An Escape from London: Three Sisters from Hertfordshire, #3

By Meg Osborne

Caroline Bingley is trapped in London with her newly-married brother and his wife, watching, miserably, as her future prospects for marriage and happiness shrink. When her brother invites a new acquaintance into their home she is immediately on her guard, for the gentleman puts her on edge, if indeed he can be called gentleman at all.

 

John Ashton has made it as far as London in his quest to travel abroad. He is determined not to forfeit the promise he made to his brothers in Derbyshire: he is changed, and he tarries only long enough to make arrangements for his ongoing journey. However, he does not foresee crossing paths with Mr Bingley and his wife, nor being swept into their circle, and he certainly does not foresee the amusing diversion of Caroline Bingley. The pair may not be in love, but they can certainly help one another, and doing so might change the course of both of their futures…

 

After the events of Pride and Prejudice that brought Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy together, can a certain Bingley sister find her Happily-Ever-After?

 

An Escape from London is the third book in the Three Sisters from Hertfordshire series, a continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meg Osborne
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386136569

Meg Osborne

Meg Osborne is an avid reader, tea drinker and unrepentant history nerd.  She writes sweet historical romance stories and Jane Austen fanfiction, and can usually be found knitting, dreaming up new stories, or adding more books to her tbr list than she'll get through in a lifetime.

Book preview

Chapter One

W ould you like to call on Mr and Mrs Burton or Mr and Mrs Leigh today?

The choice is yours, my dear. I am quite content to accompany you to whichever home you favour. I will be happy, as long as we are together...

Caroline Bingley smothered a groan, fixing her stare with such ferocity on the book she was trying to read that the words blurred and became double with the effort. Living with her brother and his new wife was more of a trial than she had imagined it would be, for the pair were so happy and in love that neither wished to counter the other on even the most trifling matter, so no decisions were made and one was forced to endure a perpetual billing and cooing as if they were a pair of lovesick turtle doves, and not, as Caroline had once credited them, sensible, rational creatures.

They must have left both sense and rational thought at the altar, Caroline mused. If that is the only future one is guaranteed by marriage, perhaps I should be grateful I have thus far avoided it!

But Caroline was not grateful. If there was one bitterness she nursed that rankled deeper than the sickening interactions of her brother and his bride it was that she, Caroline Bingley, had been left quite utterly and unceremoniously alone, whilst not only Jane Bennet had managed to marry, but her sister Elizabeth as well. And she to Fitzwilliam Darcy!

Well, Caroline sniffed. It is not as if I ever truly cared for Mr Darcy in any case, but he is more foolish than I believed to have chosen Elizabeth Bennet as his wife. I dare say they will be happy together, but I doubt very much that wedded bliss reigns in Pemberley quite as peacefully as it does here in London!

She must have stirred, then, or made some sound that betrayed her presence, reminding Charles and Jane that they were not alone in the parlour.

Oh, you are welcome to come and join us, Caroline, Jane Bingley said, with a warm smile that betrayed no malice. I am sure you would be quite as welcome at either house as we would.

Caroline was rather less convinced, recalling one angry exchange she had shared with the new Mrs Burton when that lady was still Miss Cartwright and wondered if she would be quite as welcome as Jane seemed to suppose.

Yes, Caro, you may come if you wish!

Charles meant well and was a picture of politeness, but his voice fell flat and Caroline was left convinced that he was nowhere near as eager as his wife that she take them up on their offer.

A flash of disappointment gave way to indignation. Charles might care less for her company now that he had Jane hanging off his every word, but she was no charity case.

I am perfectly capable of finding my own entertainments! she declared, lifting her book a little higher as a prop. I have been trying to read all morning, and dare say I will have more success once the house is quiet!

This was a pointed comment and one which certainly landed as far as Jane was concerned. Caroline’s new sister-in-law frowned, dropping her head apologetically and laying a hand on her husband’s.

You are quite right, dear, she said, softly. Charles, we have been very thoughtless in continuing on with our conversation when Caroline wishes to read. How annoying she must find our constant indecision! She laughed, gently, and Caroline immediately repented of all her unkind thoughts towards her new sister. Why could Charles not have chosen someone with at least a few flaws? She despaired. It was impossible to feel anything other than affection for sweet-tempered Jane, even when she had entirely upset the balance of the Bingley family, and left Caroline forever relegated to the status of guest in the house where she had formerly been mistress.

I know! Charles beamed, delighted to have discovered a solution to their problem. What say we call on both families? That way honour may be satisfied, and we need not fret over making a decision at all. Huzzah! Now, dear me, I wonder which we ought to call on first...

Forestalling the likelihood of yet another long whispered discussion, Caroline was the one to offer a solution.

The Burtons live closest, so perhaps you would be well served to begin there. Your route to the Leighs might take you through the park, then, should you wish it to. She paused, fixing her eyes upon Jane and smiling, wanting to make good of any fleeting bitterness that might have developed between them. It is such fine weather, dear, and I know how you love to see the ducks on the pond.

A jolly suggestion! Charles exclaimed, standing and making for the door as if he intended to execute it that very instant.

His wife stood, smiling at his enthusiasm, but as she passed Caroline’s chair she paused, laying a hand on her shoulder and squeezing it. Caroline was so touched by the gentleness of the gesture that she glanced up, and was surprised to see a glimmer of concern in Jane’s pale eyes.

Perhaps you would care to join us for a turn around the park, Caroline? she asked, nodding towards the window. You are right, the weather is quite lovely today and I do not like to think of you holed up inside and poring over a book. That is the perfect recipe for a headache. Why not meet us there on the hour, and we might watch the ducks with their funny ways, and get some fresh air. You need not continue on with us to call on the Leighs, but return home. It will be a little interlude in the day for you, at least, and one always stumbles across an acquaintance or two who have also chosen that particular park to walk in.

The invitation was sincerely given, and Caroline felt so touched by Jane’s evident care for her that she nodded, hesitantly at first, but then with confidence. She dropped her eyes to her book, not wanting to appear too eager, and said, with a sigh.

I shall see what progress I make on my book. I expect I shall be so caught up in its delights that I shall scarcely wish to leave it, but if I do then I shall endeavour to meet you for a short turn. She cleared her throat. Please give my regards to Mrs Burton, and to her husband, of course. Enjoy your afternoon!

JOHN ASHTON HAD ALWAYS been fond of London. The hustle and bustle of the town, the likely guarantee that, were he to step inside any one of a dozen public houses he would receive a warm welcome from a number of friends who frequented such places. He was less fond of London in his current state. After what seemed like a lifetime of causing disappointment wherever he went, he had pledged, at last, to change. His parting promise to his brothers, one elder, Henry, one younger, Robert, had been that he was, at last, to turn from his old way of doing things, and make something of himself.

Of course, I promised to do this abroad. He smiled grimly. I am sure neither one wagered upon me only reaching as far as London.

It was a temporary pause in his long journey. He still fully intended to continue on to India, but if he wanted a chance of making a success of life abroad he would need connections and those were best made in London. However, having promised to avoid the drinking and gambling dens where he had formally always been welcome, making these connections was more than a little difficult.

It was for this purpose that John found himself taking a leisurely walk of St. James’s Park, one particularly bright afternoon. He was at a loss for occupation, at present, and his attempts to arrange meetings with those friends of his who would be most helpful to his starting a new life in the colonies had either gone unanswered or, at the very least, delayed until tomorrow. His day was open, then. And yet, he did not want to languish indoors. Such pursuits led him inexorably to reflection, and too much reflection led him to brandy. He had made many promises like this to his brothers before now, but this time he was determined. He would not let them down again. He felt as if he had reached a precipice, and continuing in his old ways would surely send him plummeting right over the edge.

Reaching a bench, he sat, stretching his long legs out in front of him, and watching a family of small children frolic on the grass not too far away. It would not be too long before his brothers became fathers, he supposed. Henry had been bound for Georgiana Darcy as long as he had known her. They would be happy, he thought. Her brother, Fitzwilliam Darcy, could find no fault in Henry’s character. If he was not thrilled by the man’s fortune or social