"Louisa!" Caroline hissed.
"Yes, Caroline?" Louisa answered absently while examining the breakfast table, wanting to ensure nothing was lacking.
"You will never guess what happened," Caroline said giddily.
"You might as well tell me then."
"Where is the fun in that? Come now, take a guess," Caroline prodded her sister.
"Umm… Mr Darcy has fallen in love with you?"
"Really? Oh, dear, that might be a problem…"
"No, not really. You said I would never be able to guess… so I thought of an impossible scenario."
"How is that impossible?!"
"Well… think about it, Caroline. If Mr Darcy was truly interested in you, why has he not made you an offer yet?"
"I do not know. Maybe he is waiting for me to give him a sign that I am ready," Caroline suggested.
"I think you have made that abundantly clear."
"What kind of talk is that? Do you not wish for me to make a good match?" Caroline frowned, suspecting her sister was jealous of her, considering how Mr Hurst turned out to be.
"Of course, I do. But you ought to be realistic, especially now that Charles might soon form an attachment to Miss Bennet. He may decide to purchase Netherfield and whomever he takes for a wife would become mistress of his estate. You need to consider your options and your future. I do not see you being content with merely deferring to another woman's authority if you live in their household."
"Hmpf! Miss Bennet may be sweet and handsome, but she is by no means superior to other young ladies. She has relations in trade residing in Cheapside, the rest of her family is uncouth, especially Miss Eliza, and she probably has a paltry dowry. Charles can find someone more suitable."
Caroline had always expected her brother to marry one day. She just did not foresee that it could happen so soon. Those Bennet sisters were becoming a real obstruction to her happiness. Perhaps her alternative plan would work out better after all. If she ended up with the colonel, who was a younger son of an earl, she would be part of the first circles in society. Furthermore, she would have direct access to Pemberley, knowing how close Mr Darcy was to his cousin.
"We shall see. So what news did you have for me?" Louisa could hear some voices coming from down the hallway. "The others will be here soon."
"I might marry before Charles does," Caroline whispered.
"Pardon?" Louisa looked at her in alarm.
"I knew you would be surprised," Caroline's lips formed a mysterious smile.
"Are you in jest?"
"Not at all. Do you think I would be happy being married to Colonel Fitzwilliam?" Caroline drawled.
Louisa was prevented from questioning her sister further upon the arrival of their guests. First to enter the breakfast parlour were Mr Darcy, Mrs Bennet and Elizabeth, followed closely by Mr Hurst and Mr Collins. When the others enquired after Mr Bingley's whereabouts, Caroline explained that he was dealing with an important matter but would be joining them shortly. My brother had better not dissuade the colonel from proposing to me, she thought to herself.
Next to arrive were Lydia and Kitty. Caroline wondered at the man who walked in with Mary, and she soon learnt that this was Mr Wickham. His countenance she considered attractive, but she had vaguely heard something of him having a disreputable history from conversations between her brother and Darcy.
It was not long before Charles finally appeared with the man Caroline had been waiting for. Now that they were in a brighter room with windows allowing more light to filter in, Caroline observed the colonel's features to be somewhat less than appealing. He was also noticeably older than Mr Darcy. He would probably be away for long periods of time when he is summoned to the battlefield. That should make my domestic life tolerable. Just imagine all the introductions to prominent people, and invitations to balls and social events I would receive! My calendar would be so full. Those Bennet girls would be envious of my status. And who knows? He may just become the viscount. I wonder if his eldest brother is in good health.
"You will be pleased to know, Mr Bingley, that Jane is well enough to come down later today," Mrs Bennet announced.
"That is excellent news, Mrs Bennet. I am much relieved to hear that she is out of harm's way."
"Mr Bingley, remember your promise to hold a ball when Jane is recovered!" Lydia reminded the young master once again.
"How could I forget?" Bingley chuckled. "We shall fix the date when your sister joins us."
"Speaking of which, perhaps there may be a special announcement during the ball," Caroline hinted, fixing her eyes on the colonel. She felt aggrieved that another lady has so much influence on her brother, despite being absent from their company. Why should her brother rely on Jane to determine the date of the ball?
"A special announcement?" Lydia burst out. "Is it about an engagement?"
"Possibly," Caroline replied, after which the colonel started coughing violently.
"Oh dear. Would you like some wine to give you present relief, sir? I am sorry if I have revealed too much too soon…"
Her brother was not impressed with her bold statements as they were still due to discuss her predicament.
"Caroline, this is not the time --" Charles warned her to stop, but it was too late. The gossip-loving ladies in their midst were quick to pick up the clues.
"Do you mean to say… that you and the colonel --"
"I really ought not to say any more…" Caroline continued, spying the puzzled expressions on the faces of her audience.
"Upon my word! This comes to me as a complete surprise! Allow me to be the first to offer you and Colonel Forster my warmest wishes," Mrs Bennet greeted the odd couple, astonishment evident in her tone.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam," Caroline corrected her.
"Did someone say my name?"
"Yes, cousin," Darcy replied to the newly arrived guest. "May I introduce you to Miss Bingley?"
"Please pardon my late arrival. I was just making sure our travel arrangements are all in order," Richard explained after the introductions had been made. He concealed the fact that he had also kept an eye on Wickham when he caught sight of the man strolling in the gardens with the younger Bennet sisters in order to guarantee their safety.
"You are Colonel Fitzwilliam?!" Caroline stared at him incredulously.
"Indeed I am. I thank you and your family for your generous hospitality in providing for my accommodation here in Netherfield."
"And you? Y-you are…?" Caroline sputtered, turning to the other man.
"Colonel Forster, madam, commanding officer of the militia here in Meryton. I thought you already knew after our earlier encounter."
"Oh, this is so exciting! We have not had a wedding in the village for quite a while!" Kitty exclaimed.
Thereafter, Caroline fainted, and Mrs Bennet acted as her saviour with her ever-ready smelling salts.
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Subject to editing