Caroline Bingley: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Becton
Authors: Jennifer Becton
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titled family of an adjacent county, or both. At the very least, most stood to inherit or marry into fortunes or titles. It was the finest society the country could offer.
Caroline wondered again how her little party would fare among such company. It was a testament to her long-standing friendship with Lavinia that they had been invited at all, for though Mr. Newton was quite one of the wealthiest men in the county, his money was incorrectly gained.
Though Caroline herself was used to moving in the finest circles in Town, her family party certainly was not. When seen in the company of the gathered assembly, they seemed slightly out of sorts. As she surveyed those who were sequestered in the large drawing room for aperitifs and conversation before dinner, it was obvious that her family's clothing was not quite correct and their manners were altogether too relaxed. Mrs. Pickersgill and Mr. Rushton blended somewhat more convincingly, perhaps because they were both youthful and therefore more easily adaptable. That must be the case, for Mrs. Pickersgill's dress was rather plain and Mr. Rushton, well, he was a great nuisance.
Her mother and Mr. Newton, however, had drawn no small amount of attention to themselves already.
They appeared to be conversing with the Dowager Lady Kentworth, and a group of onlookers had gathered around them.
Oh dear.
That could not bode well.
Before Caroline could cross the room to smooth the situation, Mr. Charlton appeared beside her.
"Good evening, Miss Bingley," he said with a bow.
Caroline returned his greeting with a curtsey.
"I observed you here alone, and I had the greatest desire to escape my duties for a few moments." He leaned in closer and whispered, "I am required to dine with the Dowager Lady Kentworth this evening, and I can think of nothing duller than listening to the old lady drone about the past."
Caroline smiled. Mr. Charlton's face was still rather near to hers, and she was able to study him at close proximity. He was a well-looking gentleman indeed, even at such a short distance, which often revealed flaws that could remain unobserved in more distant circumstances. His skin was clear and glowed with health and vigor, and his eyes were framed by the longest eyelashes she had ever seen. Overall, he exuded a charm that was not wholly unappealing to her. "It is impolitic to say such a thing about a woman of such high rank, but," she said as she leaned closer still and inhaled his cologne, "having said that, I do not envy your position."
His grin turned conspiratorial. "Ah! I knew you would agree with me. And now, allow me to ensure for you a slightly more appetizing meal. An aperitif? A glass of sherry?"
She would not have turned down any suggestion he made, and he returned with two small glasses of sherry and his open smile. "Now we can be assured of a truly appetizing meal, for we have had the correct beginning."
"Have we?" Caroline asked as she raised the glass to her lips.
"At the very least, we shall now be slightly more immune to dull conversation, shall we not?"
Caroline sipped her sherry again. "One can only hope it is so."
He laughed and then winced as Lavinia appeared at his arm.
"Oh dear, my keeper has arrived," he said to Caroline, and then he turned to Lavinia. "Have you come to ensure that I do not slip out the rear door before the meal begins?"
Lavinia did a poor job of concealing her annoyance.
"Mrs. Winton," Caroline said as a means of distraction, "I must compliment you on this lovely assembly. It is a great testament to you and your family to have such faithful friends with whom to dine."
Lavinia smiled. "And now you are counted among their number."
Caroline dipped her head, as if embarrassed by her friend's words, but truly, she was concealing her pleasure at having reinstalled herself amongst the acquaintances of the first family of the neighborhood. "I thank you for it."
"You will perform a small favor for me, will you not, Miss
Caroline wondered again how her little party would fare among such company. It was a testament to her long-standing friendship with Lavinia that they had been invited at all, for though Mr. Newton was quite one of the wealthiest men in the county, his money was incorrectly gained.
Though Caroline herself was used to moving in the finest circles in Town, her family party certainly was not. When seen in the company of the gathered assembly, they seemed slightly out of sorts. As she surveyed those who were sequestered in the large drawing room for aperitifs and conversation before dinner, it was obvious that her family's clothing was not quite correct and their manners were altogether too relaxed. Mrs. Pickersgill and Mr. Rushton blended somewhat more convincingly, perhaps because they were both youthful and therefore more easily adaptable. That must be the case, for Mrs. Pickersgill's dress was rather plain and Mr. Rushton, well, he was a great nuisance.
Her mother and Mr. Newton, however, had drawn no small amount of attention to themselves already.
They appeared to be conversing with the Dowager Lady Kentworth, and a group of onlookers had gathered around them.
Oh dear.
That could not bode well.
Before Caroline could cross the room to smooth the situation, Mr. Charlton appeared beside her.
"Good evening, Miss Bingley," he said with a bow.
Caroline returned his greeting with a curtsey.
"I observed you here alone, and I had the greatest desire to escape my duties for a few moments." He leaned in closer and whispered, "I am required to dine with the Dowager Lady Kentworth this evening, and I can think of nothing duller than listening to the old lady drone about the past."
Caroline smiled. Mr. Charlton's face was still rather near to hers, and she was able to study him at close proximity. He was a well-looking gentleman indeed, even at such a short distance, which often revealed flaws that could remain unobserved in more distant circumstances. His skin was clear and glowed with health and vigor, and his eyes were framed by the longest eyelashes she had ever seen. Overall, he exuded a charm that was not wholly unappealing to her. "It is impolitic to say such a thing about a woman of such high rank, but," she said as she leaned closer still and inhaled his cologne, "having said that, I do not envy your position."
His grin turned conspiratorial. "Ah! I knew you would agree with me. And now, allow me to ensure for you a slightly more appetizing meal. An aperitif? A glass of sherry?"
She would not have turned down any suggestion he made, and he returned with two small glasses of sherry and his open smile. "Now we can be assured of a truly appetizing meal, for we have had the correct beginning."
"Have we?" Caroline asked as she raised the glass to her lips.
"At the very least, we shall now be slightly more immune to dull conversation, shall we not?"
Caroline sipped her sherry again. "One can only hope it is so."
He laughed and then winced as Lavinia appeared at his arm.
"Oh dear, my keeper has arrived," he said to Caroline, and then he turned to Lavinia. "Have you come to ensure that I do not slip out the rear door before the meal begins?"
Lavinia did a poor job of concealing her annoyance.
"Mrs. Winton," Caroline said as a means of distraction, "I must compliment you on this lovely assembly. It is a great testament to you and your family to have such faithful friends with whom to dine."
Lavinia smiled. "And now you are counted among their number."
Caroline dipped her head, as if embarrassed by her friend's words, but truly, she was concealing her pleasure at having reinstalled herself amongst the acquaintances of the first family of the neighborhood. "I thank you for it."
"You will perform a small favor for me, will you not, Miss
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