Page 66 of New World Tea Company
“She did, sir. The pony cart delivered Miss Eliza and her trunk in the middle of the afternoon,” Charlotte replied, motioning for her guest to enter the hallway where Mr Collins greeted his cousin.
“Our coins are stretched very tightly, Mrs Collins,” replied the man. Elizabeth wondered what he would say if she asked him about payment for his meals at Longbourn and Lucas Lodge during his visit last autumn.
Embarrassed by her husband’s words, Charlotte reminded Mr Collins that Eliza would be helping with all housework, sewing, and cleaning during her visit. Elizabeth remained silent, planning to include the man’s comments in her first letter to her father.
‘If Mr Collins is short coins this spring, perhaps I can mention Mr Bingley’s warnings, and the man will hear me,’she decided.‘But it will be a casual conversation over a meal, perhaps.’
~~~
Chapter 28.Supper on Olive Street
The first week of Mrs Young’s presence on Olive Street passed without Miss Bingley’s lady’s companion causing any concern for the housekeeper and servants. However, there were four unpleasant instances of Miss Bingley’s temper exploding with her new lady’s maid. The absence of Mr and Mrs Hurst allowed Miss Bingley’s true nature to surface again when dealing with servants, leading to the maid quitting early one afternoon and fleeing the house. This young woman lasted less than a month, and it would be difficult for Caroline to hire another maid this winter. Fortunately, Mrs Young proved talented with combs, brushes, and pins to arrange Miss Bingley’s hair in a manner that suited the woman.
The housekeeper supervised every visit by the chambermaids to Miss Bingley’s room and cared for the woman’s gowns, hats, and shoes with her own hands. Caroline knew she could not overrule the housekeeper and bit back her complaints to prevent the servant from writing to Mr and Mrs Hurst. Fortunately for Caroline, the housekeeper did not want to worry her employers while they dealt with Old Mrs Hurst and her illness. Without other company, Caroline complained about the servants to Mrs Young.
Mr Wickham, who joined the two ladies every afternoon for tea, led Caroline to speak in a tone that did not cause the maids to flee in tears. Agreeing with Mr Wickham’s counsel, Mrs Young advised Caroline, “You are the lady of quality, and there is no reason to raise your voice to address your displeasure with the temperature of the bath water.”
~~~
One rainy afternoon in the middle of March, Caroline declared, “I am bored. There have been no invitations this week. How can I meet a suitable husband if I am not invited anywhere?”
Mrs Young found the previous day’s newspaper and shared a small article with Miss Bingley. The gossip column mentioned three successful salons–informal evenings in a home without a full meal–just finger foods and drinks. The two ladies spoke about the article for a time before Caroline remarked, “I have not been invited to any of these salons.”
Smiling confidently, Mrs Young replied, “Then invite a dozen persons to the first salon hosted by Miss Caroline Bingley. Serve rum punch with the tea and finger sandwiches after you perform on the instrument in the parlour. You play the instrument exquisitely, and your voice is lovely. Your expenses will be only one pound at most.”
“Why should I spend so much on rum and sandwiches?” asked Caroline.
Mrs Young replied, “Because you dare to serve Pâté de Foie Gras, the hors d'oeuvre that is the rage in the ton.”
While she did not particularly care for the taste of goose liver pâté, Caroline knew it was popular among the elite circles in London. She stared at the newspaper for a moment and asked, “Is it acceptable to serve a French recipe in a British home while we are at war with Bonaparte and the whole of Europe?”
“Miss Bingley, the first circle of British society serves champagne and ignores the blockade,” Mrs Young reminded the young woman. “As you aspire to join their exclusive club, why should you concern yourself about the propriety of serving goose liver on toast to your guests?”
“But who will attend? I am no longer invited to reviews or parties,” Caroline replied. She had learned that enoughhostesses knew her true age to limit their interest in her presence, and the absence of the rest of her family was certainly suspect.
“We shall use your brother’s name and let it be known that Mr Darcy may attend,” advised Mrs Young.
“Mr Darcy? How do I get Mr Darcy to attend my salon on Olive Street?” asked Caroline, some irritation in her voice with the apparent ease of ideas available to her companion.
Mrs Young dropped her eyes and murmured, “I did not say Darcy would attend. We shall pay the maids and footmen each a penny to spread the story among the merchants and servants in the shops. And Mr Wickham will spread the story that Mr Darcy ‘may’ attend your salon that night.”
The idea of once again being connected to the illustrious name Darcy captured Caroline’s attention, and she prepared an invitation. Mrs Young edited it to be more appropriate and limited the invitees to six couples rather than the ten Caroline originally planned. The guests enjoyed George Wickham’s stories, Mrs Young’s card games, Caroline’s marvellous performance at the pianoforte, and the liberal flow of rum punch that made the salon successful.
~~~
The second salon held the next week was equally successful, and even more exciting for Caroline, was the mention of her salon in the newspaper.
The appearance of her name in the newspaper led to invitations to supper in the homes of successful merchants who hoped to be invited to the next salon. Caroline preened with the pleasure of finding herself popular and noticed. She believed this would lead to a place within the first circles of London society in time. During her third salon, she noticed thatMr Wickham used the gatherings to speak about his profitable business, New World Tea Company.
However, Caroline ignored the social faux pas to give all her attention to a new face, Lord John Campbell. Mrs Young provided the man’s story while walking about the room with Caroline; the man was the younger brother of the Earl of Argyle from Scotland. The current earl had buried his wife and had no living children. This younger brother was acknowledged as Lord Campbell, the earl’s heir. Most wonderfully, Campbell was widowed for two years, with children in the nursery, and needed a new wife.
Mrs Young said, “Every mamma and pappa with single daughters considered the forty-year-old man a worthwhile match for matrimony.”
During the salon, Lord Campbell enjoyed Miss Bingley’s performance on the piano, her singing, and the rum punch. Listening to Mrs Young’s coaching to be pleasant but not too forward, Caroline caught the man’s interest.
~~~
The next week, Mrs Young convinced Miss Bingley that it was best to write to her sister and brother about the salons and reveal her societal success. Immediately, Caroline stated, “Louisa and Charles will not care if I am popular in London.”
