Page 48

Today, she was surprised when she could hear every word spoken by the two men and glancing around the room, she realised that at some time in the past, the chimney above the hearth in her room had been opened to the same space as the hearth in the office.

There weren’t any fires in either room at this time of day, and she would clearly hear their conversation.

For a moment, Elizabeth thought to make her eavesdropping known to the men by coughing loudly, but then she heard the name ‘Mr Darcy’ and threw her scruples out the window.

Mr Wickham said, “Once Mr Darcy joins my enterprise, a London investor will purchase the balance of the shares in the ship. My two shareholders will recover their investment within two years and grow richer each year thereafter.”

Fortunately for Elizabeth, listening from the room above the office, Mr Collins required his visitor to repeat his story more than twice for the facts to remain in the pastor’s mind.

“I have an opportunity to expand my business by purchasing a cargo ship,” Wickham stated.

Mr Collins asked no questions, so Wickham continued, “This ship will sail with tea and British goods to the ports in America where British ships are welcome. When it returns after only a few months, it will bring sugar, rum, and tobacco for the merchants in London.”

“Will this bring more profits?” asked Mr Collins.

“Yes, if Mr Darcy makes his investment,” replied Wickham.

Mr Collins asked, “Is Mr Darcy investing in your business? He never spoke about business last autumn or during his visit to his aunt, Lady Catherine. Did I tell you how horribly Mr Darcy treated his aunt? It was most distressing.”

“I count Darcy as a trusted acquaintance, and I am distressed to hear of such behaviour,” said Wickham but the man did not dwell on the disappointment.

Rather, he directed the story back to the New World Tea Company saying, “When Darcy heard about my new business venture, he expressed an interest, and I offered him a new preferred stock that would be paid ahead of every other investor. I have fifteen hundred shares at twenty pounds a share.”

“How much will Mr Darcy invest?” Collins inquired.

“At first, we talked about the full amount being Darcy funds–thirty thousand pounds, but he hesitates now to make the investment. I have another investor anxious to purchase half of the stocks once I have secured a promise for the balance. When I heard Darcy was visiting Rosings, I understood he planned to speak to his aunt about investing wealth from his cousin’s estate in the ship. ”

Mr Collins frowned. “I did not hear Mr Darcy speak of this with his aunt while in my presence.”

Wickham sighed, “I do not understand. Darcy knows I shall recover half of the investment with the profits from the first trip. After the second year, we would have enormous profits after every voyage.”

“Indeed?” asked Mr Collins while Elizabeth frowned, cursing her poor education regarding business and profits. She did not know if this return on an investment was possible.

Smiling, Wickham said, “The London merchants who buy the American goods tell me that I would have almost fifteen thousand pounds in profits each year.”

Without thinking, Mr Collins revealed that Lady Catherine’s unhappiness with her nephew was tied to the man’s refusal to marry his cousin.

The cleric continued, “Her Ladyship is most distressed and believes that if she has access to more wealth, Mr Darcy will marry Miss de Bourgh without hesitation. After all, he is a man, and all men are tempted by gold.”

“Gold? Is Her Ladyship Catherine de Bourgh willing to soil her hands with business matters to obtain gold?” asked George.

“Please, Mr Wickham, we must observe the proper forms in matters relating to the noble class,” Mr Collins said kindly. “If you allow me, I shall gladly take you to Rosings Place and introduce you to her ladyship. You can present your opportunity to Lady Catherine before tea tomorrow afternoon.”

Wickham sat back and appeared lost in thought; the silence in the room was more than Collins could withstand.

However, Wickham smiled at Mr Collins before he announced, “Mr Collins, I have a few business matters to complete in the morning–correspondence I must write and send from the inn in Hunsford. As you just reminded me, we must follow the forms of proper behaviour. Therefore, I shall call at Rosings Park at the appropriate afternoon hour to present my proposal to Lady Catherine.”

Delighted that Mr Wickham understood the importance of the established honours due to persons of rank; Mr Collins endorsed the idea for three minutes.

~~~

After Mr Collins escorted Mr Wickham to the parlour where the gentleman of business asked Mrs Collins to express his best wishes for Miss Bennet to recover. He also thanked the lady for tea and biscuits she provided during his visits.

Moving carefully across the floor of her chamber to make as little noise as possible, Elizabeth watched from the window until Mr Wickham disappeared along the road to Hunsford.

Then she stepped closer to the clear pane of glass and stared at the garden beside the parsonage.

The young woman blushed remembering eavesdropping on the conversation of the two men but grew frustrated because her education was deficient in all matters of business.

‘I have no way of knowing if Mr Wickham offers a secure investment for Lady Catherine,’ she finally decided. ‘And the sums of money discussed are beyond my comprehension–thirty thousand pounds for a merchant ship. And profits of fifteen thousand pounds per annum.’

Reflecting further, Elizabeth admitted understanding the temptation that promises of such profits offered.

‘What man or woman could resist the promise of such wealth?’ she asked herself. ‘I understand better now why the gentlemen in Meryton made their investments, and why Mr Collins offered up his income for future profits.’

Turning from the window, she walked across the room and made her way down the stairs to the parlour and joined Mr and Mrs Collins for an afternoon of the parson’s reading from Fordyce’s Sermons.

In her mind, Elizabeth decided to mention nothing to Charlotte when they were alone, and she would put nothing in writing to her father. However, when she returned home, Elizabeth intended to discuss the matter of investments completely.

She smiled suddenly and remembered, ‘If I spend a night with the Gardiners in London, I shall be able to ask my uncle all my questions.’

~~~