Page 22 of Master of Netherfield
The butler opened the door and with the sunshine of the summer day, Mrs Bennet and her five daughters flowed into Netherfield, filling the foyer with bright gowns and noise. In a few moments, William performed the introductions and Mrs Bennet took the conversation from there quickly making Georgiana feel at ease. When the conversation drifted to gowns, bonnets and dolls, William stepped back and allowed Mrs Bennet to lead the girls above stairs to view the collection of dolls. With Nanny Brice following at the rear with Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth, William watched as Georgiana lead her new friends to her room.
As the cloud of gowns and noise slipped away, William returned to his work until it was time to join his sister and her guests for tea. He was pleased to find that Mrs Bennet and Nanny Brice kept the four young girls occupied while Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth poured tea and cut the cake for the tea.
Plans were made for Georgiana to visit Longbourn the next day and for the girls to begin singing lessons with Nanny Brice as well as some pianoforte lessons for Georgiana and Mary with Elizabeth and her instructor.
**++**
“And how did you enjoy your visitors today, Georgie?” asked William at supper that evening.
Glancing at Nanny Brice for a moment but when Nanny only smiled and continued with her supper, Georgiana explained excitedly, “Brother, did you know that Miss Mary and Miss Kitty are just as shy me? Miss Lydia laughs all the time. Miss Mary already plays scales on the pianoforte. Mrs Bennet is very kind, and she exclaimed that all my dolls are beautiful. And Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth are tall and smart and friendly and...”
Georgiana paused for a moment to take a deep breath but then with a big smile she said, “I shall like Hertfordshire very much with friends such as these!”
**++**
At Longbourn, Mr Bennet asked his wife and daughters how they found Miss Darcy. Among the many comments made by his daughters and wife, he was most interested in Elizabeth’s final words, “She is very shy, just like Mr Darcy.”
“And it is good that she is here,” Mrs Bennet added. “Miss Darcy and Mr Darcy will be our friends.”
**++**
In the week following Miss Darcy’s arrival at Netherfield Park, the day of Miss Darcy’s birthday arrived. When she entered the dining room that morning with Nanny Brice, her brother was already at his meal and reading his newspaper.
“Happy birthday, Georgiana,” William told his sister. “Do you feel different to be ten years?”
“Yes, I feel grown! I am certain I am taller this morning!”
William smiled as his sister and her nanny gathered their breakfast and sat with him at the table.
“Brother, may I break my fast with you every morning now that I am ten years?”
“Miss Darcy! We spoke of this last night and agreed that you ask for the occasional morning time with your brother.”
“Yes, Nanny,” Georgiana whispered.
“Georgie,” William said gently. “There are many mornings that I have to be gone with the tenants before you rise. And then when there are guests, you will dine in the nursery as always.”
Sighing Georgiana nodded before her brother said, “But we can have our mornings together every Sunday and perhaps one or two days during the week.”
“That is the best birthday gift!” Georgiana assured William.
**++**
All morning, the footmen and stable boys were busy with wagons and parcels that were carted away from Netherfield to the meadow beside the stream just over one mile away. There in the meadow, Mrs Bennet with a wagon of items directed her stable boys and two eldest daughters as the footmen set up a large pavilion with flags and draperies, a table, chairs and sideboard. In late morning, Mrs Bennet and her daughters returned to Longbourn to change for the party just as Mr Nichols arrived in a large wagon with his kitchen staff
**++**
Elizabeth rode side saddle on ‘Juliet’, and they remained ahead of the carriage with her parents and three younger sisters. Jane rode ‘Rose’ beside her and they had to hold back their mares from racing ahead of the carriage. The day was glorious–the bright blue sky and green earth, the warm wind on her face and the scent of the newly mowed hay–summer in Hertfordshire for a girl with no cares or worries.
The meadow came into view and for a moment it appeared as though as small fair had magically appeared in the meadow–there were canopies with flags, footmen in their uniforms, horses, carriages and maids about with baskets. Delicious smells filled the air from one of the Netherfield wagons and Georgiana ran towards the Bennet family, smiling and waving while behind her, Mr Darcy gazed on with a bemused and satisfied look.
“Jane! Lizzy! Come and see my pony!” Georgiana called. When the carriage came to a stop, Georgiana hardly waited for Mr Bennet to step down and help Mrs Bennet down before she curtseyed and rushed to take Mary, Kitty and Lydia and pull them over to meet her pony.
“I shall call her Maid Marion,” Georgiana announced.
“We named our pony Friar Tuck because he is so fat,” Kitty informed Georgiana. “But he can run all day with us taking turns riding.”
“We shall have great fun riding ponies!” Mary insisted.
