“Lizzy! Lizzy! Where are you?” called Mrs. Bennet searching through the upstairs of Longbourn.
“I am here, Mamma,” Elizabeth answered from the nursery. “I was reading with Kitty.”
Taking her daughter’s hand, Mrs. Bennet insisted, “Follow me to your father’s library this instant! Your father wishes to speak to you most urgently!”
“Yes Mamma.”
Mrs. Bennet allowed her daughter to move ahead of her while she closed the door of the nursery and intercepted Jane before her eldest daughter could join Elizabeth.
“No Jane, you remain above these stairs and keep your sisters here,” Mrs. Bennet said pointing to the staircase leading to the front of the house.
“Yes, Mamma,” Jane whispered as she watched Elizabeth’s form vanish down the stairs. Waiting only as long as it took for her mother to descend, Jane ran the servant’s staircase at the back of the house and hurried down the stairs. Passing through the kitchens, Jane’s quiet steps in the hall allowed her to reach the doorway of her father’s library just after Mrs. Bennet closed the door.
**++**
When Elizabeth stepped into the library, she found Mr. Darcy seated across from her father at his desk. When she had confessed the damage to the new book of poetry, Elizabeth had not mentioned that she had met Mr. Darcy in his own woods.
The look in Mr. Bennet’s eyes told her that her father was not pleased and Elizabeth dreaded the next few minutes.
“Well, Miss Lizzy, what do you have to say for yourself?” Mrs. Bennet asked before her husband could speak.
“Of what are you speaking, Mamma?”
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat and stood. “Mrs. Bennet, will you sit please. I believe we have a serious matter to discuss.”
Glancing at Mr. Darcy briefly, Mrs. Bennet did as her husband asked but she only sat on the edge of the chair.
“Elizabeth, I understand you have been attempting to rob rich men in Netherfield Wood with a bow and arrow.”
“Oh no!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Darcy startled at the noise so much that he almost slipped from the chair. Mr. Bennet struggled to maintain a stern expression on his face as his wife struggled to not dissolve into tears, his guest struggled to return to his chair and his daughter’s eyes grew large.
“Papa, I was only playing...”
“Yes, yes, my dear.” Turning to his wife, Mr. Bennet said, “Calm yourself my dear; our guest recognizes that our daughter was merely playing and believes her to be of a greater intelligence than many young girls he has met.”
“But... Elizabeth must not be too smart sir!” Mrs. Bennet insisted and Mr. Darcy realized from where the girl had heard that she must defer to gentlemen with their opinions and wishes.
Glancing at Mr. Bennet who nodded his permission, Mr. Darcy explained, “Mrs. Bennet, your daughter – Miss Elizabeth – has told me that you plan the most marvellous parties and picnics. She suggested the meadow along the stream that marks the boundary between Longbourn and Netherfield. I am in need of your abilities as a hostess for a grand picnic.”
“A picnic, sir?” Mrs. Bennet asked as she blushed with his praise.
“Yes, madam. My young sister – my only sibling – will join me at Netherfield in one week’s time and the following week will be her tenth birthday. I hoped that you would plan a memorable picnic to welcome her to Netherfield.”
**++**
When Mr. Darcy went with Mrs. Bennet to the parlour to begin planning the picnic, Mr. Bennet caught his daughter’s eye and pointed to the chair where her mother had been seated.
“I am disappointed Elizabeth,” he told his daughter after she sat down. “You should have told me everything when you brought me the book. Mr. Darcy explained that he surprised you while you were reading and that is why you dropped the book. That could have occurred anywhere in the house as well in Netherfield Woods.”
“Yes Papa.”
He watched his favourite daughter for a long minute before he said, “This is most important Lizzy and you must listen carefully.”
Elizabeth looked up and her father nodded before continuing, “I am speaking to you as an adult and if you can act as one, I shall speak and treat you as such hereafter.”
She nodded but remained silent as her father said, “Mr. Darcy is a gentleman and wanted to make certain you were well. But not all men are gentlemen. The tenant farmers are good men but some of the labourers about are mighty rough men. I would not have you meet one of them in the woods!”
“Yes Papa,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You and Jane must learn to ride so that your walks are not as long. If you wish to go as far afield as Netherfield Woods, you must learn to ride.”
Jane opened the door and stepped inside, “Shall we have hunters Papa?”
“Not hunters Jane. You are not strong enough to control a hunter that wants to jump fences – yet.”
With that unspoken promise, Elizabeth and Jane stepped around the desk to kiss their father’s cheek.
**++**
Before he left Longbourn, Mr. Darcy sought out Elizabeth once again.
“Miss Elizabeth, I wanted you to know that I have purchased a new copy of the book of poetry for your father and presented it to him. It was my fault that you dropped the first copy.”
Remembering her father’s admonition to acting as an adult, the young girl thanked the gentleman properly and curtseyed. Waiting at the door with Jane, her mother and father as Mr. Darcy mounted his horse and rode toward to Netherfield, she listened to her parents speak of their visitor.
“He is a most congenial fellow,” Mr. Bennet said. “I believe he will be pleased to have our girls as friends for his sister.”
Mrs. Bennet took her husband’s arm and said, “I believe he is terribly shy sir. In a crowd of strangers, he will be lost. Now that he knows us, he feels comfortable and friendly. And he must love his sister very much as he intends to present her with a pony for her birthday.”
“Oh Mrs. Bennet... that rascal of a man!” Mr. Bennet swore congenially. “Now I shall have to buy a pony for our younger girls as well as mares for Elizabeth and Jane. We shall make no profit on oats again at Longbourn if I have to feed such a stable!”
“We could always plant more fields of oats, Papa,” Jane said. “There is almost an entire farm fallow without need.”
Looking carefully at his eldest daughter for long moment, the man turned to his wife and said, “Mrs. Bennet, I believe you are correct.”
“How so sir?”
“Our daughters are too intelligent!”
**++**
Chapter 10
Miss Darcy Arrives at Netherfield
William had completed his morning ride to three of the farms and then settled into his chair before his desk in the library to work on correspondence with his new secretary, Mr. Lynton. The steward would be at the house by noon to discuss the fences around the pasture for the dairy. Mrs. Hobbes had mentioned an issue with a young maid – the girl was homesick and needed to return to the home of her father and mother.
Mr. Bennet and Mr. Taylor had come the day before to discuss horses – Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet each needed a pony suitable for young girls to learn to ride on and Mr. Bennet also needed two mares that were larger than ponies but not as large as hunters for Elizabeth and Jane to ride.
The plan was to travel to Hertford to the market in Thursday to look over the horses for sale. None of the land owners around Meryton had suitable mounts available.
“And we do not want anyone to take advantage of your purse,” Mr. Bennet had told him confidentially. “The gossip is that you are flush and paying twice the rate for sugar, flour and tea.”
“But I am not!” Darcy exclaimed. “Mrs. Hobbes has increased her purchases but she has not paid a higher price for items since I have been in residence.”
“But the ladies have gossiped and told their husbands who might want to raise their prices for their horses if we came calling. Therefore,
the trip to Hertford is in order.”
The balance of the morning passed quickly. Letters were ordered, plans for repairing fences made and a trip home for the homesick maid was arranged.
Shortly before one of the clock, a footman came in with news that a carriage and wagon had been seen entering the park. William rose from his chair, a smile on his face as he made his way to the door where he found Mrs. Hobbes and the staff waiting.
As the carriage pulled up to the door, William stepped outside followed by Netherfield’s entire house staff– six footmen, the butler, the housekeeper, twelve maids and the kitchen staff of cook, undercook, and three scullery maids. Around the side of the house came the coachman with the three stable boys who would lead the carriage and wagon to the stables after the unloading.
When the carriage came to a halt, William stepped forward and opened the door himself, taking his sister into his arms for a hug.
“Georgie! I am pleased to have you here!”
“Brother, it was such an adventure! Staying in inns and seeing all the different towns and the countryside! I did enjoy myself!”
Nanny Brice was handed out next and she smiled and nodded to the young master, letting him know that all was well with his sister while she handled a letter to the master. Seeing his father’s writing, Darcy placed the envelope into his pocket for later.
As the footmen unloaded the young lady’s many trunks, the young master took his sister by the hand with her nanny following; William introduced ‘Miss Darcy’ and ‘Nanny Brice’ to each member of the staff beginning with Mrs. Hobbes.
“And Georgiana, Mrs. Hobbes is over you much as Mrs. Reynolds was at Pemberley,” William explained.
“Yes, William” Georgiana replied solemnly.
Inside the house, William escorted his sister up the stairs to her rooms where Nanny Brice began the process of unpacking her charge’s clothing, dolls and toys, books, and shoes with the assistance of two maids.
“Shall we walk about the house and gardens, brother?” asked Georgiana excitedly. “I should like to see the horses, the flowers and the ball room. May I have dancing lessons?”
“We shall see...” William said as he led Georgiana around the house, showing her where his room was located, the room set aside for their father, Richard and other guests.
“Cousin Richard has his own room?” asked Georgiana.
“Yes, I want him to feel at home with us.”
Their tour continued with the ground floor, the location of the servant stairs and then a trip into the kitchens and pantries.
Mrs. Hobbes had prepared the cook but Mr. Nichols was still surprised by the master and his sister invading the kitchen.
“Last gentleman who leased Netherfield and his wife never set foot in my kitchens in the five years they were here!” the man told his undercook.
“But Mr. Darcy seems to be interested in our cooking. He sends his compliments by the butler regular and Mrs. Hobbes speaks with him on the menus regular like,” the undercook said.
“Yes... It just seems strange for the master to venture into the kitchens.”
After touring the kitchens, Mr. Darcy scandalized the staff by leading his sister out the kitchen entrance to the stables.
“Lord, he is taking that child into the stables!” Mrs. Hobbes exclaimed.
**++**
At some point in the afternoon, William was able to open and read the letter from his father.
++**++
William
I hope that your sister has arrived safely into your care in Hertfordshire. From your letters, I believe you are doing well at Netherfield and can care for your sister comfortably. I shall not descend upon you at this juncture but shall see you at Christmas at Netherfield or in town.
Your father,
G. Darcy
**++**
When Georgiana joined her brother for tea that afternoon, Nanny Brice came as well and the three of them discussed the trip from Derbyshire, the lessons that Georgiana would continue and a forthcoming visit by the neighbours who wanted to meet Miss Darcy.
William asked Nanny, “And are there any of the staff who came from Pemberley that I should keep?”
“No sir,” she replied. “Mrs. Hobbes appears to have ample maids. The maids and footmen in our escort are folk born and raised around Pemberley. I image they would prefer to be home.”
“Then I shall send the carriage, the wagon, the horses and the staff home tomorrow. We shall have a very nice and quiet summer here at Netherfield.”
**++**
The quiet so desired by Mr. Darcy lasted only that one afternoon. The next morning, he dispatched the carriage and wagon headed back to Derbyshire with the maids and footmen, horses and coachman he did not need. Returning to his study with his secretary and steward, they turned their attention to business letters until the proper hours for visits arrived and the carriage from Longbourn appeared in the drive. Alerted by his butler of the approaching visitors, William quickly summoned his sister from her rooms and together they approached the front door with butterflies for the great unknown of ‘friends for Miss Darcy’.
The butler opened the door and with the sunshine of the summer day, Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters flowed into Netherfield, filling the foyer with bright gowns and noise. In a few moments, William performed the introductions and Mrs. Bennet took the conversation from there quickly making Georgiana feel at ease. When the conversation drifted to gowns, bonnets and dolls, William stepped back and allowed Mrs. Bennet to lead the girls above stairs to view the collection of dolls. With Nanny Brice following at the rear with Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth, William watched as Georgiana lead her new friends to her room.
As the cloud of gowns and noise slipped away, William returned to his work until it was time to join his sister and her guests for tea. He was pleased to find that Mrs. Bennet and Nanny Brice kept the four young girls occupied while Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth poured tea and cut the cake for the tea.
Plans were made for Georgiana to visit Longbourn the next day and for the girls to begin singing lessons with Nanny Brice as well as some pianoforte lessons for Georgiana and Mary with Elizabeth and her instructor.
**++**
“And how did you enjoy your visitors today, Georgie?” asked William at supper that evening.
Glancing at Nanny Brice for a moment but when Nanny only smiled and continued with her supper, Georgiana explained excitedly, “Brother, did you know that Miss Mary and Miss Kitty are just as shy me? Miss Lydia laughs all the time. Miss Mary already plays scales on the pianoforte. Mrs. Bennet is very kind and she exclaimed that all my dolls are beautiful. And Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth are tall and smart and friendly and...”
Georgiana paused for a moment to take a deep breath but then with a big smile she said, “I shall like Hertfordshire very much with friends such as these!”
**++**
At Longbourn, Mr. Bennet asked his wife and daughters how they found Miss Darcy. Among the many comments made by his daughters and wife, he was most interested in Elizabeth’s final words, “She is very shy, just like Mr. Darcy.”
“And it is good that she is here,” Mrs. Bennet added. “Miss Darcy and Mr. Darcy will be our friends.”
**++**
In the week following Miss Darcy’s arrival at Netherfield Park, the day of Miss Darcy’s birthday arrived. When she entered the dining room that morning with Nanny Brice, her brother was already at his meal and reading his newspaper.
“Happy birthday, Georgiana,” William told his sister. “Do you feel different to be ten years?”
“Yes, I feel grown! I am certain I am taller this morning!”
William smiled as his sister and her nanny gathered their breakfast and sat with him at the table.
“Brother, may I break my fast with you every morning now that I am ten years?”
“Miss Darcy! We spoke of this last night and agreed that you ask for the occasional morning time with your brother.”
“Georgie,” William said gently. “There are many mornings that I have to be gone with the tenants before you rise. And then when there are guests, you will dine in the nursery as always.”
Sighing Georgiana nodded before her brother said, “But we can have our mornings together every Sunday and perhaps one or two days during the week.”
“That is the best birthday gift!” Georgiana assured William.
**++**
All morning, the footmen and stable boys were busy with wagons and parcels that were carted away from Netherfield to the meadow beside the stream just over one mile away. There in the meadow, Mrs. Bennet with a wagon of items directed her stable boys and two eldest daughters as the footmen set up a large pavilion with flags and draperies, a table, chairs and sideboard. In late morning, Mrs. Bennet and her daughters returned to Longbourn to change for the party just as Mr. Nichols arrived in a large wagon with his kitchen staff
**++**
Elizabeth road side saddle on ‘Juliet’, and they remained ahead of the carriage with her parents and three younger sisters. Jane rode ‘Rose’ beside her and they had to hold back their mares from racing ahead of the carriage. The day was glorious – the bright blue sky and green earth, the warm wind on her face and the scent of the newly mowed hay – summer in Hertfordshire for a girl with no cares or worries.
The meadow came into view and for a moment it appeared as though as small fair had magically appeared in the meadow – there were canopies with flags, footmen in their uniforms, horses, carriages and maids about with baskets. Delicious smells filled the air from one of the Netherfield wagons and Georgiana ran towards the Bennet family, smiling and waving while behind her, Mr. Darcy gazed on with a bemused and satisfied look.
“Jane! Lizzy! Come and see my pony!” Georgiana called. When the carriage came to a stop, Georgiana hardly waited for Mr. Bennet to step down and help Mrs. Bennet down before she curtseyed and rushed to take Mary, Kitty and Lydia and pull them over to meet her pony.
“I shall call her Maid Marion,” Georgiana announced.
Master of Netherfield Page 6