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The next day, Elizabeth planned to walk from Longbourn to Netherfield as soon as the family rose from breaking their fast. When Mr and Mrs Bennet had departed the dining room, Kitty and Lydia teased their older sister about her pursuit of Mr Darcy.

But Mary surprised her sisters by asking to accompany Lizzy on her walk.

Mary explained her interest saying, “I should very much enjoy speaking with Miss Darcy again about her music lessons. She is very talented and mentioned how performance is just as important as pressing the keys in the proper order.”

Elizabeth was more than willing to invite Mary to venture out with her, and the two sisters sought their father’s permission before vanishing through the door in the kitchen.

The distance of two miles would not keep them from Netherfield.

Mrs Bennet was pleased that Lizzy was asserting herself in the pursuit of Mr Darcy and she allowed for Mary’s absence without complaint.

Turning to Kitty and Lydia, Mrs Bennet would give her full attention to her two youngest daughters this morning to improve their manners.

During the visit, Georgiana and Mary remained in the corner with the pianoforte and sheets of music under the tutelage of Mrs Annesley, while Mr and Mrs Bingley acted as chaperones for Miss Elizabeth and Mr Darcy.

The four adults discussed many topics and today, they focused on the many tasks Charles and Jane dealt with to increase the income that Netherfield produced.

“My beautiful wife urges me to speak with the steward about planting more fields in oats next year. We must have that grain to feed for horses on the estate and can sell any extra to feed the steads in our neighbour’s stables and every livery stable in London.

Elizabeth nodded and explained, “Jane and I have both counselled our father to increase the number of fields sown with oats. Despite our efforts, Papa never tells the farmers to sow more oats. There are fallow fields where the grain would grow and Longbourn would have enough oats for all the horses through the year.”

“We grow much more wheat than the farmers or our family need.”

Mr Darcy asked, “Why would you father prefer to raise more wheat than oats?”

This time it was Mrs Bingley who explained, “We make more money with wheat. Longbourn has an excellent granary where our wheat is stored after harvest. Father does not rush it to market when other landlords do. Then at Christmas before the snows arrive, the farmers take the grain to the markets in London where merchants pay top dollar for the grain. We are only three hours from the London markets and the roads are passable for the horses and drivers in autumn.”

“Jane is correct,” Elizabeth stated. “Longbourn does make more money with the late sales of grain but still, the estate could grow more oats.”

Mr and Mrs Bingley discussed the idea of holding back some of their grains for sale later in the winter while also sowing other fields in oats – Mr Bingley did have a two hunters, and team of four horses to pull the family coach.

And the number of horses in the stable that belonged to his guests were numerous.

Each quarter day, Charles found it necessary to purchase oats and hay from his neighbours to feed the animals in his stables.

Mr Bingley agreed to his wife’s argument by saying, “We shall discuss with the steward which farms have fallow fields, enough fertilizer and labour to add fields to grow oats or change some wheat fields to grow oats that the house will buy from the farmer to feed the horses in the stable. But there will be no changes before next spring.”

Mr Darcy considered the young couple for a moment before he stated, “That appears to be a sound plan.”

Elizabeth smiled at her sister and new brother, “Mr and Mrs Bingley understand that there are things they do not know about the farms on Netherfield. They have an idea of how to make the estate produce more feed for the horses, but they will seek the opinions of the steward and the farmers before making any decision.”

With only the four of them in the conversation, Charles added, “However, my wife and I shall not make long term investments at Netherfield. Our lease is for only two more years and then we shall seek a permanent situation.”

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