Saving Jane
Page 6
Mr. Darcy looked at his sister who bowed her head once more. “Georgiana, I ask that you begin with the comedies. After we have discussed them, then you may read the tragedies.”
Raising her head and smiling, Georgiana nodded. “As you wish, brother. What should I read first?”
“I recommend ‘Much Ado About Nothing’,” Elizabeth suggested. “It is my favourite.”
Darcy grinned and the pleasant transformation of his face left Elizabeth blushing. “My favourite is ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream’. But begin with Miss Bennet’s selection, Georgie. We three can discuss the play one afternoon next week.”
“Certainly brother,” Georgiana agreed and grinned at Elizabeth.
“Now if you ladies will excuse me, I must see to business letters.”
“Thank you brother.”
Elizabeth curtsied but remained quiet. The gentleman had affected her in unusual ways that afternoon.
++**++
The two young ladies settled into a comfortable pattern; Elizabeth would spend one day with her aunt in activities at Grace Church Street and with her uncle’s trade activities in his warehouses – her interest in the cargos from around the world lead to a thousand questions that began to infect young Edward. Together with Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth and Edward used the cargo manifests for numbers practice in the evenings, occasionally bringing discrepancies to Uncle Gardiner’s attention.
On alternate days, Elizabeth attended Georgiana with music lessons and reading – a pleasant way to pass rainy fall afternoons. The pattern of meeting every other day proved a comfortable routine for the two ladies. They both read Shakespeare and discussed their reading in addition to practicing music on the pianoforte. And whenever he was in the great house, Mr. Darcy joined them at tea time to discuss the reading or to listen to them play on the pianoforte.
“I am pleased that William joined us again this afternoon,” Georgiana observed at the end of one of Elizabeth’s visits. “I learn a great deal listening to the two of you debate motives and actions. Usually my brother never spends this much time with my guests.”
“He wants to make certain that I am not a bad influence on you.”
Laughing Georgiana added, “I do not think that is the reason.”
++**++
Chapter 8.
Miss Bingley’s Friendly Call
One afternoon, Elizabeth and Georgiana enjoyed tea after practicing on the pianoforte when the Darcy butler, Mr. Jones, came in the parlour and announced, “Miss Caroline Bingley.”
Elizabeth watched as a tall, elegantly dressed woman swept into the music room and her mind focused on the bright silk gown, a material that would be very hard to clean and with wear in the middle of the day, unlikely to last long. The turban included feathers – another expense that would require replenishment at regular intervals. She wondered, ‘With her blond hair and fair complexion, the lady would have been more attractive in pale blue muslin in the middle of the afternoon...’ before she returned to the conversation.
“...it has been too long since we have been in company, dear Miss Darcy! How have your lessons progressed? I know you mastered the Mozart I sent you last Christmas.”
Elizabeth observed the new visitor carry the conversation without pause and their hostess retreat into her shy past behaviours with no opportunity to introduce the original guest. Then Miss Bingley asked a new question that captured Elizabeth’s attention.
“And where is Mr. Darcy? It has been too long since I saw him last. He has hidden himself away this fall – does he still hide behind his business letters like my brother Charles?”
When Georgiana looked toward Elizabeth with an appeal in her eyes for support, Elizabeth sat forward, “Good afternoon Miss Bingley. I am Elizabeth Bennet, a friend of Miss Darcy. We were just discussing Shakespeare.”
The smile faded from Miss Bingley’s eyes as she seemed to notice the third person in the room for the first time.
“It is usual to wait until an introduction before speaking to strangers,” she said coolly.
“And it is usual to allow the hostess to make the introductions before carrying the conversation to the Channel and back,” Elizabeth responded.
“Miss Bennet spoke to aide me, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana said in defence of Elizabeth. “My friend is everything proper and ladylike. Miss Bingley, may I introduce my most particular friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Hertfordshire.”
Turning to Elizabeth, Georgiana introduced the new visitor. “Miss Bennet, allow me to introduce Miss Caroline Bingley, the sister of my brother’s good friend, Mr. Charles Bingley.”
Both visitors recognized that the second introduction had not named Caroline as a ‘friend’ of Miss Darcy – only the sister of her brother’s friend.
The smile slipping from her face a little more, Caroline began questioning Elizabeth on her intimacy with the Darcy family.
“How is it you became acquainted with Miss Darcy?”
Smiling at Georgiana, Elizabeth replied, “We met while walking in the park one day. We had conversation and with Mr. Darcy’s approval, we have begun a friendship that includes music and discussion of books.”
“Oh, I am certain you have never met anyone as accomplished as Miss Darcy with the pianoforte,” Miss Bingley replied. “But I never knew an accomplished lady who was spoken of for her knowledge of literature.”
Elizabeth asked, “And how is it your brother knows Mr. Darcy, Miss Bingley?”
“My brother is Mr. Darcy’s particular friend from university. We are very often together at engagements here in town and dine at each other’s homes frequently. We have been guests at Pemberley, their great estate in Derbyshire.”
“We have not seen the Bingleys in some time,” Georgiana explained. “I believe my brother sees his friend at their club when they are both in town.”
Seeing Georgiana flustered with the visitor’s familiarity, Elizabeth asked, “Miss Bingley, would you care for tea? We have just begun to serve and there are extra cups on the tray.”
Georgiana sat forward, “Forgive me Miss Bingley for not offering.”
As Georgiana poured the tea, Miss Bingley frowned at Elizabeth but the original visitor ignored the overdressed lady.
Taking the tea cup from Georgiana, Caroline observed, “You are staying overly long Miss Bennet.”
Georgiana responded immediately to the hint that Elizabeth should leave. “Miss Bennet attended the lesson with my pianoforte master this afternoon. We are practicing a duet for my brother and there is one section we cannot complete in a satisfactory manner.”
“Pianoforte lessons at your age, Miss Bennet? You must be four and twenty years.”
Elizabeth was surprised by Miss Bingley’s sharp remark but replied in kind, “Thank you Miss Bingley. I have always hoped to appear mature and refined – for an older woman to think I was close to her age is a great compliment.”
“I am not four and twenty!” Caroline replied, setting down her tea cup.
Now Georgiana joined the fray saying, “But Miss Bingley, you have been three and twenty twice. Both times, my brother and I attended suppers at your sister’s home...”
“I must be leaving now, Miss Darcy. I remembered that I must see to a matter at home. Thank you for tea,” Caroline said rising and leaving the room without acknowledging Elizabeth or curtseying to Georgiana. Her progress was so quick that the other two ladies were unable to rise to curtsey before she was gone.
They returned to their seats and remained silent until they heard Mr. Jones close the front door. Then Elizabeth turned to her friend and said, “Miss Darcy, I apologize but what did I do to offend Miss Bingley?”
“Apparently your offense is that you have my brother’s approval to visit with me and she learned that you have become my friend – something she has long desired but never achieved. Last spring, she visited every day until we removed the knocker on the door to prevent visits.”
“She visited every day? Are her acquaintances so few?”
Elizabeth frowned. “Her persistence is amazing.”
Georgiana nods. “This fall, my brother curtailed his engagements with Charles Bingley at our home. I dared not mention that Mr. Bingley comes for family dinner once a week – when the table only consists of William and I – Mr. Bingley does not include his family.”
Elizabeth looked out the window. “I have sisters and a mother who often speak inappropriately and leave me shamefaced Miss Darcy. I feel for Mr. Bingley and I have not met him.”
“May I tell you a tale Miss Bennet?” asked Georgiana.
“Certainly,” Elizabeth replied.
“But I have a condition.”
Surprised and pleased, Elizabeth smiled. “Please reveal your condition.”
“Since I have named you as my friend, I should very much like to call you ‘Elizabeth’ and for you to call me ‘Georgiana’.”
“I should be very pleased – Georgiana.”
“Very good then,” Miss Darcy said. “Now, my tale is this – in summer, my brother invited Mr. Bingley to visit us at Pemberley for the harvest. Mr. Bingley has some interest in becoming a gentleman with an estate but my brother insisted that his friend learn what is involved before making the purchase.”
“That is a wise direction,” Elizabeth agreed.
“On the afternoon of the third day of Mr. Bingley’s visit, a carriage arrived at Pemberley with Miss Bingley, her sister and brother-in-law. Miss Bingley had convinced Mr. Hurst to bring them to Pemberley without an invitation.”
“Without an invitation? But why?” inquired Elizabeth. “During harvest the gentlemen must be in the fields from dawn to dusk with the steward and farmers... Gentlemen certainly do not dine at normal hours at that time of year – they retire early each evening to rise before dawn to be out when sun rises.”
Georgiana rolled her eyes. “Miss Bingley was disappointed that my brother had no time to act as host and she voiced her opinion. I fear she hoped to arrange a marriage with my brother but William suggested that she look elsewhere for a husband. In any case, Mr. Bingley left with his family only two days later, well before the harvest was complete.”
Teasing, Elizabeth asked, “Is Miss Bingley not rich enough to tempt your brother?”
Georgiana shook her head vehemently. “My brother does not need to marry for riches. According to my aunt, the Countess of Matlock, my brother needs a wife with good sense and a gentle smile. I am certain Miss Bingley does not have any sense and her smile never reaches her eyes. She merely displays her fangs.”
Elizabeth laughed at Georgiana’s characterization of the visitor as the door opened and Mr. Darcy entered, smiling to hear the laughter.
“Good afternoon Georgiana, Miss Bennet. May I be so bold as to ask what has made you laugh?”
“Allow me to send for a fresh pot of tea, William. Elizabeth can explain,” Georgiana said before she moved to ring the bell to summon a maid.
Fighting to regain the proper face for a young lady visiting acquaintances, Elizabeth finally explained. “Miss Darcy’s caller – a Miss Bingley – left us with a quandary and our laughter appeared to be the only exit.”
His face a mask for a moment, Mr. Darcy asked, “Did Miss Bingley have any invitations or invite herself to supper?”
“No, she was not here that long.” Georgiana explained. “She attempted to engage in a verbal battle with Elizabeth but retreated from the battlefield after the first barrage.”
Darcy smirked. “My sister has warned me to mind my opinions in your presence Miss Bennet; perhaps Miss Bingley will learn from you. My friend Charles Bingley has urged his sister to allow him to arrange a match for her but she resists any suggestions.
“According to what Mr. Bingley says, she resists most strenuously,” Georgiana said as she poured her brother a cup of tea, Elizabeth handed him a plate to hold biscuits and they settled into a pleasant conversation of their progress with reading and understanding Shakespeare.
++**++
Chapter 9.
Mrs. Annesley’s Interview
One day shortly thereafter, when the music master arrived, Elizabeth took her leave of Georgiana and made her way to the front of the large house, admiring the furnishings and decorations. When she reached the front door, Jones bowed and said, “Miss Bennet, the master asked that you attend him in his study for a few minutes before you depart.”
Surprised, Elisabeth thanked the butler and turned about but then turned back around. “Would you be so kind as to direct me Mr. Jones? I have no notion of the location of Mr. Darcy’s study.”
The butler smiled kindly, something she had not seen before, “If you will follow me Miss Bennet.”
They returned down the hall she had just traversed, entered into a gaming room and then through a parlour decorated in masculine colours and furnishings before reaching a door leading to a room that Elizabeth was certain was very near the front door.
Jones knocked on the door and Elizabeth heard Mr. Darcy’s voice call, “Come.”
The butler opened the door and allowed Elizabeth to enter but he closed it behind her without entering the room. Looking around the room quickly, Elizabeth knew she was back at the front of the house – a door on the right side of the room would open into a small hallway leading to the foyer and the front door.
“Miss Bennet, thank you for joining me this afternoon,” said his voice and Elizabeth turned around once more finally finding the man standing behind a desk surrounded by book shelves. He was tall and handsome, a pleasant look on his face and she curtseyed.
In the far corner of the room, near a window with the afternoon light brightening the area, a second man bent over a desk, writing figures on a sheet of paper after consulting a ledger. But then her eyes returned to the master of the house; she swallowed to clear her throat and stepped forward.
“Mr. Clemmons is my secretary and we work on business letters in my study most days,” Darcy said and gestured toward the man concentrating on his work. “Forgive him if he does not rise for an introduction at this time. We have matters with the East India Company to resolve with a ship that has recently come into port.”
“Is it the manifest from the ‘Bequest of King Charles’?” Elizabeth asked naming a ship her uncle was dealing with in his business.
“Yes as a matter of fact,” Mr. Darcy replied with a smile. Mr. Clemmons stopped his pen scratching and looked up.
“My uncle has an interest in the cargo and he has been to the docks every day this week.”
Mr. Clemmons left his seat and came over to Elizabeth’s side at this point and bowed, “Alfred Clemmons, miss. Mr. Gardiner’s manifest is slightly different from the one the captain provided to Mr. Darcy and I have been trying to decipher the reasons.”
Nodding her head, Elizabeth explained, “My aunt and I noticed the same problem on Monday night Mr. Clemmons. There is an error in the number of barrels of peppercorns – there should be two hundred barrels not two hundred and twenty. Twenty barrels of cinnamon were counted twice – once as cinnamon and once as peppercorns.”
“The captain is not attempting to swindle us then?” Darcy asked quietly.
Elizabeth smiled, “Captain Barton is an honest man Mr. Darcy. My uncle would not have him at his table as frequently as he does if he thought the man was not honest.”
“There were several expenses in the captain’s ledger noted as ‘gifts’ for officials at British ports during the voyage back to England. Can you explain them?” asked Mr. Clemmons.
“My uncle e
xplained to me that such costs were the price of doing business with government officials, sir. I was shocked to learn that very few of the crown’s port officials work for their salary alone,” Elizabeth explained gently.
Mr. Clemmons looked offended that bribery was recorded in the ledger as an expense but Mr. Darcy laughed for just a moment before covering his mouth, coughing and directing his secretary to return to his ledger.
“I must remember to send to Mrs. Gardiner next time there is a discrepancy in a ship’s manifest,” he said approaching his sister’s guest.
“My aunt makes every effort to assist my uncle with his business sir.”
Inclining his head, Mr. Darcy said, “Mr. Gardiner is most fortunate then to have such a wife.”
He turned back to his desk and with a hand offered an empty chair to Elizabeth. At this point, she noticed that an older woman was seated in the chair and watching the proceedings with a smile upon her face. Before she sat, Elizabeth curtseyed to the lady who rose and curtseyed as Mr. Darcy made the introductions, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet may I present Mrs. Jeanne Annesley. Mrs. Annesley, Miss Bennet has become a dear friend of my sister’s this fall with music and literature their primary topics of conversation whenever I am with them.”
Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Darcy and said gently, “Sir, young ladies cannot score all of their conversations for the gentlemen to review.”
He smiled back and winked – the first time he had ever done so and Elizabeth’s face broke into a wider smile.
“Mrs. Annesley has been sent to me as a possible lady’s companion for my sister. My aunt Countess Matlock has interviewed her and while I reserved final approval I am very pleased with the discussion we had before your arrival.”
Now Elizabeth paused and glanced between the woman and man, a different expression forming on her face. “What is my purpose then in attending this interview?”
“As Georgiana’s dear friend, I wanted you to meet Mrs. Annesley as well and speak to her regarding my sister.”