Chapter 9 #2
Lydia either did not hear, or she ignored Mary’s comment because it did not fit with what she believed.
Since her father had relegated her to the smallest chamber and threatened to lock her in the nursery, Lydia had been more circumspect as she planned how to get her own way.
The last thing she needed was for anyone to discover what she intended to do, once she had settled on a plan that is.
“Mama, how do we know that this Mr Bingley will like Jane, or she will like him?” Elizabeth, against her better judgement, asked.
“If you were as pretty as Jane, you would not ask that question,” Fanny asserted. “What man will not want to be with a beautiful woman like my Jane? Have I not told you that beauty is what catches a man?”
Elizabeth was about to refute her mother’s assertions and tell her that Jane did not like being judged on her beauty alone, and nor was she comfortable when Mama, always out of Papa’s company, compared Jane’s beauty to her other sisters.
She saw Jane give a shake of her head, so Elizabeth receded.
She was fully aware that her older sister liked to see the good in all people and situations.
At the same time, Jane disliked conflict intensely, especially when she was at the centre of it.
Instead, Elizabeth returned to the book she and Mary were reading.
The latter was looking at her with raised eyebrows not having expected her next older sister not to argue what Mama had said.
Elizabeth gave a very slight incline of her head towards Jane, and Mary understood why Lizzy had held her peace.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Both Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley had their noses pulled up and their brows furrowed when they saw the estate their brother had leased.
“Are you sure Mr Darcy approved of this place? It is so much smaller than Pemberley,” Mrs Hurst asked. “The town Merton, or whatever the name is, is so very insignificant.”
“Yes. Darcy saw it with me and approved. Feel free to ask him when he arrives on Friday morning,” Bingley replied. “The town is Meryton, and before you go insulting it, do not forget there are two market towns close to Pemberley, Lambton and Kympton, and Darcy enjoys visiting both.”
“The people seemed to be somewhat rustic, but I am sure if Mr Darcy approves of the place, then it will be a fine town,” Miss Bingley asserted.
When the coach came to a halt, Bingley waved off the footman who was about to open the door.
“Let me remind you that we are not allowed to sack any of the staff or servants as they are employed by the landlord. The only ones under our direct authority are our personal servants, and if there is a need, any we decide to add, we may employ ourselves.”
Both of his sisters begrudgingly nodded. Hurst, who had not been woken yet, made no sound other than a loud snore.
Bingley nodded to the footman. As soon as the door was opened, Bingley alighted, then he handed down first one and then the other sister. He leaned into the interior of the cabin and gave Hurst a light punch on his arm. With grunts and groans, his brother-in-law woke up with a start.
“Hurst, we are at the estate,” Bingley told the disoriented man.
“Capital,” Hurst managed as he wiped some drool off his chin and one cheek. He lumbered his portly body out of the coach.
The two men followed the sisters up the six broad stone steps which made a ninety-degree turn, where there was a one-yard square landing, which led to five more steps and the veranda before the large double front doors.
As Hurst was labouring up the stairs, Bingley caught up to his sisters at the front doors.
“Mr and Mrs Nichols, thank you for meeting us. Louisa and Caroline, the butler and housekeeper of Netherfield Park. Mr Nichols, Mrs Nichols, my sisters, Mrs Hurst, and Miss Bingley. The gentleman arriving now is Mr Hurst, my brother-in-law.”
The butler bowed and the housekeeper bobbed a curtsy.
“Mrs Nichols, please show my sisters and Mr Hurst to their chambers,” Bingley requested.
After another curtsy, Mrs Nichols led the three residents up to their suites.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Charles, when I asked the housekeeper, she told me the guest suites and chambers are on the third floor, not the second where the family rooms are. We cannot let poor Mr Darcy languish so far from his good friends,” Miss Bingley stated when she swept into the room.
She and their older sister had joined Bingley in the drawing room. Hurst was taking a nap in his bedchamber.
“You are the hostess, so I will, of course, defer to you,” Bingley responded. He did not miss how pleased with herself his younger sister looked. “There is one thing I will point out. Darce knows which floor is the guest floor.”
“What of it, I am sure he will feel much more comfortable close to us,” Miss Bingley claimed.
“Again, it is your decision. However, I will remind you of one thing. Darcy is a stickler for propriety. You know how fastidious he is, do you not?” Bingley queried.
He saw his sisters nod. “He will be affronted, if as a single man he is placed in a family chamber, in close proximity to an unrelated single female. As he is so insistent on propriety, I can see him leaving and returning to London. But as I said, it is your decision.”
Miss Bingley’s face formed a horrified look. She looked at her older sister for advice. Louisa nodded, telling her Charles had the right of it. “In that case I will not change the assignment of the suites,” she decided.
“As long as you are sanguine with your decision.” Bingley was very happy he had headed off a tantrum. He would not have said anything at all had it not been that he was worried Caroline’s and Louisa’s machinations would cost him his friendship with his best friend.
How many times had Fitzwilliam, Darcy, and Lambert told him that he needed to take his sisters in hand, but he just could not.
He allowed Hurst and Lulu to live off him when he was well aware that Hurst had his own income.
Caroline overspent her very generous allowance by three or four times each year, and rather than say anything, he just paid the exorbitant clothing and other invoices which were sent to him.
It was worth his peace of mind, was it not?
“I am sanguine. It is important that Mr Darcy see what a good hostess I am. If that means he remains on the guest floor, then so be it,” Miss Bingley allowed.
“Caro has the right of it,” Mrs Hurst agreed. “When do you think the men of the neighbourhood will begin to call?”
“According to Darcy, the visits should start on the morrow,” Bingley replied.
“Come, Caro, we need to prepare for the callers,” Mrs Hurst commanded. “We must be ready to demonstrate our superiority.”
The sisters swept out of the room.
To keep the peace, Bingley did not mention something else he had been told. Darcy had pointed out that overdressing for morning calls in the country was considered gauche. Knowing how his sisters would react, it was just as well he had not said anything.