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On a dreary afternoon when there were no invitations to tea in a week where there were no reviews or dinners for which she could attend, Caroline Bingley grew was frustrated.

‘If only Lord Campbell would return to London, we could become engaged and I should be the toast of London society this spring,’ Caroline whined as she paced about the parlour.

‘ Has he reconsidered his last conversation? Is it because of this house on Olive Street? We do not have separate morning and afternoon parlours like a house should offer for quality folks.’

For a wild moment, she imagined meeting Lord Campbell at Mr Darcy’s fine house in Mayfair. She smiled while thinking, ‘If the man saw how perfectly I fit in such an environment, he will make me his wife – his countess.’

‘I deserve to be invited to every tea and supper in London,’ she told herself. ‘When I become the Countess of Argyle, they will all beg for invitations to my teas. But I shall not give out invitations to supper except to titled nobles.’

Left alone for the afternoon because Mrs Young was visiting family in another part of London, Caroline was restricted in her activities.

‘At least Mrs Young knew not to bring any of her relations to Olive Street. A lady’s companion would never dare to bring her family into her employer’s home or presence. She is nothing more than a servant.’

Without her companion, Caroline could not wander through the shops in Mayfair, displaying herself in her fashionable gowns to the ladies and gentlemen shopping.

She believed that her new outfits and slender form were admired by everyone when they observed her strolling along the street and through the shops.

Then she remembered the weather kept quality folk indoors today and a promenade for shopkeepers was a fruitless effort.

The servants absented themselves from whichever room Caroline choose to spend her time and when she summoned them by ringing a bell, the housekeeper came with the maids and footmen to hear the woman’s instructions.

Only a guest in her brother-in-law’s London house, Caroline dared not abuse the servants as badly as they deserved because the housekeeper was likely to write to Mr Hurst with complaints if she gave voice to her true opinions.

In a moment of inspiration, Caroline decided to inform her sister of her impending triumph. Without Mrs Young present to counsel discretion until the engagement was in place, the woman moved to a table with the necessary tools for writing a letter.

‘I shall write to Louisa and hint at my future title. That will fill my afternoon. But I must write explicitly, or Louisa will never understand.’

‘Why did my sister have to be so dull? Will she grow excited when she reads that I shall marry this summer and become Lady Campbell. I shall instruct her to practice writing my future name, Lady Caroline Campbell, Countess of Argyle,’ Caroline decided.

Miss Bingley smirked as she imagined Mr Hurst having a heart attack or Old Mrs Hurst simply dropping dead when they learned of Caroline’s future.

~~~

Olive Street, London

Sister,

This afternoon, I write with a light heart. Why is my heart so light you ask? Because I am counting the days until I become engaged. Yes, I have found a man worthy of my hand, and we shall marry this summer. And you will never guess the name of my intended. Who is my future fiancé?

During the dark days of winter, I made the acquaintance of Lord John Campbell.

This gentleman attended my salons in February and March with his associate, Mr George Wickham.

Have no fear of impropriety; Mrs Young was present at all times when I met with Lord Campbell.

However, my regard for the gentleman grew with each meeting.

In the second half of March, Lord Campbell was sent to Ireland to tour the farms and properties around the island that belong to his older brother, the Earl of Argyle.

During his absence, I have missed his company and conversation.

Yes, the gentleman courting your sister is the younger brother of an earl. And what is even more wonderful, Lord Campbell is his brother’s heir. Once I marry Lord Campbell, your sister will be Lady Campbell. And when my husband becomes the earl, I shall be a countess and lead London society.

Your sister,

Lady Campbell

Caroline Campbell

Lady Caroline Campbell

Caroline, Countess of Argyle

Caroline Campbell, Countess of Argyle

Lady Caroline Campbell, Countess of Argyle

~~~

The three paragraphs of her letter only filled half of the sheet of paper, but Caroline used the blank space at the bottom to practice writing variations of her future name.

The letter was written in Caroline’s elegant hand, sanded and then allowed to dry fully before she folded it and sealed it with wax.

When she went to write the direction for Mr Hurst’s estate in Suffolk, she realized that she should have waited to fold and seal the letter.

After making several mistakes writing the direction around the lump of wax, Caroline became perturbed and threw the folded paper on the floor, stomped out of the room and up the stairs.

As she climbed the stairs, she thought, ‘This was a worthless exercise to aggravate Louisa and Mr Hurst. When Mrs Young returns this evening, and I shall question her about Wickham and Lord Campbell’s continued absence. Wickham must write to Lord Campbell and speed his return to London.’

After the housekeeper was certain that Mrs Hurst’s sister was safely behind the door of her chamber above stairs, she led a maid into the parlour to tidy the room and sent a footman to replenish the supply of wood for the fire.

She arranged the ink well, sifter of sand, quills and paper in the small writing tray, making them ready for the next time someone sat to write a letter.

From the floor, she collected the letter addressed to Mrs Hurst and the woman didn’t think twice about carrying it toward the front door where a plate lay on a table for letters to be posted the next time a carrier delivered letters.

It was serendipitous that as the housekeeper approached the door, the post carrier arrived with a letter for Miss Bingley from Mrs Hurst. With a coin from the household purse she carried, the housekeeper took possession of the letter from Mrs Hurst and dispatched the letter from Miss Bingley.

~~~

There was a quick interview with George Wickham at Matlock House in the afternoon parlour at the front of the house in the early morning before other members of the family rose from their beds.

Overcoming her distaste for dealing with business, Lady Catherine spoke to Wickham in that room with her footman standing at the door.

“Wickham, my attorneys have found buyers for the properties. I shall have the gold – fifteen thousand pounds – by the fifteenth of the month. I shall summon you that afternoon or the next morning to transfer the money to you.”

“I shall bring the stock certificates and sign them over to you, Lady Catherine,” Wickham replied. “Within twelve months, I shall pay you the first dividend from your shares of the New World Tea Company.”

~~~

That same afternoon, George Wickham believed that luck was on his side–Phillip Bounty appeared at the Sleeping Dog tavern after an absence of four weeks.

Wickham cared little for the scheme in which Bounty was involved, and he quickly reported his success with drawing Lady Catherine de Bourgh to London.

“The old lady is selling some property in her daughter’s estate to raise the gold needed to purchase the shares of the New World Tea Company,” George crowed.

“And once I have that money, Miss Bingley will certainly hand over her fifteen thousand if you continue to portray Lord Campbell so well. Just mention the size of the earl’s manor house in Scotland a few times and she will beg to purchase shares in the New World Tea Company. ”

“What shall I promise her?” asked Bounty.

Wickham grinned and said, “Hint at an engagement and lavish wedding this summer with a honeymoon to Bath for the whole of autumn.”

Bounty nodded and looked expectedly at George for more information. “And the wealth you collect, what share shall I enjoy? Do we can escape separately or travel together to another land to live like kings for the many years?”

George promised Phillip an equal share of the thirty thousand pounds, and he suggested they travel together to a British colony in the Americas. There they could go their separate ways.

Phillip inquired about the number of days to complete this endeavour, and the man was pleased to hear that the wealth would be handed over in less than a fortnight.

In preparation to play his part and at a minor expense to Wickham’s purse, Phillip Bounty vanished.

First the man visited a barber for a trim and shave.

Then Bounty bathed at the tavern. Finally dressed in his fine clothes that had been stored in his trunk at the Sleeping Dog, Lord John Campbell reappeared.

In the company of Mr Wickham, Lord Campbell made an afternoon call at the Hurst home on Olive Street.

Neither man was surprised that Miss Bingley had few questions regarding Lord Campbell’s trip to Ireland.

Beyond assuring herself that he was healthy and sober, Caroline’s attention remained only on the gentleman’s words regarding a successful conclusion to their many meetings.

Mrs Young provided a suitable chaperone for the couple though she did hint aloud that Mr Wickham should allow Lord Campbell to call at the house without his company.

Thereafter, Lord Campbell promised to return the next day for more conversations with only Mrs Young as the chaperone.

Miss Bingley grew overly excited when Mr Wickham asked Lord Campbell about the Campbell family jewellery available for engagements and weddings.

~~~

The next afternoon, Lord Campbell did appear at three of the clock, but Miss Bingley kept her suitor waiting in the parlour for a time. While they waited, Mrs Young explained, “Sir, Miss Bingley thinks to increase your ardour by delaying her appearance.”

Maintaining the persona of a lord, Bailey asked, “Is that an affectation of a young lady with aspirations to join the upper classes, do you think?”

“Lord Campbell, the lady is prepared to hand over her dowry to Mr Wickham once he presents her with evidence of possession of the other funds,” she stated.

“If George plays to that noblewoman’s greed and you wrap the social climber in your net as tightly as possible, we shall have thirty thousand pounds. ”

Remaining in character, Phillip Bounty smiled congenially as if they spoke about the weather. Then he asked, “Mrs Young, how well do you know George Wickham? Do you believe he will share with his confederates?”

Without hesitation, the woman replied, “I know George very well. Despite his promises, Wickham will not share willingly or equally.”

Nodding in agreement, the man said, “I believe the temptation to eliminate us both will manifest. George will plot to keep the whole of treasure for himself.”

Hissing in anger, Edith barely managed to maintain the facade required. Bounty continued saying, “When we flee with the gold, the authorities will search for three people.”

Edith growled, “Or for a black-hearted bastard fleeing from his crime.”

The man offered another idea saying, “But a couple sailing for a new life in the colonies in the Caribbean will not be as scrutinized as closely.”

Surprised but pleased, Edith managed to endorse Bounty’s last statement as they heard Caroline descending the stairs. The lady’s late arrival ended their personal conversation and planning.

~~~