Page 37 of New World Tea Company
“Is there not somewhere you can go for peaceful solitude in the manor?” he asked.
Elizabeth shook her head and replied, “Only the attics, where there is no light or heat, or the cellar, which is equally dark and cold.”
“What of your father’s library? He receives the London newspapers almost every day, I believe.”
Continuing her explanations, Elizabeth said, “It is his refuge, and he refuses to share in the mornings. If I am present, one or more of my sisters will intrude, or my mother will enter the library to argue with me about sewing or some task the maids did not complete. Then my father bans me from his library for the remainder of the day.”
After a moment, the gentleman asked, “And what of the newspapers? Do they provide fresh topics for discussion with your father and sisters?”
“Without doubt, the newspapers generate much talk at Longbourn. My younger sisters and mother devour the gossip and repeat it for days. My father and I discuss the news of the wars with Bonaparte and the embargo on trade with the continent, and we also enjoy the articles on new books and published scientific pamphlets.”
“Was there anything of particular interest lately?”
Yes, Father and I were intrigued by the review of a book by a parson named Gilbert White. The book is titled The Natural History of Selborne. The newspaper article stated there was some new controversy about the man’s descriptions of the summer of 1783 filled with meteors and storms. The sun was veiled that year, and the light was reflected strangely. A learned gentleman in London opined that the reports of that strange summer were caused by a great volcanic eruption in Iceland where many thousands of people were killed.”
They discussed volcanos, the environs of Selborne in Hampshire, and books they had both read. As their time together ended, Darcy apologised, “Miss Elizabeth, I have interrupted your solitude and quiet.”
“There is no need to apologise, sir,” she assured him. “I enjoyed the conversation greatly, and I was able to exorcise my tension by walking. The truly cold days will arrive shortly, and I shall have several weeks without the opportunity to walk any distance.”
“In the north, we have heavy snow in January and February that restricts movement to just the house and nearby stables. The horses miss the exercise, as do I.”
“And household tasks continue for ladies in winter,” Elizabeth said. “We must mend stockings and help with the laundry.
“Do you do the laundry yourself, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy asked mischievously.
Laughing, she replied, “No. Our housekeeper does the wash, but I help hang the clothes over the lines we use above stairs. Mamma hangs things in the parlour and the dining room, where we have fires, all day when laundry needs to dry. But everything must be down before three of the clock when callers might arrive.”
“Even with snow on the ground?” the gentleman inquired.
“Mamma insists we be prepared for visitors in the afternoon, even when snow flies through the air. Someone might be desperate for shelter at our door, and she dreads the event where my father’s shirts hang on a line in the parlour when a frozen traveller is brought to the fire to warm himself.”
Smiling now, Darcy asked, “Does Mrs Bennet expect a frozen traveller to wait until the proper hour to knock on your door?”
“I am certain a proper Englishman would never dream of knocking on our door until the proper hour, sir, whatever his situation,” she replied in a serious tone that only widened his smile.
They walked on, exchanging remarks as they neared Longbourn. Elizabeth said, “You should smile more, Mr Darcy.”
“Ah, you have found me out, Miss Elizabeth. I am the frozen traveller waiting for the appropriate time to knock on your mother’s front door.”
Before they came within view of Longbourn, Mr Darcy took his leave of Elizabeth, mounted his horse, and rode back toward Netherfield. She continued along the road and then hurried her steps on the gravel drive that led to the front door. Even though she was cold, Elizabeth continued around the house to the kitchen door. There, she found a chair beside the fire where she could remove her muddy boots and avoid her mother’s remarks about bringing dirt into the hallway.
All the time, her thoughts were of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and suddenly imagined how pleased she would be if he knocked on the door of her father’s manor and requested to warm himself at their fire. In her heart, she wondered,‘Do I dare like him? Do I admit to myself that I like him?’
~~~
Chapter 14.The Natural History of Selbourne
In the parlour at Netherfield, with polished but dated furniture, Fitzwilliam Darcy observed his friend speak with his older sister and watched Louisa Hurst grow excited when she understood her brother’s request.
“Do you intend to host a ball? Here at Netherfield?” asked Mrs Hurst while Miss Bingley’s face grew sour.
“Yes, I believe we have the appropriately sized room for dancing, and we shall speak with Mrs Hobbes about plate, silver, and glassware. I shall not buy such items because I am only leasing the estate. Those items can get mixed with the owner’s belongings while I am here. But we can have food and wine sent up from London. We shall have champagne if the merchants have brought any in despite the embargo.”
‘Champagne? Charles takes a chance with the drink,’Darcy thought to himself.‘I know the prime ministerdoes not serve champagne because of the embargo, but most of the nobility drinks it on occasion still.And no one has much left in their cellars after all these years of war.’
While Charles and Louisa waited for Mrs Hobbes to join them, Darcy continued his observations.‘Miss Bingley is disturbed by this announcement. Does she think a ball inappropriate for the gentry hereabout? Or will she regret not acting as hostess to arrange the ball to her liking? It will be interesting to watch Miss Bingley attempt to manipulate Mrs Hurst for the next weeks.’
Considering the state of Netherfield, Darcy had another thought,‘The ploughing is well underway, and the food stores in the tenant farms are sufficient for the winter. I shall suggestto Charles that he provide a harvest home for the tenants before the ball. Some music and food in one of the larger barns will win much approval from the tenants.’
