Welcome to my Weekend Writing Warrior post. I'm continuing with the story of Caroline.
Mr. Darcy is dining with the Bingley's & Hurst's. He has announced it is tradition for his family to host a ball prior to the wedding. Darcy's family is noble and proud, spattered with various Earl's and Viscounts and Caroline well remembers the manners, or lack thereof, of the Bennet family.
“We host a ball Thursday prior to the wedding. As both Charles and I, along with our brides shall depart directly from the wedding breakfast, this is a chance for everyone to meet and become better acquainted in a less formal setting.”
“Are you quite sure you’re ready for your esteemed family to become better acquainted with your new in-laws, Darcy?” Caroline should have listened to the small voice of reason that urged her to temper her words, but still smarting over the set-down by Charles earlier in the day, she spoke without thought.
Darcy set down his eating utensils , leaned forward in the chair and speared her with a haughty look of contempt, his lips thinning in anger.
“Those who cannot accept this marriage are not welcome at Pemberley, Miss Bingley. Our wedding breakfast would not be a sad affair if there were one or two fewer settings at the table.”
She gripped her fork tight as she fought to control her emotions. However enraged she was at these two fools, she couldn’t allow herself to act upon her volatile feelings. She willed herself to smile and be congenial and took a bite of her salmon, which felt and tasted like sawdust in her mouth.Poor Caroline. When will she learn to dissemble her remarks in front of Mr. Darcy...?
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Oh my! Such intense undercurrents. Well done, Sue. (I am now going back to check everything I have missed before this scene.)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Darby's voice. Using Caroline Bingley as a character might be fraught with difficulties because she's such a confusing character. I never quite understood her.
ReplyDeleteBurn! What a set down! Nice, spicy scene, Sue!
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt, you get the tone just right!
ReplyDeleteThank you all. I firmly believe Caroline is a redeemable figure, but not without much angst.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover! Wonderful dialogue, but spoken and internal.
ReplyDelete"both" spoken and...
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt.
ReplyDeleteExcellent dialogue, Sue! This is sure to be an exciting story with such tension-filled scenes. Kudos! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really interesting story. I've never read P&P, but I'm vaguely familiar with the story.
ReplyDeleteJane Austen is an interesting author, nothing like what we are used to in contemporary terms. She has stood the test of time.
DeleteI'd love to see the moment where she snaps and puts him in his place for a change. ;)
ReplyDeleteNow THAT would make for another interesting story. Hmm.... plot bunnies abound.
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