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The next morning proceeded as Edith Young anticipated; Miss Bingley expected Lord Campbell would call at the appropriate hour and propose marriage.

However, Mrs Young would make her exit from the house before the time for social calls and this time when she departed, she would never return.

To prepare for the events of the afternoon, Mrs Young requested the footman to oil the hinges on the front door.

Once that seemingly innocuous task was complete, the paid companion spent the balance of the morning, imaging her future in a warmer climate.

Before eleven of the clock Caroline summoned her lady’s companion to her bedchamber to consult with the choice of the most appropriate gown to wear when the gentleman called.

Caroline possessed fifty gowns – only two of them the latest fashions.

Almost twenty of the gowns were held up against Miss Bingley’s figure in front of the expensive full-length mirror that had been moved into her chamber after Mr and Mrs Hurst left for Sussex last autumn.

“Should I faint when Lord Campbell proposes?” asked Caroline while peering at her reflection in the mirror. Mrs Young knew the woman was not serious with the question.

“His Lordship has never seen you with vapours or hysterics, Miss Bingley,” Edith replied with the expected answer. “The future earl comes to call and expects you to be your usual refined self–the woman he will make Lady Campbell.”

“And I shall be Countess of Argyle whenever the day comes that Lord Campbell becomes Earl,” Caroline repeated for the third time since Edith entered the other woman’s chamber. “Yes, I must be the genteel lady he has courted this winter and spring.”

“Miss Bingley, might I suggest a change for the afternoon?”

Caroline replied, “Of course, Mrs Young.”

“When Lord Campbell arrives, you should be present in the parlour, so His Lordship sees that you are welcoming of his presence and proposal.”

Caroline seemed to consider the idea for a moment but then rejected the idea, “No, this afternoon, I shall be dressed but wait in my room. When Lord Campbell arrives, you will greet him in the parlour and then come above stairs to announce his arrival. Then when I descend the stairs to meet with my future husband, you will return above stairs.”

Not surprised by the woman’s decision, Mrs Young did not reveal her feelings on her face but nodded her head to acknowledge her employer’s direction. Caroline continued, “I shall not sit at the window that overlooks the street. I do not want him to think I am waiting on him.”

Edith replied, “But Lord Campbell should be assured that you will welcome his proposal.”

Smirking, Miss Bingley stated, “An accomplished lady understands how to keep a man’s attentions without fawning over him.”

Finally, Caroline chose a satin gown from two seasons previous, and once the buttons were fastened up her back, the young woman sat as Mrs Young styled her hair.

It took three different arrangements to please Caroline.

Edith had to search through Caroline’s drawers twice for more pins to hold her hair.

During these searches, Caroline’s coin purse vanished into a deep pocket in Edith’s skirt.

Deciding to take advantage of the fact that Caroline would remain above stairs until after three of the clock, Edith resolved to depart for her rendezvous with Phillip Bounty and George Wickham.

To facilitate her escape, Mrs Young told Miss Bingley, “I shall leave you now and await His Lordship’s arrival in the parlour.

After I collect my mending, I shall remain below stairs until the gentleman calls. ”

Laying one possessive hand on the box on her dressing table that contained the newly purchased shares of the New World Tea Company, Caroline asked, “Does Wickham know his presence is not desired this afternoon?”

Allowing her face to relax for the first time, Edith replied, “I am certain Mr Wickham will not call this afternoon.”

Caroline nodded in contentment before she positioned herself in a comfortable chair, determined not to move about and loosen her curls before the anticipated arrival of Lord Campbell.

She gave no attention to her paid companion who left the room quietly.

During the many quiet minutes that passed while she waited for the knock on the front door, Miss Bingley debated if she should allow Lord Campbell to kiss her after they became engaged this afternoon.

She sighed, ‘I suppose a kiss is necessary.’

Then Caroline lost herself in daydreams of gathering her trousseau and being fitted with an expensive wedding gown.

~~~

Leaving Miss Bingley’s chamber, Edith hurried to her own chamber to retrieve a large sewing bag that held her best gown and shoes.

She also fastened her bonnet to her head and placed her best shawl over her shoulders.

In a moment of weakness, Edith took the time to examine the coin purse she had stolen–it held thirty pounds–the balance of Miss Bingley’s allowance for clothes, shoes, and hats for the new season.

Pleased with her acquisition, the woman removed two coins before she closed the purse and returned it to her pocket.

Then Mrs Young made her way down the stairs and asked for nothing of the footman who appeared at the door to the parlour.

As soon as the man vanished into the kitchen, Edith moved in front of the mirror to affix the bonnet on her head and wrapped the warm shawl around her shoulders.

Dressed to venture out from the house, Edith made her way silently to the front door and slipped away without anyone hearing her departure.

On the street, Mrs Young forced herself to walk casually with her mending bag in her hands.

Inside the bag was her favourite dress, a spare pair of shoes, sewing items, and Caroline’s coin purse.

After turning the corner and continuing along the cross street for a time, Edith Young left Olive Street behind. Stepping to the curb and summoning a hackney carriage, the woman flashed a coin and promised it to the driver for fast and safe delivery of her person to the Sleeping Dog.

With the incentive of a large fee, the hired hackney moved quickly through the streets of London and Mrs Young sat back so no one on the street would catch a glimpse of her face.

For the first time since she had moved into the Hurst residence on Olive Street, Edith allowed as genuine smile to appear on her face.

~~~

It was just after three of the clock when an attentive Caroline Bingley heard the front door of the Olive Street house open.

There were multiple voices in the entry way that faded into the house, but she was certain it was Lord Campbell greeted by the footman and Mrs Young.

Rising from her chair, the young woman checked her appearance in the mirror.

‘I should have worn ostrich feathers in my hair,’ she decided. ‘No, my course is set.’

She waited with growing impatience for Mrs Young to appear at her door and announce that Lord Campbell awaited her in the parlour.

For a moment, she wondered, ‘ Who places the announcement of an engagement in the newspapers? The gentleman’s family…

yes, the Earl of Argyle will announce the upcoming marriage of his brother and heir to Miss Caroline Bingley of…

of London. There’ll be no mention of Olive Street in my engagement announcement. ’

There was a knock at her chamber door. Her heart began to beat faster in anticipation, and before she could call out for Mrs Young to enter, the door flew open.

Blinking in surprise, Caroline discovered the intruder was her sister, Louisa Hurst. Holding up a letter, the flustered woman asked, “Caroline! Heavens what is the meaning of the letter that you sent?”

“Louisa?” declared Caroline with surprise in her tone. “What are you doing in London? When did you leave Sussex?”

The conversation moved between the two sisters with Louisa explaining, “Geoffrey and I rushed to London after I received this letter saying you expected to become engaged to someone named Lord Campbell.”

Blinking with surprise, Caroline asked, “Letter? Did…I thought I discarded that letter.”

Louisa showed the paper to her sister and Caroline smirked, “Well, it is true! Lord Campbell is coming to propose marriage to me this afternoon.”

But Mrs Hurst surprised Caroline when she asked, “Sister, why are you marrying a man so close to dying?”

Dismissing Louisa’s question, Caroline replied, “Lord Campbell is very healthy. He’s not forty years.”

“No, Lord Campbell–the brother of the Earl of Argyle–is more than sixty years and suffers from gout.”

“Gout! No, Louisa you are wrong,” Caroline insisted immediately, horrified by the notion of an infirm fiancé. “Before August, I shall be Lady Campbell and then someday, I shall be Countess of Argyll.”

Turning back toward the door, the older sister continued, “Caroline, there must be a great confusion for you but…”

Interrupting Lousia, Caroline declared, “No! I have everything arranged. Lord Campbell admired the masterful move I made with the purchase of stocks in the New World Tea Company. I bring the promise of great wealth to my marriage.”

Caroline smiled after revealing that bit of information and she failed to notice that Lousia frowned. She had no interest in matters of business and trusted her husband’s explanation that the Wickham fellow was not to be trusted with anyone’s money.

The younger sister asked, “Is Lord Campbell waiting in the parlour?”

Shaking her head, Louisa replied, “No. There is no one waiting in the parlour. Geoffrey went to the kitchens to interview the housekeeper.”

Surprised by that news, Caroline asked, “No one? Where is Lord Campbell? And Mrs Young?”

~~~

During the ride to the familiar inn, Edith Young allowed herself to review her past; the successes as well as the mistakes and bad decisions that led her into a life of disreputable vocations.

She did not have the beauty required to become a rich man’s mistress, but she was comely enough to earn men’s attention.

And Edith was clever enough to learn from the smart men she encountered.

The story Edith told others was that her husband, Lieutenant Franklin Young, died in a sea battle with the French.

Thereafter being known as Mrs Young allowed her to approach men without regard to her station.

And the woman alternated cursing and blessing the day she met George Wickham.

The man was handsome with a strong figure, but he hid a crafty and cruel mind behind that handsome face.

Edith willingly allowed herself to be drawn into his orbit with various schemes to relieve others of their wealth.

‘Some day George will discard me like an old pair of shoes,’ she admitted. ‘Perhaps Phillip will be different. If we escape with the gold of the old lady and the harpy, he and I can live comfortably somewhere on the other side of the ocean.’

~~~

As the rented hackney cab pulled to a stop at the Sleeping Dog, Edith took a deep breath. Stepping from the passenger seat, she handed the driver the promised coin before hurrying inside. Mrs Young had no qualms about spending Caroline Bingley’s money.

The innkeeper was a known confederate of the three conspirators. Approaching Edith, he whispered, “The gentlemen wait for you in the room beside the back stairs, but they arrived with a large trunk more than an hour ago.”

Climbing the stairs with a determined step, Edith admitted, ‘I enjoy the planning and execution of a good plot more than George. He always relaxes as the conclusion approaches and grows careless. That is why Wickham values me because I keep him focused on the end game.’

Knocking on the door, Edith waited only a moment before it opened.

~~~