Pride and Prejudice Fan Fiction

Unlocked Cage

Previously:

If the lady had ever paid attention the last windowpane, the nurse would have been shocked to see a small star; it looked so realistic one would have been floored the young Rosie had done it. Sadly, no one had a clue for Rosie only did it on days there was not much frost. It was almost as if she wished to get caught, but not.

Leaving Netherfield

CH. 5

Drip, drip, drip, drip-drop repeated itself rhythmically on the roof of Netherfield as Caroline stood in the attic of Netherfield going through childhood boxes. She had gotten the green light from Mr. Bennet to come to Longbourn as Kitty's governess for the Bennets liked the idea of their daughter getting some formal training. That was if the Miss Caroline was serious. She had just pulled out an old jewelry box when Louis appeared in the doorway.

"Tell me what I just heard in town from Mrs. Philips is plain gossip."

"Since I have no idea what that the latest thing Mrs. Philips is saying, I cannot tell you any such thing." Caroline stood up and went to walk past her sister only to have Louisa put out her arm.

"She claims you are embarrassing this family by becoming part of the working class and becoming Kitty Bennet's governess."

"First, dear sister..." The sarcasm on the word dear could not have been missed by an imbecile. "Put your arm down." Caroline took a hold of Louisa's arm. "Or I will do it for you." A look came into baby sister's eyes Louisa had not ever seen.

"Just tell me..." Louisa lowered her arm. "You really are not going to shame this family are you?"

"How could I do that? You already did it for me."

"What is that supposed to mean. "Snapped Louisa as Caroline walked out of the room and started down the hall.

"You tell me..." Caroline stopped and turned around. "Or do I need to go to London to talk to a certain...gentleman with dark hair who walks with a silver tipped cane? I am sure he could help me locate a certain... package shall we say. " With that she flipped around and hurried down the nearest set of stairs ignoring her sister's face paling.

"Louisa!" Mr. Hurst hollered up the stairs. "Come here quick!"

His wife came to the top of the stairs and was not surprised to see Caroline putting the box in her travel bag. "You have to stop your sister! She cannot go become a governess! Tell her if she goes... I am serious. I will take her to court and prover her unfit to make her own choices."

"That would be highly unadvisable, Mr. Hurst." Louisa shook her head even though she had been singing a different tune just moments before in front of Charles and Jane. The were still in the room; a fact she sorely wished were not the case.

"And why not? Can she not see we care about her welfare?"

"You mean you care about anyone willing to give you cash for ...household expenses. Something I am no longer willing to do." Caroline spoke bluntly, showing her words to the Bennets to be true, any act had been tossed to the wind. "Try to stop me and I will go to London to talk to a few men, one by the name of Wadsworth. Then, if you still wish take me to court to see who is the trustworthy one."

"I do not know what you mean." Mr. Hurst went to argue only his wife stopped him.

"She knows, Mr. Hurst." Louisa again let out a long breath of air.

"About what?"

"About the... package...about your... extra...activities you I willingly turn a blind eye to. I would suggest you not take her to court. Baby sister knows more than you think." The way Mrs. Hurst said extra gave the Bingleys some pretty good guesses as to what Caroline was referring. And it caused Mr. Hurst shocked and stumbling backwards, while baby sister walked out the door with no one stopping her.

Caroline put her bags into the carriage and told the coachman to take her to Longbourn. She did not look back, nor did she wish to. It was nothing against Charles or Jane as her thoughts had told her earlier- those two held soft spots in her heart. However, she could not focus on even that anymore; she had only a few goals in mind.

First goal, be as good governess to Kitty Bennet as she knew how. Second, take nothing that was not hers. And third tell the truth no matter what... at least that way she would not have to try to keep track of any lies.

Caroline's trip to Longbourn was uneventful. No one stopped her carriage, though more than one gossipy old hag wagged their tongues to each other when they saw Miss Caroline was indeed heading towards the Bennet home. Her eyes shut them out and her ears did not strain to hear them. No, her mind was solely focused going over the things she would be teaching Kitty.

French would be on the list. History and geography would definitely be paid attention to, as would music and needlework. She had seen the way the Bennet sisters walked and talked in social settings and, while some things had vastly improved upon Lydia's departure, there was much to be learned. Hence, a mental list that would be penned down later continued in her head.

It was only when the carriage stop did the list in Caroline's head cease. Climbing down, she thanked the coachman for getting the bags for smiled wide as Kitty opened the front door.

"Welcome, Miss Caroline, Father says you are to be my governess."

"For a year." Caroline replied as she entered the Bennet's home. "Where am I to put my things?"

Caroline fought to hide her nerves. She may have asked for this, may have seen the necessity, but that did not mean her heart was not pounding. She knew her room would not be large, nor would was there any expectation on her part to be included on family activities.

"You will be staying in Jane and Mary's old room." Mr. Bennet spoke as he and his wife stepped out of the dining room.

"But I am a governess now, they do not sleep in family quarters." Caroline protested. "I want no favors. Anything I get I want to earn."

"And, for now..." Mr. Bennet spoke in a no-nonsense tone of voice. "We have all the servant quarters filled up and the guest rooms are not an option. Jane and Elizabeth's old room is the only space available for you to sleep. So, unless you have a strange fascination for our parlor, or desire to sleep in what will be the classroom, I suggest you take the bedroom that is now being offered." His face then broke out in a grin as Miss Caroline nodded her head and followed Kitty upstairs.

"I am sorry it is not as large as you are used to Miss Caroline. I hope it will suffice,"

"Do not worry about me, Miss Bennet and, for now on it is Miss Bingley." When Kitty's eyes widened in horror it showed that while part of her knew the social rules, it had not set in that Jane's husband's sister would now be called in any other manner than what Kitty had always heard. Caroline chose to ignore the look and simply ask which room was to be used as a classroom.

"My mother said we are to use the unused smaller parlor." Kitty took Miss Bingley, a title that felt odd to her, back downstairs and down a hall the young Bennet sister had seldom used.

It was only upon opening the door did Kitty speak again. "Will this room do?"

The room's wall was painted with a soft pattern of colorful, but not overly loud stripes. A few pieces of furniture would allow them to sit comfortably but not to the point of falling asleep. There were just enough windows as to allow natural light into the room during the day and a fireplace big enough to keep them warm in the winter. A few decorations made the room felt complete.

"Yes, I think this room will do just fine." She did not have to ask about Mary; the young lady at eighteen had just had banns read. She was to marry a gentleman who lived closer to Pemberly and who did not bear the name of William Collins though, strangely, he bore an odd resemblance as to physical traits. Though- praise be- the gentleman had no issues with his power of reasoning skills, nor was he a pompous fool.