Page 36 of New World Tea Company
To counter his sister-in-law’s comments, Mr Hurst confirmed that his mother kept such books at Olive Street and the Hurst home in Suffolk, but the housekeepers made most of the entries into the books. Mr Bennet shared the journals from ten years in the past and the current year to illustrate how some entries remained the same and others varied. Mr Darcy added that the housekeeper in every large house he had visited kept such a journal, and each steward and secretary used journals.
Attempting to recover from her faux pas, Miss Bingley asked, “Mr Darcy, how many stewards and secretaries do you have?”
When several people leaned forward to hear the man’s response, Charles interrupted the conversation and asked Miss Mary to play on the instrument in the corner. There were no invitations to supper for the visitors, and shortly after Mary completed playing a pair of songs, the visitors departed. Miss Bingley was disappointed when only Mr Hurst chose to ride in the carriage. Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley raced back, their horses jumping the fences of pastures between Longbourn and Netherfield.
~~~
“Lizzy, how rich is Mr Darcy?” asked Lydia while the family was gathered around the supper table.
Her expression was a scowl when Elizabeth replied, “I do not know, Lydia. It is not a question I should ever ask a gentleman.”
Mary spoke up, “Mr Bingley interrupted his sister when she asked Mr Darcy that rude question.”
Mrs Bennet said, “My sister Phillips reported Mr Phillips saying the man has ten thousand a year. Can you imagine how rich he must be with houses across the kingdoms? Without doubt, he has hundreds of servants.”
From the opposite side of the table, Mr Bennet declared, “My dear, you are gauche to speak of the supposed income of the young men.”
“We must speak of money now that Mr Collins is gone to Charlotte Lucas. Mr Bingley’s five thousand is nothing compared to Mr Darcy’s ten thousand,” insisted Mrs Bennet. “But I believe that Jane and Lizzy must marry them.”
“Mamma, you should not say such things at the table,” said Elizabeth, as she blushed brightly.
Mr Bennet admonished his wife, “And you should never speak of those things with your sister!”
Lydia asked, “Lizzy, might I have Mr Darcy if you do not want him? I should like to be rich.”
“No, you are too young to marry this year, Lydia,” Mrs Bennet declared. “After Jane and Elizabeth are married, their husbands will bring young rich men around for Mary, Kitty and you.”
“Mrs Bennet, cease this talk,” Mr Bennet said with some force.
Not to be denied, Frances added, “But Mr Bennet, the man has ten thousand a year. He is as rich as a duke!”
~~~
On a clear, brisk day early in November, Elizabeth escaped Longbourn for a walk. She waited until after completing the sewing for the morning but left before time for lunch The young woman tied her bonnet under her chin, threw a woollen cloak around her shoulders and slipped on warm mittens. Her sturdyboots let her walk across fields and along roads with the sun upon her shoulders, but the autumn wind blew any heat away.
There was no company along the road but for one wagon carrying firewood from the woods to some farmhouse and two farmers moving grain or gourds used for animal feed. Deciding to return to Longbourn, she turned around and, shortly thereafter, heard the sound of horse hooves approaching behind her. The woman kept to the side of the road, and the rider went past but stopped. The man mounted on the horse was Mr Darcy, who dismounted before approaching Elizabeth, leading his horse.
“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth,” he called in greeting. “Are you not cold?”
“I am cold, but then so is everyone not wrapped in a wool blanket while seated next to the fire this cold morning.”
He smiled at the young woman before asking, “Might I walk with you for a mile?”
“A very specific distance, sir,” she replied. “Will you leave me before anyone in Meryton spies us?”
“Most definitely. My experiences in London taught me to be careful when speaking with young ladies. Still, you have a level head and will not run to your mother about an engagement after a simple conversation.”
A second man on horseback approached from behind and rode past without stopping. Once the horse and rider were further up the road, Elizabeth continued their conversation, “Mr Darcy, I must disagree with you.”
“How do we disagree, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I never consider our conversations to be simple. I enjoy them immensely,” she confessed. “And I assure you that I no wish to have such a conversation with my mother.”
Nodding to acknowledge the young woman’s statement, he asked, “What is your purpose in walking today?”
“I wish simply to walk for exercise and escape the noise of my father’s household this morning.”
There was a look of surprise on the gentleman’s usually stoic visage. Elizabeth smiled and explained, “Mr Darcy, remember I have four sisters at home. Surely, you can believe that the conversation level can be loud occasionally.”
