Chapter 10 #2
Hellfire! Was it her imagination, or had Mr Darcy’s voice grown cold?
“Far be it from me to speculate on your intentions. But, if you intend that my sisters and I bestow affection rather than mere distant civility upon those ladies—whom we had never even heard of before coming here—then I should like to know more about them. Through you, we already accepted an acquaintance with the Bingleys, who are not of the landed gentry. Which is acceptable because they are moneyed. But what of Miss Hughes and Miss Bennet?” Hannah prayed that the former was a wealthy noble for her brother’s sake and the latter a penniless nobody for her own peace of mind.
To her consternation, when he replied, Mr Darcy sounded vexed.
“The morning Mr Baker came to call, he volunteered that his nephew, Miss Hughes’s twin brother, will be master of their family estate upon reaching his majority.
As for Miss Bennet, her father is a gentleman whose estate is called Longbourn. ”
“Does Miss Bennet”—this paragon of virtue—“have a dowry?” The question was voiced more sharply than Hannah had intended.
“Yes.” Mr Darcy crossed his legs and turned his eyes skywards. “A very, very small one.” He took his time in adding, “After her mother dies.”
Hannah hid a triumphant smile. “You must agree that James must be made aware of such information. A person in our position is best suited to pursue someone from a similar standing as they, themselves, are accustomed.”
“Ah, so your brother is on his way here, is he? And he intends to pay suit to Miss Bennet, a young lady he has never met, does he?”
Drat! “Of course not, sir. I mean, he is expected to come, but he knows nothing of her.” And, evidently, he had much better pursue either your dowry-rich sister or Miss Hughes. “I simply meant that, that—”
Mr Darcy stood. “If you will excuse me, Miss Wright, I have much correspondence requiring my attention. Being away from Pemberley all summer means that considerable time must be spent reading letters from and writing back to my capable steward.” He bowed before striding away towards the villa, shoulders squared and long legs making quick work of the distance.
He had looked at her with such regret. Was it disappointment over having to quit her presence so soon, or was it something more ominous?
Hannah found her youngest sister alone in the library. The room was sunny and airy, with windows open and curtains billowing. “Where is Miss Darcy?” She latched the door behind her as Althea looked up from her book.
“She has gone to confer with Mrs Carter regarding light refreshments for tomorrow. Miss Hughes and Miss Bennet are coming over for the day, and it will be such fun! Miss Darcy and I are eager to become friends with both ladies, and we have the entire day already planned. First, we shall play lawn games. Then we shall walk along the shore and collect seashells and fossils at low water. Do not fret. Mr Darcy consulted the tide table. Of course, Meg prefers to ride again and will not come. But will you join us?”
Keeping a rival close might be a good scheme, but Hannah could think of nothing more detestable than trudging along a muddy beach with Elizabeth Bennet and handling shells formerly inhabited by slimy molluscs. We might even encounter those horrid seaweed gatherers!
“No, I certainly shall not grub about on the beach.” Joining her sister on the settee, she spoke in hushed tones, for the door was closed but the window open.
“Now listen carefully. If Miss Darcy is intent on befriending that Bennet person, you must discreetly discourage her, for she has her cap set at my Mr Darcy.” Under her breath, she added, “She had much better buy herself a new bonnet and set her cap at someone else, or it will be hair-pins at dawn.”
“I beg your pardon. What am I to do with hair-pins in the morning?”
“Never mind that. Simply disparage Miss Bennet to both of the Darcys. Invent some on dit about her if you must, but it is imperative that we put a damper on the gentleman’s interest.” Perhaps throw some cold water on him. “The injudicious man has been dazzled by her light, I fear.”
“What do you mean by some on dit? What would you have me say?”
“Honestly, Thea, have you not improved your mind from all the reading you do?” Hannah gave a huff of annoyance, then spoke as though without prior thought.
“I suppose you could say that Miss Bennet possesses a degree of captivating deceit. Or that sobriety is not amongst her most charming qualities.”
“What? No!” cried Althea, eyes wide. “You cannot ask me to do that. Besides, I shall not put my friendship with Miss Darcy at risk. She is the only friend I have left because of all the on dits about our own family.” Crossing her arms, she glared at Hannah.
“Why must I always tell falsehoods for you? It is wrong, and I do not want to be caught doing so. Mr Darcy might send us all packing, and I am having such fun here. There are so many books to be read, and there is so much else to do. I wish this summer could last forever.” Leaning her head against the back of the settee, Althea tightly shut her eyes, a few tears glistening on her lashes.
“Please,” she said in a small voice, “do not force me to choose between family and friend.”
“Selfish girl!” On her feet then, Hannah lowered her voice to a hiss.
“What will happen to me, to Meg, and to you should Papa lose Barleybrae and our London leasehold? Where shall we live?” She paced to and fro.
“I must marry well and marry soon to ensure we three girls have a home. James is a hopeless case. No sensible woman will marry a penniless man and take in his sisters. Besides, my stupid brother will be fortunate if he does not end up in a sponging house, squeezed for money. Or sent to debtors’ prison.
He could be pressed into naval service, or he might have to flee the country.
Already shopkeepers have refused him credit, demanding ready money.
Acquaintances have given him the cut direct. ”
“Surely it cannot be as dire as all that.” Tears trickled down Althea’s cheeks and dripped from her chin.
“Here.” Grimacing, Hannah passed her a handkerchief.
“Weeping serves no purpose other than making one’s countenance blotchy.
And, as I was saying, our brother is in desperate straits.
Not honouring gaming debts is considered theft, and such a moral failing is a grave matter, bringing dishonour and shame to our family.
” In a rare display of sisterly affection, Hannah crouched and grasped Althea’s hand.
“Materially, we face ruin. Loss of our estate will result in loss of income. Dowries for you and Meg are all but gone and our brother’s inheritance likely lost. We might have to sell our belongings and other assets. We face poverty, Thea.”
If the seriousness of their pecuniary distress was being overstated, so be it. By summering here while leasing both Barleybrae and our London house, Papa must have paid off some of his own debt.
Standing then, hands on hips, Hannah loomed over Althea.
“So, will you do your part to preserve whatever we can of our reputation and dignity? Will you help me secure a prosperous future?” And enhance my chances of ridding myself of the whole lot of you.
Her family had become an anchor, weighing her down.
And why was Mr Darcy not madly in love with her yet?