Page 127 of New World Tea Company
“Lady Catherine? Mr Darcy’s aunt?” asked Caroline, immediately imagining her rescue when Mr Darcy took her as his wife.
However, Charles immediately destroyed that dream. “Caroline, Darcy has broken all ties to his aunt. And Miss de Bourgh’s husband, Mr Fredericks, is the master of Rosings Park and Darcy will not call at Rosings again.”
Jane and Charles had no intention of revealing Mr Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth to anyone until the matter was settled.
Sighing mournfully, Caroline asked, “What of George Wickham? Has that scoundrel been apprehended? Is there any chance of recovering my dowry?”
“Your fifteen thousand pounds are gone,” Mr Hurst said. “Remember the constables had the bodies of Wickham’s confederates and George disappeared with your gold. You were left with five thousand pounds.”
“What can I do with my dowry?” asked Caroline. “Those funds will not buy news gowns and allow me to eat for the rest of my years!”
“I shall invest the funds in the four percents for an income of two hundred pounds a year,” Charles announced. “Mrs Bennet has a similar arrangement with her inheritance that gives her two hundred pounds each year.”
Again, Caroline wailed, “Two hundred pounds per annum? I shall starve!”
Charles relieved some of his sister’s fears when he said, “Your employer will provide you with a roof, food and heat. Your two hundred pounds will pay for clothing, sheet music, and books.”
Louisa was affected by her sister’s distress, but she forced herself to remain silent.
When Caroline realized that neither sibling would rescue her, she scowled and surrendered. Then she asked, “When shall I be exiled to my prison with Lady Catherine de Bourgh?”
~~~
Chapter 61.Another Engagement
With the absence of Mr and Mrs Bingley from Netherfield for two or three days, it was inappropriate for Elizabeth to call on Miss Darcy at Netherfield without a married adult to act as chaperone. Mrs Annesley, Georgiana’s lady’s companion, did not have the social standing to act as chaperone without Charles or Jane in the house. As a consequence, Mr Darcy brought his sister to Longbourn each morning after they broke their fast. They remained through luncheon, the whole of the afternoon, and dinner. The siblings only returned to Netherfield when the sun began to draw near to the horizon.
The first day was filled with music lessons for Mary and Georgiana, sewing lessons with Mrs Bennet and all four sisters, quiet time to read the latest newspapers and magazines from London with Mr Bennet in the parlour, and pleasant excursions along the paths leading to the pastures, and the road into Meryton. Georgiana hoped her brother would find his courage soon – Mr and Mrs Bingley would return from London before too many days passed.
On second morning once the Darcy siblings arrived at Longbourn and sent the coach and four on to the stables, Mr Bennet brought out the London newspapers and shared an article with Fitzwilliam. Georgiana ignored the two men but noticed that Elizabeth seemed aware of their quiet conversation.
Mrs Bennet voiced a notion of venturing into Meryton to purchase a suitable length of material to sew a new shirt for her husband. As soon as she mentioned the walk to the mercantile, Frances added, “Miss Darcy, my Lizzy has the strongest stitches for the seams in the shoulders and arms. I insist she teach you that stitch.”
“My dear, please wait another day before you walk into Meryton,” Mr Bennet instructed his wife. “I feel the need to hear our daughters read this morning.”
“Oh Papa, no,” complained Lydia immediately. “I do not enjoy that at all.”
“Then you may sit quietly and listen to your sisters read,” Mr Bennet replied as his wife brought their youngest daughter to her side on the sofa. Mrs Bennet whispered about a reward of lace or ribbons during the future trip mercantile if Lydia behaved as a proper young lady today.
Mr Bennet left the parlour for a moment and returned with the book, The Natural History of Selborne. Elizabeth smiled remembering this was the book that Mr Darcy surreptitiously provided to Mr Bennet (and Miss Elizabeth) the previous autumn through Mr Bingley. While everyone listened Mary, Georgiana, Kitty, and Elizabeth each read two or three pages from a chapter that described the flora and fauna around the author’s home.
After the reading was complete, Mr Bennet questioned each young woman about the meaning of the passage she had read, and Mr Darcy noted that the four ladies provided accurate recitations of the descriptions and how they compared to the countryside around Meryton.
‘Elizabeth and her sisters were educated properly by Mr Bennet,’Darcy realized when he compared the explanations provided by the Bennet sisters compared to Georgiana’s responses.‘The gentleman was as thorough as a professor at Oxford with his questioning for understanding.’
Once the reading was completed, everyone in the parlour participated in a general discussion of the articles in the newspaper without any mention of the earlier discussion between Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy.
Then Mrs Bennet announced that it was time for lunch. She took Mr Bennet’s arm and directed Mr Darcy to escort Elizabeth and Miss Georgiana into the dining room. The meal was delicious as always at the Bennet table, but the conversation was stilted as Mrs Bennet led the conversation into discussion of the many excellent qualities of her second daughter. Lydia remained quiet but her patience was tested by not being able to voice her true opinions. Georgiana was perplexed by the youngest sister’s behaviour because other four sisters were perfectly well-behaved.
When the party left the dining room, Mr Bennet invited Mr Darcy to his library to discuss estate matters. Stepping between Mr Darcy and her second daughter, Mrs Bennet immediately directed Elizabeth to join her sisters and Miss Darcy in the parlour where they would take up the mending while the gentlemen handled financial matters.
“If you will listen to me, you may be engaged by autumn,” whispered Mrs Bennet. “But do not put yourself forward with your knowledge from books. Mr Darcy may not want a wife who knows where tea is picked off the bush!”
But it was only ten minutes before a maid entered the parlour with a note that she slipped to Miss Elizabeth.
“What is it Lizzy?” asked Mrs Bennet, impatient to know the note’s contents.
“Papa instructs me to bring The Natural History of Selborne back to his library,” Elizabeth replied though she frowned slightly.
