Page 9 of New World Tea Company
“Leave!” commanded the unpleasant woman.
The maid fled the room, and only then did Caroline realise she would have to mix the water herself. A large pitcher of cold water sat on the table, and she poured some into the large basin before adding hot water until the liquid was a suitable temperature for washing. Her morning routine included washing her face and body.
‘I can only bathe in the evening,’she complained.‘The housekeeper claims there. Are not enough pots to heat water on the fire in the morning. This is the wilderness!’
The first morning here, Caroline complained about insufficient hot water, but unfortunately, Charles sided with the housekeeper. Caroline sighed and asked herself,‘What is the housekeeper’s name? Mrs Hide or Mrs Hodd or something equally strange.’
After washing and leaving the washcloths and dirty water to grow cold on the table, Caroline poured herself a cup and found the tea weak this morning.
‘Fresh leaves! I told Mrs Hobbit to ensure my tea was brewed with fresh leaves in the morning!’
Her mood sour, Caroline pulled the cord ringing for the maid once again. She finished the cup of tea and selected a dress for the morning. Then realising that it was afternoon, she selected a different dress. When the same maid appeared through the servant’s door at the back of the room, Caroline was caught off guard but then set the girl to helping her dress. The maid fastened the four-and-twenty buttons on the back of the gown quickly. Then Caroline arranged her hair with the maid’s help, and finally, the girl helped the gentlewoman into her shoes.
“Why did you come through that small door this time?” she asked the maid while the girl returned the other pairs of shoes to the trunk where Caroline stored them.
“Mrs Hobbes says to use the regular door when carrying trays with pots and urns. But when I come to help with buttons or other things, I should use the back stairs. They’re narrow steps, but I can be here faster miss,” the maid explained. Without acknowledging the girl’s explanation, Caroline left the room to descend the stairs to join her family in the dining room.
Alice Hill, the maid, used the bell to summon another maid to help put the room to rights–the bed had to be made, and nightclothes hung on hooks or folded and placed in drawers. She would remove the dirty water and washcloths before Miss Bingley returned. Alice moved to the nightclothes first–hopeful nothing had to be washed today.
In the privacy of her mind, Alice decided,‘Miss Lydia will be like Miss Bingley when she is grown. Miss Jane would never act like this, and I am certain Miss Lizzy would box Miss Bingley’s ears if she were her sister.’
~~~
The dining room at Netherfield was neat and clean. Charles Bingley sat at the head of the table with Louisa on his right. Geoffrey Hurst sat beside his wife and would be on Caroline’s left when she arrived to take her place as hostess at the end of the table opposite her brother.
“I thought the neighbours friendly and engaging,” Hurst remarked with his wife and brother-in-law. “The nearest neighbour, Mr Bennet, will invite us to shoot this week.”
“Shoot? What will you shoot?” asked Louisa.
“Partridges, my dear,” Geoffrey explained. “It is the season that gentlemen hunt partridges on the estates. The birds are tasty after they hang in the pantry for a few days.”
Charles added, “A shooting party is a good way to become acquainted with the other gentlemen.”
“But Bennet said he would not invite all the neighbours,” Hurst declared. “Just the two of us.”
“Why not all the gentlemen?” asked Louisa.
“With just three guns, we shall have several days of shooting,” her husband replied. “Ten guns would wipe out the coveys in a single day.”
“I read in the steward’s reports that there was a gamekeeper here at Netherfield,” Charles said. “I must investigate if the man is still employed and we shall plan to increase the number of pheasants next year.”
Geoffrey nodded and explained, “Mr Bennet said the previous leaseholder did not encourage cooping the partridge hens in spring, so there are not many birds this autumn. When Darcy arrives, he and your steward can explain the arrangements to make for next year.”
Before they could discuss the opportunity for shooting in greater detail, the door opened to allow Caroline to enter the room and join her family around the table. While Charlesand Louisa called greetings to their sister, the youngest of the Bingleys did not reply. She selected items for her plate at the buffet and then huffed when there was not a footman to carry the plate to the table for her. After making her way to the table with her plate, Caroline complained, “Am I to pour my cup myself?”
Louisa and Geoffrey exchanged glances, but without a comment, Charles rose and went to the buffet to pour his sister a cup of tea. The cup in hand, he inquired with a great deal of cheek, “And what does madam require in her cup? It is too early to slip spirits into your tea.”
Caroline frowned and said, “Brother, after only a few days in the wilderness, you have been contaminated by the locals. We do not have proper service in the dining room.”
She paused briefly before continuing, “You know very well that I want a drop of cream in my tea.”
Louisa spoke, “Caroline, footmen in the dining room carrying a plate from the buffet to the table only occur in the king’s palace. I shall not agree to force our footman to such service when next you visit us on Olive Street.”
Charles added the cream and brought the teacup to his sister at the table. He stood there, bowed, and asked, “I did not stir it, madam. Shall I use my finger?”
In a temper, Caroline slammed her fist on the tabletop and complained, “I want to return to London! Today!”
“Sister, it is after the noon hour. The maids could never pack and get you out the door before six this afternoon, and the coach would have to travel in the dark,” Geoffrey counselled. “Perhaps tomorrow.”
