I'll be forever in your debt…
"Charles! Mandy!" She bursted into the study without paying attention to the men inside the room.
"What's that Caroline?" his brother patiently asked.
"She's lost. I can't find her."
"Do calm down. She'll come back."
"How can I be calm? She doesn't know the way home. What if something happens to her? What if she collided with a carriage?" she was rambling.
"What do you want me to do, dear sister?"
"Looking for her. I want us to search through the area and neighbouring houses."
He looked at his friends, sighed and said, "gentlemen, if you're kind enough to help me with the search?"
"And who exactly are we searching for?" asked Fitzwilliam who was newly promoted to the rank of Colonel.
"A cat," said Bingley amusedly.
"A cat!" All of them exclaimed in unison.
"Yes," said Caroline. "She's like a mandarin both in colour and shape and that's why I name her Mandarin or in short Mandy."
The men except Bingley who knows his sister left open-mouthed after she finished.
"Well, we better hurry before she goes further," she spoke again.
"Gentlemen, we have a search to go through."
By the time the sun was disappearing, they were weary, sore feet and they reached a conclusion that they were on a wild goose chase.
"Caroline, come back, she's sure hiding somewhere or even under your own bed."
"No, Charles. I know she's somewhere else."
"Caroline–"
"Please Charles." Tears were gathering in her eyes.
"Miss Bingley, you're tired. You rest and I search, I am more used to walking due to living in the country," said Darcy.
"Oh, Mr Darcy. Catch my cat and I'll be forever in your debt," she said in distraction, worrying about her furry friend.
They got back into the house, waiting for Darcy to come back. All starting to fall asleep. It was near midnight when he came, with a ball of fur in his arms and scratch marks and blood on his cheek. He was tired and irritated by the cat, but the radiating smile that she gave him was worth it.
"Here's your little cat, Miss Bingley and don't forget… the debt."
"Never."
Caroline always looked back at that time with fondness, at how he with his sweetness made her fall in love with him and she thought…
It was a sweet debt.
Inspiration: after I found my running cat this idea came to my mind.
Why do I write Caroline/Darcy? Well, recently I've become fascinated by this pairing. It's like forbidden fruit for me! Lol 😉
I immensely enjoy writing Daroline, hope, you enjoy reading it, old sports! 😘
Sometimes I forget to update the teen version, worse luck!