Somehow, this story has gone rogue. Small scenes suddenly become whole chapters and feel flat in their original form. So this story has become just a little longer again. I hope quality does not suffer too much from all my spontaneous additions.
Bear with me, please and let me know what you think. I love reading your comments and enjoy your enjoyment :)
Also, I wanted to address one of your comments here instead of via PM, because it brought up a very good point: Is it over the top for Mrs B to throw wine in Mr W's face when she did not do something similar to Mr D when he insulted Lizzy? I have given much thought to that and will keep the scene as it is. For those interested, I'll add my reasons to the end of the chapter.
Now, on with the story!
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„Now, about that, Lizzy dear…" Jane raised her free hand and wiggled her fingers. „What happened with you, Mama and Mr Dary? You had best tell me now or I won't have mercy!" At that, Lizzy cried out laughingly and tried to free herself, while Jane descended upon her, tickling her mercilessly.
——
At Netherfield, Caroline was bored. She had even considered calling on Mrs Bennet of all people, since Mr Darcy's unexpected change of mind was bothering her a lot. However, she did not want to steer her brother's mind to Miss Bennet more than necessary. He was frustrating her lately anyways.
Since Mr Darcy had left for London, Charles had spent even less time at the house. At first, she had worried that he would spend all his time with the Bennets, now that Mr Darcy could not distract him anymore. It turned out, however, that this worry was moot. While Charles still called on Longbourn often, it seemed there was only so much time he could spend there and be received by the family. He had told Caroline that the Bennets were very busy with preparations for winter and, obviously, had social obligations other than waiting for him to call. And now it seemed that Charles had decided to follow their example.
He had started by mending the fences as suggested by Darcy. She certainly supported him in that! However, he had obviously been way too familiar with the workers, for now the tenants had started to apply to him for all sorts of things that seemingly needed doing. Thus, her brother was out most of the day, busying himself with the estate. Caroline could not understand why her brother could not just leave all that to the stewart! Also, it was utterly embarrassing that, more often than not, he came home disheveled and dirty and grinning like a loon.
On the other hand, today she had wandered the house with Louisa and had found a giant stack of unopened correspondence in Charles' study. She was incensed. Once again, he needed her to set his priorities straight. If she would rely on her brother to take care of the family affairs, they would all be destitute by now! If only Mr Darcy would finally offer for her. In him, she would surely have an ally who understood the need to make sure that Charles did not ignore important things just because he found them boring. God knew all her attempts to set her brother up with strong-minded women had failed.
Thus, Caroline settled herself at Charles' desk and started to open and sort through the letters, making brief summaries of those she deemed unimportant and started to draft answers where she felt qualified, including snide little comments in the margins.
Then, she found a letter from Mr Darcy in her brother's pile of mail. And Charles had just ignored it, along with all the rest! Caroline was furious.
This was clearly private correspondence that she should set aside. Charles became cross if she opened these. The last time she had tried that, he had actually put his foot down by intercepting and reading her own correspondence out loud at dinner. She had been furious for days back then! On the other hand, what if it was something important? The latter was dated five days ago! Caroline took a deep breath and cursed her brother, pinching the bridge of her nose. Oh well. She would just have to take the risk.
Ten minutes later, Caroline was elated. Mr Darcy would be back - she quickly checked the date - by tomorrow! She would kill Charles. And dear Darcy would bring family to meet them! She had so much to prepare. Striding out of the study Coroline went in search of Mrs Nichols.
When Bingley came back later that day, Caroline was waiting for him with annoyance written across her features. He knew that glare well enough and only held out his hands placatingly when she shooed him straight to the study.
There, Bingley found Caroline's work, Darcy's letter open on top. He frowned. His sister had not done that in a long time. Quickly perusing the letter, his good mood returned quickly however. He jumped up and made his way to the door. Yet, before he could reach it, he was intercepted by Louisa. He grinned at her, waving the letter. „Did Caroline tell you? Darcy and his cousin will be coming tomorrow! What a jolly party we shall be!"
„Good afternoon to you too, brother." Louisa greeted her little brother with a smile. „Caroline told me." Quirking her brow in amusement, she continued. „Caroline also told me to make sure that you would take care of your correspondence, at least that first pile that she marked as important."
Bingley groaned, but Louisa was undeterred. „She further told me to tell you" - Louisa rolled her eyes - „that she refuses to entertain the colonel on her own, so you had better get through it today." Louisa grinned at her brother's new, overly dramatic groan. „We know you all too well, dear."
And he, Bingley thought to himself, knew his sisters all too well. He would not get out of this. Thus, when Louisa put her hand on his arm, Bingley let her pull him back to his desk. There, his sister pulled out a chair for herself as well. „I will help and we will be done in no time, you shall see."
With a sigh, Bingley pulled the first letter out. The rest of the afternoon was spent reading, in discussion, laughing at some of Caroline's remarks, and dictating letters to Louisa.
When they were finally done with the most pressing things, Bingley set the pile of outgoing letters on the desk with a flourish and grinned at his sister. „Now, Louisa. The letters you brought with you earlier: Surely they contained some correspondence for Caroline, did they not?" At that, his sister's exhausted countenance brightened and she grinned at him, pulling out a letter from one of Caroline's carefully cultivated acquaintances that she knew promised to be utterly ridiculous. „I almost thought you forgot!" Gleefully, they pounced onto the mail, cackling over the most entertaining passages.
After their family dinner later that night, Caroline was not amused when Charles pulled out her letter and cleared his throat. „I am sure you all know already that Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam will be joining us tomorrow and we are all looking forward to that." He paused briefly, looking at each of them in turn. "However, what all of you don't know yet is Mrs Greenbush's news. She is so good at giving helpful advice to Caroline in particular, but also very observant in general, I say all of us should profit from her wise words."
Caroline leaned back with her arms crossed and her lips pursed. She had known, of course, that something like this may happen. She had even taken care to remove two letters from today's correspondence before she allowed anyone to know about own indiscretion in opening Charles' letter. Mrs Greenbush's correspondence was sure to satisfy her sibling's thirst for revenge without the risk of giving away any secrets that she would rather keep to herself. Still, she did not appreciate being the butt of their jokes.
Nevertheless, as her siblings lost themselves in their gleeful recitation, Caroline could not help herself. Their good humour was addictive. When even Hurst started to laugh outright at one particularly colourful passage, read by her brother with great dramatics and a high pitched voice, she found it very difficult to keep her stern countenance.
Caroline almost felt sorry that they would have guests again the next evening.
Now regarding the question of Mrs B's wine throwing as mentioned above:
Mrs B did hear about Mr D's comment only after the fact via hearsay and in this story she did, in fact, rip into him when opportunity presented itself by giving him a piece of her mind even a lot later. Afterwards, however, she was very worried and frantic and afraid she had done something to ruin Jane's chances with Mr B. Then Mr D alleviated all of that fear without having to. Not only did he make it clear that he did not hold her behaviour against her and her family but also made sure she did not feel bad about it. That would certainly confirm him as a friend whom she would stand up for. So I think, she would certainly stand up for Mr D with fervour.
That is still very fresh in her mind, wenn Mr W badmouthes Mr D. She overheard his comments directly without time and circumstance to temper her initial impulsive reaction. So I believe she definitely would have reacted strongly to Mr. W's words. Question is, is her reaction too strong considering Mr D is not family?
Well… Maybe. But on the other hand, my own mother is a big mama bear. She, too, is very good at spontaneously taking people into her heart and defending them fiercely if she thinks somebody is badmouthing them. I'm kind of basing my perception of Mrs B on that.
Also, Mr W was kind of singling Lizzy out who responded favourably at first. So after Mr W so suddenly and surprisingly went from charming and handsome to slandering Mr D and possible fiend, I believe it is plausible that Mrs B would at least subconsciously perceive him as a danger to her daughters. Accordingly, my gut feeling says that Mrs B throwing her wine in Mr W's face is plausible.
