Chapter Ten
On the road to Netherfield Park
Her reputation is ruined, and if it becomes known that we are hosting her, our reputations will suffer as well.”
“Caroline, if you cannot be kind to Miss Darcy, then I will return you to London immediately.” Mr. Bingley’s tone left no doubt of his sincerity on the matter.
“You cannot blame me for being concerned for our family’s reputation, Charles.”
“I care not about our family’s reputation; I care about being kind to my friend. I require this of you, Caroline.”
Miss Bingley did not reply; she looked out of the carriage window, frowning.
Her brother continued. “Since you are no longer intent on captivating Mr. Darcy, there is no point in you serving as my hostess. You were only interested in the role in order to impress him, as I recall.”
Still no response.
Mr. Bingley shrugged. “Very well; Louisa, you shall be our hostess. As the married sister, it was your prerogative in any case. And I require you to be kind as well,” Mr. Bingley continued, turning to his other sister. “This is no time to pattern your behaviour after Caroline’s.”
She objected at once. “I do not pattern my –“
Surprisingly, it was her husband who interrupted with a snort of derision. “Of course you do, Louisa.”
Mrs. Hurst looked up at him, affronted. “I most certainly do not!”
“Yes, you, do, and it is not at all attractive.”
Miss Bingley now weighed in. “Only because she knows I am so often right!”
“No, you are very often wrong, and you lead my wife astray,” Mr. Hurst said. “But we will talk more of this at a later time, Louisa.”
“Ah, here we are,” Mr. Bingley said, glad to not have to hear more of the argument between his sister and Mr. Hurst.
The carriage came to a halt in front of a large manor house made of Bath stone.
It was three stories tall, with a pillared center and two large flanking wings.
There were a great many windows, promising a bright interior.
The front lawn was still green, despite the fall weather.
The bushes and trees were well-trimmed, and a variety of rosebushes could be seen on the east side of the house.
“Very nice, Bingley,” Mr. Hurst muttered.
“I think so as well,” Mr. Bingley said, satisfaction in his voice.
The coachman opened the door and pulled down the steps. The occupants of the carriage exited and made their way to the front entrance. The front door opened at once and a butler appeared. He bowed to Mr. Bingley, murmuring, “Welcome home, Mr. Bingley.”
“Thank you, Thurston.” Mr. Bingley introduced the members of his party.
Mrs. Hurst will serve as the mistress of the house.”
“Very good. Mrs. Hurst, Mrs. Morton is just inside,” Thurston said, leading the company inside. “She is Netherfield Park’s housekeeper.”
The inside of the house was as lovely as the outside; the entry hall was a full three stories tall, with ornate plasterwork decorating the walls and ceilings.
Mrs. Morton presented herself at once, curtseying to the entire party and offering to take everyone to their rooms.
“Mrs. Hurst will be serving as mistress,” Thurston told her.
“Mrs. Hurst, I am at your service,” Mrs. Morton said at once. “Cook has written out a menu for your approval, at your convenience.”
Mrs. Hurst nodded. “Let us first have some refreshment, if you please, Mrs. Morton.”
“At once, madam,” she said. “The drawing room is just here.”
She led the way into a large drawing room, beautifully furnished in teal and cream, with accents of gold.
“Very pretty,” Mrs. Hurst said, as the party took their seats.
“The owner is careful to keep everything up-to-date,” Mrs. Morton said, pride in her voice. “You will find nothing lacking at Netherfield Park.”
“I will be the judge of that!” Miss Bingley snapped. She had said nothing in the carriage, but she was very upset at having been replaced as hostess. If she were not in charge of the house, then what was her role to be? This feeling of having no importance did not sit well with her.
“No, Caroline, you will not,” Mr. Bingley said at once. “You have no voice here. If Louisa thinks something is amiss, she will bring it to my attention and I will decide if action is to be taken.”
Miss Bingley sat back in her chair, her face flaming. It was unusual for her brother to take her to task – and in front of servants! – and no doubt it was Georgiana Darcy who was to blame.
***
That night, Mr. Hurst knocked softly on his wife’s bedroom door. The door opened after a moment, and Mrs. Hurst looked at her husband in surprise. “Harold?”
“I would like to speak with you for a minute, Louisa.”
“Of course.” She stepped back, allowing him to enter.
The two stood for a moment in silent. Finally, Mr. Hurst said, “Louisa, I know you love both Caroline and Charles.” He did not add his own name to the list of people his wife loved; theirs had not been a match born of affection.
Mrs. Hurst nodded.
“But now you will have to choose. If you follow Caroline’s path, you are likely to alienate Bingley’s neighbours, and his experience of owning an estate will not be a good one. No, no, do not protest; we both know I am right.”
He waited until she nodded, almost imperceptibly.
“Good. But if you follow your own path, if you behave as the kind, capable, sensible woman I know you to be, then your brother’s neighbours will see you and your brother as compassionate, reasonable people.
Caroline, the ill-mannered termagant that she is, will be viewed as the exception to the Bingleys’ behaviour, rather than the rule. Do you take my meaning?”
She nodded again, her face troubled.
“Louisa, I know this will be difficult for you, but I ask that you consider this carefully. Also, please consider the future of our own marriage as you do so. I married you, not Caroline. I would never, could never have tied myself to Caroline, regardless of her dowry.” With that, he took her hand, kissed it, and left Mrs. Hurst to ponder his words.
In truth, she had a good deal to consider. She did not love Harold, but she knew him to be an even-tempered man, not prone to ill humours or violence, She could have done a good deal worse when it came to finding a husband.
She knew that Caroline’s behaviour was poor; indeed, her temper was fierce and her pride almost absurd.
But Louisa’s mother had charged Louisa with looking after her little sister, and Louisa had promised to do so; unfortunately, it seemed that this often meant Louisa was forced to agree with Caroline, even when Louisa knew Caroline to be wrong.
On the other hand, should her husband and her marriage not be her top priority now?