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W illiam Darcy and Richard Fitzwilliam accompanied Charles Bingley to the Barringtons’ estate, Netherfield Park, on the second of September. They rode in the Bingley coach rather than ride so they would not smell of sweat and horseflesh when they arrived.

They had all left their own horses in London, rather than being led behind the conveyance, thanks to Barrington letting them know there were horses available in the stable that they were welcome to use if they wanted to see more of the estate than the manor and home farm.

Barrington had offered to reduce the cost of the lease if Bingley took it, but as appreciative as he was of the consideration, Bingley had politely, but firmly, refused the offer.

“Fitzwilliam, if I take the lease, will you be joining us to help teach me or to be close to Miss Bennet? Barrington mentioned something about the lady you are courting being at Longbourn this winter,” Bingley ribbed.

“I can neither confirm nor can I deny that your supposition is correct,” Richard replied in a put-on haughty voice.

“She is a very intelligent lady, not too clever for an old soldier like you, is she?” William jested. “At least she is not as clever as Lady Elizabeth, who has more intellect than all three of us combined.”

“You remember the first time I met the Duchess? I told you she was far too quick-witted for me,” Richard recalled.

William had to school his features. It would not do for Richard, or even Bingley, to learn he had let down his guard and fallen in love with a woman who could never be his.

If they had been aware, they would rib him mercilessly.

William was saved from having to formulate a reply when the coach slowed as they entered a market town.

“This is Meryton,” Bingley related. “We will stop at Mr Phillips’s law practice and collect him.”

As if the horses and coachman heard him, the conveyance came to a halt opposite a building with a sign which declared it to be the ‘Phillips and Associates’ Law Offices.

’ Mr Phillips was waiting just outside of the door leading into his office.

A footman jumped down from the back bench and opened the door on the same side as where the solicitor was waiting.

“Mr Bingley?” Phillips enquired when the younger man alighted.

“Yes, I am Bingley. Mr Phillips, I presume?” Bingley verified. “I trust you did not wait long for us.”

“Yes, I am Phillips, and no, Mr Bingley, you arrived at the time you indicated.”

“Please board the carriage, and we will be off to Netherfield Park. I understand it is about two miles from here.” Bingley stood back and allowed the older man to board.

“Phillips, how do you do?” Richard stated as he extended his hand. “I think the last time we were last in your company was at Falconwood.”

“You have the right of it,” Phillips agreed as the coach jerked forward and began to roll down the main street towards the turnoff to the estate. “It is good to see you again, Mr Darcy.”

“And you, Sir,” William responded. It hit William that before he had been sent to Glen Morgan Heights, he would have refused to acknowledge Mr Phillips.

The two miles passed rather speedily without much conversation.

Soon the coachman guided the team between the estate’s gate posts.

The wheels crunched on the gravel of the drive.

After about a mile, the horses halted in a circular drive next to a handsome edifice.

One of the Bingley footmen had the step extended and the door opened not long after the coach ceased moving.

Rather than press them, Phillips took some steps back to allow the men to form their own opinions.

“I was not with them when Mother, Father, and Anna were hosted here some years past, but it looks just like they described the house. At first glance, it is very well maintained,” William opined after his eyes had raked across the facade of the structure and the parts of the roof he could see.

“My opinion concurs with William’s,” Richard added.

Phillips led them into the house where they met Mr and Mrs Nichols, the butler and housekeeper. While Mrs Nichols showed the gentlemen the house, Phillips remained with the butler, making sure that there were no repairs or the like needed; the butler could think of nothing.

It took about an hour for the three men to return to where Phillips waited. “The house is in excellent condition; now we just need to see the land,” Bingley stated enthusiastically.

“In expectation of your desire to do so, three mounts have been saddled; the grooms are holding them in the drive,” Phillips revealed.

Bingley led the cousins across the large stone verandah and down to the drive where three geldings awaited them. Also waiting was the steward on his own horse, who would conduct the tour and be able to answer any questions the men may have for him.

Neither Richard nor William saw anything which concerned them and conveyed that to Bingley on the ride back to the manor house.

Seeing nothing to deter him, Bingley told Phillips he would take a one-year lease. They returned to Meryton in the coach, and soon enough, Bingley had signed the lease and received the information as to where to send the payment for the rental of the estate.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“I understand why you must travel to Ireland to oversee the repairs yourself, but it does not mean I will not miss you,” Elizabeth stated sadly.

There had been a fire at Greenfield which had damaged part of one of the stable buildings and destroyed two nearby tenant cottages.

Thankfully, no humans or horses had been seriously injured.

Being a conscientious landowner, Archy wanted to be there to assist where he could.

When he and Elizabeth had discussed her travelling with him, they had concluded they preferred the children not make that journey at their ages.

Matty was three, but Gracie and Winston were only around eighteen months old.

“You will join your sisters and the Phillipses at Longbourn, will you not? I know you all want to begin to plan for Cathy’s coming out during the season next year. It is still hard to accept she is seventeen already, and Lydia is soon to be fifteen.” Hertfordshire shook his head.

“Mary would not allow us to be anywhere else,” Elizabeth replied with a smile.

“With Richard in residence at Netherfield Park, there was not a choice. I will be with her for whatever she may need.” She paused as she thought of something.

“Has Richard approached you regarding proposing to Mary yet? I know she is more than ready and willing to hear his proposal.”

“It will be soon. Richard already has my blessing and consent if it occurs while I am in Ireland. My darling, Lizzy, I will miss you as much, if not more, than you will me.”

“You will be home for my birthday, will you not? After all, you must remember that it is the one where I will attain my majority.”

“This I swear to you, my Lizzy, I will be back at your side, and, as I promised, we will celebrate the special day at Castlemere.” Hertfordshire pulled his willing wife to himself and kissed her languidly.

“I will hold you to that vow, my one and only love, the best man in the world.”

Two days later, Elizabeth and the household left London for Hertfordshire. Once they were out of sight, the Duke departed for Liverpool and the ship which would convey him across the Irish Sea.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Caroline Bingley wanted to rail against her brother for leasing an estate in some backwater in Hertfordshire, but she was keeping to her resolve to not give him any reason to cast her out of his house and release her dowry.

The only saving grace was that both Messrs Fitzwilliam and Darcy would be in residence.

She had heard that the former was courting some woman.

As long as he was not married, she would still be able to attract his notice.

Owning an estate, which, according to the gossip, brought in eight thousand pounds per annum, a healthy fortune, and a house in London, made Mr Fitzwilliam the preferred matrimonial target.

Not only was he in possession of his estate and fortune already, he was the son of an earl.

Yes, he was a second son, but the son of Lord Matlock was better than his nephew.

The other advantage with Mr Fitzwilliam was that he was not waiting for a father to die like Mr Darcy.

If she did not attract him, then she would settle for the younger Mr Darcy. Notwithstanding what he had written in that infamous letter, Miss Bingley was certain that once she was seen in the role of hostess, both cousins would be vying for her hand.

Charles had said he would give her a chance to be his hostess, but if she did anything of which he did not approve, he would have their Aunt Hildebrand come and take over the role.

In order to be able to impress the men, she had to bite her tongue and not say a word about the location or the savages they would be living among.

Louisa was with child, so she had not been able to join Charles and take on the duties of the mistress of the estate.

It had been good luck for Caroline because she was aware that had Louisa been available, Charles would have bestowed the role upon her, and nothing Caroline might have said would have moved him.

Yes, things had worked out for the best.

She knew that she had to be subtle in her campaign to solicit a proposal from Mr Fitzwilliam, because if Charles saw anything of which he disapproved, she would be banished faster than her head could spin.

Of course, there was a last resort—a compromise.

Regardless of what Mr Darcy wrote in his letter, Caroline Bingley did not believe an honourable man would not marry her if the compromise was public.

It was imperative for her to marry someone of the first circles and get out from under her brother’s dictatorial control.