Page 83 of New World Tea Company
For almost two years, there were only occasional letters between George Darcy and his godson. The young man called at the Darcy home in London during the summers and received a purse of coins each time. Then in the autumn of that second year, Mr George Darcy died just after returning to Pemberley. George Wickham did not learn of the death of his godfather until he read the news in a discarded newspaper in London. With urgency, Wickham made his way north, called at Pemberley to speak with Fitzwilliam for the first time since leaving university years before. During the meeting with Fitzwilliam, George agreed to relinquish his claim to the living at Kympton in return for a large sum of money. He signed papers that were witnessed by solicitors and when he left the great house, George had cheques for four thousand pounds in his pocket and enough coins to return to London by coach.
Thereafter, there was no contact between the two young men until the schemes with money–other people’s money–brought George Wickham into contact with Fitzwilliam Darcy.The previous autumn, George appeared in Hertfordshire and established a reputation in the village of Meryton. Refusing to insert himself into the situation, Darcy said nothing to the other people in Meryton concerning George Wickham’s character. This reticent on Darcy’s part displeased Bingley and emboldened Wickham, though for once, George did not pester the serving girls, daughters of gentlemen, or their bored wives.
Darcy left Meryton before the local people fell completely under George’s spell. At the wedding of Mr Collins and Miss Charlotte Lucas at Christmas, the gentlemen of Meryton handed over a portion of their incomes for shares in Wickham’s New World Tea Company.
Months later, George and his confederates had gained the confidence of Miss Caroline Bingley, who was left alone by her relatives with Mrs Young as her lady’s companion. After a boring winter, the new salons and gatherings of the spring season lifted Miss Bingley’s spirits. A confederate of Wickham’s, Phillip Bounty, had been introduced as Lord Campbell, the heir of the Earl of Argyll. The man’s marked attention to Miss Bingley during the evenings and afternoon calls led Caroline to believe she would become Lady Campbell, and someday, she would be introduced as the Countess of Argyll.
The trap was set, and George considered his next steps. Now in her majority, Caroline Bingley could hand over fifteen thousand pounds from her dowry as an investment in the New World Tea Company, thinking it would permanently attach ‘Lord Campbell’ to her side.
‘I should have tried this scheme of a fictitious company with fabulous profits earlier,’George realized.
As soon as he had the funds, George intended to disappear with Mrs Young and Phillip Bounty, the fellow playing the role ofLord Campbell. Edith Young had long been a proven partner in George’s escapades, and he valued her opinions and skills.
But then in a moment of greed, George questioned himself, ‘Do I want to share these funds with Phillip? He has played the role of Lord Campbell well, but if he is not around to take his share, I should have all the money.’
George made his way toward Olive Street and plotted how to rid himself of ‘Lord Campbell.’ He also began to consider disposing of Edith Young.‘Why should I share with anyone? It is my gold. Thirty thousand pounds will set me up for life.’
~~~
Chapter 37.Letters and Another Visitor
Mr Collins returned to the parsonage and remained relatively quiet during supper. He nodded and smiled when Charlotte told him that she and Elizabeth finished planting the garden that afternoon. However, he never spoke of news from Rosings, and neither woman asked about Lady Catherine. Rather than join his wife and cousin in the parlour after the meal, Collins went to his small office and wrote a draft of a long letter by the light of a pair of candles.
The letter was written at Lady Catherine’s instruction and was addressed to Mr George Wickham. The text inquired about investment opportunities that would attract the attention of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Mr Collins explicitly stated that Lady Catherine’s objective was for her daughter to become Mrs Darcy once she secured additional wealth by investing in Mr Wickham’s business.
Once the letter was complete, Mr Collins bent his head over the paper and revised the rambling missive by inserting periods to break up long sentences and clarify his ideas. Once complete, he carefully copied each sentence onto a new sheet of paper. This letter must be without splotches and blots.
Leaving the document on his desk to allow the ink to dry, Mr Collins entered the parlour and suggested that everyone retire. The parsonage was quiet that evening, though Collins found it hard to fall asleep. When the parson rose the next morning, he dressed and entered his office. After reading the letter to remind himself what he had written, he folded the paper, wrote the direction for delivery, and sealed it with wax.
Finished with his task, Mr Collins placed the letter on the small table beside the door where no other letters awaited the postman. During the morning meal, the post carrier arrived. Mrs Collins went to the door and returned with a letter for Cousin Eliza. Nervously, Mr Collins asked, “My dear, did the carrier receive my letter?”
“Yes, Mr Collins. The letter to Mr Wickham was secure in the man’s pouch when he mounted his horse,” Charlotte replied while handing Eliza her letter.
Opening the letter, Elizabeth announced, “My letter is from my sister Jane.”
Elizabeth read Jane's letter with great interest while Mr and Mrs Collins continued breaking their fast.
Mrs Collins paid every attention to her husband before he left for Rosings Park that morning, brushing lint from his coat and encouraging him. Mr Collins nodded but said nothing in return and left the parsonage at the usual time.
Later in the morning, Elizabeth remembered that Charlotte mentioned posting a letter to George Wickham but decided,‘Mr Collins must be making inquiries about profits to be paid this summer by the New World Tea Company. Lord knows Charlotte needs funds for tea and sugar.’
~~~
Three days later, a letter arrived for Mr Collins that he opened at the table while breaking his fast. He read the page quickly and then read it a second time. Glancing once at Elizabeth, who never realised her cousin looked her way. Collins turned to his wife and said, “My dear, we shall have a guest at supper tonight. George Wickham arrives in Hunsford this afternoon to lodge at the inn for at least three days.”
“I hear it is a very small inn but certainly the most suitable place for a single gentleman to stay,” Charlotte said, relieved thatthe man was not expected to be housed under her roof. “He will have to take care walking from the parsonage back to Hunsford in the dark.”
“He will leave before dark, the days are longer, and if the moon isn’t out,” stated Mr Collins. “I shall provide the man with a torch.”
“Mr Wickham may be able to rent a carriage or a horse from the livery there in the village,” stated Elizabeth. Then she turned to Mr Collins and asked, “What is the purpose of Mr Wickham’s visit?”
“Purpose, Miss Elizabeth?” asked Mr Collins. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Last year, when you sent your letter to my father, you declared your purpose was to reconcile with him and get to know him better,” the young woman reminded the parson. “You have met Mr Wickham before, but this will be his first venture into Kent.”
Elizabeth waited, but Mr Collins did not respond, so she again prompted the man, “I am truly interested. Why is Mr Wickham coming to Hunsford?”
This time, Mr Collins replied, “To see me, of course! I shall take him to Rosings Park to confer with Lady Catherine about investments.”
