Chapter 6. Mr Darcy’s Absence
With access to Mr Darcy ended for a time, Caroline Bingley was morose and short-tempered.
Her lady’s maid and the Hurst footmen hid from the woman and Geoffrey Hurst warned his brother-in-law that Charles would have to seek alternate housing for himself and his sister shortly if Caroline’s treatment of the servants continued in this manner.
“Louisa must deal with a hysterical cook every week and the chambermaids are terrified of ‘Miss Bingley’,” Hurst stressed with his brother-in-law. “Perhaps you could take your sister on a tour of Bath and get her away from London for a time.”
“I have been thinking of purchasing an estate,” Charles admitted. “Caroline and Louisa urge me to assume the trappings of being a ‘gentleman’ with the manor house and fields of corn for the background of my portrait.”
Hurst snorted, “Charles, Darcy and I spoke to you about buying an estate several times. Darcy was adamant that you must lease an estate for at least two years to discover if you like the cycle of the seasons that mandate the master’s tasks on the land.”
“But you do not pay attention to your estate…”
“Do you not see the letters I receive every morning from my steward? I am fortunate to have a reliable steward and a well-run estate that grows corn to grind into flour and then sell to bakers around Herefordshire and Essex.”
“So, I shall purchase an estate with a good steward,” Charles said vacantly.
“Come, we shall consult with Darcy at the club this evening,” Hurst said, leading his brother-in-law from the room.
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At their club, Darcy echoed Hurst’s notion of leasing an estate before making a purchase.
“Charles, you know manufacture and trade,” Darcy reminded his friend. “An estate is very different from a building where workers make plates or mugs.”
“So, I should lease an estate and play at being a gentleman?”
“This is not a game,” Darcy insisted. “To manage an estate properly you have to give it your attention, your time, and your monies. There are financial rewards that come each year but…”
“You are wealthy, Darcy. Why do you care about hay for sheep or the price of mutton?” Charles asked with a tone of dismissal.
In response, Mr Darcy repeated the arguments he used with Bingley several times previously about the need to grow his wealth and maintain his position in society for his future children.
When Darcy ended his argument, Mr Hurst handled his brother-in-law a paper with handwritten information.
“This came from my attorney. There’s an estate in Hertfordshire only twenty miles from London.
The owner died in the last five years, and his heirs are leasing it until they decide to dispose of the property.
“How much is the lease?” asked Darcy.
Hurst explained, “They are asking three thousand a year but there has been no interest in six months so we…”
“…can get it for two thousand,” Charles said.
Looking over the description for the estate, Darcy said, “After three years of work, the estate might make thirty-five hundred a year.”
“Shall I take it then?”
Hurst and Darcy exchanged glances. Darcy asked, “Would you buy a house without viewing it? This town… Meryton… is a mere three hours from London. I propose that early tomorrow, we call on the attorney, and then ride into Hertfordshire to examine the house and survey the farms. We shall stay in the local public house and talk with the locals about the estate and local crops.”
“You never do anything in a hurry, Darcy,” Charles said with a light tone to his voice.
Darcy smirked before explaining, “Visiting without notice does not give them time to hide problems.”
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Meryton proved to be a quiet English town filled with gentry and tenants, shopkeepers and a few merchants. Cattle and sheep were found along the roadsides though Darcy noticed a few fine horses as well. Netherfield proved to be of recent construction in the Georgian style.
Darcy found the housekeeper and footmen to be cooperative with his questions; the steward was annoyed to be called from the fields initially but after talking to Darcy, the man became cooperative.
The farms were in fair condition and as they rode away from Netherfield, Darcy assured Bingley, “Within three years you will be making thirty-five hundred a year here. With some help, the tenants can plant more acreage…”
“I say, Darcy,” Bingley interrupted him. “Where is that tavern the housekeeper recommended? I am parched.”
The two gentlemen spent the evening in the public room, speaking to the locals.
Darcy learned which estates had the best fields of wheat, maize, and barley, while Bingley learned which estates had the best pheasants in the fall and the prettiest daughters.
The following morning, they rode into London with Mr Bingley determined to lease the estate for three years.
Mr Darcy promised to visit with Bingley until Christmas to help him learn his steward, his tenants, and oversee the fall ploughing.
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In the next boxes to be opened, Miss Gardiner and her workers found several bottles of wine and port wine. The workmen were interested but Elizabeth discouraged their excitement.
“This room is certainly too warm to store wines,” she explained.
With a request for his presence again in the ballroom, Mr Darcy and Mr Banks came through the door about fifteen minutes later and the two men quickly examined the bottles.
“I imagine you are correct, Miss Gardiner. The top of the house is entirely too warm in summer to store wine. Have your workmen carry them to the kitchens,” Darcy stated.
“If they are vinegar, Cook can make use of them with vegetables and salads. Mr Banks will know as soon as he opens a bottle if the vintage is good.”
“Forgive me, Mr Darcy, but since Miss Bingley broke my nose, I have questioned my ability to smell,” the butler replied. “Young Denver has been my understudy with the wines for the last two years…”
“I am certain your sense of smell with return, Banks. Until then allow Denver to help you with dinner wines.”
Darcy noticed Miss Gardiner standing beside the portrait of Lady Anne as the workmen carried out the crates of wine.
He could not help but compare the two women and found that Miss Gardiner matched his mother in natural beauty and carriage.
As the crates disappeared down the stairs, the young woman noticed the man staring at her.
Elizabeth blushed and said, “We endeavoured not to scuff or scratch the floors Mr Darcy.”
With a smile on his face, Mr Darcy replied, “Miss Gardiner, I must confess that your workmen have performed an additional service of me without cost. They carefully removed these boxes, trunks, and cases over these past weeks without knocking holes in any of the walls, breaking any windows, and with few scratches upon the floor. Mr Banks and his footmen would have taken this long to accomplish the work of simply moving the boxes about and neglected their other duties. I shall add a bonus in my payment to your uncle to pass along to each man.”
“That is very kind of you, sir.”
“Now, I must tell you that I am leaving town for a time. Mr and Mrs Banks, and Mr Clemmons are instructed to follow all your commands concerning the inventory and movement of the items. If you find any items of particular interest, provide Mr Clemmons with a note and he will forward it to me.”
Pleased that Mr Darcy recognized her abilities, Elizabeth smiled. “I shall give Lady Anne’s treasures the attention they deserve.”
Hesitating for a moment, the young woman asked, “When will you return?”
Surprized by the question, Darcy smiled as he teased, “Are you not curious about my destination? Or will you simply miss my presence, Miss Gardiner?”
“Not in the least, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth replied. “I…Miss Darcy…”
Flustered Miss Gardiner simply curtsied and vanished into one of the small rooms outside the door set aside for ladies to refresh themselves.
Now Mr Darcy paused a moment before he exited the room, his mind perplexed by the young woman’s actions though he was honest enough to admit she was certainly the finest woman of his acquaintance.
As he walked down the many flights of stairs back to the ground floor and his office, Fitzwilliam Darcy realized he wished to know Miss Gardiner better.
‘I wish I had not promised Charles to help him with Netherfield this fall,’ he decided. ‘Mrs Annesley is proving to be a good companion for Georgie, and I could find excuses to talk to Miss Gardiner.’
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At the Hurst home in another part of London, the Bingley siblings discussed their new adventure into being members of the gentry with Miss Bingley dominating the conversation as usual.
“And Mr Darcy will come with us into Herefordshire?” Caroline asked.
“Yes, Mr Darcy will be our guest until Christmas. But we are going into Hertfordshire, not Herefordshire,” Charles corrected his sister.
“How different can one farm be from another?” Caroline asked growing agitated with the descriptions of country life.
“The house is grand enough and I shall be pleased to entertain the locals,” Charles continued. “We shall have dinners and fox hunts.”
Caroline Bingley’s interest in this venture into life on an estate grew dimmer as they examined a pamphlet that discussed the normal pace of life in the country. It was only the promise of Mr Darcy being present within the same house–where she would be hostess–that kept her temper under control.
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