It's been so much fun reading about what you'd like to have happen to Caroline. Enjoy!

49. Caroline's Elevation

My slap had an impact on Caroline, for she avoided me for the rest of the day, took her meals in her room. It was a welcome break for my husband and I.

To my great astonishment, the next day, with her eyes cast down, Caroline allowed "I may have spoken out of turn. Of course you should be happy, especially should you have a son to inherit the Hurst estate and secure your status for all time."

Naturally, Caroline saw how a child might benefit me, the practical implications, rather than imagining how I might want a child for himself. Still, at least she was not thinking purely of herself. Yet she spoiled that slightly improved impression by adding, "Perhaps once you have the child, you might leave him in the country and continue to enjoy all the city has to offer."

I said nothing. Leaving my child far away to be raised by others was never my plan.

In the end Mr. Hurst and I softened and in the flurry of messages we exchanged with Charles from his residence at an inn near cheapside, we agreed to keep Caroline while he was courting, hopefully to be soon engaged and married, to not remove to the country any sooner than when the quickening occurred, which I thought might be a month or two away. But that did not mean that things went on as they had before.

I told Caroline "I shall not stay in London for too much longer. You must find a husband before Mr. Hurst and I remove to the country if you do not want to make a home with Charles and his soon to be wife." By then she had already heard from a friend that Charles was engaged.

It seemed that almost overnight a small swell had developed upon my belly and I knew that my existing dresses and shawl could not conceal it much longer. I kept up appearances as best I could when we accepted callers, and accompanied Caroline on those calls I deemed prudent, and refused to accompany her on the rest. I took her to all entertainments where she might meet her match. But at home I avoided her company as much as I could.

Caroline managed to secure some invitations for herself and us to events where she might mix with gentry, including astonishingly enough a dinner hosted by Lady Lavinia Hatchington. I had not a notion of how she had managed this, but we did attend. I was made somewhat uncomfortable with how her husband Baron Hatchington (a cousin of Mr. Darcy) spoke familiarly with Caroline and began to suspect that we might have all been invited at his behest, rather than because our hostess desired us there. As we had only a passing acquaintance with Lady Lavinia and none at all with Lord Hatchington, it did not make sense to me.

The following day I did my sisterly duty by her and warned Caroline "Lord Hatchingron is known for his succession of mistresses. You must act with the utmost propriety around him or he may think you desire such a role."

"Pshaw," she replied. "Lord Hatchington has become a dear friend and has been kind enough to help me find those of nobility who might be in need of a wife. Did you not see how he introduced me to the Earl of Lancaster, his wife's father? He even arranged for his wife to seat me across from him. The Earl is very eligible, you know, for his wife died two years ago."

I sputtered. "Would you indeed accept a marriage proposal from the Earl of Lancaster?"

I knew no great evil of Lord Lancaster, knew only what was general knowledge, that he was into his dottage, was at least seventy years of age and already had his heir and spare from his first wife, who had their own children besides, as well as one more child, his daughter Lady Lavinia, from his second wife. He was known to be somewhat eccentric, for he somehow grew his own mushrooms here in town and it was considered a particular mark of his favor if he brought some to you.

When introduced to him before dinner, I could not help but note that he had the odor of someone who did not often wash and believed his colognes concealed this, when instead the sour odor mingled with the sweet to create a different distasteful scent. But I did not blame him for this, but rather believed he was likely one of those fellows who had lost much of his sense of smell to age, whose valet for some reason or another had not found a way to get his master to do what he ought.

I was given an opportunity to try his famous mushrooms at the dinner, knew they were his for Lady Lavinia commented, "Please make sure to sample mushrooms in the port and cream sauce, for my father, Lord Lancaster, brought them for our enjoyment." My dinner companion, a youth barely removed from university, made certain to heap a scoop upon my plate and indeed they were delicious.

"Why ever not?" Caroline asked me, interrupting my recollections from the dinner. "He can give me all that I could desire. I shall always have a home if he can but be persuaded to bequeath me his London home after his demise as part of the marital settlement. It is not as if his son needs it, for he prefers to live in the country and already manages the estate, and his second son, who is a judge, has his own home in the city. I could have quite a pleasant life with him, and how delightful it would be to become a countess! I would be more important than the Darcys, the equal of Lady Henrietta, for I would be the stepmother of her daughter by marriage. Those who have snubbed me before would have no choice but to eventually accept me."

I said nothing, knowing it was no use to debate matters with Caroline once her mind was made up. I hardly thought the much younger third wife of an earl of modest property (Lady Lancaster) would be the equal of Lady Henrietta (the daughter of a duke, a lady in her own right). I suspected many would talk about the social climbing daughter of a tradesman who accepted such a marriage for status and not even a modicum of affection. While his fellow members of the peerage might excuse the Right Honorable Earl Lancaster in choosing to marry a handsome, well-dowered young wife, to ease his later years, their wives would be vicious to her. Caroline would be snubbed but still have to hold her head high and pretend it did not matter. It was not a situation I would wish for my sister.

I did not trust the role Lord Hatchington was playing in the whole matter, but I could not sort out what his interest might be. When I talked it over with Mr. Hurst, he told me, "From what I have heard, Lord Hatchington enjoys needling his wife. Perhaps he finds it amusing to match her father up with an inappropriate wife, showing that her father listens to him over her."

I thought it would be a pity to be in such a marriage, pitied Lady Lavinia then. Having social status was certainly no guarantee of happiness.

I did not like it at all when Caroline showed me a written invitation from Lady Lavinia to stay at her home as a guest. I did not trust Caroline being under the power of Lord Hatchington, and insisted we should check with Charles first. Caroline told me, "You are being ridiculous, Lady Lavinia thought it would be easier for her father to pay court me under her auspices than here. There can be no harm to my reputation in staying with such dear friends of quality."

I did not like her equating status with virtue for this was certainly wrong, or else the Prince Regent would be a paragon of virtue. Yet clearly, Prinny was not.

Mr. Hurst talked to Charles who met with Lord Hatchington and then agreed to the scheme. It was a relief to have Caroline gone, to not have to make or receive calls with her, to accompany her around but still I worried.

Not two weeks later we received a message from Charles:

Dear Hurst and Louisa,

I have granted my permission for the Earl of Lancaster to marry Caroline. Indeed, given our relative statuses, I could hardly refuse even if I was of a mind to. It is a solution to all our problems but I worry that she shall not be happy. The relative ages worry me as does the fact that he made sure to tell me he would have no compunction in using a rod on her if she did not obey him.

We have negotiated that a quarter of her dowry shall be settled upon her, plus use of his London home for her life. These provisions are conditional of course upon her marital loyalty and additionally her forgoing any subsequent marriage (violating such provisions even forfeits her right to her retained dowry, which is rather unusual you must allow, and gave me some pause), but Caroline has assured me that she is agreeable to it all.

She brushed off my concerns when I mentioned his warning that he would physically discipline her if he thought she merited it. Caroline laughed and said "Percy adores me. This is but an idle threat." I was surprised in her intimacy in her address about him, not Lord or even Percival, but Percy indeed! She crowed on and on about her future elevation, seemed to feel she is marrying his rank rather than the man himself.

They marry in three weeks from Lord Hatchington's home. Caroline was most insistent upon it when Jane, Jane's aunt, and I met with her. I rather think she fears Lord Lancaster will change his mind should there be any more delay.

Caroline managed to be all politeness with my fiancee, and Jane, good and kind woman that she is, seems to hold nothing against her.

Caroline phrased it as a request, but clearly it was more of a demand that Jane and I marry away from town and after her. I was not of a mind to agree, but Jane then expressed her desire to marry in her home chapel in September and so I will endeavor to arrange it all. Fortunately by then Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughter shall be well settled in Bath (the rest of course are in London with the Gardiners). We plan not to inform them until well after the marriage takes place and have sworn her family to silence as well. I hope you can come to Netherfield after Caroline marries and stay until my own wedding before removing to the Hursts' estate. I know that this might stretch the bounds of propriety, but Jane assures me that women do not retreat as early in their confinement in Hertfordshire as they do in London. I shall rent out the inn for the Gardiners, Jane and Jane's sisters. It would mean much to have you be my hostess during such time.

Sincerely,

Charles Bingley

I of course immediately wrote a message to be delivered to Caroline expressing my best wishes for her marital happiness, and my plan to call upon her to share her joy in person should that be agreeable to Lady Lavinia. Caroline responded promptly with a message of her own. She was all politeness but put me off for a week and a half, telling me she would be home to me the following Tuesday.

It was with some misgivings that I visited her that day and found I was one of three other callers present. In such a setting I had little to say and when I would have lingered past the other callers, Caroline ushered me out only a minute after the rest, opining that I could visit the following Tuesday if I arrived promptly at 9 o'clock. She explained, "We marry at ten that day and you shall surely wish to gaze upon me in my new wedding gown. Dear Percy has paid for a special license so we can be married before just his family in this house, and then after a little breakfast we shall depart for a wedding trip to one of his other properties so that the mistress's chambers can be readied for me in his house in town. He does not want me to see his house inside until it is ready. Oh, the parties and fetes I shall throw. I can hardly wait. You must be off now." With this the butler opened the door and I departed.

I did not like feeling dismissed, replaced, and was of a mind not to return at all, but Mr. Hurst reminded me when I spoke of this option, "Should you not at least have a talk with her about her marital duties? Who else shall talk with her about such things?" He was right of course, regardless of how little I wished to speak to her in the manner that Grandmama and Aunt Ann had spoken to me before I married Mr. Hurst.

When I called the following Tuesday promptly at nine, the housekeeper escorted me to my sister's guest room where a maid was dressing my sister's hair with flowers. She wore a pink gown with an overlay of lace and a matching cap. It was undoubtedly well made, but not anything that I would have expected my sister to pick out. Apparently understanding my surprise, Caroline said, "Percy likes me in pink and of course I wish to please him today."

I found this to be a natural opening to what I needed to say. "You look lovely, Caroline, make a beautiful bride. This may not be your favored color, but it has an elegance to it." I waited while the final flowers were affixed then added, "Speaking of pleasing Lord Lancaster, do you suppose we might speak for a few minutes, married woman to woman soon to be married?"

Caroline sent the maid away, but before I could utter a single word rejoined, "Do you truly think I need worry about such things? Even if Percy can manage to consummate the marriage, I cannot but think it will not be a frequent event given his advanced age. I surely can tolerate it well enough for what I shall gain. Do not give me that look Louisa. Naturally I have saved my virtue for my husband, but I have certainly heard enough talk to know how it is likely to transpire, a thrust within me, some pain, and the depositing of his essence which might make me with child."

Her description was so abbreviated, I rather thought she did not really grasp the essentials of the act at all. I felt a headache explode upon me as I struggled in how I might best correct her odd impression.

"You make it sound that all shall be completed within moments, but the prelude to the act can be quite enjoyable, and the repeated thrusting as you submit may last several minutes or more, perhaps even longer with an older man. It is best if you kiss for some time, give your body an opportunity to anticipate the act, for growing wet down below will make it easier, prevent much chaffing soreness. While Lord Lancaster may be satisfied with merely possessing you at first, he is likely to later require you to touch his rod, carress his cods and even," here I dropped my voice and felt my face bloom with embarrassment, "take these gently into your mouth and suckle them until he spills, perhaps into your mouth."

"He would never!" Caroline exclaimed, suddenly pale and swaying. I helped her sit down as she justified, "it would be beneath the dignity of an earl."

"I think you will find that men are pretty much all the same, titled or not. It is certainly his right to demand whatever he wishes for his satisfaction from his wife. And what he might think beneath the dignity of a lady as elevated as he, well I could not say what that might be, but as the daughter of a tradesman however wealthy our father may have been I cannot imagine he would think it to be beneath your dignity if that is what he desires."

Caroline gasped like a fish removed from water and her eyes similarly bulged. I almost felt sorry for her that such realities of life had not been known to her in advance of her wedding day. Now it was certainly too late for her to back out (just as it had been for me when I received the talk).

I hastened to reassure her, "It shall not be so bad. I know of no great evil in him and I expect he shall be kind. Having had two previous wives, hopefully he knows something of what might be pleasing to you, also."

Caroline whispered in a soft high voice that reminded me of when she was yet a young, young child. "But he smells so bad, far worse than Grandmama. The idea of kissing that mouth or doing what you just said, well if he forces me to do either of those things, I shall surely gag!"

I suggested, "Perhaps you can entice him into a bath if you suggest sharing it, tell him how much you would appreciate it if he used tooth powder."

However, apparently this was not the right suggestion for she simply shuddered some more.

"Oh, Louisa, what am I to do?"

"Why, get married today, naturally. Nothing has changed, for you will get the status you long desired. I recommend that you partake of some wine before, for it shall help you relax and let nature take its course. He is a nice enough man, is he not?"

"Yes," she breathed in and out, "yes he is. Once we are settled in town all will be as I have dreamed. I expect he will hardly visit my bed at all."

"Some women grow to enjoy and even anticipate their marital duties," I noted, "but if you do not, I hope for your sake that they shall be infrequent and quick."

My duty completed, I excused myself and made my way down toward the front door. In the foyer, I encountered Lord Lancaster dressed in his Sunday best and gave him a proper curtsey. He was a pleasant looking man for his age, only slighly thick about his middle and still retained most of his silvered hair which he paired with thick unruly sideburns and caterpiller-like eyebrows.

"Mrs. Hurst," said he, "surely you are staying for the wedding."

"I am afraid not. I was given to understand that the occasion was to be private to just your family and I am certainly not dressed for it."

I felt my noise twitch as I fought not to inhale too deeply around him. While he appeared clean and was adorned with a strong cologne, there was also a sort of sour scent upon him, almost the odor of manure, but not that of horse or cow, something more akin to pig.

"Nonsense, you are perfectly lovely. You must stay. I insist."

He offered his arm and I gently rested my hand upon it, hoping the malodorous odor about him would not cling to my glove, my gown. Lord Lancaster escorted me into the parlor, where a clergyman, and the Lord and Lady Hatchington were already waiting.

We made stilted, awkward conversation until Caroline appeared. None else were in attendance save us. The service was of the ordinary form and when Lord Lancaster kissed his new wife nothing of her likely disgust of the act showed, although she pulled away sooner than he and looked down, blushing.

"Ah, the embarrassment of a demure maiden," Lord Hatchington commented loudly to his wife. He dropped his voice only slightly when he added, to her as he stared at my sister lasciviously, "She will soon get over that for your father is sure to ride her well."

I felt myself redden. Surely he knew that I could hear him and likely Caroline as well! The way Lady Lancaster pressed her lips together made me think she had heard his bawdy talk, and that this was likely not the first such occasion, for her reaction was too well-controlled. As for the Earl, even though he was quite close, too, I was less certain for he did not react and indeed many of his age are a bit deaf.

I wondered at Lord Hatchington making such a comment, knowing we could hear him. Perhaps he enjoyed being uncouth?

Lord Hatchington laughed at his own wittiness and then pinched his wife's cheek. "Weddings always make me want to recreate our wedding night again."

If another man had made such a last comment to his wife, I might have thought it a sweet sentiment, but from how she paled and flinched away from his touch, I had the impression that however much it might be a fond memory for him, it was anything but for her. Feeling decidely uncomfortable, I rose and offered my best wishes to the new Lord and Lady Lancaster for their health and happiness.

To my surprise my sister clung to me then. "I am glad you were here. Percy's sons were supposed to attend and I had hopes that Lady Henrietta might come, so it is well that you remained."

"I stayed because Lord Lancaster wished it so." I whispered to her then, "All shall be well, for even in this he has shown caring for your feelings. I am sure he must be a good man."

We broke apart then and she gave me a tremulous smile before squaring her shoulders and joining her husband.

The breakfast food was excellent, much better than the company. It featured two lovely mushroom dishes, one with shallots and another with egg.

The conversation by contrast was dull. Somehow, still, Caroline was at her most windsome and obsequious self. Her dining companions seemed to accept it as their due. I wondered how long she could maintain that facade.

When I returned home in the carriage I could still smell a faint manure smell. I ordered a bath and sent my gown out to be laundered. I hoped rather than believed that my pregnancy had made me more sensitive to unpleasant smells. I thanked God then, for the fact that Mr. Hurst, whatever other flaws he might have, always kept himself clean.

A/N: Any guesses as to why Lord Lancaster really smells? I know, and soon you will, too. All I can say is that Caroline will not be pleased but there will be precious little she can do about it (cue evil cackle).