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Over the next week, Caroline remained hidden in her bedchamber.

Mr and Mrs Hurst made no great effort to pry Caroline from the room though a strict schedule was imposed concerning the time of day when Caroline could request food from the kitchen.

And the maids and footmen would provide her with enough water for a bath only on Saturday and Wednesday.

The other days of the week, she had to make do with washing using a large bowl in her room.

The woman failed to care for her hair, but Louisa insisted that Caroline’s gowns remain stored properly and that her sister dress each day.

After two days consulting with the attorneys and constables, Charles departed London and returned home to his bride at Netherfield.

During the following week, Mr Hurst was uncertain how to press his wife for a resolution of the problem that was Caroline Bingley, and he was pleasantly surprised to discover that Louisa was as determined as he for her sister to find another situation.

Letters were exchanged between Olive Street and Netherfield each day.

There was a long letter from Charles in which he revealed that Mr Darcy had provided an ideal solution for Miss Bingley’s future.

Writing that Mrs Bingley endorsed the solution, Charles asked for Geoffrey and Louisa Hurst to discuss the proposal and share their opinion.

A response arrived at Netherfield the next morning by special express in which Mr and Mrs Hurst endorsed the proposal and invited the Bingley couple to call at Olive Street before noon in two days where the family would make Caroline’s future known to her.

And so it was that Mr Bingley brought his bride to London for the first time to call on Mr and Mrs Hurst to discuss Miss Bingley’s future.

Leaving Netherfield with enough clothing for no more than two days, Jane and Charles departed Meryton very early.

They would arrive at Olive Street before noon in the Bingley coach and four.

Mr Darcy wished his friend well with the trip to London and remained at Netherfield to escort his sister to Longbourn for tea in the afternoon.

~~~

That morning, Caroline remained in her bedchamber as usual but heard the sounds of doors opening and closing, as well multiple voices speaking.

There were multiple people walking through the front of the house before noon.

Insulted that anyone would dare to call at ‘her’ house in the morning hours, she pouted and began to dress.

Her immediate reaction was to worry how such a faux pas might affect Lord Campbell’s opinion of her.

Then she remembered that there was no Lord Campbell, she would not be Lady Campbell, and worse she would never be the Countess of Argyle. Seated in the gloom of her room, she rose to break her fast from the cold tray and considered brushing her hair.

Shortly thereafter, Louisa appeared in her room, threw open the windows to allow fresh air inside and declared, “Caroline you must get dressed. At noon, come downstairs and join us in the parlour. Charles and Jane will join us there for an important discussion.”

Ignoring her sister, Caroline mourned that the future she thought was within her reach but had vanished.

And her dowry was reduced to a mere five thousand pounds; Charles and Mr Hurst offered no hope to recover the lost wealth.

She would never find a suitable husband to lift her into the first circles of London society.

‘If only Mr Darcy was not blind to my worth,’ she mourned. ‘If only Lord Campbell had made me Countess of Argyle.’

After many minutes regretting how others failed her, Caroline pulled on the cord near the back of the room to summon a maid. However, neither her lady’s maid nor a scullery maid appeared. Pulling the signal cord twice more, the woman grew agitated when none of the servants appeared at her door.

At noon, Mr and Mrs Hurst waited with Mr and Mrs Bingley in the parlour for Caroline to appear. After twenty minutes without their sister’s appearance, the two couples ventured above stairs. Geoffrey knocked on the door once but then opened the door and led the way inside.

“What is the meaning of this?” screeched Caroline, clutching her dressing gown close to her throat. “I am not dressed!”

“You were told to be ready to meet with your family at noon,” Hurst reminded the woman.

Excusing her behaviour, Caroline replied, “I am distressed. That caused me to forget the time.”

Glancing at the breakfast tray with empty plates and teapot, the visitors knew that Caroline was aware of the true time.

“Hello, Caroline,” Charles greeted his sister. “Jane and I came to London to consult with you, Louisa and Geoffrey concerning your situation.”

“My situation?” asked Caroline acidly. “What concern is my situation to your wife? Is it not enough that you saved her from a life of drudgery on her father’s farm?”

As Jane stepped into the room, Caroline sneered and did not greet her sister-in-law. Mr Hurst faux whispered to Jane, “You are fortunate, Mrs Bingley. Our sister yells her insults in my face but ignores you after an attempt to bring you down.”

Her face remaining sour, Caroline asked, “Charles, what you will force me to do? Must I marry some farmer far from London?”

Caroline’s eyes were red from crying the whole of the morning and this elicited some sympathy from her siblings.

They agreed not to continue the discussion at the present moment but to wait until after supper – where Caroline would join them in the dining room.

The two couples retreated from Caroline’s bedchamber after her solemn promise to join them downstairs in time to dine.

Descending the stairs without any resolution to the situation, Mr Hurst hardened his resolve to remove Caroline from his home, and Jane – who had a warm heart for everyone – realized that Caroline would attempt to manipulate them like Lydia did their parents with her tantrums and tears.

She would ask Charles to protect the felicity of their home from his sister’s tantrums.

To pass the afternoon, Charles and Jane called on Mrs Gardiner at Grace Church Street. Jane’s aunt sent for Mr Gardiner to join them where the newlyweds shared the recent news from Meryton without discussing the problem on Olive Street.

Geoffrey and Louisa spent the afternoon in the parlour without the expectation of any callers.

When Charles and Jane returned from visiting the Gardiners, the four spent the end of the day discussing the latest newspaper stories regarding the endless wars with Bonaparte and the outrageous price for a bottle of wine.

In time they dressed for dinner and gathered once again in the parlour.

However, the family waited an extra thirty minutes before Caroline joined them.

Mrs Hurst told no one that she and the housekeeper conspired to schedule the meal thirty minutes later than announced to make certain Mr Hurst’s bowl of soup was hot when placed on the table.

Jane recognized Louisa’s plan and approved but Caroline remained oblivious to the machinations of others.

Her first complaint was aired when it proved necessary for her to walk into the dining room unescorted – her siblings were each with their spouse.

The primary topic during the meal was Caroline’s situation and the youngest Bingley sister directed the conversation completely. Several times during each of the three courses, Miss Bingley would ask plaintively, “What is to become of me?”

After the dishes were removed and the servants dismissed, Mr Hurst expressed his opinion. He said simply, “Regarding Miss Bingley’s situation, it is best if Louisa and I are free to enjoy the quiet of Olive Street without relatives. We hope to start our family…”

Interrupting Geoffrey’s statement, Caroline declared, “You are vulgar to speak of such at the dinner table, Mr Hurst.”

Ignoring the woman’s outburst, Hurst continued, “And when we return to the countryside at the end of the season, I shall close the house.”

“But I need a roof over my head!” Caroline declared. “Where shall I sleep and eat? Where shall I entertain?”

With her mouth set in a frown, Louisa said, “Sister, you should have married years ago when you had a dowry that attracted gentlemen in need of a wife with wealth. Unfortunately, you pursued Mr Darcy and chased away the other gentlemen.”

“None of them were suitable, “Caroline declared. Then she attempted to school her features to be more pleasant and turned to her brother. “I shall live with Charles.”

“No,” objected Jane firmly and immediately. “We deserve a peaceful home; if you are present, it will be contentious and filled with unpleasant voices.”

Frowning, Caroline hissed, “My brother will not cast me to the side of the road.”

Charles replied, “Caroline, you refused to hear my counsel for years and you have made your own bed.”

Taking his wife’s hand, Charles continued, “Nothing will persuade me to compromise my wife’s felicity.”

“And the same with our home,” Mr Hurst said. “You must find another situation immediately.”

“Who will marry me?” wailed Caroline loud enough to make the others wince, giving proof to Jane’s words regarding a contentious and unpleasant voice.

“There will be no suitable suitors in town, and you refuse to consider numerous gentlemen with small estates,” Louisa reminded Caroline. “A dowery of five thousand pounds in the city will only attract tradesmen and tavern keepers.”

“What shall I become? A shopkeeper’s wife?” cried Caroline. “Must I marry a tradesman? No, I should have to deal with customers at the counter and count pennies! I would not have any servants!”

Taking a deep breath, Charles spoke up, “I have been made aware of a suitable position. An older noble lady needs companionship with the recent marriage of her daughter. You would be safe and secure as a lady’s companion.”

“Employment?” Caroline asked, aghast to hear the idea. “Charles, will you force me to work like a girl in a shop?”

Her brother responded sharply, “Caroline, you are on the shelf and unlikely to fall off. You cannot become a nanny because you know nothing of children and have never liked them. Being a lady’s companion is the only other suitable position.”

Remembering how she had treated the lady’s maids in her employ, Caroline replied, “I shall be no better than a maid at the beck and call of this woman!”

Seeing that Charles remained resolute to protect the quiet of their home, Jane kept silent because there was nothing that would relieve Caroline’s distress. But Louisa added, “Sister, you can perform on the instrument for the lady and her daughter and son-in-law at night.”

Realizing she had no other choices in front of her, Caroline asked, “Who are these people?”

“The lady’s daughter recently married a gentleman in the neighbourhood, and they have made their home in his family’s manor. I imagine the lady will take supper with the newlyweds once a week, when they visit the dower house.”

“A gentleman…a farmer? Do you mean they are a farmers? Lord, I shall be surrounded again by sheep and cows,” Caroline wailed as she cried true tears.

Very quickly, Caroline listed the deficiencies of such as situation. “A dower house? Such homes are never warm in winter. A widow is never funded properly. I shall never have a proper dinner or entertainments again.”

“You will have opportunities to play on a pianoforte. The lady’s daughter has seen to her mother’s comfort. However, the lady’s financial condition is much like your own,” Charles answered. “She also gave her money to George Wickham.”

Geoffrey stifled a chuckle that caught everyone’s attention. Caroline turned on her brother-in-law and demanded, “What did you wish to say Mr Hurst? Tell everyone what humorous notion that wandered through your small mind?”

Not glancing at his wife, Geoffrey replied, “Well sister, you will find that you have much in common with your employer. She is Lady Catherine de Bourgh who was duped by the same charlatan, George Wickham. The lady also lost fifteen thousand pounds.”

“Lady Catherine? Mr Darcy’s aunt?” asked Caroline, immediately imagining her rescue when Mr Darcy took her as his wife.

However, Charles immediately destroyed that dream. “Caroline, Darcy has broken all ties to his aunt. And Miss de Bourgh’s husband, Mr Fredericks, is the master of Rosings Park and Darcy will not call at Rosings again.”

Jane and Charles had no intention of revealing Mr Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth to anyone until the matter was settled.

Sighing mournfully, Caroline asked, “What of George Wickham? Has that scoundrel been apprehended? Is there any chance of recovering my dowry?”

“Your fifteen thousand pounds are gone,” Mr Hurst said. “Remember the constables had the bodies of Wickham’s confederates and George disappeared with your gold. You were left with five thousand pounds.”

“What can I do with my dowry?” asked Caroline. “Those funds will not buy news gowns and allow me to eat for the rest of my years!”

“I shall invest the funds in the four percents for an income of two hundred pounds a year,” Charles announced. “Mrs Bennet has a similar arrangement with her inheritance that gives her two hundred pounds each year.”

Again, Caroline wailed, “Two hundred pounds per annum? I shall starve!”

Charles relieved some of his sister’s fears when he said, “Your employer will provide you with a roof, food and heat. Your two hundred pounds will pay for clothing, sheet music, and books.”

Louisa was affected by her sister’s distress, but she forced herself to remain silent.

When Caroline realized that neither sibling would rescue her, she scowled and surrendered. Then she asked, “When shall I be exiled to my prison with Lady Catherine de Bourgh?”

~~~