“Thank you Elizabeth. That is insightful AND amazing!” They hugged tearfully.
“One day Georgiana may seek the same advice from you!”
“I hope so. I do hope that she looks upon me as a sincere and trusted friend. Elizabeth, I feel certain that my time living in your home is drawing to an end. After I am settled, however that may be, it is my dearest wish that we shall still be friends. I cannot thank you enough for how you have helped me. I know this project must have started simply to assist Jane. I understand and it is a rational scheme to be sure. But I sincerely consider you to be my friend. And I would be ever so happy if we continued to be friends in the future!”
Elizabeth was very touched. “Of course we shall continue to be friends. Don’t think otherwise. I consider you a very dear friend and so will Jane once you two become reacquainted.” The two ladies dried their eyes and determined it was time to retire for the night. Caroline apologized for keeping her up so late.
The next morning, the entire household was up early and having breakfast. Fitzwilliam had some information ready to share when Caroline was finished eating. Caroline looked at Georgiana and then said she did not mind speaking plainly in front of Georgiana. It would only help prepare her for next year. This made Georgiana feel very proud that she was being included. Fitzwilliam related that about half of John’s income came from rents on his properties and half came from his building practise. So John would have to continue working or cut his income in half. However, Fitzwilliam explained, John loves his work and if he continues to work as a builder and to invest his profits he would continue to increase his income that came from rents or interest. He could someday live independently off of his investments. And this did not take into consideration Caroline’s dowry. Fitzwilliam had only one caution, that John’s assets and business were not diversified. Everything was related to London property. If the real estate market crashed, John would be badly hurt financially. And if the two of them married, it would be even more financially painful because one third of Caroline’s dowry was invested in John’s business.
“What!?” cried Elizabeth and Caroline together.
“It’s true. That statement of account I gave you listed Caroline’s holdings. Did you not see that? Georgiana is an investor in his business as well. Caroline’s investment can be changed. Another investor can be found to buy her out. And her money can be invested somewhere else. I think if she and John marry, that portion of her dowry should be invested elsewhere, possibly in the Funds because they are more conservative and completely unrelated to real estate. I can suggest other investments such as various mills and mines, even suitable bank stocks. The point is for your household assets to have some diversity and not all be invested so similarly. Elizabeth, Uncle Gardiner has even talked about investing in John’s business. Do not worry, Caroline can sell her shares.”
“Does John know that I am one of his investors?” Caroline held her breath.
“No, you are a minor owner and simply one of several investors that I found that was never named to him personally. He does not know about Georgiana, either. His book-keeper and an independent attorney take care of distributing the profits to the investors in proportion to the size of their investment.”
“Can I take the carriage? I must go see him.”
“I thought you were meeting him to-morrow?”
“I cannot wait until to-morrow!” she cried.
The driver managed to find space to stop the carriage near John’s home in Upper Wimpole and knocked at the front door. He inquired of the butler if Mr. Buckworth could accompany him to the Darcy carriage. When Mr. Buckworth saw who was inside he grinned and hurried into the carriage. Caroline was so happy to see him. He kissed her eagerly, but pulled back and looked at her curiously.
“Have you made a decision about my proposal?”
“Indeed I have. But I need to tell you something first. Elizabeth spoke with me last night about the emotional intimacy of marriage. And I am convinced that I have come to care for you as I ought. I think you are thoughtful, sensitive, funny, and so pleasant to converse with. I look forward to being with you every day. And the days that we are apart, I miss you terribly.”
John held her closely as he listened to her speak.
“I have been disappointed in the marriage mart, not with others, but with myself. And I have worked hard this year to become a better person and to think about my future and my responsibility to my family in a different manner. My friends and family have helped me to see myself more clearly and convinced me that finding a man I am truly compatible with and care for is worth more than any title or country estate. I am falling in love with you, John Buckworth, and I want to marry you for who you are.”
“I love you, Caroline, not for whomever you were before, but who you are NOW. I confess, I have been drawn to you since the moment we met.”
“I feel the same way! I called upon you today because I didn’t need or want another day to think about your proposal. I have to tell you though, about a disclosure that Fitzwilliam made to Elizabeth, Georgiana, and I at breakfast this morning. You may think it unimportant, but I want you to know before I accept your proposal.”
“What is it?” he asked with some confusion.
“Apparently, I am one of your investors and Fitzwilliam is worried that our combined assets won’t be diversified enough.”
“He is, is he? He is right you know, his courting expertise is simply dreadful!”
John cradled her in his arms and leaned her back in the carriage, keeping his face very close to hers. It was most tempting and completely improper.
“Caroline, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly, “if you promise me we won’t have to wait more than a fortnight. My restraint will not survive any longer than that!”
He kissed her soundly.
Chapter 50
Mr. John Buckworth and Miss Caroline Bingley were married by special license in St. Marylebone Church a fortnight later before a small group of family and friends. The wedding invitations were dispatched the very day of their engagement by express to ensure that family members in the north had time to travel to London. As she had for her sister Mary, Elizabeth quickly wrote the announcement of the betrothal soliciting input from both Caroline and John. She then submitted it to the papers for publication. From a very different cause, this would not have been done had she not seen to it herself. She again purchased a leather bound scrapbook from Hatchard’s, where she pasted the engagement announcement and added her personal inscription to the happy couple. Noted attendees of the wedding were mentioned soon after in the society page of the paper and included: The Earl and The Countess of Matlock, their son retired Brigadier Richard Fitzwilliam, the Darcys of Pemberley, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hurst in Grosvenor Street, and Mr. John Buckworth of Lancashire.
Surprising no one of their immediate acquaintance, their wedding tour was in Italy where Caroline was profoundly influenced by the ancient architecture. Upon their return to London, the happy couple purchased Stafford Manor thus settling in Mayfair and fulfilling another of Caroline’s most fervent wishes. Caroline retained all of John’s loyal and valued household staff to their very great relief and relocated them to Stafford Manor. His house in Upper Wimpole was immediately let. To the amusement of both Elizabeth and Jane, it was later learned that the new tenant was a single young man of large fortune with an amiable disposition and unaffected manners. The sisters joked that if the matter was left entirely to Mr. Bennet, he would simply send Kitty and Georgiana over by themselves to welcome the man to town. Caroline spent countless hours designing a blend of several architectural styles to create a new look and assist her husband and his architect with honouring their clients’ specifications whilst conforming to the latest London building codes. Her desire for a rose garden around their new home was accomplished with advice from Thomas, the rosarian of Pemberley, and encouragement from John. The result was so promising and received so mu
ch attention from all who saw it, that it became an immensely popular offering in John’s building practise. This new neoclassicism was embraced by the members of the ton making John’s firm highly sought after. His practise grew rapidly, increasing his fortune, and opening doors to London society that were, for the new Mrs. Buckworth, heretofore closed. Mrs. Buckworth was known for her exclusive and elegant dinner parties. The Buckworths remained the closest of friends with the Darcys as did the Fitzwilliams, the Gardiners, the Hursts, the Bingleys, and the Bartons and they continued to socialise in both London during the season and in Derbyshire or Cheshire during the summer months.
Charles and Jane sent Caroline a very cordial letter in congratulations of her impending nuptials, but explained it was too soon for Jane or the babies to travel. They promised Caroline and her husband an invitation to Barrington following their wedding tour. The Bingleys’ found much joy in finally becoming parents and doted on their son and daughter. Their construction was soon finished to their complete satisfaction. Little Charlie and Lizzy were in fact happy and good-natured babies. Charlie resembled his father in looks and temperament. Lizzy resembled her mother, but displayed her Aunt Elizabeth’s love of laughter at a very young age. The Buckworths did travel to Barrington to visit after they settled into their new home at Stafford Manor and a sincere reconciliation between the two ladies was finally achieved.
Wickham survived the conclusion of the war with France, having been nowhere near the Battle of Waterloo and being awarded very little prize money from Great Britain’s victory. He had been safely ensconced in the dirty city of Newcastle in his lodgings that were not at all to his young wife’s taste. Their marriage was one of mutual disappointment and vexation. Their cherished hope of an additional financial settlement from the Darcys eventually sank to the more natural realisation that they would have to exert themselves to organise and prioritise their own spending within the means afforded by their income.
Pastor and Mary Atkins continued to live in a spirit of joy, caring for the parish in Lambton and their son Thomas. They were very much in love and maintained a happy and charitable home. Their garden flourished, church attendance increased, and their shared love of music and books continued. The townspeople of Lambton loved their good pastor and his cheerful wife and gave their thanks to one another for cleverly bringing about the match. The parishioners tithed more liberally than before and the little children at the orphanage were the real beneficiaries of this new generosity.
Richard returned to Lexington to check on his three comrades in arms. Though weak from lack of food and care, they had revived quickly. The local surgeon consulted with the apothecary and all three men were well attended to. One had farming experience and determined to accept a tenancy at Lexington. The second, who had been a cobbler, borrowed funds from Richard to open a shop in Stanton in Peak. The third, the frailest of the three men due to an injury in combat, finally recovered from his wound. A proficient horseman, he accepted a position in the Lexington stables and stayed on at the estate. Richard could not be more delighted at this turn of events. His new sense of purpose and responsibility led to a return of his determination and natural optimism. He redoubled his efforts at the War Office to locate more struggling Pensioners and to share his results at Lexington with other members of the aristocracy and the landed gentry willing to help. He spent the bulk of his time at Lexington, Pemberley, and in London and would eventually relocate other men from various regiments to Lexington for their convalescence and rehabilitation back into society. His charity began to flourish as the word spread of its good works throughout the country.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins remained at Hunsford Parsonage and continued to serve their congregation. Mr. Collins’ enjoyment of his beekeeping never abated despite his dreadful accident. And Mrs. Collins’ pleasure in flavoring the resulting honey and selling both the honey and beeswax to the local mercantile remained a favorite pastime and a continual source of extra income. They treasured their daughter Sarah and were said to be loving parents by all of their acquaintance. Mr. Collins maintained his very cordial friendship with Mr. Barnes. The beekeeping society submitted the results of the scientific experiment it had participated in and the practise of beekeeping was further improved.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet continued on at Longbourn which was now a very quiet house. Her desire for company and dancing and his desire for peace and quiet was an unresolved subject of conversation. Her sour looks and ill-natured remarks about their neighbors and friends persisted as before. Having achieved the relative security of four daughters being married and the fifth frequently from home, Mrs. Bennet had no difficulty in transferring her vexation to the disinterested neglect of her titled in-laws, from whom an invitation to visit was never received.
Lord and Lady Matlock and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner eagerly anticipated the following year when they would offer their oversight as their two nieces tasted the delights of their first London social season. Elizabeth had invited all four to join her and her husband and participate in the many parties, dinners, assemblies, and balls of the season. Although Kitty would not be presented at Court, Elizabeth had successfully solicited the assistance of Lady Jersey in receiving vouchers for Kitty to attend the balls at Almack’s with Georgiana. She had regaled the influential patroness with her admiration for Kitty’s accomplishments as an artist, fluency in French, and elegance in dancing the quadrille and the waltz. It had not hurt the cause that she had also mentioned Lady Matlock’s name. The two aunts visited one another to strategize at length about which events should be attended and what additional dresses might be needed. The Earl and The Countess of Matlock also cherished the hope that their younger son may settle down now that he was finally retired from the army.
Following their wedding Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were well pleased to have witnessed two of their four unmarried sisters happily settled with assistance from their own resources and efforts. They quickly agreed that Kitty should immediately begin residing with them at Pemberley and Darcy House until she too was properly settled. They looked forward to next year’s season for Georgiana’s presentation and coming out and Kitty to join her in their first season in London society. Georgiana’s diffidence and Kitty’s immaturity and peevishness were left behind. Their time spent together at Pemberley and Darcy House improved the young ladies’ friendship and the two became inseparable. Their situations and temperaments were different enough that they agreed they would never be interested in the same gentleman. They were teased however by Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam that perhaps they should look for two brothers to marry. The Darcys took the first opportunity of touring Lexington estate whilst travelling between London and Pemberley and were very optimistic about Richard’s future and his charitable works. The house and grounds suited their beloved cousin very well and the hunting did not disappoint. Several pensioners were living in the cottages on the estate as they recuperated. Richard, having fully recovered from his own injury and illness, has finally admitted he was ready and able to marry. He meant to accompany Georgiana and Kitty in their season and will also be looking for that most suitable match.
∞∞∞
~THE END~
By Charm or by Choice Page 33