As he watched the sky lighten, when around ten after four the sun began to show its presence, Darcy remembered that time he had discovered Elizabeth on the summit of Oakham Mount. He wondered if on this morning she had walked, or perhaps ridden Phoebe, to the hill and was even now sitting on the rock facing the east watching the sun begin to peek above the horizon. Those thoughts brought an image into his head unbidden. He could see himself and Elizabeth sitting atop their mounts at Pemberley on the summit of the hill behind the house, watching the sun rise above the eastern valley and then turning to admire the colours of the Peaks as the sun’s light began to illuminate the mountains.
Since the weddings, Gigi had kept a correspondence with not only Elizabeth but with her three younger sisters as well. Each time he had travelled south from Pemberley to London, Gigi had spent some weeks at Longbourn while he had carried on to Town.
Thinking of Gigi turned his thoughts to Mrs Jenkinson, who had accepted the position of Gigi’s companion. She was not a young woman any longer, but she had been happy to go back into service, especially with a young lady who was a member of, as she called her, Miss Anne’s family. It had worked out well for both of them. Gigi was very happy with her companion, and Mrs Jenkinson liked her charge very much.
Soon, the swaying of his well-sprung travelling coach lulled Darcy to sleep.
Bingley had fallen asleep almost as soon as the conveyance pulled away from Darcy House. Part of his maturation was doing things he did not love to do when needed. Waking up early was one of them, but he had made sure he wasready at the time Darcy wanted to depart so there would be no delay.
The friends woke when the coachman turned into a coaching inn for a rest stop after about two hours. Not needing any refreshment yet, the two remained in the coach, which was back on the road within an hour.
The next time they woke, they were coming to a stop in the drive at Netherfield Park, a little after nine.
Phillips waited at the base of the stone steps leading up to the veranda before the front doors. He remembered Darcy from Jane’s wedding, hence, he deduced the other man was Mr Bingley. Hurst had instructed that Phillips was not to push Mr Bingley to rent the estate. If his brother-in-law liked what he saw and wanted the estate, Phillips was to proceed.
Like he would not try and influence Bingley’s choice himself, Hurst did not want anyone to do so in his name.
The house was as solid as Darcy remembered. He recognised the butler, housekeeper, steward, and some of the servants from the last time he had been hosted here. He was very impressed that no one, from Elizabeth’s uncle on down, tried to do anything to sway Bingley’s opinion.
After inspecting the house, the friends found the steward waiting for them with two mounts so they could ride the estate and look at the fields, even though the lease only covered the mansion and the home farm. That being said, as they rode, the steward made sure the potential lessee was aware he had access to all parts of the estate and that he and any of his friends, if he took the lease, could hunt to their hearts’ content.
Everything they saw only reinforced Darcy’s opinion that the estate would be a good one for Bingley to discover if the life of a landed gentleman was for him.
On their return from riding the estate, Phillips withdrew to allow the men to speak freely. “What do you think, Darce?” Bingley enquired. “Granted, I am not experienced in running an estate, but to me everything looked well maintained and in good order. Am I wrong?”
“No, Bingley, you are right. This would be a good estate on which to cut your teeth. That is only my opinion. Now, you must make the decision which works for you,” Darcy replied.
Rather than just blindly taking what Darcy said as his decision, Bingley cogitated, taking Darcy’s opinion into account but relying on his own needs and instincts. “I will take a lease. What is your opinion? Six months or a year complete? I need some guidance as far as the term goes.”
“If you genuinely want to learn, you should experience a full year’s cycle on an estate. That way you will see the planning for the spring planting and be involved in it and the autumn harvest as well,” Darcy suggested.
Seeing the logic behind Darcy’s words, Bingley settled on a one-year term. They then called for Mr Phillips and Bingley told him what his decision was.
“We can make for my offices and sign the contracts,” Phillips stated.
“I am not needed for that part, am I?” Darcy questioned. The reply was two shaken heads. “In that case, I will call on the Bennets at Longbourn.”
Phillips had to fight from grinning. He was well aware which Bennet Darcy was most interested in seeing; hence, he took no pleasure in disappointing the master of Pemberley. “My brother and his family are not home. Along with my wife, they are at Hilldale. My eldest niece is nearing the end of her first confinement.”
Although he was disappointed he would not see Elizabeth this day, Darcy was sure that the Bennets would be home by the time Bingley moved into Netherfield Park, just before Michaelmas of the current year.
He admonished himself that he should have realised the Bennets would be in Staffordshire because Aunt Elaine had travelled thither more than a fortnight previously to be present for the birth of her first grandchild, something about which she was ecstatic. As the Bennets were not at home, Darcy remained with Bingley and added his name as one of the witnesses to the contract.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Caroline Bingley was informed that Charles had signed a lease for an estate some twenty miles from London, she had to fight to school her features to stop the calculations she was making from showing on her face.
Charles reported that Mr Darcy had accompanied him and had agreed to be hosted so her brother would be able to learn how to manage an estate. She was happy Mr Darcy would be present, but she would make sure that no time was wasted on her brother’s supposed lessons. The estate had a steward, and it was his job to run the place, leaving the master at leisure. Now, she needed to make sure she would be the hostess and her brother would invite his future wife, Miss Darcy, tothis Netherfield Park. To begin to put the pieces in place, Miss Bingley sought out her brother the day following his return from whatever backwater the property was located in.
“How exciting that you are beginning to fulfil Mother’s dearest wish for us and Father’s instruction to you to purchase an estate,” Miss Bingley cooed after taking a seat in the drawing room at Hurst House.
“Caroline, you seem to be confused. Yes, Mother wanted Father to purchase an estate, but Father never instructed me to do so. All he advised was for me to try that life and see if it fits me. He, in fact, blessed me returning to work with Uncle John at the carriage works, if that is my choice,” Bingley replied.
Just before she vented her spleen at her brother, Miss Bingley caught herself. “I am sure that is not what Father meant…” she began to say.
“No, Caroline, that isexactlywhat your father wrote. You do remember that I am one of the executors of his will, do you not?” Hurst had been feigning sleep and hadwoken upjust in time to refute his sister-in-law’s words.
“Be that as it may, I look forward to being the mistress of the estate.” Miss Bingley bit back the retort which had been on her lips.
