Page 16 of New World Tea Company
Mr Hurst remarked, “Ah, Charles, perhaps you can apply to the man for relief from the expense of Caroline’s feathers?”
Ignoring the jest by Geoffrey, Charles asked, “And what complaint do you have against relatives in trade, sister?”
“Persons of quality do not participate in business or trade!” Caroline stated as though it were a commandment from the Bible.
Aware of his brother-in-law’s continued ownership of the Bingley family business, Hurst asked, “Are you certain?”
“Everyone knows the lords and ladies of the first circles do not build ships to import ostrich feathers,” insisted Caroline.
Geoffrey glanced at his wife, who pursed her lips and explained, “At Longbourn this afternoon, the sisters shared the idea of dying rooster feathers at the same time they coloured yarn. They had lovely green feathers to festoon some straw bonnets. Caroline decried the green feathers and was taken aback when informed by Miss Bennet that her blue ostrich feathers are dyed blue.”
Not to be deflected from her discourse, Caroline elicited Mr Darcy’s opinion, “Mr Darcy, what do you think of women who dye rooster feathers to decorate their bonnets?”
“I believe it would be a proper activity for young ladies from families in the countryside, but my sister would not attempt such a thing in London,” Darcy replied. “Do they knit stockings?”
“But they have an uncle in trade!” Caroline declared. “And spoke of him while in our company!”
Fitzwilliam Darcy looked confused momentarily before he replied, “Miss Bingley, I do not avoid acquaintances who are sons of men in trade.”
Aghast, Caroline placed one hand on her chest and denied the man’s words, “Surely not! Do you claim acquaintances in trade? In business?”
Glancing at Charles, Darcy smiled and explained, “Miss Bingley, if I did not seek acquaintances with families in trade, I should never have met Charles Bingley at university. And webecame friends while your father still lived and operated his pottery in Stoke-on-Trent.”
Caroline fell silent when she learned Mr Darcy knew the origins of her family’s fortunes. She asked, “You knew Charles was still in trade while you were at university?”
“I did. And any man who wants his family fortunes to grow will have his hand in trade or business,” Darcy explained. “We do not speak of it in the company of the ladies…unless pressed in a private moment such as this.”
Caroline retired early that evening and mourned that there was no one but her sister with whom she could discuss this revelation. Since her marriage to Geoffrey Hurst, Louisa had changed; she deferred to the man’s decisions in public while assuring Caroline that she had discussed the matter with her husband beforehand.
The three men were busy for an hour after dinner, cleaning the guns in the office and looking over the bird shot available for the next day. There was no discussion of trade, land, or status while Darcy, Bingley, and Hurst worked with a knowledgeable footman named David Hill.
~~~
The next morning, Caroline entered the dining room to find the three men animated in their discussions about a shooting excursion later in the morning. She learned they were to ride out before ten of the clock and not return until late in the afternoon.
“Did Hill go over to Longbourn with the guns already?” asked Hurst.
Charles nodded and said, “He rode over this morning with a cart from the barn. He said that Longbourn does not have such a conveyance, and each man must carry his gun the entire time.”
Displeased to be ignored, Caroline asked, “What will you be shooting? Cows or sheep?”
Charles ignored Caroline’s caustic tone and explained, “Mr Bennet invited us to shoot partridges in his fields today. Mrs Hobbes assures me that our cook has excellent receipts to prepare the birds for the table.”
“Are we to eat partridge tonight, then?”
“No,” Charles replied. “I believe the birds must hang for a few days before being cleaned and roasted.”
Caroline frowned and looked at her sister, who was also perplexed. Mr Hurst spoke to Louisa and suggested she speak to Mrs Hobbes for the details of hanging game birds before preparing them for the table. His wife nodded and wished him a good day as the three men rose from the table and left the room.
~~~
They departed Netherfield on horseback and arrived at Longbourn after a ride of two miles. A stable boy took the three horses to the barn as Mr Bennet emerged from the house and greeted his visitors.
“Mr Bennet, we arrive with one more shooter,” Bingley said. “This is my good friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, who has come out to help me into the saddle at Netherfield.”
The gentlemen shook hands, and Darcy said, “Forgive me for intruding, Mr Bennet, but Hurst and Bingley said you had large coveys, and I enjoy a hunt on a brisk day in autumn.”
“Four guns will not bring down too many birds today. And if you offer good conversation, any impositions will be forgiven,” Bennet replied as he led the men around the house toward a wagon with a single pony in harness, the Netherfield footman, and the Longbourn gamekeeper.
