Master of Netherfield

by Martin Hunnicutt

  “I have come for my horses,” she said calmly.

  “If I call the magistrate, you shall certainly be confined for a period of time. You laid hands on the daughters of a well-respected gentleman. They hang men for doing such.”

  “I am the daughter of an earl!”

  “No one remembers my grandfather who has been dead for twenty years. And your brother is hardly welcomed in respectable homes in town. His gambling debts are ruining Matlock.”

  When Lady Catherine made no comment, William continued. “What do you mean by entering my home and attacking a child?”

  “It was your servants who attacked me!”

  “Above stairs? In the classroom?”

  Lady Catherine frowned, “The girl assaulted me and brought blood!”

  “Aunt, you did not even know your own niece. You laid hands on a guest and her sisters defended her. You frightened a defenceless child.”

  “Fitzwilliam, look what the girl did to me!” Lady Catherine insisted holding up her arm where there were red marks where Kitty had bitten down.

  “It is no more than you deserved,” William said.

  Mrs. Hobbs cleared her throat and brought the wig forward and laid it on the table beside Lady Catherine. William stifled a chuckle before he said, “I do recommend that you should find a better wig maker or purchase one that does not resemble some creature from the wilds of the Americas.”

  Now his face grew still and he said, “This is the second time you have forced your way into my home aunt. I have no intention of there being a third time. The magistrate will be summoned and you will return to London only after you have paid damages.”

  “The magistrate will deal fairly with me!” Lady Catherine sneered. “He will take my side.”

  Darcy rose and gave Mrs. Hobbes instructions. “My aunt is to receive no service from a maid until after the magistrate speaks to her. You may send up a supper tray this evening but until then she gets nothing from my household.”

  “Fitzwilliam! The earl will speak to your father about this treatment!”

  William smiled. “My father will enjoy this tale once he is assured that Georgiana and my servants are well. And my uncle is most anxious to remain in my father’s good graces –Matlock is hopeful of arranging a match with Lord Humphries this spring for their eldest daughter. Can you imagine the earl’s displeasure if your invasion of my home and assault of the magistrate’s daughters were to be reported in the London papers?”

  “The magistrate’s daughters?” exclaimed Lady Catherine.

  “Yes,” William answered without emotion. “Forgive me if I failed to mention that the young ladies visiting with my sister today are the daughters of the magistrate here in Meryton. He is the man who holds the bill for the care and feeding of your horses for more than eight months. I hope your purse is flush aunt. This will be an expensive day for you surely.”

  Lady Catherine cursed in a most unladylike manner as William led his servants from the room and locked the door once more.

  **++**

  It was almost four of the clock when the Bennet carriage arrived at Netherfield and Mr. Bennet stepped from the vehicle as his daughters poured out of house with Georgiana, Nanny Brice and Mr. Darcy among the cloud of gowns and anxious faces.

  “Well girls, you have a healthy baby brother!” Mr. Bennet announced loudly to the hugs and kisses of his daughters and the congratulations of his neighbours. “Master Thomas Bennet arrived just after two of the clock.”

  “Can we go home and see him Papa?”

  “Can I hold him Papa?”

  “Can he come outside and play with us tomorrow?”

  “How is Mamma?” asked Elizabeth.

  “Your Mamma is well. She has already had the babe to her breast and she swears he was born hungry.”

  Jane blushed but leaned over and kissed her father’s cheek.

  “Will you need a wet nurse, Mr. Bennet?” asked Mrs. Hobbs. “Mrs. Chancy is to wean her latest charge in another week and she would be pleased with a position with your family for a year I am certain.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Hobbes, I shall discuss the matter with Mrs. Bennet and have her send you word.”

  “Mr. Bennet, before you depart from Netherfield, there is an unfortunate matter you must deal with as magistrate,” William explained suddenly terribly embarrassed. “My aunt has invaded my home once more and laid hands on Miss Kitty.”

  “Catherine? Are you well child?” Mr. Bennet took Kitty’s hands and looked her over.

  “She grabbed my arm and scared me Papa,” Kitty confessed.

  “But you are well?” he said taking his child into his arms.

  “Yes, Papa,” squeaked Kitty. “I bit her and she let go.”

  “Papa, I was afraid too,” Lydia said and Mr. Bennet took his youngest daughter into his arms for a long hug too.

  “But you were brave! All my girls are brave!” Mr. Bennet told his girls as they returned to the interior of Netherfield.

  “Mr. Bennet, do you wish to interview my aunt this afternoon?” William asked and was surprised by Mr. Bennet’s laughter.

  “My good friend, I have no wish to deal with your unfortunate aunt this afternoon. My wife and son are waiting for us to return – Mrs. Bennet is most anxious to introduce her daughters to their new brother.”

  William blushed and bowed his head. But then Mr. Bennet took his elbow and said, “And my wife most particularly asked that you and your sister come to supper tonight. She will be abed but Miss Georgiana must have her peek at the new born. Can your aunt wait until the morrow?”

  “Certainly Bennet! Certainly!”

  “Come girls, we must get home!” Mr. Bennet announced. “The Darcys will join us for supper but now your Mamma insists on your presence to meet Master Thomas born this day!”

  When William escorted his friend toward the carriage, he asked, “Bennet, are you drunk?”

  The older gentleman grinned and explained, “I have had not a single drop of drink Darcy. Wait and see, on the day that your lady love is safely delivered of your child and you hold that tiny form in your arms, you will discover that love is the greatest intoxicant under God’s heaven! I am drunk with happiness today Darcy!”

  William smiled and after helping his friend into the carriage and shutting the door, watched the Bennet carriage roll away, the team seeming to have a higher step caught up in the emotion of the afternoon. Georgiana stood at his side and waved until the carriage was out of sight.

  “Brother, I am so glad we came to Hertfordshire.”

  “As am I Georgie,” William echoed. “Netherfield is home now.”

  **++**

  Part 2: 1811

  Chapter 16

  The Summons to Pemberley

  It was summer again and Longbourn overflowed with noise of pianoforte lessons, singing, and occasional sibling bickering. There were the shouts of a young boy as he ran about the yard with boys from the tenant farms, and girls calling for their sisters to help with hems and bonnets. Mr. Bennet spent many hours with his tenants and neighbours seeing to the many tasks of the estate while Mrs. Bennet managed the house and gardens. The housekeeper was busy with the chores and the maids who diligently laboured to clean and care for the house.

  Nanny Brice, resident at Longbourn for two years as the nanny for Kitty, Lydia and young Thomas, kept her charges occupied with lessons before their time for walks and adventures into the fields and meadows. When Mr. Darcy decided that his sister was in need of a lady’s companion for additional lessons instead of a nanny, the Bennet family hired Nanny Brice for the young children. Master Thomas, now four years, was full of energy and adventures that kept his older sisters busy chasing him.

  “Who has written, Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet asked Elizabeth as her second daughter read a letter delivered with the morning post.

  “This is from my Aunt Gardiner in town. Her youngest has colic and keeps her awake at night so she is writing long letters.”

  “We mu
st send her that receipt for the treatment Mrs. Hill provided for Thomas when he was young,” Mrs. Bennet said in passing.

  “I shall speak with Mrs. Hill and get the receipt this day to send to my aunt,” Elizabeth agreed. “I remember it did ease him.”

  “Has Mary returned from Netherfield?”

  “Not yet Mamma,” Elizabeth replied. “This is the day for new music on the pianoforte with Georgiana. Mrs. Annesley is an excellent instructor but she is demanding. After their performance last week for the neighbours at Lucas Lodge, I believe Mary will return home with a new piece of music.”

  Nanny Brice came into the parlour with her sewing. “Master Thomas has gone to the stables to search out new kittens with Lydia and Kitty.”

  Mrs. Bennet laughed. “I hope they are careful climbing into the hayloft! They will all need baths before supper if they climb through the hay this afternoon.”

  “Master Thomas will resist bathing until the day he wants to impress a young lady,” observed Nanny Brice.

  “Has Miss Georgie managed her French verbs?” asked Mrs. Bennet.

  “We are speaking French during our lessons and at tea, Mamma,” Elizabeth replied. “Georgie’s French has improved greatly this summer.”

  “Miss Darcy is a very talented young woman and Mrs. Annesley is determined that her pupil will have all of the accomplishments of the Bennet sisters. She will sing as beautifully as Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia, play as divinely as Miss Mary, have the gentle disposition of Miss Jane, and have the wit of Miss Elizabeth,” said Nanny Brice.

  Elizabeth laughed. “Surely Georgie will not have to complete all of those accomplishments to satisfy Mrs. Annesley. I shall ask Mr. Darcy for his definition of an accomplished woman next time we dine at Netherfield and that will guide Mrs. Annesley’s course of study.”

  Mrs. Bennet and Nanny Brice exchanged glances when Elizabeth mentioned Mr. Darcy – though she denied it when teased by her father or eldest sister – Elizabeth Bennet was excessively fond of the master of the neighbouring estate. They rode side by side when the neighbourhood attended gatherings that allowed Elizabeth to ride side saddle and always sat together at family dinner.

  “Mamma, did Lady Lucas mention if Mrs. Goulding would invite everyone to supper this week?”

  “She did not mention...” Mrs. Bennet began to answer when the parlour door abruptly opened and Mary ran inside.

  “Mamma! There is the most dreadful news from Netherfield,” the middle daughter announced. With the close connection of friendship between the two houses, everyone in the room paid close attention to Mary’s announcement. “Mr. George Darcy has summoned Mr. and Miss Darcy to Derbyshire. Mrs. Hobbes understands the gentleman has only a short time to live.”

  “Oh dear!” Mrs. Bennet rose from her chair, hurried to her husband’s library and entered without knocking. In the midst of composing a letter to his solicitor, when his wife interrupted his concentration Mr. Bennet looked up with surprise. After she related her news, he rose from his desk and called for his coat and horse.

  At the front door he found Elizabeth with her bonnet and parasol waiting. “I asked Mr. Hill to have the carriage brought round with all speed Papa,” she informed him.

  “And will you accompany me?” he asked gently.

  Elizabeth blushed and admitted, “I hoped you would allow me to go with you, sir.”

  Mr. Bennet took his daughter’s hand and assured her, “I am certain they will be glad to see you.”

  **++**

  The footman answered the knock on the front door and directed Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth to the library. They found Mr. Darcy in consultation with his secretary and his steward.

  “Lynton, I depend on you to handle what you can in the correspondence while I am travelling north. I think Jefferson and Harris will make good riders to go back and forth from Netherfield to Pemberley with packets of letters and there are good horses in the stables.”

  “How is the stable at Farthing?” asked the steward referring to the tavern that William had purchased two years before.

  William nodded. “The ‘Halfway Inn’ has room for two mounts reserved for Darcy riders. I shall take two extra horses with me and leave them there.”

  Noticing his guests, William came around the desk to shake hands with Mr. Bennet and bow to Elizabeth.

  “You find me most disadvantaged, sir.”

  “We have come to help,” Bennet replied. “Mary brought news of your father’s illness and Mrs. Bennet insisted that Elizabeth and I come to assist you.”

  William’s face relaxed slightly. “I fear my sister is much affected. Miss Elizabeth if you could comfort Georgiana, I would be in your debt.”

  “I shall go to her immediately Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth replied. “Papa will take care of you!”

  There were smiles on the faces of the steward and the secretary at the young lady’s words, though the master of Netherfield did not notice.

  “What are your plans?” asked Mr. Bennet.

  “We shall leave at first light tomorrow morning. With the coach and four and the full moon, I intend to press the full distance to Farthing in a single day.”

  Bennet nodded. “But leave the team there to rest for few days. Do you have a full team of four there?”

  “Not from my stable but I shall requisition the best teams in the stable and continue my travels at the normal pace. At Chesterfield on Saturday, I shall leave my sister with Mrs. Annesley and escorts with the carriage while my man and I ride ahead. I can be at Pemberley by early afternoon of the third day with my sister safely arriving that evening.”

  “The long days will allow for late travel,” Bennet agreed. “And you have good steeds.”

  “My worry is for the harvest that is to begin in two weeks.”

  Bennet nodded. “Netherfield is well-run Darcy. Mr. Howard and I shall manage everything.”

  “But you have the harvest at Longbourn to oversee?”

  “A harvest that has increased because of the fertilizers and methods you encouraged me to put into use. Darcy, I am a richer man today because of you – do you think I should be denied the opportunity to repay the kindness you have shown me?”

  “Hall thinks we shall have the largest harvest of wheat and oats ever this year,” Darcy said proudly. “His son Davie is to drive a team from the fields and I think the boy will have the horses in harness the night before he is so excited.”

  When they settled matters for the harvest, reviewed the pay ledger with Mr. Howard and Mr. Lynton for the labourers, Mr. Darcy sent for Mrs. Hobbes. As they waited for Mrs. Hobbes to arrive, Darcy told Mr. Bennet of the letter.

  “I received an express from the housekeeper at Pemberley. It seems my father suffered an attack Monday afternoon. The doctor was summoned and remained through the night. Tuesday morning my father was able to speak again but the doctor fears his heart will not last long. Mrs. Reynolds sent a rider that noon and it took the man two days to reach Hertfordshire.”

  Bennet paused only a moment before he said, “Darcy, if your man packed your bags now, you and he could be to Buckwheat tonight and then arrive at Pemberley Saturday.”

  “But my sister...”

  “I shall escort your sister to Derbyshire for you. We shall not travel as hard as you anticipated. Our journey will require the full four days and I plan to scandalize society by travelling on Sunday.”

  He thought a moment before he added, “And I shall ask Elizabeth to accompany me to comfort Miss Georgie.”

  Darcy’s face completely relaxed. He could be with his father a day sooner with this plan and he knew his sister would be safe with his friend Bennet.

  “I have sent word to my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, who is in London. But I shall barricade the house from all other relatives.”

  The young man reviewed his plans and options before reaching out his hand and thanking Mr. Bennet.

  Upon arrival in the library, Mrs. Hobbes received her orders; Netherfield was to be closed wi
th Holland cloth placed over all the furniture and the front door barred. Business would be conducted from the house Mr. Lynton shared with his wife and three children at the edge of the gardens. Any visitors coming to the front of the great house would find it empty of the family.

  **++**

  Above stairs, Elizabeth found Georgiana tearful but sorting through her dresses with a maid.

  “Lizzy, I am so glad you came!” Georgiana said as she embraced her friend. Now fourteen, Georgiana was tall but remained slender. Mrs. Annesley came into the room with footmen bringing two empty trunks for the maids to fill with gowns, shoes, coats, undergarments, nightgowns, and a dozen other items.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth,” greeted Mrs. Annesley.

  “Good afternoon, madam,” Elizabeth replied. The hired companion for Georgiana was strict with all of the young ladies concerning protocols and behaviours but this afternoon she allowed Miss Georgiana to be tearful and for Miss Elizabeth to comfort her charge.

  A few minutes later, she was slightly surprised by the sudden appearance of Mr. Darcy and his guest in his sister’s rooms; Mrs. Annesley had learned during her first year at Netherfield that the neighbouring Bennet family was closer to the brother and sister than any of their own family. There was one cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, who came for Christmas but otherwise they had not had any family visit, nor had they travelled to visit any family except for their father, and then only in town once a year during the height of the season.

  “Georgie, I have news,” William said.

  Looking up from beside Elizabeth on a sofa, Georgiana nodded her head before her brother continued. “I should like to ride ahead to Pemberley. My valet and I shall leave within the hour.”

  “But...”

  “And tomorrow morning, you and Mrs. Annesley shall leave with Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth to travel to Derbyshire. Your trip will take four days so pack several books to read and discuss.”

  Elizabeth’s face brightened and she hugged Georgiana before her father collected her. “Come Lizzy, we need to return to Longbourn and pack our trunks – only one trunk now girl!”