Chapter 27. Mr Bingley’s Unexpected Visitor #2
“Then you must come and stay at Rosings, Mr Collins,” Anne insisted. “Mamma, I insist Mr Collins stay with us while Miss Bingley remains at the parsonage.”
Anne turned toward the patient butler, “Livingston, have the housekeeper prepare the guest room next to Mr Bingley.”
“Really Anne, you take too much on yourself...” Lady Catherine tried to interrupt, but her daughter waved her mother’s objections away.
“It shall be as I say. Mr Collins, we shall break our fast tomorrow morning with scripture lessons and coffee.” Turning toward her mother, Miss de Bourgh asked, “Will you join us for scripture tomorrow morning Mamma?”
“Anne, you know I break my fast in bed and do not come downstairs before noon,” Lady Catherine replied testily.
“Oh yes, I had forgotten.” She seemed to consider her own schedule for a moment and then announced, “Mr Collins and I shall spend the entire morning with Fordyce’s Sermons in the library.”
Thus, the arrangements to house Miss Bingley were settled to everyone’s contentment except for Lady Catherine who worried at her daughter’s continued assertiveness, Mr Collins who worried that he was imposing upon the beneficence of Rosings, and Caroline Bingley who worried she was now regulated to the shelf with old maids as her dream of becoming Mrs Darcy faded quickly.
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“Mr Darcy provided his carriage for you?” Caroline asked as the party travelled the short distance to Hunsford. “He never provided his carriage for me in town!”
No one paid attention to her comments and Mrs Gardiner directed the conversation with discussion of moving among the bedrooms.
“I shall move into Mr Collins’ bedroom and allow Miss Bingley to have my room.”
Upon arrival at the parsonage, Jane directed the servants to prepare the two bedrooms.
“But Miss Bennet, there is only one set of clean sheets,” the housekeeper informed the future mistress.
Without pause, Jane directed the housekeeper, “Move the sheets on Mrs Gardiner’s bed to the master bedroom and put the clean sheets on the bed for Miss Bingley. We shall have an early wash day tomorrow.”
“But wash day isn’t for three days Miss Bennet...”
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The parsonage was busy the next morning as Jane laboured with the maids to complete an extra wash tub of sheets and garments to spread over the shrubbery in the garden before breaking her fast. With it being Nanny Brice’s morning to rest, Elizabeth gave Edward his lessons and played with Emily to free her aunt to work with the housekeeper.
Early in the day, there was a knock on the door and the maid ushered Charles Bingley into the parlour.
“Forgive this intrusion in your morning Mrs Gardiner but I came to speak with my sister.”
Mrs Gardiner welcomed Mr Bingley before she explained, “We have not heard or seen Miss Bingley yet, sir. Let me inquire with the kitchen if she requested a tray earlier this morning.”
Elizabeth remained in the parlour with the guest and the children while her aunt hurried into the kitchen where Jane was speaking with the cook.
“Jane dear, has anyone taken a tray up to Miss Bingley this morning?”
Glancing at the housekeeper and the cook who both shook their heads, Jane turned back to Mrs Gardiner.
“I do not think anyone has heard from our guest. Her maid came down early to break her fast with the servants, but she indicated that her mistress generally stays abed until noon.”
“Noon?” Mrs Gardiner shook her head. “Have you kept back some foods for her?”
Now Jane frowned–something most unusual and seldom seen. “I have asked Mrs Morris to prepare something for Miss Bingley when she awakes today but I shall speak to our guest and remind her that this is not a manor house. We eat together or we do not eat.”
“Mr Bingley has come to call,” Mrs Gardiner explained, and Jane’s face grew brighter. “He asks after his sister.”
Jane hurried to remove the apron over her day dress and check her hair in the reflection of the kitchen window. Then she followed her aunt back into the parlour. Mr Bingley rose and approached Jane when she came into the parlour.
“Good morning, Miss Bennet,” he said, bowing slightly as she curtsied.
“Welcome Mr Bingley,” Jane replied. “We did not expect you this early, but we are always glad to have you in company.”
“Mr Darcy and the steward were dealing with a matter with Lady Catherine this morning, so I determined to walk over and visit with my sister. But Miss Elizabeth tells me that Caroline has not been below stairs yet this morning.”
“No sir. Her maid has been to the kitchen, but Miss Bingley has not requested a tray yet this morning.”
Charles blushed, not knowing what to say next when Elizabeth interrupted. “Mr Bingley, perhaps you would read with Edward until Miss Bingley joins us? My cousin is reading very well but usually his father sits with him each day to read and Mr Collins has not...”
The ladies blushed now, and Mr Bingley turned to the boy. “I should be honoured to read with Master Gardiner.”
Jane and Mrs Gardiner took out sewing and Elizabeth continued lessons with Emily for another half hour until they heard a light step on the stairs as Caroline joined them.
“Good morning, Charles!” she called brightly to her brother. “Miss Bennet, I am famished–how soon can we sit down to break our fast?”
Jane smiled and explained, “Miss Bingley in the country we break our fast very early in the morning. The servants have so many tasks that we do not keep the dining room staffed for...”
“You mean you cannot feed me?”
“Your maid was kind enough to inform the staff this morning of your habit of rising at noon and I asked cook to prepare breakfast for you at your call. A tray is waiting to be filled and brought to your room.”
“But I do not wish to eat alone,” Caroline complained. “Charles, attend me in the dining room. Miss Bennet, have the maid serve me there.”
She turned to leave the parlour but had to turn back around again to ask, “Where is the dining room?”
Elizabeth rose from her seat. “Miss Bingley, Mr Bingley if you will be so kind as to follow me, I shall show you to the dining room.”
Jane rose from her seat and said, “I shall ask cook to send the tray to the dining room. Mr Bingley, would you be in need of a cup of tea this morning?”
He smiled thinly and nodded. “Thank you, Miss Bennet. That would be most appreciated.”
In the dining room, Caroline sneered at the small size of the room and the quality of the furniture. Shortly thereafter Jane led a maid carrying a tray from the kitchens and the girl set the tray on the table in front of Miss Bingley before she curtseyed once and returned to the kitchen.
“Is no one going to serve me?” Caroline asked staring at the tray as though she had no idea how to pour tea or spread jam on the toast.
“Caroline, I am certain you can manage a breakfast tray,” Charles said as he stood to take the teacups and saucers, pour tea and then sit down forcing his sister to fill her own cup, and fix her toast.
“I shall ask cook to prepare a tray for you tomorrow morning at nine,” Jane told Caroline.
“Why would I want a meal in my room so early in the morning? This is the time of day that folks in town are rising and breaking their fast.”
“But this is the country, Miss Bingley,” Jane politely explains. “We have many more tasks to complete each day-the servants had extra washed today with your arrival.”
Ignoring her hostess, Caroline turned to her brother and admonished him, “Charles, we must escape from the country and return to town today!”
“We must wait until my carriage comes to Kent before we can travel anywhere. I sent an express this morning instructing the stables to send the coach tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Will we return to town tomorrow? The company in Kent is so rough–I feel as though I am among barbarians here in the country.”
Charles glanced at Jane and Elizabeth who both blushed at the woman’s words and turned to leave the unpleasant company. At the door to the hallway, Elizabeth said, “We shall wait in the parlour until Miss Bingley finishes her meal.”
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet. We shall join you shortly.”
He bowed before returning to the table with his sister where he began the discussion of her summer by saying, “We cannot go to town Caroline. There is no house or rooms waiting for us in London, but I believe you can make your way in Bath this season. From reading the papers, it seems a large party of your acquaintance is there.”
“What allowance will you give me in Bath?” Caroline asked as Elizabeth closed the door behind her. They did not hear Mr Bingley’s answer, but the raised voices were noticed throughout the house.
After breaking her fast, Miss Bingley returned to her room above stairs and Mr Bingley returned to the parlour. His colour was high, and he excused himself from staying longer.
“Mr Bingley, allow me to walk to the door with you,” Jane said as she took his arm and directed him to the front door.
Mrs Gardiner sent her children to the garden with Nanny Brice before she turned to Elizabeth and said, “My dear, why anyone would want to join the ton is beyond me. We have not met any of them who appear to be happy or satisfied with their lot in life.”
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That afternoon, Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy and Miss Darcy called at the parsonage for tea. Mrs Gardiner remained close to Jane throughout the call as the Darcy brother and sister commanded all of Elizabeth’s attention and Mr Bingley balanced his attention between Miss Bennet and his sister.
After the guests had left, Caroline addressed Elizabeth directly. “I noticed the way Mr Darcy looks at you Miss Elizabeth. He is a great man and will require the daughter of an Earl as his bride.”
She preened for a moment before saying, “Do you expect he will offer to make you his mistress?”
Jane and Elizabeth were shocked by the guest’s question, but their aunt turned the full force of her gaze upon the woman.
“Miss Bingley, have you taken leave of your senses?” asked Mrs Gardiner. “I understand you are disappointed in your hopes but if you persist in this lack of manners and decorum, I shall turn you out of this house and you can sleep in the stable!”
Miss Bingley sneered, “My brother will never allow...”
“Your brother is to be much pitied!” Now Mrs Gardiner stood over Miss Bingley. “I no longer wonder that your brother has been unable to arrange a marriage of any kind. Apparently twenty thousand is not a large enough inducement to young men in want of a wife after they have met you.”
Caroline stared at the woman–the wife of a tradesman–speaking thusly to her.
“And I remind you of your place Caroline Bingley–your father was a tradesman the same as my husband. My nieces are daughters of a gentleman and placed much higher in society than you. They take precedence over you in any procession to dinner or a ball!”
“I...”
Leaning forward, Aunt Gardiner warned the younger woman thusly, “If you continue in this manner Miss Bingley, you will be alone and friendless in rented rooms somewhere without family or friendly faces for the many years of your life. I suggest that you not drive your brother away as you have your sister and her husband.”
Without a word, Miss Bingley rose from the sofa and removed to her room upstairs.
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