Chapter 19 #4
“I have to get the boys to Cambridge right after Lizzy’s wedding, so I will join all of you in London as soon as I return.
We will bring them home for Jane and Mary’s wedding.
None of the family would be happy if Tom and James missed their sister’s weddings, least of all the boys.
” Bennet chuckled; the separate warnings he had received from both were still diverting.
With many decisions of the following weeks made, two very happy sets of parents wished each other a good night and Thomas and Fanny retired to their suite.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On the short ride back to Pemberley, the soon to be former Colonel, rode in the coach with Darcy, Georgiana, and Bingley while the second carriage transported Tom and James Bennet, Anne de Bourgh and the Hursts. Seeing her cousin was not able to stop smiling, Georgiana let out a contented sigh.
All was right with their world again. Darcy and Bingley could not help smiling as they watched the soon to be the Honourable Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam. They were engaged to a Bennet daughter each, and understood the feelings of deep, ardent, and requited love that Richard was feeling.
“You are to become a landed gentleman like me, Richard,” Darcy grinned.
“Yes William, I could not believe it when the Bennets told us what our wedding present was to be. Netherfield Park! I tried to beg off, but they were adamant. And once Bennet had explained it would not have any adverse effects on either his sons’ future fortunes or his income needs, Mary and I had no choice but to accept,” Richard admitted, “and I do not doubt it was also true they will be glad to have one of their daughters settled so close to Longbourn.”
“So that means I will be evicted after your wedding?” Bingley frowned dramatically.
“I forgot you had a yearlong lease, Bingley. We will make other plans until you are ready to quit the place,” Richard stated with the finality of his military position, showing off his decision-making skills in a way that made Georgiana grin.
“Fitzwilliam, I am jesting!” Bingley laughed, winking at her when Georgiana did as well.
“You forget I have been seeking an estate in the area, and I think I have found one I would be very comfortable in, thanks to Chalmers’s assistance.
” At the questioning looks from the other occupants of the luxurious Darcy coach, he elaborated.
“The Longfield estate, Longfield Meadows, has been on the market for more than six months.
The old Mr. Longfield died with no issue.
“A distant cousin, his heir, has a large and prosperous estate of his own south of London so he wants to sell Longfield Meadows as he has no interest in managing two estates so far apart from each other. He had been asking more than the estate’s current worth, but I happened to see the property quite soon after he had instructed his agent to significantly lower the price.
I made an offer; it was accepted, and it is in the hands of our solicitors now.
“Pending Jane’s approval, I will sign the sale and conveyance documents tomorrow.
I was waiting until then to announce my purchase to our whole party.
As such, you and Mary will not be displacing your brother.
” Bingley tested the new moniker out for both of them.
Never had they imagined being brothers before they met the Bennet daughters, and now they would be marrying sisters in the same ceremony.
“The Meadows is but ten miles to the west of Pemberley!” Darcy grinned at the thought of how comforting that would be for his Lizzy.
“Yes, Darce, that was one of my considerations when seeking an estate to purchase. I know Jane and Lizzy will love being so close to one another. It is under one and one half hours by carriage, and even less on horseback. The estate clears close to four thousand per annum, but I could see with some effort it could be significantly higher. The place has been neglected since Longfield took ill over two years ago, and more so since he passed. I am most fortunate, however, to know someone in the neighbourhood who will be able to advise me when I need it,” Bingley ribbed Darcy.
“Bingley, you know even if you were not to be my brother that I would help you anytime. Does Jane know yet?” Darcy could imagine Jane keeping quiet and serene while they waited for the sale to complete before they shared their news.
“She knows I have been looking. Tomorrow morning, right before I sign the documents, Jane, her parents, and I will go to Longfield Meadows. After we view the house and the property, and if they approve, I will make it official and Jane and I will become members of your society here once we wed. As the name accurately describes the look and feel of the estate, I am of a mind not to change it unless Jane prefers a different name,” Bingley reported.
Congratulations were liberally bestowed on Bingley, and along with those of his family around him, he could imagine his parents smiling down on him from on high in heaven as he fulfilled their dearest wishes.
The Bingleys were to become part of the landed gentry in a matter of days.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning Bingley was collected at Pemberley by Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and Jane.
Their carriage approached the gate that proudly proclaimed ‘Longfield Meadows’ in large, blackened copper letters.
As the carriage passed the unmanned gatehouse, Bingley informed them that there was only a skeleton staff at the estate.
They consisted primarily of the steward, the butler, and the housekeeper.
He imparted he had good reports on all three of the senior staff, so he was inclined to keep them for continuity, unless Jane objected.
There were also two maids of all work, one footman that maintained the manor, and the estate’s former head gardener was still working part time in an effort to keep the gardens in as reasonable a shape as possible with limited resources.
The carriage travelled for a little over a mile with open meadows on either side of the drive. The meadows had a good number of sheep grazing in them and were dotted with many kinds of wildflowers, giving a pleasing pallet of colour to the eye.
The drive turned to the right and crossed over a strong flowing stream, after which they entered the formal gardens.
It was easy to see there had been far more extensive gardens than was currently displayed.
It was obvious Barrow had tried his best to maintain some semblance of order, but it was an uphill struggle.
Fanny, who loved working in her gardens, could see a wide variety of flowers and told Jane she could see so much potential it was exciting. As they approached the circular drive in front of the manor, they observed overgrown rose gardens on either side of the drive.
The manor was a four-story house, built in the stone used most in Derbyshire. One wing had been added to the west of the house, and from what they could see the house looked around the same size as Netherfield Park’s, perhaps a little larger.
In front of the entrance to the house stood the heir’s agent waiting for them. He welcomed them to the estate, and once they had alighted from the coach Bingley introduced the agent to his fiancée and her parents.
They were then led inside the manor house where lined up to greet them were the three senior staff, all looking a little apprehensive as they had not been given any indication whether their services would be retained or not. After the introductions Bingley addressed their immediate concerns.
“If my fiancée approves of the estate and we make the purchase, and subject to the new mistress’s approval, we will be retaining all current servants, including the three of you. This depends as much on you as it does on us for someone may not want to stay in service with us.
“We believe that having people working here who know the estate will be good and helpful to us as we familiarize ourselves with the estate and the running of it.” Bingley related.
“Thank you, Sir. We welcome you all to Longfield Meadows,” the three senior staff chorused as they visibly relaxed.
The house consisted of three levels above ground, a cellar below ground that had a cold room, a wine cellar, a general and gun storage, and the pantry. On the first floor was a large dining parlour, a large drawing room, a smaller sitting room, a nice sized ball room, and a music room.
The kitchen, scullery, and housekeeper’s office were all at the rear of the house. They would be able to entertain a large party as sections of the walls which were not load bearing in the public rooms could be removed when needed to make a much larger ballroom.
In the newer west wing was a study for the master, one for the mistress, and a nice sized library with empty shelves waiting for books that would make it one in more than name only.
Upstairs on the second floor was the family wing that housed the master suites, four family suites and six individual chambers.
There was a nursery in the family wing. In the guest wing located in the newer west wing, spread between the second and third floors, there were eight suites and ten single bedchambers and a nice sized guest’s sitting room on each floor.
The fourth floor in the older section of the house contained the school rooms, places for nursemaids and governesses and a music room for children to learn to play various instruments.
The relatively low sleeping capacity in the manor house was not a concern for Jane and Bingley given how close they were to Pemberley, Snowhaven, and also Hilldale.
That way if there were ever large gatherings in the future it would be easy to have guests stay between all four family estates without major inconvenience to any.