Chapter 10. Miss Darcy Arrives at Netherfield
William had completed his morning ride to visit three of the Netherfield farms and then settled into his chair before his desk in the library to work on correspondence with his new secretary, Mr Lynton.
The steward would be at the house by noon to discuss the fences around the pasture for the dairy.
Mrs Hobbes had mentioned an issue with a young maid–the girl was homesick and needed to return to the home of her father and mother.
Mr Bennet and Mr Taylor had come the day before to discuss horses–Mr Darcy and Mr Bennet each needed a pony suitable for young girls to learn to ride and Mr Bennet also needed two mares that were larger than ponies but not as large as hunters for Elizabeth and Jane to ride.
The plan was to travel to Hertford to the horse market on Thursday to look over the mounts available for sale. None of the landowners around Meryton had suitable horses.
“And we do not want anyone to take advantage of your purse,” Mr Bennet had told him confidentially. “The gossip is that you are flush and paying twice the rate for sugar, flour and tea.”
“But I am not!” Darcy exclaimed. “Mrs Hobbes has increased her purchases, but she has not paid a higher price for items since I have been in residence.”
“But the ladies have gossiped and told their husbands who might want to raise their prices for their horses if we came calling. Therefore, the trip to Hertford is in order.”
The balance of the morning passed quickly. Letters were ordered, plans for repairing fences made and a trip home for the homesick maid was arranged.
Shortly before one of the clock, a footman came in with news that a carriage and wagon had been seen entering the park. William rose from his chair, a smile on his face as he made his way to the door where he found Mrs Hobbes and the staff waiting.
As the carriage pulled up to the door, William stepped outside followed by Netherfield’s entire house staff– six footmen, the butler, the housekeeper, twelve maids and the kitchen staff of cook, undercook, and three scullery maids.
Around the side of the house came the coachman with the three stable boys who would lead the carriage and wagon to the stables after the unloading.
When the carriage came to a halt, William stepped forward and opened the door himself, taking his sister into his arms for a hug.
“Georgie! I am pleased to have you here!”
“Brother, it was such an adventure! Staying in inns and seeing all the different towns and the countryside! I did enjoy myself!”
Nanny Brice was handed out next and she smiled and nodded to the young master, letting him know that all was well with his sister while she handled a letter to the master. Seeing his father’s writing, Darcy placed the envelope into his pocket for later.
As the footmen unloaded the young lady’s many trunks, the young master took his sister by the hand with her nanny following; William introduced ‘Miss Darcy’ and ‘Nanny Brice’ to each member of the staff beginning with Mrs Hobbes.
“And Georgiana, Mrs Hobbes is over you much as Mrs Reynolds was at Pemberley,” William explained.
“Yes, William” Georgiana replied solemnly.
Inside the house, William escorted his sister up the stairs to her rooms where Nanny Brice began the process of unpacking her charge’s clothing, dolls and toys, books, and shoes with the assistance of two maids.
“Shall we walk about the house and gardens, brother?” asked Georgiana excitedly. “I should like to see the horses, the flowers and the ball room. May I have dancing lessons?”
“We shall see...” William said as he led Georgiana around the house, showing her where his room was located, the room set aside for their father, Richard and other guests.
“Cousin Richard has his own room?” asked Georgiana.
“Yes, I want him to feel at home with us.”
Their tour continued with the ground floor, the location of the servant stairs and then a trip into the kitchens and pantries.
Mrs Hobbes had prepared the cook, but Mr Nichols was still surprised by the master and his sister invading the kitchen.
“Last gentleman who leased Netherfield and his wife never set foot in my kitchens in the five years they were here!” the man told his undercook.
“But Mr Darcy seems to be interested in our cooking. He sends his compliments by the butler every day and Mrs Hobbes speaks with him on the menus regular like,” the undercook said.
“Yes... It just seems strange for the master to venture into the kitchens.”
After touring the kitchens, Mr Darcy scandalized the staff by leading his sister out the kitchen entrance to the stables.
“Lord, he is taking that child into the stables!” Mrs Hobbes exclaimed.
**++**
At some point in the afternoon, William was able to open and read the letter from his father.
++**++
William
I hope that your sister has arrived safely into your care in Hertfordshire. From your letters, I believe you are doing well at Netherfield and can care for your sister comfortably. I shall not descend upon you at this juncture but shall see you at Christmas at Netherfield or in town.
Your father, G. Darcy
**++**
When Georgiana joined her brother for tea that afternoon, Nanny Brice came as well and the three of them discussed the trip from Derbyshire, the lessons that Georgiana would continue and a forthcoming visit by the neighbours who wanted to meet Miss Darcy.
William asked Nanny, “And are there any of the staff who came from Pemberley that I should keep?”
“No sir,” she replied. “Mrs Hobbes appears to have ample maids. The maids and footmen in our escort are folk born and raised around Pemberley. I image they would prefer to be home.”
“Then I shall send the carriage, the wagon, the horses and the staff home tomorrow. We shall have a very nice and quiet summer here at Netherfield.”
**++**
The quiet so desired by Mr Darcy lasted only that one afternoon.
The next morning, he dispatched the carriage and wagon headed back to Derbyshire with the maids and footmen, horses and coachman he did not need.
Returning to his study with his secretary and steward, they turned their attention to business letters until the proper hours for visits arrived and the carriage from Longbourn appeared in the drive.
Alerted by his butler of the approaching visitors, William quickly summoned his sister from her rooms and together they approached the front door with butterflies for the great unknown of ‘friends for Miss Darcy’.
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.
The six girls raced with hoops up and down the meadow and in the archery tournament, Elizabeth took first prize.
William smiled as his sister laughed, holding court from the centre of the table as the ‘princess’ of the day.
It was a most successful birthday party and Miss Darcy had a great many tales to tell Nanny Brice, Mrs Hobbes and the maid that attended her that evening.
**++**