Page 121 of New World Tea Company
“As master of Rosings Park, Frederick is the largest landowner in Kent,” Darcy explained.
The earl listened to his nephew and replied, “Sister, Mr Fredericks married your daughter while you were in London, and he is now master of Rosings Park.”
“The will of your late husband is explicit, Aunt Catherine,” Darcy added. “Upon her marriage, Anne’s husband is master of Rosings Park and the entire estate. You have the widow’s portion of the income with the dower house and servants to care for the house and you for the rest of your natural life.”
“The widow’s portion? I shall starve!” exclaimed the woman. “I shall freeze in winter or die of starvation!”
During the recriminations that Lady Catherine threw in the direction of her brother, dead husband, this unknown son-in-law, and recalcitrant nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy made a quick departure.
He left Matlock House and journeyed the few miles to his home in Mayfair for the night. The servants were surprised at the master’s sudden appearance, but Darcy gave no notice to the covered furniture or disorganized rooms. His bed would be clean and warm, and he ate his supper in his office.
Along with the letters his secretary prepared to forward to Netherfield the next day, Darcy found a letter from Mr Clarence Fredericks that announced his marriage to Miss Anne de Bourgh. There was a postscript from Anne at the bottom of the short page in which she stated she had made the match to find her own happiness and asked for her cousin’s blessing.
After writing a letter to Mr Bennet that revealed all the details that he knew about the fraud perpetrated by George Wickham on Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine, Darcy penned a response to Mr and Mrs Clarence Fredericks with his best wishes for their happiness. The letter to Mr Bennet, he would send express to be delivered before noon. The second letter would be posted with the regular post the next morning.
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While breaking his fast in his office the next morning, Darcy received the mail. Included in the letters was a note from the Earl of Matlock asking that Darcy call again at Matlock House before eleven. He wished to consult with his nephew about Lady Catherine’s situation. Darcy had planned to depart for Netherfield as soon as his meal was finished – he had no intention of becoming embroiled in any problems created by Lady Catherine with her new son-in-law. However, he decided toattend the meeting and make certain the Earl of Matlock would not support his sister against Mr and Mrs Fredericks.
Displeased to be summoned to the Fitzwilliam home, Darcy grew openly disgruntled when he was kept waiting at door for five minutes. While standing there, he was a joined by Gilbert Hastings from the legal firm that managed the affairs for the Matlock and Rosings Park estates. There were simple greetings between Darcy and Hastings while they waited. Finally, a footman appeared with an apologetic Lady Marie standing to one side, and an angry Lady Catherine in the background.
The earl watched the parade that included his wife, sister, nephew and lawyers as they entered his office. The older man asked, “Why is everyone scowling before the conversation begins?”
Lady Marie explained to her husband that Lady Catherine prevented the footman from answering the front door. The woman complained, “Your invited guests were left standing on our doorstep for five minutes.”
In short order, the earl explained that Lady Catherine’s letter from her son-in-law and daughter contained additional information. As soon as ever the woman returned to Rosings, she would find her personal belongings moved to the dower house. Per Anne’s understanding of her father’s will, the estate would provide servants to keep house, and this would include a cook, a pair of scullery maids and a footman. The staff had been selected from among the excess staff at Rosings Park. The current housekeeper at the manor house would promote a senior maid to be the housekeeper of Lady Catherine’s new residence.
It was explicitly stated in the letter that Mr Fredericks retained the right to hire all of the servants since it was his purse that would pay for the servants. Furthermore, if Lady Catherine fired any servant, a replacement would not be hired untilFredericks investigated the situation and had time to attend a hiring fair.
Most surprising, Mr Frederick wrote that his wife had no desire to live in Rosings Park and once the current staff provided a complete cleaning and new arrangements of furniture and portraits, the house would be rented to any rich merchant from London who sought a quiet country home for his retirement.
Reading from the letter, the earl explained, “Mr Frederick believes the income from renting the house will see to its upkeep while the full income of the estate is used to rebuild the wealth that was once Rosings Park.”
From her chair in the office, Lady Catherine cried out, “It is unsupportable! Strangers sleeping in my bedchamber! Eating at my dining table!”
Threating to become hysterical, Lady Catherine calmed herself rather than be forced to take another dose of laudanum. Then the earl continued, “Nephew, I asked for your assistance this morning to understand the last will and testament of Sir Louis de Bourgh regarding these matters.”
Motioning toward the attorneys, Earl Matlock explained, “And I summoned the attorney to consult about the will of my late brother-in-law.”
Gilbert Hastings was immune to Lady Catherine’s tantrums and Mr Darcy’s tendency to glare at him; the man had worked on legal matters for the de Bourgh family for more than twenty years.
Hastings stated, “Your Grace, I appreciate the inclusion of Mr Darcy in this conversation; he is as well versed as any living man in the wishes and requirements in the will of Sir Louis de Bourgh.”
The earl asked, “Did Sir Louis make his wishes known regarding his estate’s management after his daughter marries?”
“He did sir,” replied Mr Hastings. “As soon as ever Miss de Bourgh married, her husband is to be master of the estate and if his widow still lived, she was to be provided the dower house with servants, fuel and food for the remainder of her life. The widow’s portion of the income from the estate was to be provided to her on a quarterly basis.”
“What is that income?” asked the earl.
The younger attorney spoke up, “With the loss of income from the properties in Gravesend, the widow’s portion is only four hundred pounds per year.”
“A hundred pounds each quarter? I shall starve! What am I to eat? What of the servants?” demanded Lady Catherine.
Darcy joined the conversation at that point. “Madam, you will not starve. The estate will provide you with corn, meat, fruits, and vegetables. The servants will grind grain for your bread, and they will brew your beer and ale. Your income will pay for tea, sugar, and other items from the mercantile such as cloth, buttons, ribbons and shoes.”
Aghast, Lady Catherine exclaimed, “Am I to count pennies to be able to afford fresh tea? What am I to wear?”
Again, Darcy spoke, “I suggest that you retain the services of a competent lady’s maid who knows how to properly care for your wardrobe and to sew new gowns. Or perhaps you can hire a lady’s companion who can sew.”
