Read Caroline Bingley: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice for Free Online Page A

mortar as he is."
    Caroline, for once, agreed with her mother's assessment, but she did not say so.
    "Not at all, Mrs. Newton," Rosemary said. "His descriptions have been most instructive."
    "Well, then you will certainly have your fill of instruction here," Mrs. Newton said. "Now, come along, for I have had the servants lay a tray of cold meats."
    "That is very kind, Mrs. Newton," Rosemary said as she lagged a bit behind the others. "But shall I not oversee the trunks while you enjoy your time with your daughter?"
    "Indeed, I shall not hear of it, Mrs. Pickersgill, though it is kind of you to offer." Mrs. Newton led the women along the hallway, turning to share her joyous smile with them. "I am in a mood to celebrate my daughter's arrival, and you must take part. Were it up to me, we would have killed the fatted calf and celebrated all night now that Caro is home, but I did try to be sensible. Though there is a bit of ham on the tray."
    Mrs. Newton pushed open the sitting room door to discover a blond-haired gentleman standing over the selection of meats and bread. "I see that we are not the first to discover the refreshments," she said with a laugh.
    The gentleman turned and smiled broadly. His blue eyes rested on Caroline before they returned to her mother. "Guilty. This elegant display was too tempting to resist."
    Intrigued, Caroline studied the man. He was average in height or a little taller, but he had a breadth of shoulder and a depth of musculature that gave him the appearance of being larger. He seemed familiar, but she could not quite place him.
    "Ah, Rushton," Mr. Newton said from the doorway. "Once you have filled your plate, join me in the study so that the ladies may not be bothered by business. I have some design ideas for the Fairmont Bridge."
    Rushton.
    Caroline narrowed her eyes as the gentleman acknowledged Mr. Newton's request with a nod and a wave of his plate. Yes, she remembered him now.
    Patrick Rushton. He was the son of the unfortunate Mr. James Rushton of Keswick. While the Bingleys had been ascending in wealth and status, the Rushton family was in decline. Through several generations, they owned a large tract of land that included a graphite quarry, but the mine was yielding less graphite, and with each passing year the Rushton clan had fallen a little lower.
    When Caroline was a young girl, she could remember her parents discussing the elder Mr. Rushton's decision to support his family by selling as much land as was permitted in the entail. By the time Mr. Rushton had died, he had already divested himself of much of his property in order to pay his debts, and still they were not satisfied. By now, their circumstances must be dire indeed, and their family home had likely fallen into hopeless disrepair.
    How very pitiable to lose one's wealth and standing in such a way.
    Based on her memories of Mr. Patrick Rushton, Caroline thought it was unlikely that he would be the one to rescue the family from their plight. She remembered him as an insolent sort of youth, and based on the fact that he was currently engaged in stealing food from her mother's sitting room, he was, in her estimation, unchanged in adulthood.
    "Caroline, my dear," Mrs. Newton said, "you remember Mr. Rushton, do you not? Our families have been acquainted for generations, you know, though I do not believe you ever played together as children, for he was a bit older than you. He was at university, I think, when you went to the seminary in town."
    "Yes, Mama, I do remember Mr. Rushton." Caroline strode forward and curtseyed with extreme decorum. "Mr. Rushton, how very..."--she chose the word carefully--"surprising it is to see you in my mother's home."
    Mr. Rushton studied her for a moment before setting his plate aside and bowing in return. "Miss Bingley," said he in an ironical tone, his eyes mischievous, "the years have not altered you, I find."
    Caroline blinked at his tone but was not distracted enough to neglect her duty. "You