They soon arrived at Purvis Lodge and greeted their father in the front. It was a large house, half the size of Rosings Park but a very pleasant manor, even if the attics were rumoured to be dreadful.
~*~
“Who is that young lady with the handsome officer?” Caroline Bingley asked Jane Bennet while they walked together in Meryton the next day. Jane was introducing Miss Bingley to the merchants in the little town and they had seen Captain Wickham strolling.
Jane smiled and answered, “That is Miss Mary King with Captain Wickham. Her uncle resides about two miles from here and they are wonderful neighbours. They are engaged and will be married in July.”
Caroline huffed, “She is a freckly little thing but I suppose she is pretty enough. Pray tell, she must not have a significant dowry, Jane. I cannot imagine any of the ladies in this bac... lovely town to have large fortunes.”
“She received an inheritance only a few days ago, Caroline, and has £10,000 now.” Jane innocently replied. “But as far as I am aware, no one has a large fortune here since we live peacefully, without too many concerns about wealth or connections.”
“Good, good.” Caroline changed the subject. “I am desperately hoping to find a good seamstress here who can help me with my dresses. I do not understand it but my modiste seems to have made an error with several of my dresses and they are not fitting as snug as they should.” Caroline smiled as she relaxed. “I have heard that Lord and Lady Matlock are to arrive next week for their son’s wedding here. How marvellous! It is commonly believed that one wedding leads to another.”
Jane smiled brightly, “Well, in fact, my sister Lizzy will be ma...”
Caroline turned and yelled loudly, interrupting Jane’s sentence. “MR. DARCY! CHARLES! How wonderful to see you in Meryton, sir!” She abandoned her dear friend’s side quickly to approach the gentlemen who were dismounting.
Charles smiled and walked rapidly to the lovely woman he was courting to converse with her, while William rolled his eyes discreetly at the overdressed woman approaching him with a false smile on her face.
William observed the woman in the bright daylight and wondered what he had found so attractive before. She had a pleasant face but her eyes were void of compassion. Her figure was lacking, with her thin frame that made her appear shrivelled and older than her actual age, and that woman had nothing to his dear Lizzy’s womanly curves. Miss Bingley’s teeth were tolerable but after falling in love with Lizzy, this woman before him was utterly undesirable, compared to the spirited, beautiful, and the most affectionate woman he had ever known.
“Miss Bingley, how do you do?” William cordially nodded. “I hope you are finding Meryton pleasant.”
“I do now, Mr. Darcy!” Caroline simpered. “It brings me most pleasure to be here with you,” she grabbed his arm and wrapped hers around it seductively, “and I hope we can advance our... friendship... while I reside here.” She fluttered her lashes.
William brusquely pulled his arm from her grasp and stood further away from her. “Miss Bingley, I do not believe you are aware of the latest but I have no wish to continue anything with you. I apologise if you were under the impression that I was interested in you but I made my calls to your home for Charles’ sake and I am utmost happy in my current situation.” He glared at her, “I am in love with the most wonderful lady in all of England and I will be bound to her for the rest of my life. I will never...”
Caroline did the unthinkable at that moment out of desperation and leapt onto William’s body, wrapping her arms around his neck in attempt to kiss him. She thought that if she could appear compromised in public, he would have to marry her and that this other woman Mr. Darcy was interested in would be forgotten quickly, and she would achieve her goal to gain Fitzwilliam Darcy as her husband.
“TAKE YOUR LOUSY HAND OFF HIM!” Caroline heard a shout, as she was being pushed off by Mr. Darcy and her brother was pulling her from his friend.
She saw Elizabeth Bennet approaching with fire in her eyes and sneered at the hoyden who was several inches shorter than herself. Caroline composed herself and lifted her nose in the air in challenge. “He is mine, Eliza Bennet, and I know he wants me. He called on me three times, did you know? What man calls three times if he is not serious? I care not if you think he is a brother to you. He has compromised me in public and he must make his intentions known now.”
Lizzy protectively wrapped her arm around William’s and glared at the tall woman. She next turned her eyes to Charles Bingley and growled quietly, “Unless your sister apologises to Will and myself, I will challenge you to a duel, Charles Bingley. I dare not strike your sister but I will fight you for Will’s honour if she does not apologise.”
Charles Bingley was caught completely unawares and chuckled loudly, believing that Lizzy had been jesting. “I could not duel you, Miss Elizabeth! It would not be fair! You are only a woman, after all.”
William hid his snort and lifted his beloved’s hand to kiss it. It was her left hand with the massive blue diamond on it and Miss Bingley had caught view of the incredible jewellery straightaway.
“YOU ARE ENGAGED??” She shrieked. “WHO IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD MARRY YOU?!”
William now spoke out while wrapping his arm around Lizzy’s shoulder, “I begged her to marry me, twice, Miss Bingley, and she has finally accepted me. One would have to be insane to not love such a woman.” He turned his scowl to Charles, “Bingley, my betrothed is certainly a woman and she is an extraordinary one. She
