Colonel Fitzwilliam began the conversation by asking Georgiana how she liked her new home.
“I love it. The three of us – Mrs. Annesley, Miss Bennet and I – have been working on adding some touches that make it more my own. It is tiring, but I like it.”
“Indeed?” said the colonel. “What kind of touches?”
“For example,” said Miss Darcy, “I found the curtains in the dining room too old fashioned, so we are having some new ones made. We visited several merchants to look at samples, and after much discussion, we were able to agree on a particular one.”
“Impressive,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, exchanging glances with Mr. Darcy. “You sound as if you are pleasantly occupied.”
“Very much so, Cousin Richard. I like having something useful to accomplish. Other than sewing and embroidering, that is.Not that I have anything against them,” she added, her cheeks turning red, “it is just that setting up a house involves some level of creativity.”
Elizabeth was pleased that Miss Darcy had plucked up the courage to venture an opinion. She smiled encouragingly at her, and Miss Darcy immediately sat up and looked more self-assured.
“Miss Darcy has been working hard,” she said. “The results speak for themselves.”
“I will have to judge for myself,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, in a jocular manner. “I will call on you tomorrow, Georgiana, and you will have to show me all the changes you have made.”
“She has done an excellent job. The townhouse is much improved,” said Mr. Darcy. “I am certain you will approve.”
Miss Darcy was looking both flattered and overcome by all the attention.
As usual, Mr. Darcy turned to Mrs. Annesley, “Though we must give a great deal of credit to Mrs. Annesley for her patience and hard work during the upheaval.”
“It is really nothing,” said Mrs. Annesley. “It has been a large undertaking, but it is a joy to be so agreeably occupied.”
“Speaking of large undertakings,” said Bingley, with longing. “I have been thinking a great deal about setting up a new home, not in Town, but in the country. I hear everyone speaking about the running of estates, and I cannot even comprehend what it means to have one. Caroline is always urging me to acquire one, but I imagine the only reason she wants it is because she wants to throw house parties to impress her friends. Still, it is a dream of mine to acquire a landed property of my own.”
“You have been saying the same thing for the last two years at least, Bingley. If you really wish to do it, what are you waiting for?”
“I do not even know how to go about it. Should I buy an estate, or lease one?”
Elizabeth’s mind boggled at the casual way he spoke about buying an estate.
“Lease it,” said the colonel. “You may discover that you have no interest in running one, or that living in the countryside is not for you.”
“Or I could always employ a steward to take care of it and live in Town,” said Bingley.
Elizabeth had often heard people in Meryton voice their dislike of absentee landlords.
“Doing so would cause a number of problems,” she interjected. “It would alienate you from your neighbors, and if you do not oversee the steward, it will encourage him to either be lax or steal money from you. And most importantly, you will be unable to ensure the welfare of your tenants, which I consider an important duty of a landowner.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Upon my word, Miss Bennet, you express your opinion very robustly for someone your age.”
“It is a view shared by many,” she remarked, with a smile. “Do you not believe in the responsibility of a landowner towards his tenants?”
“As I do not own any land of my own,” replied the colonel, “I have limited experience in the matter, but my army experience has taught me the sacredness of the responsibility of an officer to the men that serve under him.”
“One does not have to have direct experience to express an opinion,” argued Elizabeth. “If that were the case, we would have fewer books on our shelves.”
Darcy turned to Bingley. “You cannot simply buy an estate and then proceed to neglect it, Bingley. There will be people who will depend on you for their livelihood. I consider it the duty of a landowner and a gentleman to come to know each and every oneof his tenants and ensure that they are faring well. If you are not sure whether you are prepared to do that, then you would be far better off leasing a property. That way, you will experience what it is like, and you can make up your mind whether you are really prepared to settle into such a life, or if you are better off free of it.”
Elizabeth watched Mr. Bingley for signs he resented the suggestion. Instead, he grinned widely.
“You know, that is an excellent idea. That is precisely what I will do. I will ask my man of business to search for a suitable estate. Miss Bennet, you have argued your point most convincingly.”
He beamed at her. She hid her surprise. How could Mr. Bingley be so agreeable after the events in Pemberley? It was as if nothing had occurred at all.
“Forgive me for speaking of this at dinner, but talking of responsibility to our soldiers and tenants, Cousin,” said Darcy, “there is a matter I should mention now before I forget. We need to go to Rosings again. Apparently, our aunt is having trouble with one of her tenants.”
