Page 45 of New World Tea Company
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Chapter 17.After the Ball
The morning following the ball, the servants toiled quietly at Netherfield without any of the Bingley family or their guest appearing until the noon hour. In the kitchens, Mrs Hobbes supervised maids and footmen who washed and dried the glasses, silver plate, and cutlery used the previous evening. Each item was carefully returned to its place in the manor house's cupboards, drawers, or closets. On a future day, the linens would be washed and hung in the ballroom to dry.
But once Charles and his family appeared, a meal of remainders was prepared quickly with a few eggs, jam, butter, and tea served by the footman and maids. When everyone gathered at the table with plates and cups, Caroline asked, “Charles, now that you have made an impression on the farmers here, can we not return to London?”
“London? In December?” Charles asked, ignoring his sister’s characterisation of the gentry as simple farmers. “And then the following week, you would mention visiting Bath until March.”
Pouting to be found out quickly, Caroline did not pursue her argument with her brother. Before she could make a second approach, Mr Hurst announced, “I believe that Louisa and I shall venture back to London for the winter. Your company is pleasant, Charles, but I feel the need to be in my own rooms for a time.”
“Is your mother in residence on Olive Street?” Charles asked.
“No,” Geoffrey replied. “My mother retired to the manor in Suffolk for the winter.”
Caroline hid her lips behind her teacup when she heard the small house in Suffolk described as a manor. There were onlyfifteen rooms in the house, with cellars for food storage and attics for the few servants employed by Mrs Hurst.
Louisa said, “We thought to use the stagecoach to go town before the end of this week.”
“I am certain Mr Darcy will flee from Netherfield now that the ball is done,” Caroline replied. “He can rescue you and carry you to London.”
The younger woman’s attempt at subtly was lost on her dining companions. Mr Darcy explained first, “I shall depart Hertfordshire before the end of the week; however, my destination will be Derbyshire to be with my sister for Christmas. Georgiana and I shall spend the winter at Pemberley.”
Charles smirked, “I understand the wish to be with family for Christmas, Darcy. I had hoped for a quiet day here at Netherfield as well. But as Louisa and Geoffrey will desert me for town, I hope Caroline will accompany them.”
“Yes!” exclaimed the younger woman immediately.
“Caroline, you must wait until an invitation is issued,” Charles reminded his sister. Watching Bingley and Hurst, Darcy realised they had made this arrangement earlier. This bit of theatrical staging was for Miss Bingley’s benefit.
Louisa glanced at her husband, who pursed his lips and said, “I shall agree to Caroline joining us in London with the understanding that there will be no excursions into society until the end of February. There will be only family dinners and no guests, and when reviews and dinners begin, Caroline must find a husband this year.”
Looking at Caroline directly, Mr Hurst said with an insistent voice, “You must be engaged by June and married in August. Otherwise, Charles and I shall select a husband for you.”
“A husband?”
Louisa sat aside her teacup and declared, “Caroline, you were five-and-twenty last week.”
The younger sister scowled while Louisa held firm, “We did not mark the day, but Mr Darcy has been to suppers on your birthday in the past where you have turned three-and-twenty!”
Mr Hurst added, “Twice, I believe. Much better to ignore the day completely if you are not going to reveal your age.”
Caroline was bright red at that point, but her sister was relentless.
Louisa said, “Oh, do not fuss and pretend. Mr Darcy knows your true age! And if you do not marry this summer, you will be on the shelf permanently unless some widower needs a wife to care for his house and children.”
Unable to forbid the images from rushing into her mind, Caroline was reminded of Grace Bingley, their father’s sister, who never married and lived with them in their father’s house. The maiden aunt still lived there, in the Bingley home in Stoke-on-Trent. Aunt Grace was taciturn and bitter about her life.
“If I do not marry, what will you do with me?” Caroline asked. “Must I live with Aunt Grace in Stoke-on-Trent?”
“Sister, you can marry,” Louisa assured Caroline. “Many suitable men in London will welcome a comely wife with a large dowry.”
“What if I do not wish to marry? What if I remain with Charles? Aunt Grace remained with our father and mother.”
Charles said, “Caroline, when I marry, I shall not have you in the house to argue with my wife and distract her. Mrs Charles Bingley will be free of discord and arguments.”
“I suppose you will make Jane Bennet your Mrs Bingley before the New Year,” Caroline speculated. “When we return to London, will you bring her to Netherfield to measure the windows for new curtains?”
“My plans are not your concern,” Charles declared calmly. He turned to Darcy and asked the specific day he planned to leave. When Darcy replied he would leave on Wednesday, Bingley announced, “Mr Darcy and his great carriage will leave for the north in three days. The same morning, my carriage will carry my sisters and brother to London in comfort.”
