Fanfiction flights of fancy notwithstanding, Caroline Bingley knew better than to give herself with airs with Darcy. That time when she overstepped her boundaries with him, he pretty quickly snapped her back into place ("one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance") -- firmly but kindly as a gentleman. Then, when she Darcy married Elizabeth, Caroline fell quickly into line and paid Mrs. Darcy every arrear of civility due. By the definition of aping her superiors, Caroline was not a snob. She knew who her superiors were and, after that one ill-chosen outburst, she remembered where she stood. She was unkind, short-sighted and probably never changed in essentials, but she did know her place and she knew better than to give herself airs. Again, I am talking Austen and not fanfiction.
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