Page 25 of Master of Netherfield
“But Mr Bennet, there is sad news as well,” his wife said and when he tilted his head forward, she continued. “Lady Lucas says that they have broken the engagement of their daughter Charlotte to Mr Finch, the young attorney in Mr Phillip’s office.”
“Oh no!” he replied. “But why?”
“Sir William feels that his daughter could do better now,” Mrs Bennet replied.
“But I thought she was very fond of Mr Finch,” Mr Bennet observed.
As they stepped into the foyer of their home, with Mr Hill taking their wraps, Jane and Elizabeth came out of the parlour with news.
“Papa, we must tell you that a very strange personage paused outside our house today,” Jane began.
Following an exaggerated curtsey, Elizabeth continued, “Her Ladyship, Lady Catherine de Bourgh condescended to grace us with her presence for a moment in her mighty carriage to inquire as to the directions to her nephew’s domicile, Netherfield Park. You have heard of the grand place, have you not?”
The imitation was very entertaining and Mr and Mrs Bennet both chuckled before the man asked for the true details of the encounter.
“The lady hardly allowed me to speak Papa,” Elizabeth explained. “She certainly would not hear me when I attempted to tell her that Mr Darcy and his sister were not at home.”
“Elizabeth mentioned that the horses pulling the carriage were distressed,” Jane said. “I worry that the lady’s travels have exhausted her steeds.”
Before the family could move into their parlour to rest before supper, they heard a carriage approaching the house again. Mr and Mrs Bennet, followed by Jane and Elizabeth, stepped outside as the Goulding family carriage pulled to a stop in front of Longbourn.
Mr and Mrs Goulding quickly exited the carriage, and everyone heard the most unpleasant voice of an angry woman from inside the carriage.
“This is intolerable! Are there no decent houses in the whole of Hertfordshire?”
Mrs Goulding was ushered into the house by Mrs Bennet while Mr Bennet, Elizabeth and Jane waited with Mr Goulding at the door.
The neighbour appeared wide-eyed beside the master of Longbourn when he begged, “Bennet, you must assist me! I have tried to reason with the woman, but she is a candidate for Bedlam if I have ever seen one!”
“What is the matter Goulding?”
“I found a carriage broken down just beside the stream that separates your lands from Netherfield Park. Mrs Goulding and I stopped to offer our assistance to the passengers and that woman began making demands. I should carry her to Netherfield; I should walk rather than contaminate her presence. She struck her coachman and left him and the horses beside the stream. The man was bleeding...”
“What happened at Netherfield?”
“I went to the door to explain the situation to Mrs Hobbes but the lady–she’s a tall, fearsome woman–came out of my carriage and pushed her way into the house, followed by two footmen. She was yelling for Mr Darcy, and I heard several crashes as furniture was thrown about...”
Mr Bennet glanced at the carriage with the two footmen standing at the door and he whispered into Elizabeth’s ear. “Go into the house withJane and have Mr Hill lock all of the doors and send for all the stable boys as well as Mr Jones and his sons.”
When Elizabeth appeared to want to ask some questions, he frowned and said, “Immediately and without question.”
Frightened by her father’s voice and look, Elizabeth ran with Jane back inside the doors of Longbourn. While Mr Hill set to work with the locks, Elizabeth ran through the house to the stables. Their coachman and stable boys stepped around the house while another boy rode bareback across the fields to the nearest tenant farm to rouse Mr Jones and his three sons.
Once his house as secure and he saw his men waiting at the side of the house, Mr Bennet stepped forward to greet the lady.
“Madam,” he said respectfully as he bowed.
“I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park in Kent.”
“Welcome to Hertfordshire, Your Ladyship. I am Thomas Bennet, esquire. How may we be of assistance this evening?”
“I am searching for my nephew, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy,” came her reply.
Mr Bennet glanced back to Mr Goulding as though surprised by the woman’s words before he said, “I must report unpleasant news madam; my understanding is that Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is away from Netherfield for at least a fortnight on matters of business with his father, Mr George Darcy.”
“I know who my brother-in-law is; you do not have to name him for me!”
“Of course, Your Ladyship. It would never cross my mind to be anything but solicitous to Your Ladyship’s needs.”
