Page 55 of New World Tea Company
“Was this stopping place planned as well?” Georgiana asked.
“I am certain it was designed by our grandfather or his father for two purposes.”
“What purposes?” the young woman insisted on knowing.
Her brother explained, “The view impresses visitors with the grandeur of our home and the park’s beauty.”
Gaining a better understanding of the wealth and power of the Darcy family, Mrs Annesley agreed, “The view does take one’s breath away.”
Georgiana pressed her brother and asked, “What was the second purpose of this stopping place?”
“To allow travellers a moment to stretch their cramped legs and allow the blood to move about. When the older persons arrive at Pemberley without the chance to move about a few minutes from the door, their limbs are stiff and cramped. Stretching at this spot allows them to move more freely when they arrive at our door.”
“Brother, you are making up a story to entertain me.”
“No, I am being truthful,” he replied. “I understand that Lady Catherine complains that there is not such a spot before arriving at Matlock. Every April, when I visit with Cousin Anne to review her estate, I stop in Hunsford, four miles from Rosings, to ensure my legs are awake.”
“But we must not stay overly long,” Fitzwilliam told his sister. “Mrs Reynolds knows to expect us today; I am certain that a footman or scullery maid was posted at a window on the topmost floor to watch for the carriage at this point in the road.”
“Why?” asked the young woman, paying close attention to her brother.
Grinning, Darcy continued, “At this minute, throughout Pemberley, the footmen and maids are scrambling to finish their current tasks. Fires are being lit in our rooms to dispel the cold before we arrive, and Mrs Reynolds has summoned everyone to the entry hall so they can greet us when we arrive in another quarter of an hour.”
“Is that how they know to appear when we arrive?” Georgiana asked. “It is even more impressive in the warm months when the footmen and maids are lined up outside the house when we arrive.”
“The Darcy family greets and speaks to every servant when we arrive,” Fitzwilliam told his sister. “You are old enough to join me in speaking with the staff.”
“Of course, brother. I must introduce everyone to Mrs Annesley when we arrive,” Georgiana said.
Many minutes later, safely inside the front door of his home, Fitzwilliam Darcy was content for the moment as he watched his sister introduce her new lady’s companion to Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper and Mr Chesterfield, the butler. In the line of servants, Darcy noticed footmen and chambermaids who had served in the household for many years.
For a moment, he imagined introducing these same servants to Miss Elizabeth Bennet…to Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy. His thoughts quickly denied the idea,‘Can I be so fortunate as to win her hand? I must not obsess over this. There are many cold weeks until spring weather returns. There are enough letters to read and write, but I shall not forget her.’
~~~
Among the many letters on his desk, Darcy found one from Charles Bingley. His friend had begun a formal courtship with Miss Jane Bennet and reported the events at the wedding of Miss Charlotte Lucas and Mr William Collins.
Charles wrote:
‘George Wickham attended the wedding, was thanked by Mr Collins for attending, and allowed to sell a thousand pounds of the stock in his New World Tea Company to the gentlemen attending the wedding. Mr Bennet explained that our neighbours had collected rents from their tenants at Christmas and were flush with cash. They cannot collect additional funds until the next quarter, Lady Day in March. Even Mr Collins used two hundred poundsto purchase stock. Miss Bennet and her sister, Miss Elizabeth, worried that their friend Charlotte Lucas would have a bare pantry before March because there would be no funds for flour, sugar, or tea.’
~~~
Darcy smirked, ‘And how will those gentlemen pay their taxes? Mr Bennet will have to support the parson there at Longbourn from his purse alone. Meryton will be rife with tensions concerning money this winter.’
And he wondered,‘How will Elizabeth deal with this?’
~~~
As snow fell and closed the roads into Derbyshire, the number of letters on Darcy’s desk dwindled away. His secretary spent time organising folders of the previous year’s letters. Darcy met with this steward for the Pemberley estate several times to review the accounts regarding horses, fleeces, and fields.
In late January, Mr Chesterfield and Mrs Reynolds approached Mr Darcy in his office about the calendar for this new year. Most urgently, the pair wanted to know the scheduled summer visits by members of Parliament, his friends and family.
“Last year, we expected you to have visitors in July or August, but you remained in London and then visited with Mr Bingley for the whole of the autumn.”
“I anticipate spending this summer in London as well,” replied Mr Darcy without any heat in his voice.
“But sir, Pemberley always hosted guests while the master worked with business, shooting, riding, and influencing the other gentlemen,” insisted Mrs Reynolds.
