Page 49 of Miss Gardiner
Darcy pointed at the list and said, “Aunt Catherine and her lawyer selected several of the worst candidates in England to be husband to her daughter. She knew who you will invite for interviews before she handed you the list.”
The colonel looked concerned and asked, “Do I queer the deal and ask the gouty gentleman?”
“No,” Darcy replied. “Much as I find this entire idea to be repugnant, I would not saddle Anne with a fool or a wastrel.”
Returning to the list, Darcy pointed to the next name, “Lewis has been married three times and each wife died attempting to birth her first child.”
Now he looked over the list and removed two more names, “Anthony Hall is not rich. The man can barely pay his tailor. And Shaw has excessive debts; the man gambles too much and his wealth is stretched tight.”
Darcy snorted when he saw two of the names and again leaned closer to the colonel to whisper, “Remove Jackson and Green. They would be more interested in each other than in Anne.”
“What? But I knew Green in school. He was an alright man!” insisted Richard.
“He still is, and he is wealthy, but Anne would never get children from him.”
Richard stared at the list left with four names: George Clark, Arthur Lincoln, Thomas Ward, and Charles Bingley.
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Chapter 12.A Job for Henry Jones
At the parsonage that first morning, Elizabeth broke her fast with Mr and Mrs Collins. After the quick meal, Mr Collins ordered the maid to bring him his hat and coat.
“My dear, I shall walk to the church and then into Ashton this morning. I wish to look for new titles at the book seller. And I believe I shall seek luncheon at the Roaring Lion.”
“Certainly, Mr Collins. Enjoy your walk and your search. Speak with the gentlemen, tradesmen and farmers you meet,” Charlotte encouraged as she escorted him to the door. “We shall await your return in time for supper.”
Once Mr Collins had left the house, Charlotte relaxed and introduced Elizabeth to the cook and maids. They strolled through the gardens where Charlotte explained, “Mr Collins does much of the work himself but young men from the farm next door come with fertilizer and turn the garden for us with a shovels and hoes.”
“Does Mr Collins walk out often?”
“Almost every day,” Charlotte replied. “Many mornings he walks up to Rosings and spends the entire day listening to Lady Catherine explain how Parliament has got the war all wrong. She declares that Britain should ally with Bonaparte!”
Late in the morning, a post rider came to the door with letter for Miss Elizabeth Bennet; when Elizabeth saw that the letter was from Georgiana Darcy, she insisted Charlotte accept some funds for franking.
“There will be a letter every second day,” Elizabeth revealed.
“Who is this Darcy girl?” Charlotte asked, pleased that her friend was increasing her circle of friends
“The sister of one of Uncle Gardiner’s clients,” Elizabeth replied. “We became acquainted last summer and have corresponded since then. We have visited in each other’s homes as well.”
After reading her letter, with the emphasis on the beauty of the walks and meadows, Elizabeth asked about the paths through Rosings Park.
“I believe I shall walk in the morning,” Elizabeth stated as she folded the letter and slid it into a pocket.
“Before breaking your fast?” inquired Charlotte with an understanding look on her face; Elizabeth Bennetremained much the same despite the loss of Jane. Immediately following the conversation, Charlotte led Elizabeth out of the house and down a different path to a large farmhouse nestled at the bottom of hill with barns and fences about and many fields laid out in all directions.
“This is Running Lamb Farm, and it is part of the glebe supporting the parsonage,” Charlotte explained as the farmer’s wife emerged from her house.
“Good day, Mrs Collins,” greeted the worn woman with some true cheer. Apparently, Charlotte was proving to be a good parson’s wife with the tenants.
“Good day, Mrs Jones. I have come to hire Henry for many days in the coming month.”
“The boy is following his da and brothers in the field this afternoon. My Tim thought to cut more hay this month.”
“Oh, is Henry able to handle the scythe now?” asked Charlotte. The boy’s worth to his father’s farming labours might be too important to allow him to follow a gentle lady on her walks.
“No, no,” Mrs Jones explained. “But Henry pulls back the hay that falls away from the cutting with a rake.”
