Page 115 of New World Tea Company
The young woman smiled as she added, “The back stairs here at Netherfield are narrow but they offer doorways into each chamber above stairs. You do not encounter anyone along the way except for the occasional maid.”
Georgiana grinned and concluded, “It was an adventure to avoid Aunt Catherine.”
Dracy smiled before he addressed Jane, “Mrs Bingley, I must return Lady Catherine to London this afternoon. Might I beg houseroom for my sister without my presence for a few days?”
“What has happened?” asked Georgiana. Elizabeth was glad to hear the question that she would have asked if Miss Darcy had not.
Darcy replied, “Our aunt has been swindled out of a tremendous amount of money and impoverished Rosings. I must try and see if there is anything to be done about recovering the money.”
Jane interrupted, “Mr Darcy, do you believe she was swindled? How did this occur?”
The man explained, “She handed over fifteen thousand pounds to purchase shares in Mr Wickham’s fictious company that Mr Wickham spoke of last autumn here in Meryton.”
Elizabeth asked, “Do you refer to the New World Tea Company?”
The gentleman nodded his head and Elizabeth turned pale before she expounded, “Mr Darcy, that company…when Mr Wickham attended the wedding of Mr and Mrs Collins, several of the neighbourhood gentlemen purchased shares in that same company.”
She continued, “Moreover, when I was a guest of Mr and Mrs Collins in Hunsford, Mr Wickham called at the parsonage before going with Mr Collins to call on your aunt. Inadvertently, I overheard a business conversation between the two men, and it left me very confused.”
Frowning, Mr Darcy asked, “How did the conversation leave you confused, Miss Bennet?”
Glancing at the audience in Georgiana’s sitting room, Elizabeth admitted, “I would rather not explain my information at the present moment.”
Pleased that Elizabeth had not revealed the cause of Mr Bingley’s urgent trip to London, Jane suggested, “Mr Darcy, would you allow me to chaperone you and my sister while shediscusses this matter with you? We can meet in my sitting room while Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley return to their sewing or reading. I shall give them tea once you have departed for London with your aunt.”
Unhappy to be denied all the information, Georgiana was pleased with the hug from her brother and his promise of sending her a letter from London. He added, “I shall return as soon as possible.”
~~~
In the small sitting room attached to the bedchamber Jane shared with her husband, the lady motioned her sister and Mr Darcy toward a pair of chairs near the fireplace. She retreated to the window that looked out at the eastern side of the house and waited while Elizabeth spoke with Mr Darcy confidentially.
With Jane on the other side of the room, Elizabeth confided, “The last Sunday I was a guest at Hunsford, I retired to my bedchamber immediately after luncheon. Mr Wickham came to eat and remained to talk business with Mr Collins. I feigned a headache to avoid the man’s company and retreated to my bedchamber. Unfortunately, my room above stairs was directly over the room that Mr Collins used as his office and through the chimney I could hear every word of their conversation.”
Blushing Elizabeth admitted, “At first, I thought to make the gentlemen aware their conversation was overheard but then Wickham mentioned that you–Mr Darcy–were to be an investor in his latest business venture. I admit I remained silent and listened as Wickham explained the opportunity he would present to Lady Catherine.”
The gentleman frowned but made no comment, so Elizabeth continued, “I have no way of knowing if Mr Wickham’s business offered a secure investment for your cousin’s estate. The sums of money discussed were beyond my comprehension–thirtythousand pounds for a merchant ship. And profits of fifteen thousand pounds per annum.”
“However, I could understand why the promise of such wealth was an overwhelming temptation to the gentlemen in Meryton and Mr Collins,” the young woman concluded. “The next morning, Charles and Jane appeared at Hunsford with a tale that my mother was ill. I immediately left with them to return to Hertfordshire.”
Darcy asked, “Is your lady mother sick? No one has said that she was indisposed.”
“No sir,” Elizabeth admitted. “It was a tale that my sister and her husband contrived to excuse my sudden departure from Hunsford. My father was disturbed by comments in a letter from Mr Collins and he wished me returned to our home as soon as possible.”
Surprized by the stratagem, Darcy admitted, “Mrs Bingley will be the making of Charles.”
“I was cross with Jane and Charles for all of ten minutes,” Elizabeth admitted. “I have written to Mrs Collins that my mother has recovered.”
She continued, “That night we remained in London with the Gardiners at their home on Gracechurch Street. After supper I spoke with my uncle about the conversation. He asked Charles to join us for the conversation and both of them assured me that Wickham promises of profits were impossible.”
Frowning Elizabeth continued, “I was incensed that it was allowed for any man to lie to people about business and investments and they both assured me that the buyer was responsible for evaluating offers for truth or fabrication. Charles and Uncle Gardiner supported my notion that women should receive some education on these matters but also pointed outthat most men do not think before handing over their coins to charlatans and fools.”
Mr Darcy stated, “I agree with everything you say Miss Bennet, and we can discuss this idea at a future date…we shall discuss these facts and provide you with instruction as well as my sister. However, this afternoon I must escort Lady Catherine back to Matlock House and discover the extent of damage to my cousin’s estate.”
The gentleman continued, “You heard them–the men–planned for Collins to introduce Wickham to my aunt the next day.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth confirmed. “Wickham was to call at Rosings at three the next afternoon. Mr Collins would make the introduction, and Mr Wickham would present the investment opportunity to your aunt.”
Now, Darcy explained, “The price of thirty thousand pounds for a cargo ship sounds reasonable but the returns that Wickham promised are not possible. Generally, a ship has several owners or is owned by a company so that the loss of the ship does not destroy an individual’s entire fortune. And the owners must pay the crew, taxes to the government, and the occasional gratuity to the harbour master.”
