Sweet Caroline: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

When Caroline Bingley first arrives in Meryton with her brother's household, she dismisses the local society as entirely beneath her notice—until she realizes Mr. Darcy's growing fascination with Elizabeth Bennet poses a threat to her own carefully laid plans. Determined to prevent any possibility of a match, Caroline orchestrates her brother's departure from Hertfordshire to sever his attachment to Jane Bennet, believing this will remove the entire Bennet family from their circle and bring her one step closer to becoming the future Mrs. Darcy. Armed with her imported French perfumes, carefully rehearsed curtseys, and the ingenious assistance of her lady's maid Adèle, Caroline launches a calculated campaign to secure the most eligible gentleman in London. But as her schemes meet with increasingly frigid responses from Mr. Darcy and quiet resistance from his household, Caroline begins to question whether her machinations serve anyone's happiness—including her own. When her most extreme manipulations fail to capture her prey, she must decide if being mistress of Pemberley is worth the cost to those she claims to hold dear, especially herself. Told from Caroline Bingley's perspective, this 50,000-word novella offers a fresh look at Pride and Prejudice's most notorious social climber. While Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's romance unfolds in the background, Caroline's journey takes center stage as she navigates the glittering ballrooms of London society and confronts uncomfortable truths about herself. Through witty social commentary and moments of painful self-reflection, Caroline discovers that perhaps the greatest obstacle to her happiness is not Elizabeth Bennet's rural charms, but her own carefully constructed facade. Reading This novel focuses primarily on Caroline Bingley's character development and personal journey, with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy appearing only as secondary characters whose famous romance serves as a backdrop to Caroline's story. Readers seeking a fresh take on a familiar tale will find themselves unexpectedly sympathizing with one of literature's most misunderstood social climbers.