Chapter One Hundred and One
Jane thought a good deal on this question of where the Bingleys should live. Certainly, Robby and Mary should be allowed to move into Netherfield Park as soon as may be; but what of the Bingleys?
If Jane was to be the heir to Longbourn, it made sense to live there, so that Charles might learn how to manage the estate.
But to live at home again? Somehow it seemed to be, well, a failure of some sort.
Jane was ready to be the mistress of her own home; this was out of the question at Longbourn.
Jane would not have dreamed of usurping her mother’s prerogative, even had her mother been willing for her to do so.
Purvis Lodge? Jane’s nose wrinkled at the very thought. Her mother had long disparaged Purvis Lodge, and not just because of its attics. The rooms were small, and the furnishings had not been maintained nearly as well as those at Netherfield Park.
There was Charles’ townhouse in London; perhaps that would do until a better choice presented itself?
She was not opposed to living with Caroline or the Hursts, who had been entirely pleasant to her during the wedding preparations, and she would have the opportunity to spend time with the Gardiners and her little cousins.
But Jane did not much care for London and, again, how would Charles ever learn to manage an estate if they were in London?
Her difficulty was solved, at least for the immediate future, when Mary, quite unexpectedly, came to tell her that the Rochesters were moving to London for the remainder of the Netherfield lease period, and possibly even longer!
“But why, Mary? Charles and I have been discussing the fact that you and Robby should be allowed to move into Netherfield as soon as possible!”
“Thank you for that kind thought, Jane; but Robby wishes to go to London to participate in the art world there. He is not quite ready to settle down in the country. In fact, his entire art collection is already at his townhouse, waiting for him.” Mary managed a rather wintry smile.
“I take it you are not overly enthused by the idea, Mary.”
“I suppose I am just…well, surprised. I knew he had a house in Town and I expected that we would visit London on occasion, but I did not expect that he would wish to actually move to London.”
“What about the Purvis Lodge lease?”
“He took it only for a month, as he knew he would want to go to London as soon as may be.”
If Jane thought he might have confided such to his wife prior to their marriage, she managed to say nothing of it. “Very well, then, Mary. I suppose Charles and I will stay at Netherfield until you tell us to move out.”
Mary nodded. “Charles can learn estate management from Papa, and see how Longbourn functions so that he is prepared to take over when it becomes necessary. I think that a good thing.”
“As do I, Mary. Thank you.”
***
When Jane told her husband of that conversation later that day, he was relieved, saying, “I am so glad not to have to move back to London, nor to Purvis Lodge, nor to Longbourn! Netherfield Park suits me quite well.”
***
Dear Lizzy,
Charles and I had decided that we must move away from Netherfield Park as soon as may be, so as to allow the Rochesters to move in.
We did not know where we were to go, as Purvis Lodge is not a particularly pleasant place, and moving into Longbourn…
well, I suppose I need not go into the particulars of why I did not like the idea!
But it turns out that the Rochesters are moving into his townhouse in London, as Robby wishes to be part of the art circle there; his collection is already waiting for him in his London townhouse!
So it appears that we will be staying at Netherfield Park for an indefinite time period, and Charles will learn about estate management from Papa.
I suppose I do not like how temporary all this feels, but of course we always knew that Netherfield Park would not be available for purchase.
Your loving sister,
Jane