Chapter 4 #2
“I know you could,” Elizabeth asserted fiercely, reaching for her hand and squeezing it bracingly.
“But if you do not like the place or feel that it would be too much work to bring it into the nineteenth century, then there is no need to fret over it at all. Let us find our husbands and inform them that we should like to see more properties before you decide. There is no hurry after all.”
They were greeted in the entry by Darcy, standing hat in hand and peering about at the dark walls and heavy draperies. His face lit up when he spied his wife floating down the stairs. “There you are my love! You certainly light up this dark hall with your beautiful, shining face.”
Elizabeth accepted his hand and pinked up as he placed a lingering kiss on the back of it before placing another on her forehead. He greeted Jane with a brotherly kiss as well and the ladies began to list all that they had found as they waited for Bingley to return.
“How was the library?” Darcy asked, making his wife giggle.
“I told her that you would ask after the books first thing,” she chuckled.
“It is well stocked and one of the few rooms which needed little work as Mrs. Toole took meticulous care of it. Her last master was not much interested in the written word. I would bet that there are several treasures upon its shelves for whomever buys the place to enjoy.”
“You sound as if you do not believe it to be the right fit.”
“Jane has reservations over the amount of work which needs doing—”
“Hello!” Bingley cried, hurrying down the hallway with a self-satisfied grin. “I have a surprise my dear! I just signed the documents to purchase! What do you think of that?”
Jane was speechless. How could he have made such a momentous decision without even speaking with her first? She attempted to smile but it was rather wan.
“Bingley! What are you about man? You haven’t even seen the house or spoken with the ladies who have!” Darcy choked, appalled.
“Well, you were so pleased with the farms and the, the woods and all… And you did say that the mine was a good investment…” Bingley gave him a look like a pup who had just received a kick from his master for marking the rug.
“I was making observations! I did not mean that you should immediately purchase the place,” Darcy groaned, slapping his hand over his eyes. “Did you even negotiate the price?”
“I thought that what they were asking was quite reasonable considering the size of the house…”
“The kitchen needs rebuilt,” Elizabeth informed him with a disgruntled look. “Not to mention that the entire house must be redecorated and many windows reglazed.”
“Oh.”
“What was the asking?” Darcy softened his voice, not wishing to further berate his friend.
“He offered it for ￡50,000 if the ownership of the mine remained, but I knew that you would not have liked it, so I insisted that the estate not be broken up and he agreed to ￡70,000.” Bingley’s hang-dog look changed to one of trepidation.
“You overpaid, considering the condition of the house, but not too badly,” Darcy consoled him with a slap to the back. “Do not let your sister loose on the place or you will bankrupt yourself in a sen’night. This is quite the sprawling old manor.”
Elizabeth’s affront on her sister’s behalf had not receded, but when her lips parted to release what was likely a scathing retort, Jane’s soft touch on her arm quenched the flames.
“It was so kind of you to take such care of me,” Jane smiled winsomely. “You know how I have longed to be closer to my sister, and you have spared no expense to shorten the distance. Thank you, Charles.”
Bingley beamed, his chest swelling with pride, and bowed over her hand, kissing it energetically. “I shall always do everything within my power to make you happy, dear Jane.”
Jane blushed becomingly and smiled wider.
She knew Elizabeth did not understand her desire to always bring happiness to others, but it truly made her happy as well when something she said or did brought such joy to those she loved.
And after all, the purchase was made. What good could come from allowing her disappointment a voice?
And it was a lovely house. She would come to adore it in time, she was sure. And it was close to Elizabeth.
“Well, I hope that you shall take just one more piece of advice, Bingley,” Darcy said as the ladies showed them about the main rooms.
“I should be glad for any advice!” Bingley exclaimed. “This will be entirely different from Netherfield. I am certain that it will be much more fulfilling to manage an estate of my own rather than just a leased one.”
“There will not be as much difference as you would think,” Darcy cautioned him. “I believe that you should hire a very good steward, especially as you first begin. I have several understewards who are ready for their own position if you would like to interview them.”
“Well, who would you recommend?” Bingley asked, wincing at the moth-eaten upholstery which Elizabeth had made a point to draw to his attention.
“If I was to choose, I would hire Yates. Do you remember Jeffery Yates from Cambridge?”
“Was he not the third or fourth son of the Earl of Statham? Why should he be working as a steward?”
“He loves working with the land and did not like any of the usual, accepted occupations for younger sons. His father is well off, and he has a healthy stipend, but he likes to keep busy with what he enjoys.”
“And he is knowledgeable of such things?”
“Yes, very. He was trained by his father alongside the heir and has spent several years working under the stewards of his friends and building even more experience. If Hansen was anywhere close to retirement, I should keep him myself.”
“Indeed! I shall speak with him as soon as we return to Pemberley. Might you have some workers we could borrow until we can hire our own? I should like to begin the repairs as soon as may be and I know that Jane would love your idea of a cart track between here and Pemberley.”
“I shall see who is available when we return,” Darcy agreed.
“We can do some interviews as well before we must return to Netherfield to begin packing,” Jane informed them, listing several positions which would need to be filled.
“The lovely housekeeper will be retiring as well, though she has trained a replacement. She has given us several lists both of required repairs and servant positions which are open, though many of those can be filled by our servants at Netherfield.”
“I am sure you shall handle it all with aplomb,” Bingley beamed. “It is so exciting! I shall be a landed gentleman! The Bingley name shall at last be respected as it ought.”
Darcy and Elizabeth shared a long look and Darcy attempted to gently depress his friend’s expectations of that happening, as it would likely take at least two generations for the Ton to accept those who were climbing the social ladder from tradesman to gentry, but Bingley refused to hear his hints and continued to exclaim excitedly as they did the final tour.
The gentlemen decided to ride back with their wives, much to Jane’s relief as she had not been looking forward to her sister’s interrogation and complaints.
Elizabeth had always been a shield for Jane’s finer feelings and had often defended her against those who would take advantage of her tendency to wish to please others.
It hurt her heart that Elizabeth would chase them off before turning the full force of her personality on Jane in order to attempt to pester her into greater strength.
The discussion in the carriage was lively as they made plans for Ivy Well and packing up Netherfield as well as Charles’s delight that he would have a healthy cushion in savings by purchasing such an affordable place.
None of them bothered to burst his happiness by reminding him that the required updates and repairs would likely be extensive.
In Jane’s case, she had managed to convince herself that everything would be perfect and there was no need to worry over things which may or may not come to pass.
When they returned to Pemberley just before tea, Elizabeth latched onto Jane’s arm when she attempted to excuse herself and accompanied her sister to her suite.
Jane’s maid, Jardine, was bustling about the room and affected deafness when Elizabeth marched to the settee before the windows and ordered Jane to join her in a commanding tone.
Jane meekly complied, though she refused to meet her eye as she fussed with her skirt.
“How could you say nothing, Jane?” Elizabeth cried, throwing her hands into the air.
“It would have been an easy matter to ask the solicitor to wait a day or two to file the purchase agreement while you discussed things with him! He completely disregarded your opinions and wishes! Worse! He did not even ascertain if you had them!”
“Lizzy, it would not do, you know it would not. It would have made Charles seem indecisive and might have harmed his reputation in the area.” Jane reached for Elizabeth’s hand with a pleading look.
“It is done now. There is nothing to be gained by making Charles feel badly for being perhaps a bit over-enthusiastic. Nothing was done out of malice, my dearest sister. Please, for my sake, let it be?”
Elizabeth puffed out an angry breath and rolled her eyes. “As always, Jane, you will insist that I have a better nature buried somewhere beneath my mulish exterior.”
Jane laughed and pulled her into a tight embrace. “I know that you are only looking out for my best interest, dearest. But sometimes the passive response is the correct one. But come, let us think on it no more. I have a— question, which I hope you might be able to answer.”
Elizabeth’s interest was piqued by her sister’s horribly splotchy blush which so rarely appeared and only when Jane was truly uncomfortable. “You may ask me anything, you know that.”
“My mother has given, and written, a great deal of advice on the subject of becoming with child, but very little of the practical matters of being with child… How does one know, for certain I mean, that one is increasing?”
“Dear Jane,” Elizabeth laughed. “You are practically the color of a apple! Did you not read the advice which I passed on from my aunt?”
“I had forgotten that you wrote that. It was so early in our marriage that I could not read it without mortification, and I hid it away until later.”
“Well, the most common symptom which I found was the lack of courses, or course, but I was also quite ill in the evenings, though the midwife informed me it is still called morning sickness, no matter the time of day in which it occurs. My breasts swelled and became tender. My hair grew thicker and even more shiny and my skin was also quite luminous, according to William.” She paused and inspected Jane’s visage.
“You are so beautiful that it is difficult to tell if your complexion is more brilliant than usual. Have you been feeling queasy at all?”
“No,” she sighed dejectedly. “The only change that I have noticed are my courses, which were never regular, if you remember, have not made their usual visits for nearly six months.”
“If you were six months along I would think that you would be showing by now. Has your belly grown? And you should have felt the quickening before now.”
“Well, what does that feel like?”
“It begins as a fluttering, almost a butterfly’s wings in your belly. Then it becomes stronger as your time becomes closer.” Elizabeth explained.
“I—” Jane blushed fiercely once more. “I have had horrible wind for several months. My stomach often bulges with a large bubble before I must hurry from the room to keep from embarrassing myself.”
Elizabeth fought her urge to smile at the thought of her most proper sister hurrying from the room to release a most improper noise. She would likely expire from the mortification of being caught at it. “Have you ever noticed the feeling when there was no wind?”
“Lizzy!” Jane cried, covering her flaming cheeks. “I have not paid close attention. I believed it was related to all the heavy sauces which Caroline prefers at dinner and just hide my shame as best I could. I shall attempt to better observe my bodily functions in the future.”
“I could ask for the midwife to see you when she returns tomorrow to check on me,” Elizabeth offered.
“No, no. I shall wait for more certainty before bothering anyone.” Jane waived away the idea before rubbing her soft abdomen absently. There was a sudden bulge against her hand and she winced at the feeling. “It is doing it right now.”
“Try pushing back. The twins would often push repeatedly when Will or I would tap and push at them.” Elizabeth reached out her hand and placed her fingers above her sister’s, pushing lightly into her abdomen.
There was a quiet grumble of flatulence, which Jane apologized for repeatedly, but Elizabeth ignored her with a bemused look for right after there had been the tap-tap of a tiny foot or hand pressing back against the pressure of her questing fingers.
“Jane! I am almost confident that that is a babe!” she cried.
“Truly? Oh, how marvelous that would be!” Jane breathed, staring down at her still flat abdomen with awe.