One day, when Ignatius reached the age of five and twenty, Netherfield Park would be his.
Realising Darcy was waiting for a reply, Hurst shook himself from his reverie. “Pardon me, Darcy, I was woolgathering. Louisa is completely well and has resumed all of her duties like before she bore little Ignatius.”
“That is good news,” Darcy said. He offered his hand to Hurst and the two men shook. Thereafter, Darcy took his leave.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Ignatius Hurst was not the only child born to the circle of friends of late. In mid-October 1810, Anne Ashby had delivered Lewis Ian Ashby.
When hearing what the name was, Hurst and Fitzwilliam agreed there was nothing to be gained by telling Anne the truth of her father’s end.
So far there had been no more children born, except it was known that both Jane and Charlotte Fitzwilliam were with child, much to Lord and Lady Matlock’s delight. The former’s due date was in June or July, while the latter’s estimated time was in July or August.
Chapter 24
The previous almost two years had been very difficult for Caroline Bingley. There had been so many times she had wanted to drop the pretence and be herself, but it had not been the right time. If things worked out like they were trending now, her time to gain that which she deserved was close at hand.
Charles, who had turned five and twenty some months past, had decided to lease an estate to begin his journey to becoming a landed gentleman. In her mind, as soon as he was master of an estate, even if it was not his own, she would be counted as a gentlelady.
When her brother found a property, she would make sure of two things: she would be the hostess, and he would invite Mr Darcy to assist him in learning how to manage the estate. In addition, she would press her brother to invite Miss Darcy as well. Even though she had heard the girl, who was not yet sixteen, was not out, she had decided that Charles would marry Miss Darcy, thereby making a union between herself and Mr Darcy much more likely.
Miss Bingley had to fight her own inclinations not to demand that her brother purchase her a new wardrobe. She had not thought his resolve would last so long, but he still demanded that she live using only the interest on her fortune and steadfastly refused to augment it.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Hurst, will you join Darcy and me when we go to see Netherfield Park?” Bingley requested.
“Sorry, Bingley, I am not able to leave London now, but as you know I have held a lease there so once you have seen it, if you have questions, please feel free to ask. Your sister will be able to give you the perspective of the mistress of the estate,” Hurst replied.
Of course, he could have left London had there been a need, but as he was the owner of the estate, he did not want to exert any undue influence on his brother-in-law. It was why he would be willing to field questions after Bingley and Darcy had inspected the estate. When Darcy had been at the estate prior to the double wedding, he had remarked that, from what he had seen, Netherfield Park was very well run.
He did not miss the way Darcy was looking at him quizzically. Rather than engage, Hurst pretended like he had not seen Darcy’s look. “Darcy, will you call on our friends when you are there?” he enquired to get Darcy to change his focus.
“Of course, I will,” Darcy responded. “It would be rather rude to be so close to Longbourn and not call on the Bennets.”
Bingley looked from one man to the other.
“They are Darcy’s cousins by marriage. Hilldale is married to the eldest Bennet daughter; remember the one who made your eyes open wide when you beheld her in London,” Hurst reminded his brother-in-law.
“Of course, Lady Hilldale’s family,” Bingley recalled. “That was when I only looked at a lady’s physical attributes, and I was too immature to realise that the character of a lady is far more important,” he owned. “When I was younger I was not even close to being ready to be thinking of taking a wife.”
“Speaking of which, Bingley, have you noticed Caroline’s hints for you to invite both Darcys when you lease an estate?”Hurst saw Bingley shake his head. “I am afraid that your younger sister has not changed her ways as much as she would have us believe she has. I will wager that she intends to push you towards Miss Darcy, thinking that will make Darcy more likely to offer for her.”
“Miss Darcy is still not out! She is only fifteen!” Bingley exclaimed.
“I may be wrong, but I do not believe I am. If I have the right of it, this will demonstrate the depths of Caroline’s selfishness. She cares not who suffers in furtherance of her aims. I doubted her sincerity from the start of her so-calledchange, but I hoped I was wrong. I do not believe it is so. When she feels the time is right, she will show her true self.” Hurst sat back in his chair; his fingers interlaced over his flat belly.
“What should I do?” Bingley wondered.
“Nothing for now. I may yet be wrong. In fairness, you need to wait until she shows her true colours. As long as we are all vigilant, she will do no damage, except perhaps to herself,” Hurst opined.
“I agree with Hurst. I hope she remembers I will never gratify a compromise,” Darcy declared.
“And I will never support her if she lowers herself to attempt one,” Bingley vowed. “With you or any other.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The day that the friends travelled into Hertfordshire to meet Mr Phillips at Netherfield Park was Monday, the twentieth day of May 1811. They departed Darcy House at half past three in the morning, just before the eastern sky began to throw off the dark of the night.
