Page 70 of New World Tea Company
It was Elizabeth’s turn to blush as she remembered the scene Charlotte described in a calm voice, “Mr Collins, Mr Rushing, Mr Goulding, and my father each handed over large sums of money for the stocks.”
“Yes, I remember. My father refused to discuss it,” Elizabeth said but fell silent rather than speak about her words with Darcy.
“Mr Collins handed over six months of his income to buy New World Tea Company stock. I shall not have coins to purchase sugar, flour, or tea until the rents at Rosings Park are collected on Midsummer Day. But Mr Collins says that Mr Wickham will pay profits this spring, and I shall have fresh tea each day of the week after that.”
Her brow furrowed with questions, Elizabeth stated, “Midsummer? Why so long? My father gives the pastor an equal portion of his quarterly income in spring.”
“Yes, but Lady Catherine interferes with rents and money here in Rosings. Mr Darcy is the executor of the estate, andhe instructed the steward to pay Lady Catherine her allowance and Mr Collins his salary only twice a year. The tenants know not to give Lady Catherine or her servants any money. It is a distressing arrangement because the tenants are abused verbally frequently.”
“Do not the neighbours object to such treatment of the farmers and their families?”
Charlotte grimaced and confessed, “To my knowledge, no one calls on Lady Catherine at Rosings Park except my husband.”
“Does no one call for tea? Does anyone invite Lady Catherine and her daughter to tea or for suppers?” asked Elizabeth, her confusion growing. When Charlotte shook her head, the first woman said, “This is very strange, Charlotte. How do they live without some company and society?”
The two women worked in silence for a time, finding a large sack of maize that had spoiled with insects. It took both women and the chambermaid to move the sack from the pantry. Once they exited the kitchen door, Elizabeth looked about and asked, “Where should we put this sack? One of the tenants can use the corn to feed his chickens.”
Sighing, Charlotte replied, “There is a chicken coop without any birds. I wish we had a few hens and a cock. I could let some hens set to hatch chicks this spring to have young birds to eat late in summer and autumn.”
Once the sack was secure inside the coop, Charlotte said, “I shall visit with Mr and Mrs Tanglewood at Pear Orchard Farm and trade the corn for something from their garden.”
After returning to the kitchen, the chambermaid returned to her work above stairs; Elizabeth paused and frowned as her thoughts multiplied,‘I do not look forward to the lack of proper sustenance for an entire month. Charlotte has lost weight sincemarrying Mr Collins; her husband is not providing for his wife. I have money; Father gave me two pounds.’
With a momentarily sour expression, Elizabeth imagined meeting Mr Darcy again while her empty stomach rumbled. This potentially embarrassing incident spurred the young woman to a course of action. She asked, “Charlotte, I have my allowance with me. Can we visit the shops in Hunsford for tea leaves and such? For a pound, we can stock your pantry with sufficient food to feed you, Mr Collins and the maid until your garden begins producing this summer.”
“Eliza…I should be forever in your debt if we could. Lady Catherine sends things on occasion, but that makes Mr Collins speak for many minutes about the graciousness of the grand woman.”
Ignoring Charlotte's complaint concerning Mr Collins, Elizabeth pressed ahead, “Shall we walk out this morning?”
~~~
Chapter 30.A Second Chance Meeting
The two women gathered their bonnets, gloves, and shawls before meeting at the front door. Charlotte spoke to the chambermaid and left lunch for the young woman on the table in the kitchen. The walk to the village was only two miles, and for once, Charlotte Collins kept pace with Eliza Bennet’s quick steps.
The distance was covered quickly without exchanging many comments between the two women except when Charlotte admitted she had received few letters from her parents since arriving in Hunsford. Thinking about her visits with the neighbours around Meryton since Christmas, Elizabeth commented, “I remember that Freddie and Maria seemed to enjoy the biscuits at the breakfast after Jane’s wedding.”
“In the letter from my father, he admitted he did not have money to pay for Maria to travel with you on this visit. I worry how he paid the taxes and tithes this quarter.”
“Sir William sold a heifer to Mr Bingley to raise the funds to pay his taxes,” Elizabeth revealed. “Jane desired more butter at Netherfield, and of course, Charles resolved his wife’s wishes. My father paid the church tithes for all the neighbours who do not have funds this spring.”
Charlotte remained silent, and Elizabeth asked, “How is it that Mr Collins has not lost weight this winter while you have?”
Mrs Collins blushed as she revealed, “Mr Collins has a large tea at Rosings Park almost every afternoon with Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh.”
Incensed and not disguising her ire at this injustice, Elizabeth asked, “Tea with Lady Catherine? And he does not arrange for you to attend and share the bounty of Rosings Park?”
The two friends walked the last quarter mile without further comments. Arriving at the village, Elizabeth took a moment to observe the area more closely than when she arrived earlier in the day. The small village of Hunsford consisted of two dozen buildings along a simple muddy street under some trees bearing the first hints of green. The surrounding pastures were bright green, with flocks of sheep grazing under the watch of teenage boys. Lambs played beside the ewes, and their antics, leaping and chasing each other, made both women smile.
“The livery is at the end of the street,” Elizabeth said. “The man keeps a cart to rent to carry things. The pony can deliver our purchases without any problem.”
The mercantile was a pleasant shop with the smells of spices filling the room. There was no heat from a fireplace in the store, but sunshine poured into the interior from the open door and windows facing the street. When Charlotte and Elizabeth entered the store, the proprietor dealt with an elderly customer.
“I need a few tea leaves, Mr Jones,” the woman informed the man. “My granddaughter from Folkstone is to call tomorrow on her way to Ashland to visit with her parents for a fortnight. Madelyn’s baby is six months old, and my son is anxious to meet his first grandchild. I shall serve fresh tea before they travel on to Ashland.”
Patiently dealing with the woman who had been a client for over thirty years, the proprietor wrapped a number of fresh tea leaves in brown paper. In return for a penny, he handed the package to the woman. Tottering out of the shop, the old woman talked with Mrs Collins, the parson’s wife, and shared the entirestory again. Elizabeth spoke quietly with the merchant while Charlotte fulfilled her duties as the parson’s wife.
Quickly, the proprietor provided bags of flour, salt, some sugar, and tea. After talking with Charlotte, Elizabeth added a measure of pepper and asked for a sack of potatoes. They would eat some potatoes, and Charlotte would plant the ones with sprouts in her garden. As a treat, a small crock of honeycomb was added to the order. As her final purchase Elizabeth bought two candles for use in her bedchamber. The merchant sent a boy to the livery to ask the blacksmith to send the cart to his shop. While they waited, the two ladies walked out of the store just as a large carriage with a team of four horses passed them on the street.
