Page 34

The whole of the month of January, Caroline Bingley remained inside the Hurst home on Olive Street with few attempts to go to the shops. After the first week, the young woman grew frustrated with her new situation.

‘I traded the wild countryside for a cheap street in the city,’ she decided. ‘There are no glittering parties here in the darkness of winter. Certainly, there are suppers or salons in Bath where quality folk gather and display themselves this time of year.’

Ignoring her sister’s attempts at conversation or suitable tasks for a gentlelady during the winter, Caroline devoted her mornings to reading the most recent newspapers several times.

From a trunk in her room, she withdrew the society pages from the previous year’s newspapers.

Rather than reading the details of reviews or suppers with lords and ladies, she paid close attention to the reports of weddings and engagements during the last season.

The published list of dowries led the young woman to unhappily conclude that her dowry was insufficient to attract a young lord with a title and large income.

‘I was foolish to chase Mr Darcy,’ she decided. ‘ Twenty thousand was never enough to capture his attention.’

When the social season began in February, several younger sons of titled lords indicated an interest in Caroline’s hand.

If she married one of them, she would be Lady Caroline, but the couple would be limited to the income from her dowry and any allowance the father or older brother gave the younger son.

In more than one instance, the young men were interested in her dowry because their allowance would end when their father passed away.

‘I must marry the man with the title or his eldest son, not the spare who will inherit nothing,’ she decided after a few suppers.

Listening carefully and making the appropriate noises of concern, she learned that several of the younger ladies in the marriage market had thirty thousand pounds or guaranteed incomes from stocks in businesses such as the East India Company.

Mr Hurst educated Caroline about business to some extent though he encouraged her to speak with Charles for more details.

“Our brother is an excellent businessman,” Geoffrey said. “He can advise you what is the truth of the matter concerning stocks and businesses.”

“I shall write to him,” Caroline declared aloud, but she never put pen to paper.

Of greater interest to Caroline were the stories that Mr Hurst shared about Mr George Wickham’s success with The New World Tea Company. Gentlemen in Mr Hurst’s club remarked frequently about Wickham’s apparent success and generosity with the profits of his company.

“Has he truly spread gold around this winter?” asked Louisa.

“No, not this winter, but the stories from last autumn persist. And the man keeps good company while dressing well. He is moderate in his drinking and does not gamble though he plays cards every night.”

“Louisa, you mentioned inviting a few persons to supper one evening,” Caroline suggested. “Perhaps Mr Wickham would be a person to invite.”

Hopeful of improving Caroline’s outlook and prospects, Louisa asked her husband to invite the man to join their next gathering with friends. Geoffrey Hurst agreed and said, “I shall issue the invitation when next I see him.”

~~~

George Wickham appeared in clean clothes at the door of the Hurst home on Olive Street when they had two other couples join their family for supper.

Wickham was polite and paid attention to the hostess and her sister without fawning.

Because he was the only gentleman without a lady on his arm, Louisa placed him beside Caroline at the table.

Their conversation was pleasant, and he provided news of the first scandals of the new season.

Then George inquired after the newest fashions and appeared to listen intently to Caroline’s descriptions of designs of gowns, bonnets, shoes, and shawls worn by the ladies at reviews and suppers.

After the last course, the ladies left the dining room to allow the gentlemen to enjoy a few drinks; Wickham spoke to the other gentlemen about newspaper stories concerning racehorses, the wars with Bonaparte, and the weather.

When the couples gathered again in the parlour, Wickham gave Caroline some attention but then circulated around the room, speaking to everyone.

~~~

The next week, George Wickham called at Olive Street during the hours for visitors to appear.

There had been no visitors to the house for several days, and Caroline refused to ride out in a rented carriage, so the man’s company was welcome.

Wickham brought a friend, Mrs Young, with him and introduced her to Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley.

Mrs Young was introduced as a young widow and spoke of Mr Wickham’s friendship with her late husband and her plans for a quiet season in London.

Caroline noticed the woman with Mr Wickham was not dressed in the latest fashions.

This made the visitor’s company more acceptable to the younger sister because she had yet to obtain new gowns–Charles was reluctant to provide Caroline with the usual clothing allowance this year.

But Miss Bingley did not mention any concerns regarding money to Mrs Young or Mr Wickham.

When Geoffrey spoke about money and profits, Mr Wickham admitted that it was not the season for ships to arrive at the docks in London.

Now that the subject had been broached, Miss Bingley asked, “How does this work, Mr Wickham? How is it that profits are made and distributed to your…what is the word?”

“Shareholders, Miss Bingley? Do you mean the men and women who hold shares in the New World Tea Company?”

“Yes, I suppose that is what I mean,” Caroline replied. “And do ladies own stock? In their own names?”

“Not usually. A lady only owns stock after she is of a certain age and not married,” George replied.

Louisa listened with only half an ear. She trusted Geoffrey to handle their money. But Mrs Young added, “Wickham, did you not tell me there are two widows who hold New World Tea Company stocks their husbands owned when they died? I believe you pay those ladies their shares of your profits.”

“You remember correctly, Mrs Young,” the man confirmed.

“Miss Bingley, my business sends chests of tea leaves to the Americas. Ships captains trade the tea for goods in the colonies–tobacco, sugar, and rum. These ships return with these items, and merchants in London purchase every leaf and dram in British pounds. The ships’ captains pay me, and I distribute profits to my stockholders. ”

Again, Mrs Young commented, “Very generous profits, Mr Wickham.”

“Thank you,” the man replied though he did not meet Miss Bingley’s eyes.

To gather more information, Caroline commented, “My brother said you paid too frequently for a business. How do you manage that?”

“Mr Bingley is thinking about trade with the East Indies,” Wickham explained.

“For those business ventures, it does take two years or more for a merchant’s ships to sail to the other side of the world and return.

But the ships with my tea cross the Atlantic and return in the same year.

Some ships reach the docks in August, and others as late as October. ”

“Tell me, does it truly take two years for the ships to reach the East Indies?” Caroline asked.

“Yes, it takes at least twenty-four months for a ship to sail to the eastern lands and then return. The ship must first sail to the tip of Africa and then across more oceans to reach the spice islands and India.”

Wickham smiled and continued, “But the trip across the Atlantic is only a few months.”

“So, my brother does not know everything there is to know,” Caroline said smugly.

There was one bit of gossip that Caroline shared with relish.

Louisa was absent from the room for a moment, asking for the tea tray to be delivered, when Mr Wickham asked, “Miss Bingley, how has your brother spent the winter? Mr Hurst mentioned that he remained in Hertfordshire and has not visited London this year.”

Her eyes flashing with annoyance, Caroline revealed, “My brother debased himself. Last month he married that Bennet girl, and they remain at the farm in Hertfordshire.

“How horrible,” said Mrs Young to agree with Caroline.

“Mr Hurst has not mentioned this change in Mr Bingley’s life when we have spoken at the club,” George said, though he had read the wedding announcement in the newspaper.

“He is as embarrassed as Louisa and I,” replied Caroline.

“A farm, you say?” asked Mrs Young, unaware of the particulars of Bingley’s situation.

“There were cows and sheep everywhere. I do not doubt they brought the sheep into the house during the winter.”

At this declaration, Mrs Young laughed gently, earning Caroline’s approval. When Louisa reappeared with the footman bearing a tea tray and the maid bringing teacups and plates on a second tray, she found Caroline involved in an animated conversation with Mr Wickham and Mrs Young.

~~~

During March, Caroline enjoyed the company of Mrs Young and Mr Wickham every week.

If she noticed that Mrs Young wore the same gowns with only a few different accessories, she kept her superiority to herself for once.

Mrs Young proved to have excellent sources of gossip and titillating tales of liaisons in the different grand houses in London.

And more importantly, Mrs Young appeared to know which eligible gentlemen possessed titles and suitable incomes.

~~~

In early March, a letter from Suffolk caused great distress to the household on Olive Street.

The steward of the Hurst estate wrote to Mr Hurst that his mother, Old Mrs Hurst, had fallen ill.

A physician had been summoned, and the housekeeper cared for the older woman, but Mrs Hurst wanted her son and daughter-in-law present.

Immediately Louisa endorsed a plan to depart London the next morning, but Caroline wailed, “What am I to do? I cannot go back to Herefordshire!”

“No, Charles will not allow you under his roof,” Geoffrey said, not correcting Caroline that Netherfield was located in Hertfordshire.

However, the family was provided with a solution by Mr Wickham almost immediately. The gentleman and Mrs Young were present that afternoon for tea. George suggested, “I believe Mrs Young is the solution to Miss Bingley’s problem.”

“How so?” asked Geoffrey Hurst.

Motioning toward his companion, George explained, “Mrs Young has acted as a lady’s companion in the past, and with her present in Olive Street, Miss Bingley will have a suitable chaperone.”

“Then I do not have to go to Charles,” Caroline said, endorsing the plan. “Yes, this is a perfect solution.”

With the urgency of leaving London, Mr and Mrs Hurst did not give the matter another thought.

With the urgency he felt to reach his mother’s side, Geoffrey did not write to Charles that evening.

As soon as the sun rose, Geoffrey and Louisa departed in a rented carriage for Suffolk.

Mrs Young arrived with Mr Wickham around ten of the clock, and the lady was settled in a guest room before eleven.

~~~