Page 104 of New World Tea Company
After the housekeeper was certain that Mrs Hurst’s sister was safely behind the door of her chamber above stairs, she led a maid into the parlour to tidy the room and sent a footman to replenish the supply of wood for the fire. She arranged the ink well, sifter of sand, quills and paper in the small writing tray, making them ready for the next time someone sat to write a letter. From the floor, she collected the letter addressed to Mrs Hurst and the woman didn’t think twice about carrying it toward the front door where a plate lay on a table for letters to be posted the next time a carrier delivered letters.
It was serendipitous that as the housekeeper approached the door, the post carrier arrived with a letter for Miss Bingley from Mrs Hurst. With a coin from the household purse she carried, the housekeeper took possession of the letter from Mrs Hurst and dispatched the letter from Miss Bingley.
~~~
There was a quick interview with George Wickham at Matlock House in the afternoon parlour at the front of the house in the early morning before other members of the family rose from their beds. Overcoming her distaste for dealing with business, Lady Catherine spoke to Wickham in that room with her footman standing at the door.
“Wickham, my attorneys have found buyers for the properties. I shall have the gold – fifteen thousand pounds – by the fifteenth of the month. I shall summon you that afternoon or the next morning to transfer the money to you.”
“I shall bring the stock certificates and sign them over to you, Lady Catherine,” Wickham replied. “Within twelve months, I shall pay you the first dividend from your shares of the New World Tea Company.”
~~~
That same afternoon, George Wickham believed that luck was on his side–Phillip Bounty appeared at the Sleeping Dog tavern after an absence of four weeks. Wickham cared little for the scheme in which Bounty was involved, and he quickly reported his success with drawing Lady Catherine de Bourgh to London.
“The old lady is selling some property in her daughter’s estate to raise the gold needed to purchase the shares of the New World Tea Company,” George crowed. “And once I have that money, Miss Bingley will certainly hand over her fifteen thousand if you continue to portray Lord Campbell so well. Just mention the size of the earl’s manor house in Scotland a few times and she will beg to purchase shares in the New World Tea Company.”
“What shall I promise her?” asked Bounty.
Wickham grinned and said, “Hint at an engagement and lavish wedding this summer with a honeymoon to Bath for the whole of autumn.”
Bounty nodded and looked expectedly at George for more information. “And the wealth you collect, what share shall I enjoy? Do we can escape separately or travel together to another land to live like kings for the many years?”
George promised Phillip an equal share of the thirty thousand pounds, and he suggested they travel together to a British colony in the Americas. There they could go their separate ways.
Phillip inquired about the number of days to complete this endeavour, and the man was pleased to hear that the wealth would be handed over in less than a fortnight. In preparation to play his part and at a minor expense to Wickham’s purse, Phillip Bounty vanished. First the man visited a barber for a trim and shave. Then Bounty bathed at the tavern. Finally dressed in his fine clothes that had been stored in his trunk at the Sleeping Dog, Lord John Campbell reappeared.
In the company of Mr Wickham, Lord Campbell made an afternoon call at the Hurst home on Olive Street. Neither man was surprised that Miss Bingley had few questions regarding Lord Campbell’s trip to Ireland. Beyond assuring herself that he was healthy and sober, Caroline’s attention remained only on the gentleman’s words regarding a successful conclusion to their many meetings.
Mrs Young provided a suitable chaperone for the couple though she did hint aloud that Mr Wickham should allow Lord Campbell to call at the house without his company. Thereafter, Lord Campbell promised to return the next day for more conversations with only Mrs Young as the chaperone. Miss Bingley grew overly excited when Mr Wickham asked Lord Campbell about the Campbell family jewellery available for engagements and weddings.
~~~
The next afternoon, Lord Campbell did appear at three of the clock, but Miss Bingley kept her suitor waiting in the parlour for a time. While they waited, Mrs Young explained, “Sir, Miss Bingley thinks to increase your ardour by delaying her appearance.”
Maintaining the persona of a lord, Bailey asked, “Is that an affectation of a young lady with aspirations to join the upper classes, do you think?”
“Lord Campbell, the lady is prepared to hand over her dowry to Mr Wickham once he presents her with evidence of possession of the other funds,” she stated. “If George plays to that noblewoman’s greed and you wrap the social climber in your net as tightly as possible, we shall have thirty thousand pounds.”
Remaining in character, Phillip Bounty smiled congenially as if they spoke about the weather. Then he asked, “Mrs Young, how well do you know George Wickham? Do you believe he will share with his confederates?”
Without hesitation, the woman replied, “I know George very well. Despite his promises, Wickham will not share willingly or equally.”
Nodding in agreement, the man said, “I believe the temptation to eliminate us both will manifest. George will plot to keep the whole of treasure for himself.”
Hissing in anger, Edith barely managed to maintain the façade required. Bounty continued saying, “When we flee with the gold, the authorities will search for three people.”
Edith growled, “Or for a black-hearted bastard fleeing from his crime.”
The man offered another idea saying, “But a couple sailing for a new life in the colonies in the Caribbean will not be as scrutinized as closely.”
Surprised but pleased, Edith managed to endorse Bounty’s last statement as they heard Caroline descending the stairs. The lady’s late arrival ended their personal conversation and planning.
~~~
Chapter 50.Plundering the Dowry
Just after the noon hour, Lady Catherine de Bourgh entered a private room at the Rothschild Bank. In quick order, Mr Gilbert Hastings witnessed the bankers provide three paper cheques to Lady Catherine and show the woman how each slip of paper represented the value of five thousand pounds. Then, she signed the necessary papers to transfer ownership of the two buildings in Gravesend to new owners. While they waited, one of the bankers explained to the noblewoman how to endorse the cheque to assign the value to another person.
