Page 109 of New World Tea Company
In the hallway, Geoffrey paused and listened for voices in the front of the house. It seemed that his wife and her sister had not come down from the bedchambers. And Mrs Young had not appeared in the parlour, dining room, or kitchens. Making his way above stairs, Geoffrey stood outside the bedchamber door for a moment and listened to the voices of the two women–Caroline sounded the same–self-assured and haughty. Outside of Miss Bingley’s door, Geoffrey stopped and knocked politely.
Caroline’s voice declared, “Come!”
When Geoffrey stepped into the room the man was greeted by a single question from Caroline, “Has Lord Campbell arrived?”
Ignoring the question, Hurst replied, “Hello, Caroline. Louisa and I were very pleased to receive your letter about your forthcoming engagement.”
The woman preened for a moment in front of the full-length mirror before she replied, “Yes, I am certain you were surprised and pleased. But do not think I shall ever forget the past slights and insults around the dinner table. When I am Countess of Argyle, I shall not offer you houseroom.”
Hurst asked his questions, “Caroline, how is it you came to be introduced to Lord Howard Campbell? The man has more than sixty years and suffers from gout.”
Surprise evident in her reply, Caroline asked, “Who is Howard Campbell? No, my future fiancé is Lord John Campbell. He is coming this afternoon to ask for my hand in marriage.”
Louisa asked, “Who is John Campbell? Is he Lord Howard Campbell’s son?”
But Caroline only repeated her question, “Who is Howard Campbell?”
Geoffrey explained, “The current Earl of Argyle has one brother who is named Howard Campbell. The earl had no children from either of his marriages.”
Caroline smiled hearing confirmation that Lord Campbell’s brother had no children. But then Hurst continued, “And Lord Howard Campbell’s son is a young man named Edward Campbell who has five-and-thirty years. The younger Lord Campbell has a young wife with three babes in the nursery.”
Louisa grew quiet before she asked, “Is this Edward Campbell attempting to seduce you, sister?”
“What? No! John is forty years and not married,” insisted Caroline.
A look of mild amusement on his face, Geoffrey asked, “Could he be Edward Campbell?”
“No!” shouted Caroline. “Lord John Campbell will come and propose marriage to me this afternoon. Only yesterday we spoke of a honeymoon in Bath after I secured his intentions. I shall be Lady Campbell before summer is done and someday, I shall be the Countess of Argyle.”
Louisa attempted to act as mediator. She suggested, “We should wait for your gentleman in the parlour. Mr Hurst and I shall leave you alone with him once he arrives.”
“I prefer to wait here in my bedchamber and then make an entrance,” Caroline replied.
However, Mr. Hurst insisted that the family await the gentleman’s appearance in the parlour, and the trio descended the stairs. As the housekeeper passed them in the hallway, Mrs Hurst requested that tea be served.
Miss Bingley protested, “But when Lord Campbell arrives…
However, Mr Hurst thwarted any argument and said, “The kitchen will provide a fresh pot of tea with new leaves when your gentleman arrives.”
Louisa escorted Caroline into the parlour as they discussed the best seat for Caroline to occupy. When Mr Hurst signalled to the housekeeper to wait, he closed the parlour door long enough to instruct the woman to take both footmen above stairs and move his mother’s large dressing mirror into Louisa’s dressing room. He insisted, “It is not to be moved to Miss Bingley’s room again.”
While enjoying the tea and anticipating the arrival of Lord Campbell, Mr Hurst pried titbits of information from Caroline. She met Lord Campbell when George Wickham introduced the gentleman to Caroline at the social salons held at Olive Street during winter. When Louisa asked about other guests at Caroline’s salons, Mr Hurst noticed that the younger woman did not mention any other visitor with the title of Lord or Lady.
As the two sisters revised the events of the past winter, it appeared that Mrs Edith Young had been the perfect lady’s companion for Caroline. The woman quietly followed Miss Bingley through the stores and salons in the new season. But today was not the woman’s day off and her disappearance was unexpected. When sent above stairs to check, the housekeeper reported that Mrs Young’s room remained untouched except that her bonnet, shawl, and sewing bag were missing.
When four of the clock passed without the appearance of Lord Campbell, Mr Hurst suggested that they send an inquiry to Lord Campbell’s home to determine if the man was well. Miss Bingley blushed when she admitted that she had no notion of Lord Campbell’s home.
And then Mrs Hurst asked, “Caroline, earlier you said that you had secured Lord Campbell’s intentions. What did you mean by that statement?”
Taking a moment to preen, Caroline finally explained, “Yesterday just after luncheon, I made an important investment that ensures I shall be Countess of Argyle.”
Now Mr Hurst asked, “An investment? What do you mean?”
“I am five-and-twenty years, a terrible thing for any maid to admit,” Caroline stated. “But the lawyers and bankers had to agree with my wishes to withdraw money from my dowry.”
Staring at his wife’s younger sister with growing concern, Geoffrey fell silent. However, Louisa pressed forward withanother question, “Sister, please tell us what you…what investment did you make?”
“Before the dukes and earls could buy the shares in the next East India Company, I purchased shares in the New World Tea Company,” Caroline declared joyfully. “I shall be… my husband and I shall be as rich the Crown Prince.”
