Chapter Ten
“It’s beautiful John! Did we have enough ready money for an outright purchase? I thought the rest of our funds wouldn’t be released yet.”
“Mr. Gardiner took care of that. He has his accounts with The Bank of England and guaranteed our funds. It was very kind of him, but when the bank manager realized you are related to the Darcys, he was ready to release our funds anyway. I had enough on me, but it would have cleaned me out.”
“So, these beautiful greys are all ours.” Beth got a beatific grin as she patted each one and told them how lovely they are. “And the carriage looks very nice. Is it well sprung?”
“Very. All leather interiors. Quite comfortable. There was this viscount who lost a lot of money at cards and needed to sell it quick. I basically bought the horses, and the carriage just came with them. Gardiner is quite a businessman.”
“Hmmm…do you think we could locate a bottle of fine French brandy as a thank you? Maybe some cigars? I know that’s what Ethan would appreciate the most.”
“Darcy and Fitzwilliam are taking me to their club this evening. I’ll get to wear my new suit. I’ll ask them. They’ll know where we can get a gift for a man who has everything.”
“Oooo…going to the club! How grand! Moving right up in the world my friend. Maybe you should order another dinner jacket and some dancing shoes for those enormous feet.”
“Don’t be silly, Beth.”
“I am not. I am serious. Even a pretend brother should be dressed as well as I am. Go see that tailor and put a rush on it. Oh! Did the carriage driver come with this rig too?”
“Ha! Actually, he did! The viscount couldn’t pay his salary anymore, so he became available at the same time. He says to just call him Coachman Jack, although his name is Smithers.”
Beth turned to face the driver and looked up at him. “Nice to meet you Smithers. Are you sure you prefer Jack?”
“It’s the way a things, but if a pretty lady wants ta call me by me real name, I ain’t complainin’.”
“Very well! Smithers it is! Other coachman can be Jacks and Johns, but you’re a Darcy coachman! Your livery looks quite nice, but do you require something right now? We will, of course, provide you with all your needs while we remain in the country.”
“All’s well mam. Mr. Smith there took care of everything. I’m well set. We just needs ta find a footman and a tiger ta ride on back. Think I knows someone.”
“It would be best to have someone you trust, but Mr. Smith will talk with the colonel tonight. I understand there are a lot of out of work soldiers haunting the city looking for work. Do you know a boy who would ride tiger?”
“My sister’s boy is the right age an size. I wouldn’t mind startin’ to train him up.”
“John?”
“Sounds good to me. I want to see about hiring a soldier for that footman spot though. I’m pretty good protection, but it wouldn’t hurt to have someone else who knows how to shoot and fight, if need be.”
“Very good sir, mam. Let me know if ya change yur mind. The man I was thinkin’ of would have livery ta match mine. Haha!”
~~~~~
“John! Good to see you. Did you walk here? I could have sent my carriage.” Darcy hailed as he got out of his carriage at the curb.
“No. We bought a carriage today and it dropped me off. I sent it back to the hotel. Figured I could hitch a ride later with you or just walk. It’s not so far.”
“I will be happy to take you back to your hotel this evening. Have you seen Fitzwilliam? His father called him over to Matlock House this afternoon. Some kind of family issue.”
“No. Haven’t seen him.”
“Well, come then. Let us go in. He knows how to find us.”
The men had just sat down and ordered their drinks when Richard came stomping into the private room they were sharing.
“My idiot bother has done it again! He lost so much at cards the other night, he had to sell his carriage! Do you know how hard it was for me to find four matched carriage horses! They were beautiful! You saw them, Darcy. Ugh. My father has banished Theo to Rosemont. Father’s coachman is to drop him off at the door and leave him there without transportation.
He’ll have his horse, I suppose, but no carriage to go haring off in. ”
John looked very uncomfortable for a minute then asked, “Those horses…they would not be a matched set of greys, would they? And the carriage…deep green with gold trim and all leather interiors?”
“Yes. Have you seen it? Is it already up for auction? The shame of this.” Richard had his head in his hands when the waiter came in with their drinks and asked if they were ready to order.
“Just bring us whatever is cooks special tonight, and a bottle of brandy.” Darcy instructed.
“Umm…colonel…I bought that rig today. I hope it doesn’t cause problems for your family. I can sell it back for what I got it for if your family wants it. I’m sure Beth won’t mind. It’ll just put our trip off until I can locate another one.”
“You? You bought it? Ha! Hahahaha!” Richard started to laugh uproariously. When he finally got ahold of himself, “No. You keep it. If you want to sell it back to him when you’re done with it, charge him double what you paid. Serves him right! Ha! Did his coachman come with it?”
“He did. He’s going to hire his nephew as our tiger, but I was going to ask you about finding a soldier as a footman. I could use somebody else to protect the ladies as we travel.”
“I know just the man. He was a sergeant in my unit in Portugal. I got him a job with my brother. He has matching livery to your coachman. He was looking rather down in the mouth when I saw him today. My brother released him from service. Shall I send him to you tomorrow?”
John couldn’t help himself and began to laugh, “That would be perfect. Just perfect! Hahaha!”
All three men were laughing so hard they were nearly crying when the waiter came back with the bottle of brandy. ‘What an interesting group.’ He thought to himself. ‘I best get their food. They must have come in already in their cups.’
“That would serve Theo right. My cousin is very high in the instep. He had some choice things to say about my ‘American Cousin’. He refused to meet any of you.”
“Didn’t want to soil himself with the American riffraff. The sot. My mother wants to meet Beth, by the way, will you all have time for tea before leaving for Hertfordshire?”
“Probably. I have been ordered to purchase more clothing. We’ll leave after some of it is ready, and I’ll make a trip back into town to get the rest.”
“Ordered?”
“Beth gets what Beth wants. She wants me to dress more like her brother. I’m not sure what I’ll do with such fine suits when we return to Virginia. Maybe have them cut down to fit Ethan.”
“No use for fine suits in Virginia?”
“Not for me. Mr. Darcy was using me as his secretary, but I’m just the steward’s son. I’ll take over for my pa someday, like as not. Ethan is my best friend. I’ll gladly serve him in any way he needs.”
Darcy squinted his eyes at him. He had bad experiences with a steward’s son. Richard ignored him. “So, tell us what an estate is like in Virginia. I’ve never been to America.”
“I don’t know what every estate is like, but Rolling Meadows is ten thousand acres.
The manor house has about fifty rooms altogether.
Old Mr. Darcy said it’s about half the size of Pemberley Manor.
We run mostly cattle and horses and grow crops.
The west of the estate is hills and rocks, so we have sheep there.
I’m glad my ma and pa are there with Ethan.
He was feeling kind of overwhelmed when I left. ”
Darcy’s eyes got bigger and bigger as John talked. ‘Ten thousand acres? The manor house might be smaller, but the estate is bigger. Not by much, but still. Wait, did he just say they have over 150 horses?!’
“So many horses?! Once I retire, I’m asking Ethan Darcy for a job. You don’t have a third of that Darcy!”
“I do not. Why so many?”
“We supply farmers and ranchers for hundreds of miles around. Mr. Darcy was also fond of horse racing. He began breeding them before I was born. Almost as soon as he reached America. His first breeding stallion he brought over from Pemberley. Did you know?”
“I did not.” William was quiet for quite some time.
The food was brought in, and he ate while the other two chatted happily.
He had been looking down on his cousins.
Why? Because they were from America? Because Beth wasn’t dressed as well as the ladies of the ton when he met her?
She was in her mourning clothes for heaven’s sake!
And yes, Mrs. Russell had married one of those Russells.
He was a younger son, but he was still higher in rank than Darcy.
John Smith was obviously very well educated.
He could speak on any subject. He had read the Iliad in Greek.
He knew several Shakespearian sonnets verbatim and sounded like a stage performer when reciting.
And he dared to look down on these people? Poppycock! What a prig he had become.
“Are you alright Darcy? You’re looking a little pale. Do you need to go home? Is something wrong with your steak?”
“No. I was simply thinking of some unpleasant things. I apologize. I was not attending the conversation. I will do better.”
John looked at him knowingly. William Darcy was very much like his friend Ethan.
They had the same expressions. Both thought they hid their emotions very well, but to John and Beth, it was written all over their faces.
Funny how family could be so similar, even if they had been raised far apart.
Both Ethan and William seemed to have the tendency to think very highly of their own discernment and think themselves above others.
If you were in their inner circles though, they would do anything for you.
They were the best of men. Honorable, loyal, upright and moral.
Both sitting on their high horses looking down, though.
Ah well. This Darcy seemed to be thinking better of it. Time would tell.
“I did not think to ask, how old are my cousins?”
“Beth will be one and twenty next month, and Ethan is five and twenty. There was another boy between the two, but he didn’t make it a week.
Ethan wasn’t even two, so he doesn’t remember having a brother.
My ma told me about him. I’m not sure if Beth knows, so maybe don’t mention it.
This brandy has loosened by tongue. Speaking of brandy, Beth wants to know if there’s any way to get some good French brandy, or maybe some particularly good cigars.
She feels like she owes Gardiner for his help since we got here and wants to take her uncle something special too. ”
Richard shook his head, “It’s nearly impossible to get French brandy at any price these days, and Gardiner carries the best cigars and tobacco in town.”
“I know where to get the brandy. I’ll have it when Beth comes to say goodbye to Gigi.”
“That would be most appreciated! Just tell us how much when we come by. Now, where can I find a retiring room?”
Richard pointed to the door in the corner. One of the perks of a private dining room. When John closed the door, “Giving up some of your hoard? You treat that brandy like gold bars.”
“It’s for family. You’ve drunk up enough of it.” Darcy smirked.