“Are you ready to return to London and face another season, Miss Bingley?”
“I think so. It shall be different this year. My brother, Charles, shall not be there. Fitzwilliam is obviously a married man now. And Elizabeth and Georgiana have become true friends of mine. I am very fortunate to be an inmate of Darcy House rather than at Grosvenor Street with the Hursts or at whatever house my brother would be renting. It will expand my circle of acquaintances. Elizabeth has been instructing me on socializing without my affectations. The challenge is to know what kind of man I am looking for.”
“You do not know?”
“Well apparently not, as I always thought Fitzwilliam would be perfect. Elizabeth teases me that I owe her a debt of gratitude for her assistance in helping me to elude him. She says I would have been quite miserable living here!”
Richard laughed. “Well, you DO appear to prefer town, I daresay.”
“And you, sir, are you headed for the marriage mart, Brigadier?”
Richard prevaricated. He shared with her that his recovery was of the utmost importance. And he told her about his dependency on his pain medication. It was surprisingly easy to speak with her on this subject. When she was not putting on airs, Miss Bingley was rather approachable. She encouraged him to persevere with his convalescence, as the marriage mart would still be there when he was ready to venture back to London. They soon agreed that it would not be improper to be on a first name basis with one another when at home with the family.
“Caroline, you don’t need it, you know.”
“The marriage mart?”
“No, the affectations.”
She smiled, “Thank you, Richard.”
Caroline, who was not an avid walker, would accompany Richard on his slow daily walks along the Pemberley drive, always carrying her parasol to shield herself from the sun. Richard walked a little farther each day, although there remained a stiffness in how he carried himself. Richard also spent part of each evening in the music-room with the others until he felt he needed to excuse himself and retire for the evening. Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were relieved at his progress. It was very encouraging.
It was time to talk to him about the one day investment. So, in the breakfast-room one morning Fitzwilliam asked Richard if he would have time to meet with him in the study that morning.
“Of course. We can go there directly.”
After they were settled Darcy began, “I have a business proposition that I want to discuss with you and I hope you are agreeable to it. I am interested in making an investment using some of the information you have included about the war effort in your letters; specifically about the financing of the war effort and the banker Rothschild you have mentioned.”
“Nathan Rothschild? He is a savvy banker, cousin. Are you going to invest money with him? That may be a very good opportunity for you. Can you say what type of investment?”
“I would not be investing directly with Mr. Rothschild, but rather using the information you have provided about him and about how the war effort was being financed to make an investment on my own.”
Richard looked at Fitzwilliam quizzically, “I see.”
“And then depending upon how the investment performs, I would like to split the profits with you fifty-fifty.”
“Fifty-fifty? Cousin, there is no occasion for that!”
“I am looking at it as a business transaction that needs capital and information in order to work. You have one. I am providing the other.”
“You aren’t going to tell me what this investment is, are you?”
“Not until I have heard your opinion on the arrangement first.”
“This investment of which you speak, does it in any way endanger or harm our military men?”
“You are indeed a man of honour, Richard. No, it in no way endangers or harms your brothers in arms. The only injured parties will be the investors on the other side of the table who disagree with my interpretation of your information.”
“And you are not using personal information about someone, either?”
“Definitely not. You’ve told some very amusing stories about various army officers. But I am not embarrassing anybody by using their personal information. It involves going to London to the Royal Exchange and making an actual investment with my banker.”
“What happens if the investment loses money?”
“Then I lose some of my money and my interpretation of your information is proven false.”
“How much money are you thinking of investing?”
“About forty thousand pounds.”
“That is a lot of money, cousin.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I guess in theory, I might be agreeable to you using information from my letters. I don’t know what is so valuable in them though.”
Fitzwilliam smiled and pulled out a sheet of paper. “We’ve already made the investment, Richard, and we’ve already sold it and profited from it. This page is the confirmation of the transactions and it details the profit on each. This was executed over the course of a day immediately after the Battle of Waterloo when the papers were reporting that Great Britain was in full retreat and had lost the war. I didn’t believe a word of it because I have about a dozen very interesting letters from you that discuss Great Britain’s increasing financial strength and flexibility due to the efforts of the Rothschild Bank. This investment would have never been made without your information. The stock market crashed for one day due to a panic. You can read about it in the papers. I spent the entire day insisting that my banker purchase these securities in the consols, some in the three per cents, which were selling at a tremendous discount, whilst working with your father to locate you. It took me an hour the following day to sell the securities and a fortnight with your father, to ascertain your whereabouts.”
Richard looked at the sheet for a long time, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Look it over and think on it. Your portion of the profits is sixty thousand pounds. It changes everything with regard to how you can live out the rest of your life. I’m not suggesting you be a lethargic estate holder. You can stand for Parliament. You can work with the War Office to help injured Pensioners and their families. You can buy an estate and marry. You could choose your path. I agree with Elizabeth. You survived for a reason.”
Fitzwilliam stuck out his hand. Richard hesitated, then shook it. Fitzwilliam withdrew from the study to leave Richard with his thoughts.
“How did he respond?”
“About as well as I could have expected. He’s still in the study thinking and staring at the statement of account.”
“Does he suspect anything?”
“Did you?”
“No, not until you told me the next day it was all a ruse for getting Richard to accept your money. I was so thankful that there WAS a remedy that I did not take the time to consider the likelihood of such a solution. And the papers WERE full of stories about the stock market crash due to the panic in the consols.”
“I’m sorry I had to lie to you for a day. I needed to see if the story was believable and that was the only way I knew how. He must never know. I hate lying to him; disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. But seeing him so despondent and impoverished is far worse. I will live with the lie. There really was a severe one day stock market crash as you saw in the papers. And his letters did contain enough clues to suspect the French could not win that battle. I just did not realize it until the papers were printing their retractions. By then it was too late to make the investment.”
“I hope he never meets your banker.”
Chapter 37
The express from Charles came in the late morning while the household was assembling for luncheon. Elizabeth quickly scanned the contents and informed the others that her sister’s pains had begun and she was off to Barrington sooner than she had expected. She quickly packed as Fitzwilliam readied the horses and carriage for her journey. They said a hurried goodb
ye and Elizabeth departed in haste. The journey was fast but her nerves were frayed by her anxiety for Jane. Upon her arrival, Charles quickly emerged from the house looking disheveled but most pleased to see her.
“She will be so comforted to see you! I have no official news, but the doctor and midwife both say she is progressing more quickly than expected. They are hoping her labors are brief. Go to her, I will see about your things.”
Elizabeth went immediately to Jane who looked so relieved that Elizabeth felt her tears begin form. She quickly admonished herself to gain her composure for today Jane would need her strength not her compassion. Elizabeth attended her sister and did not leave her side. She sought to encourage her sister by admiring her determination and fortitude. Elizabeth herself was comforted by what the doctor and midwife were sharing with Jane. The delivery was quite in the common way, other than its rapidity. Her pains were increasing in strength and frequency. It would not be much longer. Two long hours later, Jane was delivered of a small sleeping baby boy and Charles presumably now had a namesake. It was whilst the doctor tended to the baby and the midwife was caring for Jane that an irregularity was perceived. By sheer determination, Elizabeth was able to stay calm whereas Jane was simply too tired to display any reaction. The midwife announced that there was another baby and its arrival was imminent. She gave quick instructions to Jane and promised that it would be over in a few minutes and it was. The arrival of the Bingley’s small daughter was marked by the loud squalling cry of a lusty infant. Hearing the cry from the hall outside, Charles could withstand no further suspense and immediately entered the room and was upon them. But he was disbelieving of what he saw before him. For there were two babies in the room! After he recollected himself, and making a strong effort for it, he went to his wife who nodded confirmation of what his mind knew not how to comprehend. He now had a son AND a daughter! Jane looked upon him with a smile of sweet complacency and a glow of such exhausted happy expression. At last, the tears began to flow.
Later that day after Jane and her babies had been attended, the doctor and the midwife departed. The nursemaid watched over a slumbering Jane with her son and daughter. Elizabeth and Charles took refuge in his study to drink some port and reminisce over the long joyful day.
“She is going to need a wet nurse and a second nursemaid, although I will suffice for tonight. Can you send someone to go into the village to-morrow to make inquiries and buy a second bassinette?”
“Thank you Elizabeth. That would be much appreciated. Yes, I’ll send the housekeeper to-morrow; she knows everybody in the village. I am not sure if we need more clothes. As Jane increased and became so hopeful she bought more baby clothes than I thought could possibly be needed. I confess, I quite indulged her because it kept her spirits up! But requiring a second bassinette never crossed our minds. I am so happy, so thankful!” Charles’ countenance betrayed both his joy and his relief, for he had been most concerned for his wife.
“Had you already selected names for either a boy or a girl?”
“Charles Louis and Elizabeth Jane.”
“Thank you Charles, I’m honoured.”
The next day the workmen arrived to an already bustling household and learned the joyous news. They sought to proceed quietly with their work, but found it an exercise in futility. Quiet work is no work at all. The housekeeper was sent into town and a wet nurse and a second nursemaid were quickly hired. A second bassinette was purchased and the nursery was rearranged. Charles requested that the meals be brought to Jane’s bedchamber so they could all dine together without Jane being unduly taxed. Elizabeth would not quit Jane’s room. She used Jane’s writing desk so that she could watch her sister’s restful sleep and help her with the babies. Elizabeth sent an express to Pemberley and wrote several letters on behalf of Charles and Jane to update their acquaintance with news of the arrivals. In the letter to her parents she announced the births. In another letter addressed to just her father, she implored him to restrain his wife from coming for at least a month.
“Lizzy, I am so glad you were here.”
“Jane! I did not realize you were awake. Can I get you anything?”
“I am too fatigued to a make any noise, I think. I’d like some water, please. I cannot thank you enough for coming so promptly. The midwife warned me I was progressing so quickly I might be delivered before you arrived. But you were the most important person to be with us! You always take care of me, Lizzy.”
“Jane, you deserve every kindness I can bestow and every comfort I can offer. You will be a wonderful mother. And since your children have the most obliging and amiable parents possible, they will be the most delightful and trouble-free children known in this part of the country!”
“I hope I have not interrupted your travels to London.”
“Not at all. We shall leave in another week or so, it does not signify. We waited as long as we did to be sure Richard was truly recovering and that Caroline was indeed ready to return to London.”
“And is he recovered and she ready?”
“Both have made tremendous progress. I am very encouraged. And yet I think further improvement for both is possible. She wants your forgiveness, Jane. Only you can decide if you shall give it.”
“Oh, Lizzy! Losing those babies broke my heart, but it made me angry too.”
“That is completely understandable. You suffered two tremendous losses. But this is such a happy time now. Nothing should be permitted to interfere with it, neither Caroline’s prior mischief then nor your unresolved anger towards her now.”
“I am too tired to think on it today, but I shall speak to Charles about it soon.”
“I know you will. I am going to see my plans through for you. I shall honour my commitment to see her settled; one way or another. Her manners are much improved and I think she feels the remorse that she ought. She could meet somebody in London. But if that is not to be, her dowry is so generous that she should have no trouble purchasing a very elegant town house in a very fashionable neighborhood. She shall not return here to live, dear sister, I can promise you that. She merely wants to remain on intimate terms with you and Charles. And truthfully, I want you both to be happy.” And Elizabeth kissed her sister’s temple.
“Thank you, Lizzy. You are too good to all of us.”
The doctor and midwife were called back to see all three Bingleys just as a precaution. Everybody was pronounced to be recovering nicely. In short, it was a full day. Elizabeth stayed two more days so that the nursemaids and the wet nurse could be settled into the household. And she advised Charles to have the doctor and midwife return again as a matter of caution. She returned to Pemberley both exhausted and happy.
Pemberley House, September 25
Dear Brother and Sister,
I offer my heartiest congratulations on the birth of Charles and Elizabeth! I shall refer to them as Charlie and Lizzy for now to avoid confusion. Elizabeth sent us the express and has now also rejoined us at Pemberley to add much detail in describing your precious babes. I am quite thankful that everybody is healthy. Enjoy your growing family.
I shall be travelling to London and shall not trespass on your privacy or hospitality. I hope your construction is being completed to your satisfaction. I shall update you on my progress whilst in town. Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Fitzwilliam have been taking good care of me.
Yours, etc.,
Caroline
Chapter 38
The date was fast approaching when the household would pack up and go to London. Richard appeared to be gaining strength. He was walking greater distances. He had gained some much needed weight and no longer looked so pale. His amiable conversation was returning as well. Mrs. Sutton assured Fitzwilliam that she would stay to keep an eye on Richard and that she was capable of looking after the remainder of the medication. Fitzwilliam had given her instructions on how to open one compartment of his Italian iron floor safe. She could keep the last of the medication there and remove the proper dosage once a d
ay. The footmen were instructed that Richard was still not to drink alcohol, no matter how much he insisted.
Richard had agreed that he preferred to stay behind at Pemberley. He desired to complete his treatment in privacy. He also was not yet ready to be seen about London. Richard meant to do some slow riding with a groomsman, continue his walks, and catch up on his correspondence with the War Office and his parents. He assured Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth he would not be bored. He had their newspapers and library to keep him company.
Fitzwilliam told him before departing, “There are three estates for sale between Pemberley and Matlock. If you would like to look at any of them, Mr. Smith can arrange it. He can also give you fairly detailed descriptions of all three. Even if you are not leaning in that direction, it will give you something to do and help you evaluate any property that you eventually do decide to pursue. Have Mr. Smith go with you. He has a good eye for value and you will learn a great deal.”
“Thank you, Fitzwilliam. I will consider it. Let’s hope my legs continue to improve.”
Their journey to London was uneventful and they were accompanied by mostly good weather. They arrived in London in good time and were able to settle in quickly before dinner. Several of the staff had preceded the family to London and Darcy House had been opened and prepared for their arrival. The shopping had already been completed. The kitchen staff had gone to all the best local markets for their selection of meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Everybody happily retired to dress for dinner and be rid of their travel clothes. Dinner that evening was a celebratory feast to mark their arrival in town.
By Charm or by Choice Page 25