To KurukiXV: I'm having the same problem too. I'm no longer getting email notifications. I follow FF's directions to fix the problem. Still doesn't work.

Wow, so many reviews this last chapter. I'll try to address more of the comments in the next update. Thanks for the support. If author commentary is boring and don't care, feel free to skip the end note. I apologize for the short chapter. This was written attached to the last chapter, but I chose to cut it off and make this a chapter on its own.

Chapter 22

Signore Andreozzi did carry out his promise. Mr. Bingley, at some point during the later afternoon, held the interview in the library. The sound of a knock at the back door, as well as the doors of the library, were palpable. So as not to indite herself for being the party responsible for confessing, she finished her diary entry and kept to her room until his shadow of a figure, blinded in the late sun, disappeared off into the green.

Dinner was to be announced within the hour. Having done with another warm day, working in the sun, Kitty lounged with her book. The west window had been left open before she came in, letting in a couple small flies which flew in circles. A very slight breeze whispered in the curtains, but no other sound—conducive for solitude. In such a state of mind, after all that occurred earlier in the day, she stretched out on the sofa. Words blurred and trying to concentrate caused a mental lull. There was a growing urge to seek her sister, speak to her in confidence. Of course, it was easy to forget a moment that weightier matters were on everyone's mind. Then, footsteps were approaching the door!

From the hallway, a quick footstep, the deer-like tread of Mr. Murray. Kitty leapt up, considered a hasty retreat, but he was too close. Instead, she quickly and quietly dashed round and threw herself down to the ground, behind the sofa. There wasn't even time to snatch her book. Childish? No, she could not deny it, even to herself. The more mature alternative to this situation involved a mental exercise beyond her capacity or patience at this time. One ride was more that enough. He did enter, called out to Miss Bennet, but saw an empty room. She assumed he would go. Unhappily, Mr. Murray resigned himself from searching and decided to take a seat at the little table near the window! The newspaper was opened! Instantly, much quicker than expected did Kitty regret her decision to hide. Coming up from the floor was not an option now. There was no moving and sneaking out of the room without detection, and if she chose to rise, her motives would be confessed. Five minutes transpired in this ridiculous manner, trying to debate herself and will Mr. Murray out of the room.

"Why Luis, what do you do down here so early?" Now Caroline had come in!

"I thought I'd find more of the family here. Turns out you are the first," he answered cheerfully. "Since dinner will be ready soon enough, I thought I'd wait here."

"Reasonably enough. Do not mind if I play. I need an occupation desperately." She sat down to the piano forte, but her choice of song was sedate, allowing for conversation. "You look rather dull. I hope your first few days here at the Grove House have been agreeable?"

"Well… It's been interesting, I daresay."

"Not you too, Luis," she sighed.

"I don't understand."

"You're not angry too, are you?"

"Oh, no… Well, it's not my fight, but if you ask my opinion, as to yesterday, it could've gone much better. That was quite a blunder, cousin. I will not scold you; though truly, Caroline, your behaviour to Mrs. Bingley yesterday was most unjust. I really regret having had a share in it. I feel as though, by supporting all of us crossing the bridge, I took the part against her. And then, after what happened at the cottages, I cannot blame Charles being angry."

"Of course not."

"Have you two spoken since yesterday afternoon?"

"… I dread to, to be quite honest, I dread it."

"Dread it? Caroline, surely…"

"May I speak in confidence, Cousin Luis?" Her music stopped. "You don't know what it's like living as an outsider in a place you should expect to feel at home. Your own mother and father have always welcomed family. Your father gave shelter to his unmarried sisters until they passed. He gave his own mother a home for the rest of her days. They were never made to feel like a burden, even though they had not a penny to their name… As to fortune, I may be better off, Luis, but what is fortune, when you are despised in your own house."

"That cannot be true."

"Charles made his feelings very clear last night. Maybe I ought not to have jumped my horse, but to forbid me from going out riding ever again? And to publicly scold me, before all the tenants, the family, our house guests? He just couldn't hold his temper. It was one of the most humiliating events of my life, Luis! Nobody rose to my defense… It reflects all of Charles' contempt. And Jane… Oh, everyone just sings her praises. Dear Jane, sweet Jane, good and kind Mrs. Bingley. They all know nothing, not really; they don't know what sort of person she really is," she sighed. "She wants me out of the house."

Kitty's jaw dropped, seething, almost to the point of trembling.

"I can hardly believe it! But… Caroline, cousin, they must know your situation. They wouldn't just cast you out of the house, not for just a foolish mishap as yesterday. Perhaps you ought to try talking to Jane, if not to Charles."

"We spoke last night, actually. She came to my room."

"And?"

"In not so many words, she gave me to understand that if I ever disrespected her in such a way again, she would turn me out. She declared that she'd be most glad, and not care what Charles or any of the family had to say about it. And she would do it, Luis. Charles—her love and devotion means everything in the world to him. If she wants me out, he will let her have her way…" Once more, the sobs came to the fore. Her back faced him, as she still sat on the piano bench.

This caused him to rise and approach her, put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you so frightened as all that, cousin?" he said sympathetically. "I can hardly believe… Mrs. Bingley would behave so ungenerously."

"Well, understandably. She never treats me so while in company. I'm actually very grateful you've come to us now, for that reason." His shadow slipped her a handkerchief. "I'm two and twenty, Luis. I haven't many opportunities to go out into society recently. It's been four years since my debut in town. What happens if I never marry? What will I do without a protector? If not a husband, then a brother, a brother-in-law, uncle, or cousin… Who can I depend on for reputation? Respectability?"

"Caroline, if such a thing were ever to happen, which I doubt… But if it should come to that, you know my uncle and aunt will take you in."

"How kind you are! I pray that I am wrong; that such day will never come."

"Would you like me to speak to Mrs. Bingley on your behalf?"

"… I don't know," she answered mournfully, muffled through the handkerchief. "I don't know what good that will do."

"Well, it's wrong of a respectable lady of the house to make her husband's own family feel this way!" Kitty's head fell and repeatedly thumped against the rug. "And your brother should be reminded of his duty towards blood relations. No matter how much he adores his wife, that does not entitle him or his wife to dismiss his sister."

"Oh Luis…"

"I mean, he has a right to feel angry about yesterday. I can concede to that, but you have a right to some respect and dignity."

The butler came to announce dinner. That should have relieved Kitty of her terrible position, lying on the floor. For having acted on a childish whim, she had already suffered punishment. Just as the two cousins had stood up, smoothed away tears and prepared to quit the room, both Jane and Charles walked in! Some inquiry or other was made about dinner, and Charles answered that they would both join the family presently. First though, he and Jane had something important to discuss. As if it could not get any worse, causing Kitty to shrink even closer to the recesses of the sofa. Thankfully, the window drapes and the sofa's skirt hid her enough.

When the door closed behind them, Charles began straight off: "Jane, I've… I've just spoken with Signore Andreozzi. He's brought it to my attention that during the riding expedition yesterday that Caroline, Luis, and Kitty used that broken bridge to cross the river."

"That is true. I insisted, forbid them from doing so."

"Well, regardless, it was brought to his attention, and the man was upset. Rightly upset. Even though I've warned her, and you've warned her not to, she was still crossing the bridge anyway. That's a clear violation of our contract."

Her tone of voice was worn thin. "I am full aware, Charles. I told your sister myself."

"Signore Andreozzi made it clear that if she goes out riding again, while these construction hazards still exist, he and his family will consider their contract broken. They will leave."

"Did he?"

"Yes. And I do not blame him for his feelings. Yesterday, I thought I made it clear that Caroline would not be allowed to ride, but as of today, when I spoke with her earlier, she's got the impression that you promised to restore her horse to her."

Both sisters heard this, with greater shock. "Wait—Why? I did not promise her anything!"

"She told me that you gave your word you'd reconsider."

"I did not say that, Charles!"

"Well, what did you say, Jane?"

"When I spoke to her last night, she begged me to reconsider our position. What I told her was that I'd think about it, that I would consult you, but that I make no promises. No promises."

"You told her you'd think about it?"

"Charles, I had not the least intention of it. I feel as you do! I think denying her riding, when she's indifferent to her own safety and others, was very much deserved," declared Jane. "I'm not against you."

"Then why did you say otherwise to her?"

"Why… Why!" Kitty went cold. Her sister never lost her temper. Signore Andreozzi was right. She was wrong to believe it never happened. "Do you have any idea what it's like, trying to speak reasonably with her in an argument? She refused to see reason. And her language, as a sister, towards you, her own brother, was abominable. I defended you! She takes no accountability for herself. Meanwhile, I have to hear my husband, myself, and all his family accused of cruelty and neglect! Every time that I tried to set her right, it's someone else's fault! Even if she took my statement for a promise, I had no intention. By the time I even came to that, I was utterly exhausted!"

"You should not have said anything. You don't owe her that. And Jane, this may be hard to believe, but I do understand what you're going through. I've been dealing with her long before you came into the family. She behaves the exact same way with me, and with Louisa. Compelling her to any sort of repentance, even admittance of error, is almost impossible."

"… What does Louisa have to say about it? Did she answer you yet?"

"Yes. And she writes, that until Caroline has learned her lesson, she will not receive her."

That sound fell somewhere between a sigh and a groan. "What about Mr. Murray's family in the north? Can we not apply to them for some assistance? Please Charles, we cannot go on living this way! Because of her, she's become a liability to your own legal obligations. I cannot be mistress in my own house. How can I be fair to my servants, our tenants, or my own family?"

"I'll write to my uncle, tonight… I'll do that, but Jane, dearest, look at me." His voice dropped a little. Their shadows moved closer together. From the imperfect angle she had, Kitty saw them both with foreheads touching. "I've told you before that it should not come to this. It's already gone too far. It's time she be sent on her way."

"Charles—"

"Jane, I gave her a fair chance. You've given her a fair chance, and the benefit of the doubt."

"What if your uncle Mr. Murray won't take her, or if she refuses to go?"

"She'll have a choice to make: either go north or go back to London and throw herself on Louisa's mercy."

"Do you think I haven't had those thoughts already, Charles? Think what could happen if Caroline refuses all her options. She has a number of friendly acquaintances throughout the country. Some of whom are very highly connected. What would happen if Caroline sought refuge with any of them? What stories might she tell, about the cruelty and neglect she suffered at the hands of her family? And Charles, she would do it! And should such blatant fabrications go public… It affects more people than just you and I. Mr. Murray and his family. Louisa and Mr. Hurst. Lizzy and Mr. Darcy… What will be published in town? In Herfordshire? And worse… For it's no uncommon thing in such families as ours, in the case of money, rights of property, accusations, tarnished reputations, for family members to take revenge, by going after each other for damages in a court of law. These were the sort of disputes that existed long between the Bennet and the Collins family, over the inheritance of Longbourn."

"… H-Has she threatened that?"

"Charles, do you not see? She has nowhere to go. If we force her to it, she won't go quietly." Her voice began to tremble. "If removing her from the house were the end of the matter, I'd support you in this whole-heartedly. But it's no simple end. It's a bitter, ruthless… I don't know which outcome is worse. I just…"

"Jane."

"I just…" She was gasping for air, being wrenched by a sob. Charles took her tightly in his arms, with a most pained, self-loathing expression. For a second, Kitty wondered if he himself were about to cry. "I don't know what to do anymore..."

It may have reassured her that she did not cry alone. All her own questions were answered, and Kitty's face sunk into the carpet. She'd never known her eldest sister for two things: to lose her temper or to weep. Weep she did, sobbed brokenly.

While trying to keep characters as written, I feel like that's no longer possible with Jane. Some will say that Jane and Charles have no courage or too feeble to stand up to Caroline. This may look like irritating weakness, but sadly, this is normal to a lot of people who go through this trauma in abusive relationships. In modern times, Jane could use some serious therapy, and him too. There was no awareness for mental health in that time, much less the support of society for trying to prioritize self-care and establish proper boundaries in the family. Sometimes, the best case scenario is no contact, and that judgment call is best left to the person. Jane and that whole family, have no such luxury to fall back on. So, I think she needs to feel the hurt in order to process it. Just as I have big plans for Caroline, I also have big plans for Jane...

I also wanted to take the chance to make a little commentary on some of the interesting reviews. This is not a rant against you reviewers. This is just me going book club mode. Anybody out there in a book club?

So a lot of reviews made the argument that for the standards of the 1800s, that marrying 'below one's station' was never accepted in polite society and people who didn't follow the rules were not accepted in society. From historic and literary references, I do see your side, readers. We do see that played out in Jane Eyre. Her parents' marriage was against the family's expectations. When they die and her Uncle Reed dies, Aunt Reed takes out that pride and vengeance on Jane. Agnes Gray is another one. Her mother fell in love with a poor curate, and her family cuts her off. Becky and Amelia face these same repercussions with their marriages in Vanity Fair. In Mansfield Park, the youngest sister marries for love, Mr. Price, and the family disowns her. (Although, that is a good example of a family's good motives. Mr. Price was a bad choice.) And we have a glimpse of the hardships of mixed customs/culture in Wives & Daughters, between Osborne Hamley and his French wife.

Yet, there are quite a number in Austen's work and others of Victorian literature who are evidence to the contrary. Fanny Price, a poor niece of the Bertrams, getting an offer of marriage from Henry Crawford, and she was being pressured to accept. That was a huge social gap. Mrs. Weston, a woman of genteel education and working as a governess, marrying a landed gentleman of Highbury. Harriet Smith and Robert Martin. Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney. But there are other examples out there of women marrying 'beneath them.' One of my favorite books of all time, by Anne Bronte, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Throughout that novel, Mrs Graham's social status and character is ambiguous. It wasn't until the very end that Gilbert Markham realized she is so far above him in the world, in rank and financially. Yet, because that didn't come into play during the novel, we see a really solid relationship developed, and the ending feels believably satisfying. Another example of the woman marrying down, Far From the Madding Crowd. Gabriel Oak was probably as poor as they come, a hired shepherd, serving as her bailiff. She comes into landed gentry status after inheriting her uncle's property. That novel was a pretty realistic projection of a rocky business relationship/love interest with class disparity, as well as her own pride and vanity. But because of the mistakes Bathsheba has to live through, she comes to appreciate and love Gabriel as a worthy man.

Society's standards certainly did play a role in one's choice of marriage. Very often, those standards won out. I'm with you there, but from what we can read in the classics (just my personal observation), the overall attitude towards class and values of the family carried the most weight. Sir Thomas would've never approved of marriage between Edmund and Fanny early on, but after all that happened in the story, he came to be "sick of ambitious and mercenary connexions" and heartily approved of the match. If the family refused to acknowledge a marriage, often, their friends and neighbors followed suit. Also, I imagine, where you lived in England made a difference, but I'm speculating. Mary Crawford would have us think that a lot of people will look on a misalliance/scandal with more forgiving tolerance in London. Debatable, but that's Miss Crawford. My point? These authors were not just writing fiction but also commentary about society of the day. Some married up, some married down. Sometimes, it was a mistake; sometimes, it was a good decision.

Even if Kitty and Mary were paired with working class men (the clerk and clergyman), still, we have to remember what was their place in the world? They may be from a gentleman's family, but do they have high connections, noble birth, a lot of money? Aside from connection to Lizzy and Jane, not really. In a sense, their own status in society was a bit ambiguous, a mix of rich or poor. There's a really good analysis of this from a YouTube video by Ellie Dashwood: Is the Bennet family poor? Also, another video, by Dr. Octavia Cox, does commentary about what social class to the Bingleys belong to, going more in depth and comparison between the Bingley sisters and Jane/Elizabeth, and why that matters when you're reading P&P. Maybe you've seen them both, but if you readers haven't, I think you'd enjoy these two period commentaries. It has been really insightful for writing this FF, and it makes me enjoy P&P the more for it.

"He is a gentleman, I am a gentleman's daughter. So far we are equal." Yes, Lizzy is class conscious, but in context, Lizzy's attitude does not favor the societal norms. She was arguing back: 'Well, Lady Catherine, if you want to get technical about it, sure...' Lady Catherine hoped that the world would hold Lizzy and Darcy in contempt, but Lizzy's projection was the one to hold true. "The world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn." She was right. Aside from Lady Catherine, nobody really cared. Lizzy wasn't a scheming social climber, but did she social climb? Yes! Mr. Bingley is a decent man with good principles too, but did he social climb? Yes he did. Another reviewer made the point that Lydia (look what she did/ who she married) was still accepted at Pemberley as an occasional visitor. Mr. Darcy continued to give the Wickhams some financial assistance, for the sake of Lizzy's feelings. So if Lydia was given this much notice and courtesy, but Kitty or Mary were denied that, there's something really wrong. Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and their wives would be major hypocrites if they were to try to impose the standard on Mary and Kitty: remember your station. You must marry within your sphere. All four of them broke the rules.

Anyway, that's about all I have to say. Thank you again, all of you, for your reviews and enthusiastic response, long and short.