Page 41 of New World Tea Company
“Do not fear, Mrs Edwards, I shall find buyers.”
“Thank you, Mr Wickham. Thank you!”
The lady dressed in black held the young man close to her side as she hurried from the tavern, leaving Mr Wickham with a sad expression. Mr Collins blinked and considered how to find a thousand pounds. His annual income was only four hundred pounds, sufficient for a parson and his family because he paid no taxes or upkeep on the parsonage and kept no horses or other large animals.
“Must the lady sell her stock in your company?” asked Collins to gain clarification.
“Yes, her husband acquired just over two hundred shares.”
“Two hundred shares? I thought the widow said a thousand pounds.”
“Yes, each share is worth five pounds,” George explained. “If I had Mr Darcy’s attention, he would purchase them. But if I cannot find a buyer, I shall buy the stocks myself.”
Collins asked, “How soon do you need someone to make this purchase?”
“I believe Mrs Edwards said Christmas,” answered Wickham, thinking the net was spread appropriately. “Her son will begin an apprenticeship in the new year.”
“Mr Wickham, allow me to see what interest I can find among the gentlemen in Meryton while I am there for the ball. With my future position as master of Longbourn, the gentlemen will listen to my advice. I am certain that even Mr Bennet will want to participate in this great opportunity.”
Pausing for a moment, George said, “I tell you what, Mr Collins. Send me a letter when you return to Hunsford concerning the Meryton gentlemen's interest in purchasing these two hundred shares, and I shall attend your wedding to sell them the stocks that same day.”
“Mr Wickham! Sir, I should be honoured to have you attend my wedding!”
~~~
Once Mr Collins was on the afternoon stagecoach headed toward Meryton, George Wickham made his way to another tavern named the Sleeping Dog where he met with Edith Young, still dressed in widow’s weeds and talking with the boy who pretended to be her son.
“Davey, you did well,” George complimented the teenager before handing him a few coins.
“Anytime, Mr Wickham. I got clothes to play all the parts you need,” Davey replied. “My mum said to tell you to visit any night.”
The boy left the tavern, and George turned to Edith. He smiled and said, “Even dressed in black, you are a beautiful woman.”
“And you are a beautiful man, George,” she replied. Glancing around to discern if anyone was close enough to overhear their conversation, she continued, “How much do you expect to receive in this scheme?”
“Before Christmas, I shall have a thousand pounds as seed money to further the trap.”
“A thousand pounds! How can farmers have that much gold sitting in their strong boxes?”
“Christmas is a quarter day, and they will collect from their tenants. If Collins whips them into a fever with talk about profits and gold, they will hand over the thousand to get my pretty pieces of paper.”
“But then, where do we get the next thousand?” Edith asked.
“I shall see if mortgages are taken for any farms. The bankers are always anxious to get mortgages on farms,” he said.
Grinning, she asked, “Shall we sail to Bermuda or the Caribbean when we lay our hands on a few thousand pounds?”
~~~
Chapter 16.Netherfield Ball
Mrs Bennet speculated about the upcoming ball during every meal and with every visitor. Lydia and Kitty pouted to only have remade gowns for the great evening, but no one paid attention to their complaints as the lace was stitched into place around the sleeves and bosom of each gown. With an invitation to tea, Mrs Bennet bundled her daughters away from Longbourn to visit Haymarket, the Goulding manor house, several days before the anticipated evening at Netherfield.
Upon their arrival at the Goulding home, the Bennet ladies were pleased to discover Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy among the guests at Haymarket.
The afternoon was pleasant with conversations about the preparations of the ball, the autumn weather, and the wagons of bottles and boxes of food arriving from London. There were many rumours and few facts about Bonaparte’s battles and invasions across Europe mingled with much speculation on guests who might appear at the ball. The ladies exchanged whispers concerning the numbers of ostrich feathers Miss Bingley would wear that evening. While Mr Bingley monopolised Jane’s attention, Mr Darcy approached Elizabeth and asked her for the first dance.
Surprised and pleased, the young woman paused for a moment. Then she said, “Yes, Mr Darcy, I shall be glad to stand up with you.”
