Page 103 of New World Tea Company
Chapter 49.Caroline Writes a Letter
On a dreary afternoon when there were no invitations to tea in a week where there were no reviews or dinners for which she could attend, Caroline Bingley grew was frustrated.
‘If only Lord Campbell would return to London, we could become engaged and I should be the toast of London society this spring,’Caroline whined as she paced about the parlour. ‘Has he reconsidered his last conversation? Is it because of this house on Olive Street? We do not have separate morning and afternoon parlours like a house should offer for quality folks.’
For a wild moment, she imagined meeting Lord Campbell at Mr Darcy’s fine house in Mayfair. She smiled while thinking,‘If the man saw how perfectly I fit in such an environment, he will make me his wife – his countess.’
‘I deserve to be invited to every tea and supper in London,’she told herself.‘When I become the Countess of Argyle, they will all beg for invitations to my teas. But I shall not give out invitations to supper except to titled nobles.’
Left alone for the afternoon because Mrs Young was visiting family in another part of London, Caroline was restricted in her activities.
‘At least Mrs Young knew not to bring any of her relations to Olive Street. A lady’s companion would never dare to bring her family into her employer’s home or presence. She is nothing more than a servant.’
Without her companion, Caroline could not wander through the shops in Mayfair, displaying herself in her fashionable gowns to the ladies and gentlemen shopping. She believed that her new outfits and slender form were admired by everyone when they observed her strolling along the street and throughthe shops. Then she remembered the weather kept quality folk indoors today and a promenade for shopkeepers was a fruitless effort.
The servants absented themselves from whichever room Caroline choose to spend her time and when she summoned them by ringing a bell, the housekeeper came with the maids and footmen to hear the woman’s instructions. Only a guest in her brother-in-law’s London house, Caroline dared not abuse the servants as badly as they deserved because the housekeeper was likely to write to Mr Hurst with complaints if she gave voice to her true opinions.
In a moment of inspiration, Caroline decided to inform her sister of her impending triumph. Without Mrs Young present to counsel discretion until the engagement was in place, the woman moved to a table with the necessary tools for writing a letter.
‘I shall write to Louisa and hint at my future title. That will fill my afternoon. But I must write explicitly, or Louisa will never understand.’
‘Why did my sister have to be so dull? Will she grow excited when she reads that I shall marry this summer and become Lady Campbell. I shall instruct her to practice writing my future name, Lady Caroline Campbell, Countess of Argyle,’Caroline decided.
Miss Bingley smirked as she imagined Mr Hurst having a heart attack or Old Mrs Hurst simply dropping dead when they learned of Caroline’s future.
~~~
Olive Street, London
Sister,
This afternoon, I write with a light heart. Why is my heart so light you ask? Because I am counting the days until I become engaged. Yes, I have found a man worthy of my hand, and we shall marry this summer. And you will never guess the name of my intended. Who is my future fiancé?
During the dark days of winter, I made the acquaintance of Lord John Campbell. This gentleman attended my salons in February and March with his associate, Mr George Wickham. Have no fear of impropriety; Mrs Young was present at all times when I met with Lord Campbell. However, my regard for the gentleman grew with each meeting. In the second half of March, Lord Campbell was sent to Ireland to tour the farms and properties around the island that belong to his older brother, the Earl of Argyle. During his absence, I have missed his company and conversation.
Yes, the gentleman courting your sister is the younger brother of an earl. And what is even more wonderful, Lord Campbell is his brother’s heir. Once I marry Lord Campbell, your sister will be Lady Campbell. And when my husband becomes the earl, I shall be a countess and lead London society.
Your sister,
Lady Campbell
Caroline Campbell
Lady Caroline Campbell
Caroline, Countess of Argyle
Caroline Campbell, Countess of Argyle
Lady Caroline Campbell, Countess of Argyle
~~~
The three paragraphs of her letter only filled half of the sheet of paper, but Caroline used the blank space at the bottom to practice writing variations of her future name.
The letter was written in Caroline’s elegant hand, sanded and then allowed to dry fully before she folded it and sealed it with wax. When she went to write the direction for Mr Hurst’s estate in Suffolk, she realized that she should have waited to fold and seal the letter. After making several mistakes writing the direction around the lump of wax, Caroline became perturbed and threw the folded paper on the floor, stomped out of the room and up the stairs.
As she climbed the stairs, she thought,‘This was a worthless exercise to aggravate Louisa and Mr Hurst. When Mrs Young returns this evening, and I shall question her about Wickham and Lord Campbell’s continued absence. Wickham must write to Lord Campbell and speed his return to London.’
