“Do you know Louisa has a dowry of twenty thousand pounds?” Mavis quizzed.
“No, I did not. We have not discussed anything in that vein, as we are not engaged,” Harold responded as he fought to keep his temper from exploding. He cared not for himself, butMiss Bingley looked like she was ready to crawl under the sofa with embarrassment.
“What is your estate’s income? Are you wealthy like we are? Do you have good connections?” Miss Caroline demanded.
“Mrs Bingley, am I correct that you would like to see your family raised above your roots in trade?” Harold enquired. He saw the vulgar woman nod her head vigorously. “Then, I am afraid that, by allowing your not yet out daughter, in your drawing room in the company of an unmarried man who is not a family member visiting, would mark you and your family as one who would never be accepted in any circle of the gentry. You should know that only a fortune hunter and social climber would ask the questions Miss Caroline did.” Harold paused and added, “If you ever want your family to be accepted among the gentry, such behaviour will ensure it will never occur.”
“Mamma, how can you allow this nobody to speak about me so?” Miss Caroline screeched.
Mavis’s desire to rise in society warred with her wont to indulge Caroline. Society won out. “Caroline, you will retire to the schoolroom.” Seeing her youngest was about to squawk, she spoke again. “Now, Caroline, without a word, or it will be a long time before you see an allowance, or I take you shopping again.”
Shocked that her mother did not take her side, Miss Caroline sprang up, stomped her slippered foot and ran out of the drawing room. A few minutes later, there was the clap of a door being slammed somewhere above them.
‘Even if I were not developing tender feelings for Master Hurst, Harold, if he offered for me, I would accept him just to be away from my mother and Caroline. It is good that I find myself greatly attracted to him. I am sure he will not make anoffer until he is ready and judges that I am as well,’ Louisa thought as she fought to push down the embarrassment and mortification she felt at the way her mother and sister behaved. At least, Mother had sent Caroline away. It was something. She realised that it was because of the clever way Master Hurst had stated what he did. He had played on her desires to rise in society. He had subtly directed her to do what was needed—if she were honest with herself, Louisa knew he had done so for her own comfort—without Mother ever realising that he was doing so. Yes, there was far more to this man than met the eye.
She remembered she had never replied to the question he had asked about speaking to Papa. “Before I forget, I never answered your question before my mother and sister joined us. I will do so now; I am more than happy to have you speak to my father,” Louisa said shyly.
“What time do you expect Mr Bingley and your brother to return home?” Harold queried. It was very pleasing that Miss Bingley had not forgotten to respond to that particular question.
“My father and Charles are at the Scarborough Bingley Carriage Works. It is not too far from here; in fact, it is on your way back to Cloughton. You may stop there and speak to Papa. That way, you do not need to travel back here this evening if that is your choice.” Louisa ignored the moue of distaste her mother was showing at sending the man to the carriage works, which would highlight their status as those in trade.
“That is a good idea. If someone can tell my coachman the direction, it will be appreciated,” Harold stated.
“I will give you a note explaining my position, and the direction will be scribed on a separate sheet of paper.” Louisa stood and went to the escritoire in the corner and sat. She pulled out one sheet of paper and wrote her note for Papa. Whenthe ink was dry she folded and sealed it. Next, she wrote the direction on another page.
As soon as Miss Bingley stood, Harold did as well. “If your father bestows his blessing, I will call at ten on the morrow. If we have adequate chaperonage, we may take a drive along the coast,” he said as he bowed over Miss Bingley’s hand after taking the papers from her. He turned and bowed to Mrs Bingley and reluctantly took his leave of her eldest daughter.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The ride to Mr Bingley’s business took less than ten minutes after his carriage left the house. On his arrival, Harold noted that it was a thriving concern, and from what he could see, at this branch of the carriage works—Louisa had intimated there were a few—it looked like they employed well over one hundred men and even some women.
As he approached the offices, Charles Bingley saw Harold and approached him excitedly. He had to fight to school his features, as Harold wanted to guffaw when the image of a puppy furiously wagging its tail waiting for its master or mistress to scratch it behind the ears popped into his head. Keeping himself from laughing, he extended his hand. “Well met, Bingley. Where is your sire?”
“He is in his office; I will take you to him. Please follow me.” Charles led the way after releasing Fitzwilliam’s and Darcy’s friend’s hand. He knocked on a wide door once and entered. “Hurst to see you, Father.”
“Before I make my request, please read this note from Miss Bingley.” Harold proffered the sealed epistle to Mr Bingley.
Bingley broke the seal and read. “No need to ask; Louisa is a very sensible young lady, and if she wants to accept your calls, then I will not stand in her way. You have my blessing to call on Louisa. I assume your intentions are honourable, or you would not be here to seek my blessing.”
“Completely honourable. I hope we soon discover we are compatible enough that we move to an official courtship and eventually, an engagement.” Harold paused. “Mr Bingley, I suggest you speak to Miss Bingley about my call.”
Without the gentleman saying anything, Bingley was relatively sure that his wife, Caroline, or both, had made a spectacle of themselves. “I will speak to Louisa. I hope you know what a diamond of the first water she is. It shows that you are a man of good taste if you are able to see her value as a person,” he waxed.
“Even though we have not spent very much time in company, I am able to see what a wonderful woman she is,” Harold owned.
“Never hurt my sister,” Charles warned.
“If we reach that point, her happiness will be my life’s work,” Harold vowed. “Mr Bingley, Miss Bingley mentioned that this was not the only location for your business. Do you mind my asking where the others are?”
“Not at all. This one covers the North and East Ridings. There is one in Sheffield in the West Riding and another in York. Outside of Yorkshire there is one in Liverpool, Lincolnshire, and the newest one in Cheshire,” Bingley replied. “If you and Louisa marry, you will have a Bingley coach for a wedding present.”
“That is putting the cart, or in this case, the carriage before the horses.” Harold bowed to the man he suspectedwould be his father-in-law and shook the younger Bingley’s hand and took his leave.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After a sennight of calls, beginning with the drive along the coast the day following his first call on Miss Bingley, Harold requested, and he was granted a courtship.
When he had sent an express to his parents telling them of his progress and that he would not be home as planned, they wrote for him to take all the time needed.
