Chapter Eight
Mr. Darcy’s man of business never delayed when it came to managing the affairs of his most important – well, truth be told, his only – client, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
When Mr. Albion Stanley’s estimable father had died, it had taken some time before Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy had come to trust the junior partner of Stanley and Stanley.
But once that trust had been earned, and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy had placed the majority of his business concerns with Mr. Albion Stanley, it was soon clear that Mr. Stanley would have no time for other clients.
Nor any need, come to that, as Mr. Darcy paid well for good service.
So when Mr. Darcy sent a letter requesting a list of suitable properties for a first-time estate owner, Mr. Stanley set to work at once.
He himself went to see the properties before recommending them to Mr. Darcy, which had necessitated a rather bone-jarring fortnight of travel, but when he was done, he sent a first-rate report.
Dear Mr. Darcy,
The following is a list of small estates that I myself have inspected and think would be suitable for someone with little or no experience in managing such an enterprise.
Hawthorne Manor in Kent is a 500 acre property with a manor house of fifteen thousand square feet.
The house has not been occupied for some time, so it is in need of a rather serious cleaning before it would be suitable for habitation, but that would be easy enough to arrange.
The stables are in rather better condition than the house.
There is an apple orchard, which appears to still be bearing fruit.
The tenant farms are thirty in number, and the cottages are in good condition.
It is near Faversham, about fifty-five miles from London.
Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire is a 750 acre property with a manor house of twenty thousand square feet.
The manor house is in far better condition than Hawthorne Manor, and I am told that the servants have been with the house for some years and are tasked with the responsibility of keeping it ready for habitation.
Though it was not outright stated, I was given to understand that the servants come with the house, as it were, and are not to be let go without substantial cause.
The stables are adequate, and would easily house several carriages and at least a dozen horses.
There are five and twenty tenant farms, and the cottages are in good repair.
The tenants grow wheat, barley and rapeseed.
There is a substantial fruit orchard near the home farm.
It is located an easy thirty miles from London.
Downfeld Park in Lincolnshire is a rather larger property, with a thousand acres.
The manor house is fifteen thousand feet, and appears to be in good condition.
There are no live-in servants; rather, a team of workers is sent in periodically by the local solicitor so as to keep the house clean.
The stables are quite large, as the most recent owner was evidently interested in raising horseflesh.
There are forty tenant farms, which grow wheat, barley and sugar beet.
However, the cottages do require some repairs, which should be factored into the price of the lease.
Being near Lincoln, Downfeld Park is about one hundred and sixty miles from London.
I inspected a dozen other offerings, but they all had significant disadvantages that I judged not best suited for an owner who was not well-experienced in estate matters. If none of these are to your liking, I can continue the search.
I remain your obedient servant,
Mr. Albion Stanley
Mr. Darcy read the letter over several times. Downfeld Park was not an option; he knew Miss Bingley could never countenance being so far from Town. Kent was a good alternative, particularly as Mr. Darcy could visit Georgiana and Bingley at the same time.
But there was something about Netherfield Park that appealed to him.
He sat and thought about it, and soon realised that the something was the restriction of the servants coming with the house and not to be let go without substantial cause.
That showed a concern that was most pleasing, and surely anyone who cared enough to add in that clause must certainly have given equal care to the property.
Netherfield Park it was, then.
Bingley,
I believe I have found a good “practice” estate for you.
It is called Netherfield Park, and is located a mere thirty miles from London.
I suggest you call on my man of business, Mr. Albion Stanley, at 34 Gracechurch Street, for more details.
He will accompany you to view the property.
I will send him a message directly, telling him to expect you.
Darcy
***
Mr. Stanley,
I am certain it was no easy task to visit so many estates, and I thank you for your efforts.
My good friend, Mr. Charles Bingley, will visit with you to discuss Netherfield Park.
Please accompany him to the property and point out both good and bad attributes, so that he may make as informed a decision as possible.
That said, he is an impetuous soul, and is likely to sign the lease on the spot; I count on you to make certain that the lease is not unfavourable to my inexperienced friend.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy