Page 43 of New World Tea Company
“But in London, I visit the booksellers and purchase a second copy that remains in London,” Darcy explained.
“Now I shall tease you–not everyone can buy a book on impulse,” said Elizabeth.
“You are the daughter of a gentleman,” he reminded her. “Tell me, what have you ever been denied that money can buy?”
It was Elizabeth’s turn to explain, and she said, “I cannot purchase every book I wish to read. My father has five daughters to keep in ribbons, straw bonnets, boots, and stockings. If I purchased every book I wanted, Mary would not have her music sheets, Kitty would not have ribbons, and Lydia would not have new bonnets.”
“You do not mention Miss Bennet,” observed Darcy.
“Jane never asks for anything except how she can assist someone else. Without fail, she gives her ribbons to Mary after Lydia steals our sister’s ribbons.”
Their conversation returned to White’s The Natural History as the meal progressed. Mr Darcy asked, “Does the edition you have include three sections or just two?”
“Three sections?” asked Elizabeth. “No, I believe there are only two sections in the book. The first consists of letters written to Mr Thomas Pennant, and the second contains more letters written to the Hon. Daines Barrington.”
Darcy explained, “The copy in the library at Pemberley has a third section titled The Antiquities of Selborne and discusses the countryside around Selborne and the history of that corner of Hampshire.”
The expression on Elizabeth’s face was serious when she asked, “Do you think they removed that section to shorten the book?”
“I have never read or heard the reason given,” Darcy admitted.
Intrigued, the young woman asked, “With whom could we inquire to discover the reason?”
“You might write to the publishing house with your inquiry,” he assured her. “They could give you the history if not the exact reason.”
Her brow furrowed in thought, Elizabeth asked, “Mr Darcy, do you think Mr White sent the letters he wrote? There are more than one hundred letters in the book, and I wonder if he ever mailed them.”
The look of concentration on the young woman’s lovely face captured Fitzwilliam Darcy’s heart at that moment. He managed to reply calmly, “I admit I do not know.”
Her eyes glittering mischievously, Elizabeth asked, “Were the two gentlemen–Pennant and Barrington–real persons?”
“My understanding is that both were real men here in England. Well, Pennant was Welsh, but both lived in Britain,” explained Darcy.
“And did Mr White keep copies of the letters he mailed to the gentlemen?” asked Elizabeth.
“It would appear that he did.” Darcy added, “Many men keep copies of their correspondence, their important letters. My secretaries make a copy of every letter I write for reference. In parliament, scribes make copies of every speech, bill, and letter the government creates.”
Despite being interested in the archive of Mr Darcy’s letters, Elizabeth directed the conversation back to Mr White’s correspondence. She asked, “I wonder what the gentlemenwrote in their replies. Did they respond? Was there a regular correspondence between Mr White and the two gentlemen?”
“Those letters were not published. I do not know if Mr White saved them or if they were ever written.”
Grinning, Elizabeth asked, “Do you think Mr Barrington would have asked questions about the tortoise that Mr White mentions in several letters?”
“I did not understand the man’s use of the tortoise in the letters,” Mr Darcy admitted.
Elizabeth concentrated and replied, “I think Mr White wrote simply about the native flora and fauna in Hampshire without secretive meanings or symbolism in his letters.”
From across the table, Caroline Bingley ignored her dinner partner, a militia officer, to ask, “Tortoise, Mr Darcy? Do you mean turtle soup? Is turtle soup not very costly? Can anyone capture and eat turtles, or are they protected like swans? I believe the king owns all the swans in the kingdom.”
Several persons noticed Miss Bingley’s behaviour which was very rude in proper society. There would be comments and gossip about the young woman. However, Caroline could not bear to watch the slip of a girl from Hertfordshire captivate the wealthy Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
~~~
After the supper, they rose from the table, and Mr Darcy asked, “Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honour of a second dance?”
She stopped, turned toward the man with a smile, and said, “Sir, we shall be the subject of gossip if we dance a second time.”
“An everyday occurrence for me, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied. “Are you often the object of gossip in Meryton?”
