Chapter Twenty-Four #2
Mr. Darcy wondered what had happened to make Mr. Bennet’s collection less that it had been, but thought it best not to ask. Doubtless there had been a tragedy of some sort.
“I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Bingley when he first arrived,” Mr. Bennet said. “And I understand that you are here to advise him as to estate matters, Mr. Darcy.”
“I am happy to help such a good friend,” Mr. Darcy replied.
“You have a great deal of estate experience, then?” Mr. Bennet asked.
“I know I am rather young to claim it,” Mr. Darcy admitted. “But my father died three years ago, and it has been up to me to keep things going ever since.”
Mr. Bingley laughed. “Mr. Bennet, Darcy here is so modest that you will have no clear idea as to his qualifications. In truth, he is the master of an enormous estate in Derbyshire, and he has been trained since birth to manage it. Netherfield Park could fit into Pemberley ten times!”
More like twenty, Mr. Darcy thought, but he merely shrugged and looked down at his brandy glass.
“Indeed?” Mr. Bennet said, mildly.
Mr. Darcy shifted in his seat, feeling rather awkward. Seeking to turn the attention away from his wealth, he said, “All estates face the same issues, regardless of size.”
“Do they?” Mr. Bennet asked. “I would not have thought so.”
“I have a small number of satellite estates,” Mr. Darcy said, warming to his topic. “And yes, it all comes down to just a few things: taking care of the tenants, utilising the more advanced farming techniques, planting the appropriate crops at the appropriate times.”
“Just those few things?” Mr. Bennet asked, very clearly trying not to laugh.
“Yes; I see you biting your lips, Mr. Bennet. Do you disagree?”
“Oh, no, not at all. Only that those few things actually require a good deal of time, effort and research on the part of the owner, particularly if the estate cannot afford a steward.”
“Oh. Yes, I imagine so.” Mr. Darcy sounded almost sheepish.
“I can tell you from my own hard experience that learning these things, if one has not been – what were the words? Ah, yes, trained since birth – well, they are rather intimidating. How is one to know if the four-field crop rotation really is a good idea, particularly if one’s tenants have never heard of it?
Not to mention the improvements on Tull’s drill for planting seeds!
And tenants are not always open to new ways. ”
“That is certainly true,” Mr. Darcy said.
“My tenants have learnt to trust my judgement in such matters or, more accurately, my father’s judgement.
I can understand that it might take some time for tenants to learn to trust the owner’s opinion, particularly if there have not been a good many new changes implemented in past years.
” He paused, and then said, carefully, “I take it you were not the eldest son, Mr. Bennet? I apologise if the question is too painful.”
His host sighed. “I lost both my father and my elder brother while I was at Cambridge. I had no training at all.”
***
In the drawing room, Mary insisted that Georgiana spend some time with Jane and Elizabeth. “For,” she said. “If all you ever hear are Kitty and Lydia arguing with one another, you will not have a very good opinion of the Bennets!”
Jane and Elizabeth welcomed Georgiana warmly, and promised to do their best to make certain that Georgiana was well-entertained while she was at Meryton.
“You must come visit us anytime you feel the least bit lonely or out of sorts,” Elizabeth told her, sincerely.
“It is hard to be in a new place with just a brother and a brother’s friend for companionship.
Please know that we are always available to you. ”
Georgiana, quite overwhelmed at this open-hearted and open-handed offer of friendship, replied, “Oh! And you must come to Netherfield! I am to serve as hostess for Mr. Bingley, so I can promise you that you will always be welcome.”
Seeing Jane and Elizabeth trade astonished glances, Georgiana said, “Oh, I know I am full young for the role, but I feel confident in myself.”
Mrs. Bennet’s voice cut into the conversation. “Mary, play for us, do!”
Mary murmured, “Excuse me, please,” to Georgiana and then went to the instrument to play.
When the gentlemen joined the ladies, Mr. Darcy complimented Mary’s playing, and then asked his sister to perform. Georgiana resisted at first, less from shyness and more from not wishing to likely outshine her new friend, but yielded at last to urgings from Mrs. Bennet as well.
Mary listened with great admiration to Georgiana’s playing, and then told her, “I am never sorry to listen to a superior performer. I am convinced that I could learn a good deal from you!”
“I would be happy to help you at any time,” Georgiana said, earnestly.
Mr. Bingley had found a seat beside Jane, and Mr. Darcy, after standing at his sister’s side to turn pages, sat beside Elizabeth. “Do you play, Miss Elizabeth?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Certainly not after a performance such as your sister’s!”
“Georgiana has been playing since she could reach the keys, and she has had the benefit of excellent teachers,” he allowed. “But I have no doubt that you excel at anything you choose to try.”
Elizabeth thought this rather presumptuous, given that they had been acquainted for only a few hours, so she expressed her gratitude for the compliment rather coolly.
He seemed to sense her withdrawal, for he then turned his attention to his host and said, “Mr. Bennet, might we see your library now?”
Mr. Bennet’s attention was caught at once, and he rose to his feet.
“Indeed, Mr. Darcy. As I say, it was not what it once was, but it is still, I believe, a respectable collection.” Mr. Bennet winced upon hearing himself voicing this familiar regret yet again; he should not say it, certainly not in Lizzy’s hearing, but it seemed he still felt the need to apologise to a fellow bibliophile for the reduced state of his library.
Mr. Darcy also rose; he bowed to Elizabeth and followed his host out of the room.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at hearing – yet again!
– her father’s familiar complaint at having been “forced” to sell some of his most valuable books in order to provide dowries for his daughters.
And she was not sorry that Mr. Darcy was gone; he had made her somehow uncomfortable, though she could not have said why.
She directed her attention to Miss Darcy and they were soon calling one another by their Christian names.