"Your brother is right, Georgie," added Richard grimly. "You made a mistake, but you came to us and confessed, and we can ask no more from you than that. And you even thought of a reasonably intelligent solution. I am prouder of your courage than I can say. But for now, what are we to do about Mrs Younge and Wickham?"
As it turned out,there was nothing to do about Mr Wickham. Fitzwilliam interrogated Mrs Younge, who told them where the man was lodging. When Fitzwilliam visited the place, the landlady informed him that Mr Wickham had left some time ago, and had not been gone long before he returned in a terrible hurry, stowing his few belongings in a sack, paying her because he could not avoid it, and then left in great haste, claiming to have been notified of a family emergency. All Fitzwilliam could think was that Wickham had come to the house, found Darcy’s carriage in the crescent, and fled.
They did not feel that they could prosecute Mrs Younge without harming Georgiana’s reputation, and some instinct whispered to Darcy that he may need Mrs Younge someday to locate Wickham, and so his bloodthirsty cousin was persuaded to let the woman go without a reference.
They remained in Ramsgate for one week, to avoid the impression that anyone had run off or left in haste. Word was spread amongst their few acquaintances in Ramsgate that Georgiana’s guardians were present because her companion’s mother had taken ill. They dined at the house of the magistrate, Darcy and Richard taking note thatGeorgiana had chosen well those she would have trusted, and left Ramsgate without any of the residents having noticed that anything might have been amiss. Richard finally heard from his general and left them for Portsmouth, while Darcy and Georgiana made their way to London for a fortnight, then to The Gables, Bingley’s rented estate in Surrey.
CHAPTER 4
Highbury - June 1811
Darcy stoodin the study of Bingley’s newly leased house, The Gables. It was an attractive manor, well furnished and tastefully decorated. Miss Bingley had made it plain that she did not approve of the decor and was wild to change it, but Bingley had put his foot down. Money was to be spent on the tenant cottages and the improvement of the estate. He had come to learn how to manage an estate, and that was all he was willing to spend on the venture. Miss Bingley had complained bitterly about the place since the Darcys arrived.
The Darcys had been in residence for all of an hour and a half. They had taken tea in the drawing room with their hosts, before being shown to their rooms to wash and change. Georgiana was often overwhelmed by Miss Bingley’s cloying attentions, so she remained upstairs to rest after the journey.
Now, Darcy stood in front of Bingley’s desk and listened as Bingley pointed out cottages and farms on a map, listing all the issues he had identified as needing attention. This information had beencompiled by Bingley himself. His steward was so far unhelpful and sullen. Additionally, Bingley had a list from the owner of the estate of work she had been billed for in the last three years. Bingley investigated the matter and could find no evidence that such repairs had ever been carried out.
“The ledgers are nearly incomprehensible, Darcy,” said Bingley. “I cannot make heads nor tails of them.”
“That is often the case when a steward is attempting to create confusion,” said Darcy. “I assure you,Iwill be able to make heads or tails of them.” There was a tremendous amount of work to be undertaken, but with that in consideration, the rent on the estate was less than half of what the place was worth. “If you had bought this place for yourself, Bingley, I would say that you had been terribly used. But considering what you paid for the rent, and the fact that you actuallywantto undertake all of this work as a learning experience, perhaps it is the perfect place for you right now. How is the neighbourhood?”
“Ghastly,” answered Bingley. When Darcy raised an eyebrow, he laughed. “I know, I know! IfIam complaining about the neighbourhood, it must be bad. To tell you the truth, I never even asked the solicitor about the neighbours. I find country manners charming, and assumed that I would find a delightful village, but there are hardly any neighbours to speak of. There are only two great houses nearby. One is a widower with a daughter who is at her majority, and another is a bachelor who does no entertaining. There is a newly married couple with a small estate nearby, but they are middle aged with no children at home. The vicar is a mindless fop, his brand new wife makes Caroline appear demure, and the only other neighbours to note are spinsters and a few genteel families from the village.
“I do not think we will dine with even twelve families. Caroline is furious that I dragged her to this backwater. The widower and his daughter have not even called upon us. The bachelor, a Mr Knightley of Donwell Abbey, says that his neighbour, Mr Woodhouse, imagines himself sickly, and rarely leaves his estate, but neither has his daughter called upon Caroline. I fear they mean to snub us, which willfrustrate Caroline even further. I apologise in advance if her temperament is unpleasant as a result.”
“Well at least Georgiana will be here to provide your sisters with some company, and I suppose they can console themselves that it is what they consider to be superior society. Perhaps Miss Bingley will humour her by practising a duet with her. I know that would please Georgie above anything,” said Darcy. “I believe I know Knightley and his brother from town. They can be curmudgeonly sorts, but then I suppose I am no one to talk. They are both older than I.”
After a fortnight,it was absolutely clear that Miss Woodhouse, at least, intended to snub Darcy’s hosts. Darcy and Bingley had accompanied Mr Knightley to Hartfield, the home of the Woodhouses, to meet Mr Woodhouse. It was pertinent for the men to meet, for Hartfield shared a border with The Gables, and Bingley wished to discuss the mending of a number of fences that were neglected.
Mr Woodhouse apparently had no objection to spending whatever was required to make the repairs, but it was clear he had little interest in planning the endeavour. The man looked well enough, but was particularly preoccupied with drafts, and their conversation was interrupted thrice by the gentleman shouting in anxiety about ‘fatal chills,’ and had footmen scurrying all about to move screens in order to preserve the heat in the already sweltering room. They mostly planned out the new boundaries with Hartfield’s steward and Mr Knightley, who seemed to take great concern for his neighbour.
Their party had been invited to several small entertainments amongst the lower gentry of the village, and they accepted them all for lack of anything else to do. Darcy, Bingley, and Hurst were at least very much occupied with the work of the estate, and Darcy’s host found it very satisfying to roll up his sleeves and assist the men, at Darcy’s encouragement. By such methods, Bingley learned to cultivate the trust and respect of his tenants, and to gain an understanding of what it was like for the men who undertook the work.
Their party had received an invitation to Randalls, to dine with their neighbours the Westons and the rest of the neighbourhood. It was made obvious again that Miss Woodhouse intended to snub them. They still had not met her, for the Woodhouses accepted no invitations where their party was expected, nor had she called upon the ladies of the house. She was never at home to visitors when the men called upon her father with Mr Knightley.
Today, they called without Mr Knightley, but it turned out that the man was present in the house anyway. When they left Mr Woodhouse in his study, the footmen were too busy moving the screens again to show them out, but the men assured their host that they could find their way. On their way down the long hall, bright with sunshine from the many windows, admiring the art on the other wall, they heard the echo of two who clearly thought that they were alone, and had no idea of their voices carrying so far.
“It is beyond the pale, Emma!” George Knightley. “You, who claim to be Mrs Weston’s dearest friend, to have nothing but her happiness at heart, to scorn her invitation so scandalously! Whatever can you mean by it?”
“Knightley, you know that Anne understands I had no option but to decline, considering her guest list. I will not be manoeuvred into an acquaintance with persons who have no rightful place amongst us! I can only imagine their grating manners! My father is not well enough to withstand the anxiety of it.” Darcy and Bingley heard the voice of a woman answer.
“Your father has no objection to knowing Mr Bingley,” growled Knightley.
“And I object strenuously to your bringing the man here! Shame on you, Knightley!” cried Miss Woodhouse.
“They are your neighbours, and Mr Bingley very generously offered to pay far more than his share of the fences that your father has neglected for years.”
“That does not surprise me,” said Miss Woodhouse snidely. “If my father neglected the fences, it is because such things are unimportantin places like Highbury, where gentility and harmony amongst neighbours reigns.”
“You do not know the first thing about estate matters and boundaries, Emma, so do not use your silly whimsy as a weapon to shield your ignorance and your arrogance!” objected Mr Knightley. “It is helpful for your father to be around other men, and there are sadly not many sensible ones about. Mr Bingley is a good sort. And as far as your prejudices go, I have no complaint with the young woman on any merit, but you must admit your hypocrisy towards the Bingleys when you spend so much of your time with Miss Smith, whose parentage is entirely unknown!”
“It is obvious that Harriet’s parents must be of some great rank, Knightley,” Miss Woodhouse defended herself. “She is very comfortably established, well educated, and her allowance is generous indeed. Does that sound like the daughter of a low-born man to you?”
“She is known to be a natural child, and while I am happy to know her, there are many who would not agree that she is a good friend for you. And yet you snub those of perfectly decent rank,” said Knightley.
“Their father owned a shipyard!” gasped Miss Woodhouse.
“I assure you that Miss Bingley did not assist in building the ships, Emma. I do not even like the woman, but that is no reason for you to refuse the acquaintance,” Knightley groaned. “You are changing the subject. The rank of our neighbours has nothing to do with the fact that your friend Mrs Weston is entitled to this attention from you! And not to mention Miss Bates will enter society again after six months of isolation and mourning for her mother. You did not visit her nearly as often as you ought when she was stuck at home; the very least you could do is be present to welcome her back to society. Mrs Weston feels very strongly about it, for this year has been difficult for poor Miss Bates. You owe this notice to your friends!”
