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Caroline Bingley, dressed in the first stare of fashion, grimaced slightly as she finished her glass of water.

She looked around the Pump Room, then smiled as she caught sight of her new friend, Julia Montgomery.

“Caroline, you look ravishing. Is that the new bonnet? Very becoming. My brother Frank is sure to love it. And what are you wearing to the assembly?” The two young ladies linked arms and began their leisurely stroll around the room.

There may have been some people there for the medicinal quality of the waters, but everyone else was out to see and be seen.

Caroline smiled. “I have a brand-new gown in Pomona green, which I plan to wear with my coral parure. I will finish it off with a plumed bandeau in shades of dark green velvet wound with light green silk.”

“Frank will adore that! Green is so becoming on you.” Julia lowered her voice. “I will be certain to tell him what sort of flowers to send. ”

“You know my tastes very well, dear Julia. And now, I think we had best say goodbye. I feel certain our plans are the same--a lovely beauty nap before preparing for the ball, yes?”

Caroline congratulated herself as she parted from her friend.

Mr. Frank Montgomery was only one of several eligible gentlemen she could regard as conquests during her time at Bath.

Since Mr. Darcy was being uncommonly slow, Caroline had wisely decided that the time had come to shake off all sloth.

She had been amply rewarded for her efforts.

Mr. Montgomery was in his early thirties, tall and handsome, cultured enough to appreciate an accomplished lady.

He was certainly well-off financially. She felt that, properly nurtured, a mutual attachment might grow.

Caroline located the footman who had attended her and began the agreeable walk back to her uncle and aunt’s house in Laura Place.

She always made a point of walking across the Parade Gardens with their splendid views of the river and pleasant garden paths.

She lost herself in a pleasant reverie, envisioning herself at the ball in the new Pomona green gown and wondering what flowers Frank Montgomery would send for her to wear with it.

She was startled to hear a low grunt and a dreadful thud, and she whirled around to see her footman sprawled on the path, wig askew.

A quick glance revealed a wound to his temple with a slight, but ominous, trickle of blood.

She gathered her forces and screamed “Help! Murder!”

A man’s hand was clamped over her mouth, a man’s voice close to her ear said, “Don’t make a sound, miss and you’ll be all right.”

She bit down on the rude hand as hard as she could, heard a muffled curse, and then knew no more.

Caroline regained consciousness to find herself lying on the grass, head pillowed on the lap of a young lady she did not know.

There were voices all around her, and her face was being bathed with lavender water.

Her head ached unspeakably, and her ankle throbbed.

She heard the young lady say, “She is coming around, Robert. There appears to be some blood on the bodice of her gown.”

“What has happened, ma’am?” exclaimed a cultivated gentleman’s voice.

Caroline tried but failed to turn her head. “My footman! Please see to him.”

The gentleman approached and knelt on the ground. “Madam, I am afraid there is bad news. Your footman has not survived the attack.”

The lady took Caroline’s hand. “Help has been summoned, and others are searching for the attackers. Please allow me to make us known to you. I am Miss Maria Carter, and this is my brother, Sir Robert Carter. We are just arrived in Bath to stay with our cousins.”

Caroline could not manage a smile. “And I am Miss Caroline Bingley. I am here with my sister Mrs. Hurst to visit our aunt and uncle.”

“This has been an unspeakable ordeal for you, Miss Bingley. I see you are still in possession of your reticule. Were they robbers?”

“I cannot think what else they can have wanted.”

A few moments later, two constables, a surgeon, and several other men arrived.

The men went immediately to the footman, and the surgeon began to examine the corpse.

He began his report to the constables after a brief examination.

“The cause of death was a forceful blow to the right temple by a blunt object. In that region of the skull and brain, death would have been almost immediate. Help me turn him over, please.” One of the constables stepped forward, and they laid the man out on his back.

The surgeon untied the cravat, loosened the shirt, and looked quickly at the man’s chest. “The death occurred no more than fifteen or twenty minutes ago. There has not yet been time for the blood to pool in the lower-lying areas of the body, and the skin is still quite warm.” He began to compose the body into a decent attitude, straightening the man’s legs, closing his eyes, and crossing his hands over his breast. “I will examine him in my chambers, but there will not be much more to tell than that. Does anyone know his name?”

Caroline’s voice was weak. “Foster. Second footman to my uncle Mr. Bingley of Laura Place. I do not know his Christian name.”

The surgeon approached and knelt by Caroline, introducing himself as Mr. Fielding.

“We must remove your bonnet, Madam.” Miss Carter untied it gently and took it off for Caroline, handing it silently to the surgeon.

It was woven of a light summer straw with elegant trim, and the back had been entirely crushed.

The surgeon began exploring the back of Caroline’s head until he touched a place that caused her to cry out.

“You have received a blow to the back of your head, Madam, probably from the same object used to assault your footman. Fortunately, it was somewhat deflected by your bonnet, although it was strong enough to crush the straw.” He examined her eyes, asked her to follow various movements of his hands, and questioned her regarding the date, day of the week, and other details.

After moving on to her ankle, he sat back.

“The injury to your head is not serious, Madam, and there is every indication you will make a full recovery. However, complete bed rest will be necessary for several days at least. Such injuries can have unforeseen consequences. I will wait upon you at your uncle’s home in Laura Place this afternoon to examine you further.

Your ankle is sprained and will benefit from cold compresses.

I will bandage it this afternoon. Now, as to the blood on the bodice of your gown. ”

“It is not mine. It belongs to one of the attackers. I bit him.”

The senior of the two constables approached her and knelt. “Miss Bingley, this has been a terrible experience, and I am sorry to trouble you.”

“But not so terrible for me as it has been for poor Foster.”

“Yes, ma’am. We will need to call in the magistrate, and there may be a coroner’s inquest. I expect the magistrate will wish to wait upon you in a day or two, when you have recovered sufficiently to speak to him.”

“He is most welcome.”

“I will not detain you much longer. Can you tell us anything at all about the men who attacked you?”

“They came from behind. Obviously one of them dealt the blow to Foster. The other put his hand over my mouth and told me no harm would come to me if I kept quiet. I did not see either of them very well. Their hats were pulled down over their eyes. All I can tell you is that I believe I did serious harm to the one who held his hand over my mouth. I bit his left hand so hard that he was compelled to release me. And apparently I drew blood.” Caroline lay back, feeling decidedly unwell.

“It also seemed to me that he was missing part of his index finger on that hand. I did not bite it off—it was already gone.”

Sir Robert spoke up. “Miss Bingley, my sister and I would be honored to escort you home. Our carriage is just over there.” Caroline nodded, and he picked her up effortlessly and carried her to the waiting carriage. His sister followed close behind carrying Caroline’s reticule and the ruined bonnet.

The small party was received with consternation by the residents of the house in Laura Place. Caroline was transported upstairs by a stout footman, followed anxiously by her aunt, her sister Louisa, and Miss Carter.

Upstairs, Caroline allowed herself to be being undressed and put to bed.

She heard Miss Carter acquainting Louisa Hurst and the elder Mrs. Bingley with the surgeon’s name, the details of his examination, his recommendations for complete rest, and his intention of calling on the patient later in the afternoon.

“Mr. Fielding is well known to us,” said Mrs. Bingley. “I will see that his instructions are carried out with respect to the bed rest and cold compresses, and we will await his visit this afternoon.”

Miss Carter approached the bed. “Dear Miss Bingley, I am so very sorry this has happened to you. I will call on you in a day or two to see how you are progressing.”

Caroline managed a weak “Thank you,” and Miss Carter took her leave of the other two ladies and left to go downstairs and find her brother.

After the ladies had gone upstairs, Sir Robert asked to speak to the elder Mr. Bingley privately and was ushered into his library, where he quickly acquainted Caroline’s uncle with the known facts concerning the assault, the death of the footman, and the actions of the constables.

“We are most sincerely grateful to you for escorting my niece to us, Sir Robert, and for the kindness of yourself and your sister towards her.” Mr. Bingley was clearly experiencing both shock and perplexity.

“Foster was a good man who supported his widowed mother. I shall have to arrange to visit her and bring this dreadful news, as well as making arrangements for her care and future maintenance.”