Caroline Bingley’s Grand Plan (Pride and Prejudice Happily Ever Afters)

Caroline Bingley has spent years cultivating a dreadful reputation.

The outrageous gowns, the cutting remarks and the determination to offend every eligible gentleman in London are all part of a carefully laid plan.

If society believes her impossible to marry, no one can force her to give up the first love she left behind in Scarborough.

But when Charles Bingley leases Netherfield, Caroline discovers two complications she did not anticipate. The first is Elizabeth Bennet, who sees through her performance far too easily.

The second is Mr Darcy’s immediate and inconvenient fascination with Elizabeth.

Naturally, Caroline decides to help their love story along. As she manoeuvres Darcy and Elizabeth from mutual irritation into real admiration, a sudden illness brings Dr Thomas Parodi to Netherfield.

He is no longer the penniless young man Caroline once loved, but the years apart have left hurt, misunderstandings and one well-meaning but inept brother standing between them.

Now Caroline must decide whether she is brave enough to follow the advice she has been giving everyone else: stop scheming from the edges and fight openly for the man she loves.

A funny, romantic Pride and Prejudice variation featuring two intertwined love stories, friends to lovers, separated first loves, meddling Caroline Bingley, an obsessed Mr Darcy and a guaranteed happy ending.

This is a low-angst, closed-door romance of approximately 55,000 words.