Page 125 of New World Tea Company
Georgiana commented, “I have seen similar books in London, but I have never heard Mrs Reynolds mention them at Pemberley.”
Darcy said, “The books exist at Pemberley, and they reach back more than a century in time. We shall look at them the next time we are home.”
“What about when you marry? What will…” Georgiana began to ask but paused when she remembered that her brother was courting Miss Elizabeth. After a moment, she smiled gently and continued, “What will your wife find at Pemberley?”
“Everything at Pemberley follows tradition,” Darcy told his sister. He glanced at Elizabeth who blushed, “Mrs Darcy will find our homes to be a challenge to understand as she brings order to them.”
Elizabeth rose to the implied challenge and replied, “I should imagine your bride will be questioned and tested by the housekeepers and cooks. After fifteen years without a mistress, it may take some time for your wife to develop an effective strategy to approach these loyal servants.”
~~~
Chapter 60.Lady’s Companion
Over the next week, Caroline remained hidden in her bedchamber. Mr and Mrs Hurst made no great effort to pry Caroline from the room though a strict schedule was imposed concerning the time of day when Caroline could request food from the kitchen. And the maids and footmen would provide her with enough water for a bath only on Saturday and Wednesday. The other days of the week, she had to make do with washing using a large bowl in her room. The woman failed to care for her hair, but Louisa insisted that Caroline’s gowns remain stored properly and that her sister dress each day.
After two days consulting with the attorneys and constables, Charles departed London and returned home to his bride at Netherfield. During the following week, Mr Hurst was uncertain how to press his wife for a resolution of the problem that was Caroline Bingley, and he was pleasantly surprised to discover that Louisa was as determined as he for her sister to find another situation.
Letters were exchanged between Olive Street and Netherfield each day. There was a long letter from Charles in which he revealed that Mr Darcy had provided an ideal solution for Miss Bingley’s future. Writing that Mrs Bingley endorsed the solution, Charles asked for Geoffrey and Louisa Hurst to discuss the proposal and share their opinion. A response arrived at Netherfield the next morning by special express in which Mr and Mrs Hurst endorsed the proposal and invited the Bingley couple to call at Olive Street before noon in two days where the family would make Caroline’s future known to her.
And so it was that Mr Bingley brought his bride to London for the first time to call on Mr and Mrs Hurst to discuss MissBingley’s future. Leaving Netherfield with enough clothing for no more than two days, Jane and Charles departed Meryton very early. They would arrive at Olive Street before noon in the Bingley coach and four.
Mr Darcy wished his friend well with the trip to London and remained at Netherfield to escort his sister to Longbourn for tea in the afternoon.
~~~
That morning, Caroline remained in her bedchamber as usual but heard the sounds of doors opening and closing, as well multiple voices speaking. There were multiple people walking through the front of the house before noon. Insulted that anyone would dare to call at ‘her’ house in the morning hours, she pouted and began to dress. Her immediate reaction was to worry how such a faux pas might affect Lord Campbell’s opinion of her.
Then she remembered that there was no Lord Campbell, she would not be Lady Campbell, and worse she would never be the Countess of Argyle. Seated in the gloom of her room, she rose to break her fast from the cold tray and considered brushing her hair.
Shortly thereafter, Louisa appeared in her room, threw open the windows to allow fresh air inside and declared, “Caroline you must get dressed. At noon, come downstairs and join us in the parlour. Charles and Jane will join us there for an important discussion.”
Ignoring her sister, Caroline mourned that the future she thought was within her reach but had vanished. And her dowry was reduced to a mere five thousand pounds; Charles and Mr Hurst offered no hope to recover the lost wealth. She would never find a suitable husband to lift her into the first circles of London society.
‘If only Mr Darcy was not blind to my worth,’she mourned.‘If only Lord Campbell had made me Countess of Argyle.’
After many minutes regretting how others failed her, Caroline pulled on the cord near the back of the room to summon a maid. However, neither her lady’s maid nor a scullery maid appeared. Pulling the signal cord twice more, the woman grew agitated when none of the servants appeared at her door.
At noon, Mr and Mrs Hurst waited with Mr and Mrs Bingley in the parlour for Caroline to appear. After twenty minutes without their sister’s appearance, the two couples ventured above stairs. Geoffrey knocked on the door once but then opened the door and led the way inside.
“What is the meaning of this?” screeched Caroline, clutching her dressing gown close to her throat. “I am not dressed!”
“You were told to be ready to meet with your family at noon,” Hurst reminded the woman.
Excusing her behaviour, Caroline replied, “I am distressed. That caused me to forget the time.”
Glancing at the breakfast tray with empty plates and teapot, the visitors knew that Caroline was aware of the true time.
“Hello, Caroline,” Charles greeted his sister. “Jane and I came to London to consult with you, Louisa and Geoffrey concerning your situation.”
“My situation?” asked Caroline acidly. “What concern is my situation to your wife? Is it not enough that you saved her from a life of drudgery on her father’s farm?”
As Jane stepped into the room, Caroline sneered and did not greet her sister-in-law. Mr Hurst faux whispered to Jane, “You are fortunate, Mrs Bingley. Our sister yells her insults in my face but ignores you after an attempt to bring you down.”
Her face remaining sour, Caroline asked, “Charles, what you will force me to do? Must I marry some farmer far from London?”
Caroline’s eyes were red from crying the whole of the morning and this elicited some sympathy from her siblings. They agreed not to continue the discussion at the present moment but to wait until after supper – where Caroline would join them in the dining room. The two couples retreated from Caroline’s bedchamber after her solemn promise to join them downstairs in time to dine.
Descending the stairs without any resolution to the situation, Mr Hurst hardened his resolve to remove Caroline from his home, and Jane – who had a warm heart for everyone – realized that Caroline would attempt to manipulate them like Lydia did their parents with her tantrums and tears. She would ask Charles to protect the felicity of their home from his sister’s tantrums.
