The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

Miss Bingley's Madness

No more Mr. Proud

Nancy repeated what she told Mr. Darcy but was hesitant to reveal everything since she had heard Miss Jane lying. After thinking, she decided she liked Miss Elizabeth more and told them the truth.

"Miss Jane said she'd go along with Miss Bingley," Nancy concluded, looking sad.

Mr. Darcy believed Miss Jane really liked Charles, leading her to behave poorly, hence lying and such. He would give her time to come to her senses; nonetheless, she would not be invited to his home for a while. After observing Jane's attitude, he concluded that Elizabeth was not treated well at home, something that angered him. He protected those he cared about, and considering she would be his wife, he demanded everyone treated her properly.

He could see Jane was full of herself, probably believing herself the prettiest of the sisters. No, she wasn't the prettiest; Jane's beauty was rather common; after all, he had seen many blond beauties, some prettier than her. Besides, he preferred Lizzie's different and rather exotic looks and everything about her. She reminded him of the young sister of one of his father's friends, but he could not remember their name, but Paul was his name. Sometimes he thought his last name was Bennet but maybe he imagined it.

Lizzie was disappointed since she had recently discovered her sister wasn't always nice. Jane was self-centered like Lydia, thanks to her mother. Often, her mother told her two sisters, how beautiful and perfect they were. She told everyone that Jane and Lydia were the best of her daughters; unfortunately, they believed it. Nonetheless, she loved her sisters and understood that Jane was afraid of becoming an old maid. While Lizzie might love Jane and understand her, she decided to stay away for a while, perhaps until she could forget the pain of Jane's betrayal. It would take a while.

She thanked Nancy and was surprised when Mr. Proud asked, "Miss Elizabeth, would you like Miss Nancy to be your lady's maid when we go to Pemberley? Please think about it. Now, I must go, but after walking Dee, I will bring her back, and Miss Nancy will accompany me."

Nancy looked down, smiling, her cheeks burning. Lizzie liked the idea, "Of course I do, but it is up to Nancy. It would be lovely."

Nancy looked at Lizzie, smiling and her eyes shone. Her parents would be very proud of her to become the lady's maid of the wife of someone like Mr. Darcy.

"Yes, Miss Elizabeth, I'd like that very much," Nancy said, following Mr. Darcy.

Lizzie wondered if she had misjudged Mr. Darcy. It was the first time she thought of him as Mr. Darcy and not as Mr. Proud, but she didn't even notice.

How Caroline finds out that dastardly deeds go punished.

Miss Bingley wasn't yet done that night. She wasn't thinking right, but nobody had reprimanded her before, and she always did as she saw fit and was never held accountable. Besides, she was feeling out of sorts, like her mind was foggy.

She decided to go into Mr. Darcy's room and thought about what else she could do. She sat in her room, ruminating until she had an idea. Yes, she would go to Miss Elizabeth's room and damage all the country cow's cheap clothes while the ugly woman slept. Miss Bingley smiled and said aloud, "Caro, that is a great idea; then Miss Elizabeth will look like the pauper she is."

But, first, she would compromise Mr. Darcy. Granted Caroline wasn't too sure what happened between a man and a woman, though she knew that people had slept together and shared a bed, and something happened there. When she asked Luisa, Luisa answered she would tell Caroline before she married. But that wasn't what she wanted; Caroline just wished somebody to see her in his room.

Later that night, Miss Bingley let her hair down looking very pretty, but wore a small nightcap adorned with frippery, ruining her looks. She decided to wear a clingy silk French chemise, which Louisa gave her as part of her trousseau. She believed Mr. Darcy would want to kiss her when she saw how alluring she looked, and when he kissed her, she would start screaming to wake somebody up. Finally, Caroline wrapped an orange shawl over her shoulders because it was chilly, applied perfume, and tiptoed out of her room.

She walked to Mr. Darcy's room, but sitting on a chair by the door, she saw a somewhat large sleeping footman blocking the door with his stretched legs. She carefully stepped over his legs, realizing there was hardly any space to move. When she tried to open the door, to her dismay, she found it locked. What can I do? She thought, realizing she couldn't move.

Miss Bingley was frenetic, seeing she was trapped between the door and the footman; a footman now awake and frozen, considering the arrogant and dislikable Miss's bum was stuck to him. With her noise, she awoke Mr. Darcy, who jumped out of his bed, holding his pistol, not sure what was happening. When he suddenly opened the door, Miss Bingley fell on top of the footman, screaming and making a lot of noise. She woke up her brother, her sister, Mr. Hurst, and others. Mr. Hurst was rather displeased, considering he had his wife in his arms, after loving her for the first time in a long time.

The footman was not moving, with Miss Bingley, who fell backwards, half on his lap, half on his legs, in a precarious position. "Sir, I don't want to move and make her fall. But I don't want to touch her." He grimaced, afraid to get in trouble.

Caroline was screaming, asking Mr. Darcy to help her and not to let the footman touch her. Of course, she was being ridiculous and looking awkward with her shawl skewed. Mr. Darcy was trying not to laugh, yet angry at the situation. Hurst didn't care, guffawing, and Louisa was mortified. Charles rushed to pull Caroline up. The young footman's face was on fire, seeing a woman who he considered almost naked since her thin cotton gown was raised to her knees. Later, he would tell all the servants and footmen, and they would all laugh together. Later the men would make a few lewd jokes when they were alone, having a beer. He was sweet on Miss Nancy, who ignored him, but she started liking him after that.

Charles was beyond angry, not smiling, and talking loudly. Charles had always been afraid to reprimand his sister and never tried to correct her, fearing her wrath; that was before because, presently, he wasn't afraid, not whatsoever. He wanted to give her a piece of his mind. For a minute, he entertained the idea of demanding she married the footman considering that she was compromised, but he'd have to pay for it, and the idea didn't appeal to him. He was pretty sure that William would not want to marry her. And why should he?

Mr. Darcy covered his mouth, looking at Miss Bingley, and grinning. Moreover, he gained a little respect for Charles because he had never seen him getting angry, never, particularly not at Miss Bingley. William believed that Charles was afraid of his sister, so this was a first.

"What on earth has gotten into you. Are you mad? Look at you. William excuse us," between Charles and Miss Bingley they managed to wake up Lizzie and Jane. Dee was barking like mad, lunging at the door, so Lizzie couldn't open the door and look. Too bad because she was dying to see what was happening.

Charles grabbed Miss Bingley by the arm, not gently, and took her to Louisa, "My dear, please sleep with your sister tonight. I am sorry to inconvenience you, but somebody needs to keep an eye on her until she leaves in the morning. Oh, dear me, this is intolerable; I am at my wits end. I don't know what to do with Caroline."

Miss Bingley started arguing, "But I haven't packed my clothes. I cannot leave tomorrow."

Charles was not listening, "I don't care, leave with whatever you have on, go in your nightgown if you wish to do so; you will get your things later." He was worrying about his sister and wanted her gone.

"I am going to bed," Mr. Darcy thanked the young footman, Mrs. Reynold's godchild. He would reward him later. Hopefully, this was the end of Miss Bingley's madness, at least for that night.

When Louisa went to sleep, Miss Bingley had readied her embroidery scissors, under her pillow, and after all was quiet, she went to to Lizzie's room. Granted her plan was not too sound, how much damage could she inflict with a small pair of scissors, without walking Lizzie up? Unluckily for Caroline, but Dee's wild barking, sounding like a wild banshee, woke Lizzie up immediately, and Lizzie caught Miss Bingley entering her room. Lizzie rubbed her eyes when she saw the shadow of a giant dog, the size of a pony or bigger. It appeared the shadow dog had more than one head; therefore, she quickly dismissed it, convinced it was a shadowy illusion. After all, the room was dark, only illuminated with the ambers of the fireplace.

"What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind? Get out right now," Lizzie jumped out the bed. After hearing the early racket, she was concerned Caroline was mad and perhaps dangerous. Lizzie had no need to worry, because Dee, looking several times her size, chased Miss Bingley out of the room, ripping her gown and nipping her legs. Since the room was quite dark, Lizzie convinced herself she was imagining Dee's appearance. After Miss Bingley left the room, screaming a monster bit her, Lizzie closed and locked the door and went back to bed, but Dee, the puppy, sat by the door, growling very loud.

Lizzie called her to bed. "I need to sleep so no more noise, come and lay by my side. I need your company." Finally, she had to get out of bed to pick up the small puppy, who struggled, wanting to go and sit by the door. "No missy, you stay here." What a night, Lizzie thought.

Miss Bingley, screaming and repeating, "Get that monster away from me," ran out Lizzie's room, which was located at the edge of the guest wing. Louisa, who waited for Caroline to return, locked the door behind Caroline. Then she took the key and put a chair against the door.

Miss Bingley was hysterical, repeating over and over, "A giant dog tried to kill me, a monster with more than one head."

Louisa stopped her, "Caro, quit lying for once. Oh dear, I don't want to hear any more of your lies. I am so ashamed to see you behaving this way. What is wrong with you? For goodness' sake, quit embarrassing yourself and us. I cannot wait to leave with my husband and go far from all this craziness. You are ready for Bedlam; what has gotten into you? You are chasing Mr. Darcy like a shameless hussy. You better hope the word doesn't get around. My husband said that you should be married to the footman; you deserve it; but the poor young man doesn't." Louisa worried, again, that her aunt maybe was right about Caroline.

A Stern Father and Mr. Darcy's Hopes-

Next morning, Caroline looked at her nightgown and saw dark green stains wherever the expensive nightgown was torn. She could not understand what happened and insisted Miss Elizabeth was a witch, making her brother and sister shake their heads in disgust, and adding the puppy was a hellhound. "Maybe you are mad, or you cannot stop lying, either way you must go. I am not about to lose my best friend because of you." Charles told her, not even looking at her, afraid his sister was mad, and maybe dangerous.

When the carriage arrived to pick the Bennet sisters up, a maid came to tell Jane and Lizzie. Jane dressed quickly and ran to see her father, trying her best to look infirm. She coughed a little when she saw him. Before he could say anything, she told her father that she was still sick and couldn't leave. Her father who had come with Mr. Hill, stood resolute. He hadn't dressed up and wore country gentleman clothes, embarrassing Jane; he did it intentionally because this wasn't a social call. He told Jane Mrs. Hill would later come and pack her things.

Mr. Bennet had been arguing non-stop with his wife since Lizzie's letter arrived last evening; they had words before he left the house and wouldn't allow her to come with him. She said Lizzie was jealous of Jane and other inane accusations, that angered and worried him.

This morning, he decided to contact his family; it was time to swallow his pride. Unfortunately, his parents had been right, and Fanny was all they had said. They had advised him wisely, and asked him how could he be sure that the child she carried was his? They had reminded him that his older brother was sickly after the riding accident, and he needed to be ready to assume his position in case Frank didn't survive. But he refused to listen since, at the time, he was very infatuated with Fanny. Finally, his parents told him to go and live in the entailed property and not to forget his duties, like the responsibility for his little sister.

Truthfully, he had not been sure the child Fanny carried was his. Even his dear friend, Eugene Gardiner, had advised him to wait because Fanny, his sister, was very popular amongst the officers. He added he didn't want his friend to marry Fanny out of loyalty to him. Gene also told him how his parents let Fanny run wild because they had given up on her. It didn't matter because Mr. Bennet said he would love all his children, the fruit of his loins or not. He meant the latter.

Nonetheless, last night and again this morning, he told his wife what she did was unwise, particularly with Lydia, encouraging their young daughter to follow in her footsteps. Something he deemed to be a bad idea. Never mind her shameful scheme, when she sent

Jane walking to Netherfield, knowing it would rain. He said he wasn't blind and could see how she favored Jane and Lydia, while she was callous and harsh with her other three daughters. His wife started screaming and was still yelling when he had left Longbourn.

Fanny didn't know much about his family because he never told her about them; there was no need since he knew they didn't want to meet her. What they knew about her was reported by an investigator they hired. Now, looking at Jane obviously fibbing, he had no doubt he needed to stop this nonsense. Jane was his daughter; the other baby, a boy, was stillborn. The baby had ginger hair; and there were no ginger hair relatives in either his family or in Fanny's. He could have left then, but he was still crazy for the experienced older beauty.

"No, you come home, now. You look healthy enough. You stayed too long as it is." He said sternly, looking straight at Jane. Jane was taken aback; this didn't sound like her father.

Mr. Darcy was also outside. When he woke up, he smiled remembering his most improper dreams about his future bride. Predictably they were by the small river, sans-clothes and kissing passionately, though he couldn't see her body, he could feel her. Playfully, she pulled away from him, and ran into the water, laughing and calling him. The dream's memories set his body on fire, so he put them away for later. They made him yearn for a kiss and whatever liberties were allowed since they were to marry.

With careful concern, intending not to look proud, he decided to dress as he would in Pemberley, not for the city, yet elegant. He hoped not to look pretentious and proud. He suspected Lizzie's daybook was an opinion shared by her father, who he had only seen from afar. He asked his valet if he looked as if he had swallowed a broom, and his old valet, who had been his uncle's, smiled. "No, sir, you have excellent posture like your uncle. It favors you. But let me change your cravat's knot to better suit your attire."

His good mood was somewhat ruined when Reggie whispered what Miss Bingley had done the night before. He needed to find a solution, suspecting Miss Bingley wouldn't stop. Was she insane? He hoped not, remembering his uncle.

When he heard Mr. Bennet had arrived, he hurried to meet him outside, since he had declined to come in. Swallowing hard, he approached Mr. Bennet and greeted him in his most friendly manner, after sensing animosity, "Sir, I must talk to you about a most pressing matter. May I come and see you later today?" With his best smile, Mr. Darcy let him know that Miss Elizabeth had accepted to be his wife.

The news greatly surprised Mr. Bennet, who didn't like Mr. Darcy. He looked like his father who was an upperclassman, on his last year, as a proud as his son. One day, George Darcy, a good friend of his brothers and cousins, told him to remember his station and to stay away from the scholarship students, meaning young Gardiner and a couple of others. In retrospective, he should have listened. And there was his cousin Edna's tragedy, not easily forgotten; someone like Miss Bingley had been involved.

Mr. Bennet was curt, yet polite and said to come later, but he first wanted to talk to his daughter. He was stand-offish, making Mr. Darcy worry. But he quit worrying when he saw Lizzie coming out, walking fast, taking his breath away. He thought she looked lovely wearing a blue Spencer; and her bonnet, loosely tied, fell down her back. He sighed, remembering the dreams from the night before; but this was not the time for those thoughts. His bad girl, Dee, pretended she hadn't seen him and walked past him. Though Lizzie bowed her head and smiled briefly, acknowledging him, she walked straight to her father who greeted her effusively, looking happy to see her.

Mr. Bennet had noticed that Jane was pouting, and Lizzie wasn't talking, and he didn't like it. Darcy who was looking at his bride, disliked her pallor the moment she saw Miss Bingley coming out of the house. He was seething, thinking about Miss Bingley going into Miss Elizabeth's room. So, it occurred him that perhaps that was the reason that Dee, his puppy, wanted to be with Miss Elizabeth. Could Dee be trying to protect her from Miss Bingley?

He'd remembered what Penny had said, "I think that our dogs are more than dogs, I have had strange occurrences. So, perhaps what Mrs. Reynolds' cousin said is true; my dad used to say Mrs. Reynolds's family was different."

Darcy was concerned and considered hiring someone to keep Miss Elizabeth safe. He didn't trust Miss Bingley, not an iota. He knew people behaved badly and remembered what happened to his uncle's bride; she had been mortally injured at their engagement ball, by a lady obsessed with him; someone like Miss Bingley. He never got over, though he wasn't so sad after using tincture made for him and married Penny's mother, an only child and a rich heiress. He died young when Penny was 13 and the twins were 7. That memory made a chill run down his back, though surely, Miss Bingley wasn't mad, just nasty, he hoped.

a/n I would like to hear your comments. Expect some drama for a few chapters, knowing I only write happy endings, for most, Be well and thanks. Happy reading.