Page 122 of New World Tea Company
Catherine de Bourgh growled, “There are no such creatures in existence.”
The earl referenced the letter in his hand and said, “Mr Frederick did mention that the estate would pay the salary for a lady’s companion who he and his wife thought suitable. However, Lady Catherine would not be permitted the liberty of firing this paid companion; only Mr Frederick would be allowed to do so.”
In the lull of conversation, Gilbert Hastings mentioned, “In the letter our firm received, the new master of Rosings Park wishes to know the current location and condition of the coach-and-four that Lady Catherine took to London a fortnight in the past.”
Darcy explained, “I shall write to Mr Frederick and inform him that the coach and team of horses are under the care of his coachman and a competent blacksmith in Hertfordshire where I left them. One of the horses went lame and I used my own vehicle and team to return Lady Catherine to Matlock House yesterday. I shall send them directly Mr Frederick once the coachman believes the horse can travel the distance from Meryton to Hunsford.”
The earl asked, “What is that distance?”
“Just over seventy miles, sir,” replied Darcy.
The Earl of Matlock moved his head to stare at his sister for a long minute. Then he said, “Cathy, I shall not offer you houseroom here or at Matlock except for visits in the future that may last no longer than a fortnight.”
He glanced at his wife who looked very relieved to hear her husband’s words. Then the earl stated, “My lady wife has withstood your disdain for all the years of our marriage, and I shall no longer force this upon her. Lady Marie must find a husband for our daughter and bring a wife into the house for our eldest son. There must be peace in Matlock House for such happy events to occur.”
“Return to Rosings Park and settle into the dower house,” the earl commanded. “My butler will hire a coach-and-four to carry you there this afternoon. We shall invite you to join us in Derbyshire for the hunting season this autumn, but only for a set time. Then you shall return to Rosings Park.”
Displeased to be dismissed so completely, Lady Catherine was tempted to protest but knew that she had no allies in the room – not her sister-in-law, her nephew, or the attorneys. Without any further farewells to his relatives, Fitzwilliam Darcy left the office and returned to the entry hall where he took his hat and gloves from the table by the door. Opening the front door himself, the gentleman departed Matlock House.
~~~
Chapter 58.Mr Darcy Returns
When the Darcy coach and four appeared on the drive leading to Netherfield the next afternoon, Miss Darcy was glad to see her brother. Even though she welcomed Mr Darcy back into her home, Mrs Bingley was distressed with the continued absence of her husband. The delivery of an express letter from Charles almost immediately after the arrival of Mr Darcy, relieved many of Jane’s concerns.
As Dracy led his sister and Jane toward the Darcy carriage for the trip to Longbourn, Jane continued to watch the drive leading to Netherfield, imagining the image of her husband’s carriage bringing Charles home.
Mrs Bingley admitted to herself,‘I miss my husband terribly.’
~~~
Elizabeth walked through the apple orchard nearest to the house. The fruit would soon ripen, and the ladies of the house would help the housekeeper to peel and cut up the apples to dry in the attics. Another orchard, closer to the pastures, grew the apples that were crushed for cider and vinegar. Those apples did not ripen until July.
Unlike other summers, the young woman’s thoughts were not focused on the tasks required to ensure the family, servants, and tenants had sufficient food stuffs to eat during the winter. Her entire life, Elizabeth’s parents and other adults around Longbourn provided instruction on growing and preserving food. And every summer, there were multiple gardens in the fields around Longbourn and every tenant house.
Today, Elizabeth Bennet was lost in her thoughts about Fitzwilliam Darcy. Her memories of his recent visit at Netherfield fed the flames of her attraction to the tall man. Thena letter from London pulled Charles to London. The unexpected appearance of Lady Catherine that same day with her story of the New World Tea Company was disconcerting; Mr Darcy’s sudden departure with his aunt in tow that same afternoon left Elizabeth disappointed.
Jane, Miss Darcy, and Mrs Annesley remained at Netherfield when Lizzy returned to Longbourn in the late afternoon. During supper and in the parlour before bed, Elizabeth shared none of the events that had occurred at Netherfield earlier in the day. The next day, Elizabeth lingered in the hallway to see if her father received any letters. She knew if he did, he would remain silent at the table in the dining room.
‘Papa will not feed the gossip that Mama and Aunt Phillips would spread around Meryton faster than the hounds chase the fox during the hunt.’
Elizabeth smiled imagining Mr Darcy’s flushed face when he returned from such an excursion. In her mind, she saw the gentleman guide his horse across the fields of Longbourn, pull the mount to a stop and drop from the saddle. She paused in her walk as her daydream continued with Mr Darcy – Fitzwilliam – smiling at her, approaching her at the door of the house, and lifting her hand to his lips for a kiss on her skin.
“Lizzy!” called a voice from far away.
Lost in her daydream, Elizabeth imagined she was alone with the handsome man – no chaperones in the corners of the room – as Fitzwilliam’s hands drew her close, her heart beating wildly in her breast as he bent his head toward hers.
“LIZZY!” shouted the voice again, interrupting Elizabeth’s lovely daydream. Lydia stood at the fence that surrounded the orchard with the usual perturbed look on her face. The younger sister did not pay close attention to the other woman, or shewould have giggled to see the bright red flush that heated Lizzy’s cheeks and neck.
“Papa sent me to find you!” Lydia declared. “He wants you to come to his library as soon as you have clean shoes on your feet!”
The message delivered, Elizabeth watched Lydia turn and begin her trip back to the manor house. The younger sister lifted her skirts to lengthen her stride – the ground was dry and the path back to the kitchen door was clear of mud. Hurrying to the stile that allowed Elizabeth to cross the fence and reach the path, she also lifted her skirt to speed her steps. Lydia had already vanished around the bend of the path behind shrubbery that hid the sight of the pastures from the dining room.
Once she entered the kitchen, Elizabeth saw Lydia’s dirty boots left beside the chair near the fire. Mrs Hill was kneading bread dough and had not put the boots away. Sitting in the same chair, Elizabeth pulled off her dirty boots and picked up both pairs of boots. She placed them in the closet near the back door where everyone’s outdoor footwear was stored.
Then she noticed her shoes for inside wear were missing. She frowned but said nothing to Mrs Hill and left the kitchen in her stocking feet, determined to find Lydia and retrieve her shoes after visiting with her father. The floors were not cold – June had been pleasantly warm – and the floorboards were not newly polished, so the young woman did not slip as she walked along the hallway to cross from the back to the front of the house to her father’s library.
When she reached the library door, knocked and looked inside, Mr Bennet invited his daughter inside and asked her to sit. Once his daughter was seated before him, handed her a letter.
