her head, "That looked like so much more than a kiss on the hand!"

Bingley also grinned at her and offered an arm to each of the ladies, and they went inside.

"Five more weeks," breathed Jane to him as they walked.

Caroline had come to Hertfordshire ostensibly because London was emptying out for Christmas and most of her friends had left, but also because she knew that she was dependant on her brother and with him marrying she needed to feel sure that she still had a place with him. She had decided she had never been against the marriage and that Jane was her best friend and the whole conversation in London was just about him being sure of what he wanted. In truth, she had never disliked Jane, she had simply wanted her brother to aim higher, that her own prospects would be drawn along with him. If a marriage to the Bennets was what he insisted on, then he could lie in the bed he was making.

"Jane, dear", she reached out a hand to her dear, dear friend as the Bennet sisters came through the door and kissed her on the cheek. "It has been an age since I have seen you!"

"Well, Caroline, it has been an eventful three weeks, but I'm not sure I would call it an age," Jane replied as she matched the kiss with one on Miss Bingley's cheek.

Caroline laughed in response, "and I must congratulate you! Someone finally managed to tie my brother down! I did not think you could manage it, but you are the woman of the hour!"

Jane's smile froze a little at that. The room seemed to still.

"Caroline, could we take a walk in the garden? I think we need to talk".

"Ooh! Secrets! Let us walk, I will fetch my outerwear".

When Caroline had fetched her pelisse, the two women went out to the shrubbery behind Netherfield.

Jane decided to not be distracted by small talk - she would much rather be inside in the warm with Charles.

"Caroline, I received your note after you left Hertfordshire".

"Oh, I am glad!" Miss Bingley replied, in an attempt to brazen it out, "I didn't want to leave without letting you know that I was going. I knew I would miss you and I was hoping you might be able to join us in town".

"Caroline, you told me that Charles was courting Miss Darcy".

Her companion was silent for a moment.

"Caroline, Charles tells me she is fifteen and not out. How could you think he would be courting her?"

Caroline sighed and gave a hesitant answer, "Would you believe that he has been briefly besotted by so many women and I assumed you were just one more and I was trying to let you down lightly?"

"No, not really, Caroline".

Caroline realised the only way forward was to abandon all pretence and throw herself on the mercy of the one who would have real control of her residence there. She stopped and turned towards Jane but looked at the ground. "I am sorry - my dear Jane… I could see he had a tendre for you and... I just wanted him to aim higher, that I might marry higher. I am very fond of you, but…". Caroline looked up, "I am sorry" she said with all sincerity and Jane was very surprised to see there was a tear in her eye. "I was thinking of myself, not what might make Charles happy. It was a mistake on my part. Can you forgive me?" she asked.

Jane, soft hearted as she was, took both Caroline's hands, and replied "Of course. Of course I can. We are to be sisters after all! Do not let us quarrel about the past. But let us get inside out of this cold".

"Sisters!" replied Caroline, with a smile.

"More than just one sister, Caroline, you gain five!". A slightly stunned expression crossed Miss Bingley's face for a moment then she raised her eyebrows and agreed "Indeed!"

Jane being Jane, she had in fact forgiven Caroline whole heartedly for her past actions, but she was now aware that her sister-to-be was not the most reliable of women, and she should not depend on her. Some things once broken stay broken, despite apologies. Nonetheless, she felt she had made her point and would be able to live with her when Caroline spent time with them.

The two ladies went inside. When they reached the drawing room, Charles lifted an eyebrow at her slightly and she replied with a small nod and a brief smile.

"Well, Caroline," said Jane, "you may as well take one of your last few opportunities to be hostess here and call for tea for us!" It may have been a little harsh to say it so bluntly, Jane thought, but it was wise to ensure Caroline understood her position, if Jane herself were not to have endless problems with Caroline undermining her.

Caroline laughed lightly and made it so.

They sat, happily chatting, Caroline telling stories and drawing everyone into the conversation. When she wished to be, Caroline was very good company, and, apparently, she now wished it.

They had just finished the tea and were contemplating whether they should call for another pot when the door opened, and Louisa entered, a radiant look on her face, with Hurst behind her.

Charles looked up "Louisa! You are looking much better! Come, join us. I was worried when the housekeeper mentioned you had called for the doctor".

The Hursts took adjoining seats on a sofa and held hands.

Caroline had started speaking again when Jane noticed Louisa look at her husband and nod. Hurst coughed, interrupting Caroline, and said "Louisa and I have some news that we would like to share with you." He stopped and looked around the party, then grinned and said "We are expecting a child. Sometime in the early summer." He looked at his wife and squeezed her hand, then looked around the group again. "We wanted you all to know".

Jane squealed, jumped up and went and hugged Louisa. Louisa smiled back up at her.

Bingley was right behind her, he shook Hurst's hand and patted his sister's shoulder.

Elizabeth, not as close to the Bingley family as Jane, clasped her hands together and smiled, pleased for them. She was fond of children and would be glad to have more in the family, even if it was the extended family.

Caroline, alone, was taken aback. She arose a moment later than the rest of the party and went to kiss Louisa's cheek, "Sister," she said, "how wonderful for you!" Then she sat down with no further comment.

The rest of the room was a little non-plussed by her lack of enthusiasm, but she waved her hand at them and said "Babies! So messy, smelly, and noisy. Have a girl, Louisa, so I can play tea parties with her when she is bigger!"

Jane and Bingley exchanged raised eyebrows, but nothing further was said - it was Caroline's loss not to appreciate children.

As they sat chatting about the prospects for the expected Hurst child, there was a soft tap on the door. Mrs Nichols stepped in and cleared her throat for attention.

"Nichols!" Bingley looked up with a smile, "What is it?"

"I was wondering if I might have a word with Miss Bennet about staff arrangements. Future staff arrangements, that is".

Bingley raised an eyebrow at Jane, who smiled at him and nodded. She walked over to the door and walked out with Mrs Nichols. They went to the housekeeper's office and sat down.

"I was hoping I would be able to speak to you, Miss Bennet. I wanted to know what arrangements you wanted for staff after the wedding."

"Well, we will be gone for a couple of months on our honeymoon. I had thought to leave such discussions until after."

Mrs. Nichols nodded, "Yes, but I would like to finalise who you will have as your personal maid. Unless you plan to bring someone from Longbourn?"

Jane thought for a moment. "No. I don't think there is anyone who can be spared at Longbourn who would work out as a personal maid. Did you have someone on staff you were thinking of for it?"

"Yes, Miss. Young Milly Sargent would do the job well, I feel, and you already know her".

Milly was the daughter of one of the tenants at Longbourn. Jane was aware she was working as a maid at Netherfield, and had known her since she was a child, being two years younger than Jane.

"Do you think she is up to it? It would involve travelling with us as we move around".

"I do, she is working out very well here. She is a smart girl, and she is a dab hand with fixing hair and such. She has helped Mrs. Hurst once or twice when her ladies maid has been unwell and I have had no complaints"

Jane smiled, "Very well then, let's give Milly a trial to see if she can do it. Please tell her I am looking forward to it".

With that, Jane got up and re-joined the party in the drawing room.

A/N I am really, really pleased with this chapter - hope you like it too! I think I am starting to get the hang of this writing thing! :)

PS don't you adore Caroline? And aren't you glad you don't have to put up with her? ;)