Several years ago, I shared this image on a Wednesday right before the Thursday on which I posted the chapter from which the quote is taken. Back then, I was just beginning the writing of my Marrying Elizabeth series, and I was posting it on Thursdays as I wrote. Below is a portion of that Thursday’s chapter. (It was chapter 11 if you’re curious.)
Until the end of January 2023, you can download Confounding Caroline for FREE at your favourite ebook retailer. I have put links to the book below the excerpt for those who don’t have this book in their collection yet.
“Hurst,” Bingley greeted his brother-in-law as he sat down at the table which had just been vacated by the men who had been playing cards with Mr. Hurst.
Hurst grunted something of a greeting. “I cannot tolerate her.” He waved his glass at a footman for a refill. “Louisa, I can abide on most days, but Caroline?” He shook his head. “And she does not have a pleasing effect on her sister. It is not right that I should be saddled with both of your sisters.” He took a large gulp from his fresh glass of port.
“She is here?” Bingley asked calmly. He could understand the man’s displeasure. Caroline was demanding and often in a foul mood if things were not done as she wished them done. He could only imagine just how cantankerous Caroline was at present with her spending curtailed, her residence moved, and her schemes to see him married to one of her friends at an end.
“She will be at any venue where there is a chance of foisting her off on some poor swain,” he replied with no little amount of determination.
“Do you think you could pretend she is not the extreme burden she is for a few moments?” Hurst in his current state would be of no help in convincing Sir Matthew to meet Caroline.
Hurst lifted a skeptical brow. “Is there a good reason for such a performance?”
Bingley smiled and nodded as he settled back into his chair. “Indeed, there is. His name is Sir Matthew Broadhurst.”
Hurst’s head tipped to the side, and his glass returned to the table without a drop of its contents being consumed. “Continue.”
“Sir Matthew is in need of wife before he can claim the entirety of his inheritance. We are in need of someone – anyone – to marry Caroline. He is willing to meet her, but I am sure you can see how my introducing him to her would not make his acceptance a possibility of even minuscule size.”
Leaning back in his chair and wearing a half-pleased expression, Hurst cradled his port in his hand, taking a small sip before stating what both men knew to be true. “She’ll not have him no matter who introduces him to her. He’s not Darcy.”
“She will never have Darcy.”
“Aye, we both know that, but she’s as daft as a duck trying to swim in a frozen pond.”
(And that last line is one of my all-time favourite lines about Caroline. Thank you, Mr. Hurst, for such an apt description of Caroline. 😀 )
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I agree with Hurst! That is the best description of Caroline Bingley “as daft as a duck swimming in a frozen pond.”
🙂 She most certainly was that in this story!