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C aroline was delighted to finally receive a letter from Clarissa.

Dear Caroline,

Well, it has taken rather a bit of time, particularly as my maid’s brother’s writing is nearly illegible, but I have learnt that there was a Lydia Bennet residing with the Forster’s, but she has not been seen in some time.

He knew nothing of any illness, though there was some talk about her and a certain officer.

He refused to name the officer, saying that his loyalty must lie with the regiment.

Of all the silly notions! In any case, I hope this is helpful to your friend.

Here in London…

The rest of the letter contained a good deal of gossip and talk of fashions, which interested Caroline very little just now.

What did interest her was that Lydia had not been seen in some time, and the man knew nothing of illness. There was definitely something odd going on. She could not wait to hear what the angelic Jane Bennet had to say about that!

Caroline raised her head, distracted from her thoughts by the sound of Georgiana practicing on the pianoforte.

If there really was something odd happening in Brighton, it was unlikely that the high and mighty Mr. Darcy would offer for Miss Eliza.

Caroline thought that she might yet become the mistress of Pemberley.