“You are a wise man; perhaps we can employ our time splitting wood this winter to keep us outside when the discussion of lace grows too intense.”
“What are your resources, Mr. Bingley?” Mr. Bennet asked. “I know the total number of acres that Mr. Lucas will inherit and the available lands I may be able to purchase for Mary’s dowry. What do you offer my daughter Jane aside from the reported five thousand a year?”
“I have many ambitions for a full life! Once the war with the French is finalized, trade with the continent will grow again. Can you imagine the ships of French wines that will sail into every port in the kingdom in the first year of peace?”
“I can,” Mr. Bennet replied. “My brother Gardiner speaks of such things every year and he has grown my personal wealth.”
“But you do not broadcast your wealth?”
“No, I do not want my daughters to be subject to scoundrels,” Bennet said.
Bingley nodded his head, “As the father of my intended, I shall share information with you that I prefer not be spread any further. I shall not tell Jane the full extent of our wealth until after we are married.”
“A very wise decision,” Mr. Bennet replied.
“My wealth is at least twice the numbers often passed around by the ladies,” Bingley answered. “I shall share documentation of my wealth with you next spring when we prepare the marriage settlement.”
“Very good,” Bennet replied. “Now, you must understand that Miss Bennet – Jane – has a substantial dowry after settlement of the business in Antigua. She will bring almost six thousand to the wedding as a dowry.”
“Should I invest the dowry in a farm?” Charles asked.
“It is what the gentry have done for many generations but I understand there are more substantial incomes to be had in trade.”
“Trade does not guarantee income,” Bingley said as the two men began a discussion that lasted almost thirty minutes.
++**++
When the door of the library opened, Mr. Bennet found his second daughter sitting entirely too close to Mr. Darcy with his grandson’s sleeping head on the gentleman’s shoulder.
“I shall join the ladies,” Bingley said passing the couple and child.
For a moment, Mr. Bennet considered sending Elizabeth to the parlour but then relented. “I see that Matthew has begun to nap. Will you bring him along Mr. Darcy? Elizabeth, will you join us?”
Watching his second daughter lead Mr. Darcy into his library, Mr. Bennet smiled seeing the man’s consideration of his daughter and grandson. With the door closed, Mr. Bennet addressed the couple, “Elizabeth, my understanding is that the Earl of Bailey is in favour of your marriage with Mr. Darcy.”
“Yes, Father,” Elizabeth replied blushing. “When Mr. Darcy proposed, I found that I had lost my voice and Matthew’s smiles were my answer.”
“I do not approve of a peer arranging marriages at such an early age,” Mr. Bennet replied as his daughter and her young man exchanged worried glances. “He might feel it is his place to arrange marriages for his brothers and sisters.”
Darcy grinned though it took Elizabeth a moment longer to understand the implications of her father’s statement. “Now, Mr. Darcy – Elizabeth has told me that you have a neighbouring estate in Derbyshire.”
“Yes sir. My family has held Pemberley since the reign of Queen Elizabeth.”
“A long time sir,” Mr. Bennet agreed. “And the state of your affairs?”
“Father!”
“Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy must know that I shall take great care before giving permission for him to marry you. He will have great influence on Matthew’s estate for over twenty years – I must be assured that he is not a scoundrel who will squander your settlement and Matthew’s incomes.”
Darcy nodded, “I understand and agree, sir.”
“His Lordship has made many arrangements with the solicitors to protect Matthew’s estate and my settlement. His Lordship asked me to enter a long engagement to assure everyone concerned that my next husband is not a spendthrift.”
Now Mr. Darcy’s face was concerned. “How long of an engagement?”
Sliding closer to Mr. Darcy than propriety allowed in the presence of her father, Elizabeth replied, “I believe that my father and Earl Rutherford will agree that spring will be long enough.”
“Mr. Bennet, last week I met with Mr. Gardiner to begin negotiations for a marriage settlement. He can provide you with information on my finances.”
“And how entangled are you with Mr. Bingley’s business concerns?”
Darcy nodded, “Mr. Bingley and I have mixed trade and connections since university to our mutual benefit. But we do not publicize our success.”
“The rumour of ten thousand a year…”
“Is accurate for my estates in Derbyshire,” Darcy completed but realized that Mr. Bennet wanted more. “My total income is another seven thousand a year from trade.”
“And we are expanding into goose feathers, Father,” Elizabeth replied.
“With the number of letters we shall all be writing, I believe that we shall all have to begin raising geese,” Mr. Bennet told his beloved daughter.
“I shall write to Earl Rutherford and invite him to visit Longbourn and meet Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said. “Once His Lordship gives his approval, we can publish the banns and you can marry in the spring.”
“I have already invited the Earl to visit Papa. He is coming for the ball at Netherfield,” Elizabeth replied. She smiled, “I had to secure this man quickly before he came to his senses!”
++**++
When the last of the gentlemen departed his library, Thomas Bennet sat back in his chair for a moment. When he left London the previous morning, he anticipated a warm greeting from all his dear family, but never entertained the notion of meeting three future sons in one afternoon. His wife – his Fanny – came into the library and moved to stand by his chair.
“Three daughters married,” he said as he took his wife’s hand and kissed it before rising to stand at her side. “Tell me my dear, where shall I voyage next year so that Kitty and Lydia may find husbands while I am gone?”
“You will never leave me again, Mr. Bennet!” insisted Mrs. Bennet embracing her husband as Kitty and Lydia watched from the door. “I shall hide all of your boots if ever you talk of a voyage again or a trip to town without me by your side!”
“My dear, it will all be well,” Mr. Bennet said. “But we have guests –the young men who are courting our eldest daughters.”
“Let our daughters entertain them,” she replied. “I shall not leave your side.”
“Very well,” Mr. Bennet said. “Let us go into the parlour together.”
++**++
“Papa, has anyone told you of Mr. Collins?” asked Lydia at the dinner table that evening.
“And who is Mr. Collins, Lydia? Is he courting you?” Mr. Bennet asked his youngest child.
“No! Never Mr. Collins!” Lydia insisted with her eyes wide and looking at her sisters who began giggling before Mrs. Bennet quietly admonished her daughters for more lady-like behaviour at the supper table.
“Mr. Collins is your cousin, Mr. Bennet,” she told her husband. “And I shall speak to you of him after our guests have left for the evening.”
++**++
Chapter 44.
Miss Bingley’s Last Dinner at Longbourn
Laughter and smiles returned to Longbourn in the next two days as all efforts were put toward preparation of a supper celebration fitting the occasion of Mr. Bennet’s return. At Netherfield, Mr. Bingley imposed upon his cook to prepare desserts for the great supper and addressed the only unhappy member of his household.
“I prefer to remain behind tonight,” Caroline said at tea after bemoaning the lack of cake or tarts with the refreshments. “I shall sup alone rather than attend the Bennet celebration.”
“But Caroline, there will be no supper served tonight,” Louisa said. “Our kitchen is making desse
rts to send to Longbourn for the supper.”
“No supper!” Caroline bemoaned. “Even in London, there would be a crust of bread and butter!”
“Please sister, I would have you join in the merriment! Everyone is celebrating!” Charles implored. “How often does a father return home after being gone for a year?”
First sniffing with disdain, Caroline then sighed excessively and agreed, “I suppose. But promise me that I may use the carriage to return anytime I choose!”
“Very well, you may return anytime you choose.”
++**++
“Mr. Darcy, may I speak with you?”
Darcy stood with Matthew wrapped within his right arm and Elizabeth on his left arm. “Certainly Miss Bingley, how may I help you this evening?”
Frowning at the child and his mother, Caroline said, “I would speak with you privately.”
Glancing about the parlour, filled with Meryton’s gentry, their laughter, and voices, Darcy smiled and answered, “Perhaps another time would be more convenient? It is a crowded house this evening.”
“Miss Bingley, is there anything you need?” Elizabeth asked politely. “The servants…”
“I need to speak with Mr. Darcy – alone. Since my brother threw him out of Netherfield, I have not had two words with him in private.”
Blushing at Caroline’s reminder of the unpleasant episode, Darcy and Elizabeth noticed that several other persons were now listening to the conversation. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth were watching with alarm on their faces and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were uncomfortable with the conversation.
“I find that I cannot accommodate you Miss Bingley,” Darcy said. “You will excuse me as it is time to take Matthew up to his bed.” Darcy shifted a sleepy child to his other arm and Elizabeth’s face brightened with his words.
“I wonder at your attachment to that little pig! The boy is going to be fat when he grows. And you simply must put him down sometime! Otherwise how is the child to learn to walk?”
“Miss Bingley!” Charlotte Lucas cried stepping between Elizabeth and Caroline with Mr. Fielding on her arm. “You are a guest in this house!”
“Oh, I am tired of everyone praising the Bennet family! Everyone praises Mrs. Hamilton’s fine fashions and beautiful horses! The gentlemen court Mrs. Bennet’s lovely daughters! Everyone loves Mrs. Hamilton’s handsome son – but the boy is a nothing but pinch-faced piglet’!”
There was silence in the room when Caroline continued, “For me, I wish never to sit with another member of Mrs. Hamilton’s family for dinner, supper or tea! I shall never set foot in Longbourn again!”
The silence became heavy and surrounded Miss Bingley completely as she found the undivided attention of the whole of Meryton gentry upon her before she called, “And I charge each of you to tell everyone I declared this to be so!”
When no one said anything, Caroline turned to her brother, “Charles! Summon the carriage! I want to go home!”
Stepping forward quickly, Charles Bingley escorted his sister from the parlour and toward the front door.
“Mr. Hill, would you summon my carriage?” Bingley asked the butler who sent the stable boy around the house for the Bingley carriage.
“Really Charles, I cannot stand another minute in this house!”
“Put on your wrap Caroline,” Charles said thrusting the garment into Caroline’s hands when Mrs. Barrow retrieved it.
“Help me,” she said holding the wrap out in her hands
“I do not trust myself to strangle you with it, Caroline. Put it on and be silent.”
“I shall do no such thing,” Caroline said still holding the wrap out to her brother. “Ladies do not…”
“There are many things that ladies do not do, sister and you have proven once again that you have no notion of what being a lady means.”
Charles opened the door and escorted his sister outside to wait in the cold night air where she quickly threw the wrap over her shoulders.
++**++
The Bingley carriage pulled around to the front of Longbourn and Mr. Hill held a torch aloft for some light when Mr. Bingley escorted his younger sister to the carriage. He signed for the coachman to remain in the box, opened the door and helped Caroline in.
“Really, Charles, you are making much of nothing,” she argued. But her brother would not speak to her or look at her. He shut the door and turned to the coachman.
“Take Miss Bingley to Netherfield and then return. If she is reluctant to exit the carriage when you arrive at the house, ask Mrs. Hobbes to deal with my sister.”
“Charles! Whatever do you mean?” cried Caroline, but Charles had turned his back on his sister and walked back into Longbourn. Hill waited until Mr. Bingley was inside before setting the torch back inside the metal basket away from the house. Inside the door, Jane Bennet waited for Charles and she took his hand before leading him back into the parlour.
++**++
Chapter 45.
In Which Miss Bingley Leaves for London
It was late in the morning before Caroline appeared in the dining room at Netherfield. There were no dishes remaining and she frowned; the housekeeper was obeying her brother about ending the breakfast time at ten so she sought him out. Directed to the library by the footman, she had to open the door herself. He ignored her when she entered and she frowned again.
“Charles, I do not feel that I can endure the preparations and company involved with the ‘ball’ you are hosting,” Caroline whined as she dropped herself in a very unladylike fashion into a chair before his desk in the library. Scattering sand over the business letter he had just finished, Charles Bingley looked around the room before replying; the steward politely kept his attention on the account books.
“I believe it would be best if you were not in residence when I welcome my neighbours for the ball but I would prefer to discuss this matter after supper. May we wait until tonight, Caroline?”
“No,” she replied. “I should like to write my own letters this afternoon and accept invitations from friends in London.”
“Who is still in town in November?”
“The Robertson family is at their house in town through the end of the month – they are waiting for Mr. Robertson’s brother to return from the West Indies before retiring to the country for the winter.”
“And who else?”
“I propose to spend the first week with Mrs. Helen Myers and the second week with Abigail Robertson.”
Charles could not keep the look of surprise off his face. “Last time you spoke of these ladies, I believe you described Mrs. Myers as a ‘parrot with no taste’, and Miss Robertson as a ‘heifer’. Why do you want to spend time with them now?”
“I was tired the last time I spoke of them,” she answered. “They have proven themselves to be reliable correspondents this fall and I wish to return to town.” She paused and added, “I have my allowance – it will not cost you any coin.”
“How will you travel?”
“Can I not use the carriage to travel to town?”
“I suppose,” he replied. “But the driver and team will not stay in town.”
“Do you intend that I rent a cab for every trip in town?”
“It would be presumptuous to expect your hosts to provide room and board for horses and a driver as well.”
“Oh, very well. But I will expect the carriage to return at the end of the fortnight to bring me back into the wild lands of Hertfordshire.”
“Agreed but make certain my coachman has the direction for your return. When do you wish to leave for London?” Charles asked.
“Mrs. Myers expects me on Monday. I shall stay with her one week and then with Miss Robertson for one week and return that Friday.”
“Very well,” Charles agreed.
“Can we not open the house in town for the winter?” Caroline asked. “Mr. Darcy has made it clear that he has no interest in me and I shall not waste my gowns or talents on him or any other person in Hertfordshire!”
/>
Now Charles ignored his sister and she soon disappeared above stairs to write her letters.
++**++
On her second day in London, Caroline hired a new maid and endeavoured to treat the girl well. She appreciated having her clothing cared for and her hair well-done. That afternoon, Mrs. Myers welcomed three other ladies for tea – she wanted to show off her fashionable friend to her acquaintances.
“Miss Bingley, I understand from Mrs. Myers that you have spent the past two months in company with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” one lady said.
Appreciative of the power that a recognizable name held among the ranks of social climbers anxious to slip into parties, dinners and entertainments with recognized members of the ton, Caroline smiled and shared stories about Darcy’s figure, dancing prowess and powerful horses. During the tea, some of the ladies mentioned rumours that the new Earl of Bailey was hiding in Hertfordshire.
“Mr. Darcy and the Earl of Bailey both in Hertfordshire!” one lady said. “Tell us Miss Bingley, are you engaged to Mr. Darcy? Have you met the Earl of Bailey?”
“I am not engaged and I am sworn to secrecy on all personages in attendance,” Caroline replied. “But I imagine that if the Earl of Bailey were in Hertfordshire, he would not be found on any of the estates around Meryton. The people are very rustic with poor manners and poorer fashion sense. Many of the ladies sew their own dresses!”
++**++
On the day that she moved from Mrs. Myer’s home to the Robertson’s home, Caroline discussed all the rumours with her two friends.
“Why everyone believes that Bailey would choose to hide in Hertfordshire, I do not know,” Caroline confided with Abigail and Mrs. Myers. “There is nothing there but sheep and cows.”
“Caroline, what shall we do this week? View the mummies in the museums?” Abigail said. “You return to your brother’s house in just five days…”
Follies and Nonsense Page 36
