Your clever suggestion to solicit my father’s counsel for selling our honey has gone as you might expect. My mother wrote the response and her letter on his behalf was full of useful suggestions on determining the best size jars for each flavor. She advised us to buy the jars directly from the town glazier and to allow the mercantile to return empty bottles to us for a small discount on future purchases if the mercantile made the same offer to their customers. It is working extremely well and my ledger shows that orders are up as well as profits. Mr. Collins thinks my father is ingenious.
Duty calls, my friend, and I must say adieu!
Yours, etc.,
Charlotte
Elizabeth interrupted Caroline one afternoon while she was playing the pianoforte in the music-room.
“Caroline, would you join me for tea in the Rose Garden sitting room?”
“Of course.”
Caroline was surprised to see that Elizabeth had some papers with her in the Rose Garden. She sat on the settee and Elizabeth poured the tea, added lemon to both tea cups, and sugar to just her own.
“Caroline, I wanted to speak to you about your dowry. When we go to London, as we eventually will, we will be socializing with members of London society, some of whom you have already met since the year you came out. So of course we can enjoy the parties, the balls, shopping, and making calls. Charles has allotted a budget for some new clothes for you, my friend! I am hoping you also meet some new people. I am further hoping that those of your former acquaintance notice a change in you as I have started to notice.”
“You have noticed a change in me?”
“Yes, I have started to notice a few changes, Caroline.”
“Such as?”
“You are more amiable and more pleasant. You are kinder to the staff. You seem to have taken a real interest in Georgiana. You have not taken a single opportunity to flatter Fitzwilliam or make yourself appear to advantage in his presence.”
“Why would I flatter him? He is married.”
“Yes, of course, but it is still a skill I’m glad you are practicing. We are going to see many single gentlemen in London and I don’t want you flattering and agreeing with all of them. I want you to be kind to everybody we meet, especially the ladies.”
“The ladies? Why?”
“I want to go about this in a different way. You are elegant, you are rich, you are beautiful, and you are quite accomplished. I just want people to see your kindness, poise, and affability. You don’t need to be seen flattering single men or manipulating situations such that you appear to advantage over others. You must be 25 at this point, Caroline. I think it is more authentic to recognize that you may be independently settled in London, if you choose to be. I think that should be part of our recognized rationale for going to London. Those of the ton who WOULD snicker behind your back cannot do so if you are openly acknowledging what they seek to gossip about. The other reason for our visit to town is that you are helping me in fitting up Pemberley’s saloon. It costs me nothing to have a few people think I need your assistance. I probably do! And it speaks very favorably of you. Lady Anne had exquisite taste and the room will be difficult to improve upon. My proposal to you is that whilst in town, we purchase the new furnishings for the saloon and we meet with Fitzwilliam’s broker to look at available town homes in Mayfair. To do that, you need to know the size of your dowry.”
“Is it not twenty thousand pounds?”
“It was originally, per the bequest from your father, but it has grown. Charles determined long ago that the profits from investing your dowry would be added to it. No one wanted to tell you until now. I have been authorized to share with you that your dowry has grown to six-and-thirty thousand pounds.”
“I beg your pardon!”
“It is wonderful news Caroline. I am very happy for you. I knew nothing of this until after my marriage. Fitzwilliam has been investing your dowry with Georgiana’s for years, almost since he and Charles first became acquainted. Charles had been informed of Fitzwilliam’s reputation for financial astuteness and sought out his advice.”
“That cannot be! Why would he do that?”
“You know Charles has sought Fitzwilliam’s counsel on many different topics, not the least of which was buying an estate. Charles also relied on Fitzwilliam’s assistance to invest your money. Fitzwilliam is four years senior to Charles in age and he received much more training from his father about the issues facing an estate holder with a large income. Look, here is the latest statement of account. Notice that it is in Charles’ name. But Fitzwilliam is listed as a director on the account, here. Fitzwilliam makes the investment decisions. Here is the date and the total balance. This is your dowry, Caroline!”
“I don’t know what to say.” The contrast between her brother’s behaviour and her own was too marked to excuse. Caroline felt quite ashamed for having mistreated her brother and his wife. Her conduct had merited reproach for some time and yet he had been taking care of her all along and without ever having been properly thanked.
Elizabeth, observing Caroline’s somberness of manner and immediately accounting for it herself, by supposing her expressed gratitude to the Barrington family was overdue but would still be much appreciated, she added:
“And, this is one time you SHOULD flatter my husband! Be sure to thank Fitzwilliam, because he tells me he has done far better than just investing it in the Funds at five percent. The point is you can spend about sixteen thousand pounds on buying AND FURNISHING a town home and still have enough remaining to live on. But please understand, the less you spend on purchasing and furnishing this home, the more you will have remaining to generate your annual income. Fitzwilliam and I both thought you should look at property whilst we are in London. He is happy to accompany us, or we can meet with his broker on our own.”
“And I can really make my own decision and buy such a property?”
“Charles has the final say on your ability to purchase. So he must be convinced that you are mature enough to handle it and that living independently is in your best interest. I think Charles would also like to see a true change in your demeanor. You will of course have to have a companion living with you in addition to the servants. Charles and Fitzwilliam will also retain control over the investment of the remainder of your dowry so that you will have an annual income to live upon. Caroline, you can buy a dairy farm in Sussex if you like. The point is what suits you? And we shall see how our London socializing goes as well. Are you game?”
Caroline smiled, “I am. This trip could be quite the adventure!”
“Indeed.”
Caroline thought for a moment. “You would have me help you fit up the saloon?”
“I would.”
“Have you the latest catalogues?”
“No, I am afraid I have no catalogues that I am aware of.”
“I mean the catalogues from the furniture makers; Sheraton, Hepplewhite, and Chippendale.”
“There may be some old ones here, but I have not seen them.”
“I shall write to the housekeeper at Barrington and have her include mine with the next package of mail she posts.”
“How is it that you have the most fashionable furniture catalogues and no rooms to furnish?”
“How is it that you are a member of ‘The Four Hundred’ families with two large homes to furnish and have no furniture catalogues?”
They both smiled.
Elizabeth was reading in her sitting room later when Georgiana found her.
“May I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course, anything.”
“Do you trust Caroline?”
Elizabeth closed her book. “That is a difficult question to answer. I believe that she can change. I do not know yet to what extent she HAS changed. Why do you ask?”
“She came to me and apologized for using my friendship to spend time with Fitzwilliam. I accepted her apology. She says she wants to be true friends. I don’t know if I trust her entirely.”
>
“Well, that is reasonable. Georgiana, you are a wonderful person worth knowing and being friends with in your own right.”
Georgiana blushed.
“I think it is safe to assume Caroline is not using you to be close to your brother anymore. She is not using you because of your dowry; she has a very large dowry as well. She is not using you for your title, because you don’t have one. I think you may be comfortable in having her as a particular friend. But I think your history with Wickham should be kept private. It is too personal of a matter to be entrusted with someone who is still figuring out her own path in life. Does that sit right with you?”
“Yes, I feel that is proper. Oh, thank you Elizabeth. You are such a good sister and friend!”
“I am happy to be both, dearest.”
Caroline had been quite affected by Elizabeth’s disclosure regarding her dowry. She had had no hint of the generosity bestowed upon her by both her brother and Fitzwilliam in looking after her welfare. She had quickly taken it upon herself to thank Fitzwilliam for his scrupulous care in looking after her dowry and had done so in Elizabeth’s presence so as to not unduly embarrass the man. He had been most gracious and obliging, telling her he and Charles only wished for her to be happily settled. She did not know if Charles and Jane would answer her letter, but she knew that one should certainly be written which was long overdue and expressed both her thanks and her regrets.
Pemberley House, April 30
Dear Charles and Jane,
I hope this letter finds you both in good health. Where shall I begin? Elizabeth has shared with me the statement of account for my dowry. Charles, you should have told me. You are too good, brother. Your generosity is most humbling. And I am truly grieved at my conduct towards you both. I have behaved so badly and I cannot make amends. If I have permanently harmed Jane’s health I shall never forgive myself. You have both been so kind to me and rather than comprehending how fortunate I am, I have dwelt on my perceived misfortunes and interfered in your happiness. I have not considered anybody beyond myself and my self-centeredness has injured my relations whom I most care about. If you can forgive me my many mistakes, I would be most grateful.
Elizabeth says she has noticed an alteration in me and I hope she is right. I hope that I can be a better person and that we can one day be reconciled. I wish you much enjoyment in your travels. I am not certain of your present location. But if you are traveling in Italy, I trust it is as inspiring as the images I have seen. Jane, I have visited Mary, Pastor Atkins, and little Louis. They are all in good health and appear very happy. Your sister is quite improved since my acquaintance with her in Hertfordshire and I congratulate you on having her so well settled and within so easy a distance of Barrington. I thoroughly enjoyed touring their lovely home and garden. It was just as you described.
Our plan is still to travel to London. Elizabeth has invited me to assist with the fitting up of the saloon after having approved my design of the sitting room in the rose garden, which is very satisfactory and I am most gratified. We shall also we meeting with Fitzwilliam’s broker to look at properties in Mayfield to ascertain if I should be settled independently. Charles, Elizabeth has counselled me well on understanding the less I spend on the house and furnishings, the larger the remainder would be to generate an income upon which I can live comfortably. I shall update you both on our findings so that we can consult together on what is best to be done and meets with your approval.
Yours, etc.,
Caroline
Chapter 30
Fitzwilliam was called to London on some business that could not be put off. And Elizabeth felt it was still too soon to take Caroline to London; she was still adjusting her ideas about her situation. Therefore Fitzwilliam was decided to go alone and hurry back to Derbyshire as soon as may be. Whilst he was in London, news of a large battle near British headquarters in Waterloo and a full retreat by the British Army was first reported in the papers. Elizabeth was truly frightened for Richard, but behaved with prudence, deciding not to mention it to Georgiana. Neither Georgiana nor Caroline regularly read the papers, only La Belle Assemblée, which was monthly. So Elizabeth could reasonably expect them to remain ignorant of the announcement until she had more information. She asked Mrs. Reynolds to show her all incoming mail before it was disbursed to the intended recipient. Pemberley always received the daily London newspapers three days after their publication due to the distance from town. The papers received at Pemberley the very next day issued retractions on the news from the prior day regarding the outcome of the battle and the status of the war on the Continent. Now a French defeat in the battle was being reported and the British retreat was being denied. Elizabeth did not know what to make of it! Every day at Pemberley was now a day of anxiety. Her primary sources of relief would either be Fitzwilliam’s return home with Richard or the arrival of correspondence from either gentleman through the post. The morning hour during which the post was expected was each day the same trial. But even the sound of an approaching rider or carriage attracted her attention, for it could be an express or Fitzwilliam himself. And as she had formerly received direction from her husband to open all mail that came for him in his absence whilst travelling, Elizabeth opened everything that arrived. But there was nothing received relating to the matter at hand. Elizabeth also carefully read all the news in the arriving papers pertaining to the war effort, but she could not reasonably expect the papers to answer her particular questions. She knew the blacksmith in the village took the London Gazette, as his son was also in the Army, and she visited him directly to secure his promise of searching each day to confirm that Richard’s name was NOT to be found in the casualty lists. As a belated act of charity, or perhaps something less generous, Elizabeth included Wickham’s name with Richard’s in her appeal to the blacksmith. Two days later an express from Fitzwilliam was received which immediately brought relief that at least her husband was well.
Darcy House, June 20
My Darling Elizabeth,
By now news has surely reached you at Pemberley of a great defeat in battle on the Continent followed by updates that, rather than it being LOST, it was in fact WON by the British. It has been a chaotic scene here in London and I beg for your patience as I deploy a search for information on Richard. I am being assisted by my uncle Fitzwilliam and together with our combined contacts in the War Office and other resources we are endeavoring to locate my cousin. It is a decidedly anxious case. As of this moment, all we have learned is that Richard was on the field of battle near Waterloo. If you are able to do so, please refrain from mentioning anything to Georgiana. I am hoping for the best, but if the worst of all possible news must be delivered, I feel that I must deliver it.
The disorder in London from the news of the battle and the misreporting of its outcome has also caused a temporary crash in the financial markets at the exchanges; which you are presumably reading about as well. Have no worries on that score, my dear. Pemberley is fine.
I will write as soon as I can, my love. I cannot tell you how much I miss you.
Yours, etc.,
FD
Receiving some information was better than receiving nothing, but Elizabeth still felt quite anxious. She retrieved the papers in her bedchamber she had already withheld from the Pemberley Lending Library and searched for the information on the stock market. It had not attracted her notice before because it did not directly deal with events transpiring on the Continent. Both large and small fortunes had been lost by quite a few members of the ton from the vicissitudes of a single day and the resulting panic.
Darcy House, June 25
Dearest Elizabeth,
My uncle and I have been able to obtain some additional information. Richard was injured in the battle but is thought to have survived. We know nothing of the particulars of his injuries. But he has been sent to a hospital in Brussels because of his rank and is being scheduled for transport back to London through Calais as soon as he can be moved.
> I will write again as soon as I have more news.
Yours, etc.,
FD
Fitzwilliam’s absence had worn on her and she was terrified about not only Richard’s condition, but that Fitzwilliam would charge into war torn lands to bring about his safe return. She visited Catherine frequently each day as she found it soothing to her nerves. She felt the responsibility and necessity of appearing like herself to avoid rousing any questions. Keeping busy was her only means to combat the anxiety of waiting for more news. So she attended to the office of Fitzwilliam’s incoming mail in an effort to find something distracting with which to occupy her mind and her time.
Darcy House, July 2
Dearest Elizabeth,
Richard has been transported to London and I have seen him! He is at ------ Hospital and cannot be removed too soon; as the hospital is filthy. I have brought in my London physician and apothecary as well as hiring a private nurse. I’ve also secured clean bandages and other supplies for Richard’s particular use. He has three lance wounds; one to the right leg, one to the left leg which are thought to be serious but will not require amputation if infection can be avoided. None of his wounds were cauterized by the field surgeon as blood loss was unbelievably not an immediate concern. And that particular field surgeon has apparently had little success in using cauterization to prevent infection. The immediate problem is with the third wound in his back. He is a candidate for additional surgery and will be moved to see a specialist in Whitworth. He is to be accompanied by my uncle and treated by a family of renowned bonesetters and surgeons, the Taylors. Richard is in a great deal of pain and the apothecary has been administering some droughts to him. We shall all be travelling north as soon as Richard can be moved.
Yours, etc.,
FD
At last some certain news of Richard’s survival! Elizabeth was most aggrieved over the description of his injuries. But that he lived, he had survived the battle, and was being reunited with family back in London was in no small measure a tremendous relief to Elizabeth’s anxiety. Darcy came home to Pemberley a fortnight later looking very weary. “I felt so helpless. Richard is in so much pain and he doesn’t want to be seen appearing weak. I think that is why he insisted that only his father go with him to Whitworth. I wanted to go and I accompanied them as far north as my route here would permit me. I would have gone! If only he had agreed to allow it.”
By Charm or by Choice Page 21