Life After Darcy

By Joanna

London, 1812

"I hate her! I hate her! I hate her!" yelled Caroline Bingley walking around the room.

"Is there something wrong, Caroline?" asked Mrs Charles Bingley de domo Bennet, walking into the drawing room.

"Yes!..No!" Jane Bingley kept staring at her husband's sister.

"I mean I am just furious because I've seen a model of my new gown in the paper. I'll never go to this woman again."

Jane nodded and left Caroline alone. Jane knew very well that Caroline wasn't "hating" her gown maker and that such feelings she reserved, in private of course, for Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy. Particularly today, Caroline "could have reasons" to hate Mrs Darcy. Yesterday's ball at the Darcy Mansion was a great success of Mrs Darcy and was already called the event of the season. Half way up the stairs, Jane remembered something. It put a smile on her face. She walked down again and opened the door of the drawing room. Having spent with Mrs Darcy a lot of time, and knowing that Charles Bingley would support all her deeds, Jane walked into the drawing room, smiling sweetly:

"Caroline, I'm going to Mrs Darcy. Would you like to come with me?"

Caroline wanted to slap Jane but she was aware that had it ever reached the ears of Charles Bingley and it definitely would even if Jane did not tell him that personally, Caroline would never ever be welcomed in this house. She was also sure that Fitzwilliam Darcy would make sure she was received nowhere. Therefore, instead, Caroline smiled sweetly and answered:

"No, thank you Jane. I'd rather stay in. I think my headache is starting."

Jane returned the smile and with grace walked out of the room. She could imagine Mrs Darcy laughing when she would be telling her the story.

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While Jane was on her way to the Darcy Mansion, Caroline went to her rooms. Life without any hope that Darcy would ever marry her was being insupportable. At first, she could not believe that Darcy had actually proposed to Eliza Bennet. Then when she was told about it by at least twenty of her friends and her brother she could do nothing but believe it. When the engagement was announced, Caroline entertained a thought that something would happen. Things like Darcy coming to her in the middle of the night and kneeling in front of her, begging her to run away with him because his proposal to Eliza Bennet was a mistake and that in fact Caroline was always his only love, were always present when she was lying down for the night. This fantasy had to give way to reality when, Caroline heard Fitzwilliam Darcy professing marital vows to this Bennet thing.

Caroline arrived to London, hoping that Eliza drowns in Pemberley pond or that Darcy's dogs will eat her to the bones. Nothing like that happened and Mrs Darcy came to London for the season in full glory. Lord and Lady Matlock adored their new niece and stayed in very good relations with those Gardiners.

Caroline's last hope was yesterday's ball. She imagined to see Darcy unhappy. Maybe, sitting all alone on a terrace where she, Caroline Bingley would come and console him. She hoped that Darcy was dissatisfied with his marriage and would divorce this country cheek and marry her, Caroline Bingley. How great would Mrs Caroline Darcy sound. She has been learning the signature for months and years but… all her plans were in vain. Darcy was in love with his wife even more than before and the major gossip was that Mrs Darcy was expecting. That was too much for Caroline. She had to admit she was defeated. She could do nothing about it. Nothing but to learn to live her life after Darcy.

Caroline smiled to herself. She took out a sheet of paper and wrote down. Viscount David Wallingford

THE END