Disclaimer: I don't own Pride and Prejudice, all rights go to Jane Austen

Summary: See previous chapters

Chapter Thirteen

Darcy escorted Charles to the door as he prepared to leave after a very fine, if simple, lunch. "Georgiana and I leave for Pemberley tomorrow, but if I encounter Miss Bingley before then, she should expect to receive the Cut Direct."

Perhaps it was a good thing that Caroline would be leaving London shortly. Rumours spread like wildfire in London, but took far longer to reach Scarborough. "I will ensure that she is aware of it, and that Miss Darcy has no desire for her company."

Darcy made an awkward motion. "You and Miss Bennet obviously went to some effort to keep the contents of those letters private to protect Georgiana, and I appreciate that. Miss Bingley, however, will never be welcome in my home again."

Charles accepted his hat from the butler, "I expected no less. Thank you for allowing me to manage my family, rather than ruining us all by association."

Darcy offered a small, rare smile. "You have matured a great deal in the past months, my friend. If that is Miss Bennet's influence, I withdraw my initial objections to the lady. Should you need further advice about Netherfield, I hope you will not hesitate to write to me."

Charles departed Darcy House with a smile. His next appointment would be far less agreeable.

Hurst's butler looked surprised to see him, but ushered him into Hurst's study with minimal fuss. Hurst looked up from the letter he was writing. "Bingley! I was about to hire a detective to see where you'd vanished to!"

Charles took the offered seat, and the rather fine brandy. "I sent a letter to Netherfield as soon as I had a fixed address. I only learned a few weeks ago that you had departed in my absence, and only returned to Hertfordshire yesterday."

Hurst whistled softly. "That must have been quite some business! Not the Luddites, I hope?"

Charles shook his head. "It did not progress that far, thankfully, but there was some disgruntlement over the new looms. It's all sorted out now, but things were very tense for the first few weeks."

Hurst drained his glass, and refilled both. "Then I am glad you went. The rumours one hears about Factory owners who were not so lucky... But never mind that. Are you in London to stay?"

Charles leaned back in his chair. "No, merely to sort out the business I originally planned, and to deal with Caroline. Abandoning Netherfield in such a decisive manner was not her only error. Darcy informed me that she is no longer welcome in his or Miss Darcy's company, after her false claims of a pending engagement."

There was no need to specify who had been hinted at being engaged; the mere fact that Caroline had been spreading such a tale, and Darcy's reaction, was enough for Hurst to recognise the seriousness of the matter. He sat up straight. "What will you do?"

Charles sighed. "If Caroline admits her fault and apologises, she may return to Netherfield with some restrictions. If she does not, I will let her choose between having her dowry released to her, or going to Scarborough. Aunt Claire has already agreed to it."

Hurst hummed thoughtfully, and Charles continued. "I am, however, in somewhat dire need of the rest of my wardrobe, and could use yours and Louisa's help in locating it."

His brother-in-law laughed heartily, "That can be arranged. I will set a maid to finding your trunks, and re-packing them if necessary. Louisa and Caroline are entertaining callers in the parlour. I imagine you will want to have a word with Caroline."

'Want' was perhaps the wrong word, but Caroline had run roughshod over Charles's household for too long, and dealing with her was something that needed to happen, however little he relished the chore.

The callers of the hour were a trio of young ladies that Caroline and Louisa had attended Finishing School with.

Miss Goring was fellow New Money, her Grandfather having established the family fortune as an Arms Manufacturer during the Colonial Revolution. Miss Cowper and Miss Dunning were the youngest daughters of a Baron and Baronet, respectively. Charles had briefly entertained the idea of courting both, at different times, before discovering that a beautiful face and fine clothing hid a rather mean spirit, and that their primary purpose for seeking a husband was to establish a line of credit that their fathers had not already exhausted.

Charles might have gained a reputation as a flirt, but at least he was not leg-shackled to a fortune-hunting shrew, and he had learned his lesson about raising expectations.

Miss Goring spotted him first. "Mr Bingley! Dear Caroline was just telling us how you barely escaped a fortune hunter. Was her family so very dreadful?"

Charles wished that he didn't have to humiliate Caroline in such a fashion, but she had brought it on herself. "Far from it. I asked Miss Bennet for a courtship nearly a month ago, and came to town to have the settlement papers drawn up. A gentleman's daughter is quite appropriate for a wealthy tradesman's son; I see no objections."

Caroline blushed as all of her friends looked at her pointedly. Charles pretended not to notice. "I hope you ladies will excuse us, we have urgent family matters to discuss, and I am sure you have other calls to make."

The ladies took his broad hint, and reluctantly departed, no doubt to speculate with every other lady they called on. Louisa wisely remained silent, but Caroline barely waited until the door had closed before whirling upon him. "How could you embarrass me in such a fashion? Louisa and I have been making excuses for your absence for weeks, only for you to show up and claim to be courting? Poor Miss Cowper will be devastated! I forbid you to marry the Bennet Chit; it is simply insupportable!"

So much for repentance... Charles folded his arms. "I take it you are not sorry for those horrendous lies you wrote to Miss Bennet?"

Louisa frowned, "You wrote to Miss Bennet? I thought you intended to sever all contact, or I would have at least wished her well in her future endeavours."

It did not remove Louisa's culpability for supporting Caroline in her schemes, but at least one sister had not intended the malice she contributed to. "I believe such a letter as yours, Louisa, would have been greatly appreciated. Caroline told Miss Bennet that I was quitting Netherfield and all but engaged to Miss Darcy. Darcy is aware of this, and has requested that I inform you that you will never be admitted to his company again."

Louisa gasped in either surprise or horror. Caroline glared, disbelieving or far too convinced of her ability to manipulate. She would soon be taught better. "As to not informing you of my absence, I only discovered that you were not at Netherfield and simply ignoring my letters last week."

Louise blushed. Caroline only scowled and folded her arms. "Netherfield is a fine house, but blighted with those wretched country bumpkins! I shall not return there!"

With a great effort, Charles kept his voice even, rather than shouting back. "That is quite all right. Aunt Claire has agreed to act as my hostess until Jane and I marry, and then to convey you to Scarborough for a very long visit."

Caroline shrieked with rage, temporarily beyond words, "Louisa, you and Hurst are welcome to re-join us, if you wish."

Louisa looked torn, "We have commitments in town, and have promised to spend Christmas at his estate. We shall certainly come for your wedding, however."

Hurst chuckled from the doorway, "Perhaps sooner, when Mother and Louisa begin treading on each other's toes."

Caroline found her voice. "You cannot do this to me!"

Enough was enough. "I can, Caroline, and I shall. I will give you a choice: I will release your dowry to you and help you find an establishment. The interest will not afford you a luxurious townhouse, or a carriage and horses, but perhaps a house in Bloomsbury, and the appropriate staff. You will have to be careful not to over-spend, as you have until now, because you will be entirely cut off."

Caroline paled, likely at the thought of having to live among tradesmen in Bloomsbury. "Or?"

Charles knew he sounded cold and unfeeling, but being kind and generous to a fault with his sisters was what had led him to this point in the first place. "Or you may accompany Aunt Claire to Scarborough, and determine if a Spinster's life is truly what you wish. If it is not, I suggest you adjust your expectations and your attitude, and put some effort into finding a husband. Your future is up to you, sister. I suggest you take it seriously."

A timid knock came from the door, where a maid was trying to blend in with the walls. "Pardon me, sir, but your trunks are ready."

Charles smiled at the poor girl, who resembled nothing so much as a rabbit poised to bolt. "Thank you. Will you ask a footman to load them into the Bingley carriage? I shall need that in Hertfordshire, too."

Hurst chuckled. "We have no plans this evening. I'll loan you our coachman, and have him harness an extra horse. He can ride back on that."

Sir Jasper, meanwhile, had finished at the bookshop, and was clutching a wrapped package for dear life as he browsed a jeweller's shop, a rather hunted look on his face.

It was an effort not to laugh at his friend. "The books are not going to run away."

Sir Jasper scoffed at him. "Well may you laugh! A gaggle of young ladies nearly fell to brawling over the last few copies, and I feared an angry mob when they realised I had taken advantage of their distraction! Perhaps there is something to the paper's claims of Reading Rage."

Charles did not need another argument today, and let it go. "And the jeweller?"

His friend waved a hand. "Has a guard, and… well, I believe in being prepared."

The jeweller finished wrapping a necklace of pearls, interspaced with smaller beads of jet or obsidian. Bingley could tell different wools apart at a glance, but had far less of an eye for stones. The necklace was one a gentleman might give as an engagement gift, which Charles carefully did not comment on. "I still have an hour before I can pick up the documents from my solicitor; do you mind waiting?"

Sir Jasper eyed the bookshop across the road warily, where several young woman had just exited, bound for the tea rooms. "I am quite content here."

It was bad business to buy the first item that caught one's eye. The first circuit of the available wares should always be done critically, and the second to narrow down the choices, before making a final selection. A set of brass hairpins, which would look wonderful in Jane's honey-blonde hair, topped with enamel flowers, stood out in the first case. In the second, a bracelet of links in the shape of silver doves caught his attention. The third case consisted of pieces far too bold or gaudy for Jane to like, meant to show off the wearer's wealth rather than their taste.

The brass hairpins were not the sort of thing a man proposed with, but Charles hoped to have many occasions to gift Jane presents, so it would not hurt to have them purchased in advance. "The dove bracelet and the brass and enamel hairpins, please."

The jeweller looked very pleased as he carefully removed the items. "Should you have a need for any other jewellery, I hope you will come to me. If you cannot find what you seek on display, I can make it special for you."

Charles knew better than to make a promise, and smiled non-committaly. "To the Club for a drink, Sir Jasper, before we collect the documents and return to Netherfield?"

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A/N: Engagement rings were comparatively rare until later in the century, mostly gifted if the couple anticipated a long engagement. Jewellery was a common gift to propose with, but it was usually a necklace or bracelet.

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Nat.