An hour later there was a knock on the study door, this time the person without waited to be invited to enter. “Come,” Bennet called out.
Elizabeth entered his study. Bennet was sure she needed to escape her mother’s loud complaining of his refusal to call on Netherfield Park’s new tenant when he took up the reins of the estate. As she was his favourite who matched him in wit, intelligence, and her love for the written word and chess, the second eldest Bennet daughter was always welcome in his sanctuary.
“Papa, why do you do that to Mama?” Elizabeth admonished lightly after she took her regular seat before herfather’s desk.
“Do what, Lizzy?” Bennet grinned.
“Provoke Mama in that way. You and I both know very well you will call on whoever the new tenant is, but you told Mama you would not,” Elizabeth pointed out. “You sit here behind this thick oak door,” Elizabeth cocked her head at the mentioned portal, “and leave the rest of us to calm Mama’s nerves. By the rest of us, of course, I mean Janey. She has better things to do than placate Mama.”
Bennet had the decency to look ashamed. “You have the right of it, Lizzy,” he owned. “You may inform your mother I will indeed call on the man, and introduce myself while welcoming him to the neighbourhood, once he takes up residence.”
“Thank you, Papa.” Elizabeth stood, walked around the desk, and kissed her father on the cheek.
She was soon back in the drawing room imparting the good news to her mother. This caused many more effusions, but rather than laments these were ones of pleasure and thankfulness.
Knowing her husband would do his duty set Fanny off to scheming about how she would bring Jane to Netherfield Park’s new master’s notice. In her mind, Jane was as good as married to him.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Netherfield Park, Michaelmas 1810
Charles Bingley, his younger unmarried sister, Caroline, his older sister Louisa, and Louisa’s husband Harold Hurst, arrived at the leased estate in the afternoon of the penultimate day of September.
“Really Charles, this pitiful estate is nothing to Pemberley,” Miss Bingley carped. “How could you bring us to this backwater?”
“Would you like to, or should I, tell Darcy his recommendation was in error?” Bingley enquired slyly. While he knew his friend would not offer for Caroline under any circumstances, he was aware how much his sister would hate to contradict his good friend.
“If dear Mr Darcy did not find the estate wanting, then I am sure it will be perfect for us,” Miss Bingley changed her tune rapidly. “When will our good friend join us? And will dear Georgiana be with him?” She looked at her brother calculatingly. “Did she not look good when we saw her last?”
Knowing she would not hear it; Bingley did not bother telling his younger sister some home truths. Miss Darcy was not out, he did not see her as more than the sister of a friend, and Darcy’s family would never allow her to marry the son of a tradesman, just like, even had his friend liked his sister, Darcy would never marry the daughter of a man in trade. He had long ago learnt Caroline only heard what she wanted to, and unfortunately Louisa simply agreed with their younger sister as it was the path of least resistance.
“I do not remember how she looked,” Bingley replied. He ignored his sister’s look of outrage as he led his sisters and brother-in-law up the stone steps to the veranda where the butler and housekeeper awaited them in front of the huge double front doors.
If Bingley had his druthers, he would have made Lulu, Louisa, his hostess, but as they both knew the tantrum Caroline would unleash if she was not able to demonstrate her abilities to Darcy, it was more peaceful this way. In inconsequential things Bingley would defer to his younger sister and give Caroline her way, but when he needed to, he would stand firm.
Once the introductions were made, even though the youngest Bingley could not understand why they needed to be introduced to servants, Mrs Nichols showed them to the familysuites.
While his valet assisted him in washing and changing to remove the dust from the road, Bingley thought of his best friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy—William to family and those closest to him—and why it was he had been far more dour than was his wont. His forbidding mask was in place more often than not these days.
He would have preferred to be able to assist his friend, but knowing how intensely Darcy guarded his private affairs, Bingley would not ask him what ailed him. He only hoped Darce’s cousin and co-guardian of Miss Darcy, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, was able to assist his friend and restore his equanimity.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Not for the first time that day, Darcy was questioning the wisdom of keeping his word to assist Bingley in his first foray into the world of the landed gentry. His sister Giana’s other guardian, who was more brother than cousin, had told him the separation would do them both good.
The advice had been seconded by Richard’s parents, Lord Reginald and Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, and his older brother and his wife, Lord Andrew and Lady Marie, the Viscount and Viscountess of Hilldale. Agreement was given by the new companion, Mrs Annesley, who was the one employed to replace the sacked and disgraced Mrs Younge, who along with that blackhearted wastrel George Wickham, had almost led his baby sister to her ruin.
By the Grace of God, he had arrived in Ramsgate three days early thanks to his business with Mr Gardiner concluding days sooner than had been expected. Giana had told him all as she could not lie to him. He was not only her brother, but a father figure as well.
Wickham had attempted to extort money for his silence, but Darcy had offered another alternative—his silencein exchange for not setting Richard Fitzwilliam after the libertine. The miscreant had valued his life above money, and after saying, in her hearing, all he was after was Darcy’s sister’s dowry, he left the house as fast as his legs could carry him. His former paramour and confederate was silenced with the threat of arrest.
Giana was across Grosvenor Square’s green from Darcy House at Matlock House under the care of Aunt Elaine and her new companion. It would be a long journey back for his sister; her spirit had been broken by the absolute betrayal. Even though she excelled at playing the pianoforte, and it was her favourite pastime, she had hardly touched the ivories. The one time he had heard her play, it had been the most sombre of music.
Regardless of what Darcy had promised Wickham for his silence, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam of His Majesty’s Royal Dragoons, had come within minutes of pursuing Wicky—as he called him—and ending the man’s wasted life for the damage done to his ward. It was Giana’s pleas she did not want him to hang which had stayed his hand.
It had been very close, but in the end Darcy had decided to follow his family members’ advice and keep his word to Bingley. Hence, on Monday morning, the first day of October, Darcy would follow Bingley to Hertfordshire.
He had refused to travel with Bingley as it would have meant having to fend off Miss Bingley’s very overt efforts to attract his notice. It would be bad enough living in the same house with her for about two months or so.
