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Just after the noon hour, Lady Catherine de Bourgh entered a private room at the Rothschild Bank.

In quick order, Mr Gilbert Hastings witnessed the bankers provide three paper cheques to Lady Catherine and show the woman how each slip of paper represented the value of five thousand pounds.

Then, she signed the necessary papers to transfer ownership of the two buildings in Gravesend to new owners.

While they waited, one of the bankers explained to the noblewoman how to endorse the cheque to assign the value to another person.

The woman asked, “And how does that person access the gold behind this piece of paper?”

“They come into this bank, and we honour the value with gold or a deposit into their account,” the banker explained. “Cheques make the exchange of wealth much simpler.”

Without any expression of gratitude for the services of the attorneys, the buyers, or the bankers, Lady Catherine departed the bank without speaking to anyone in the hallways or the street.

The impressive carriage and four returned to Matlock house where the woman wrote a note.

She immediately dispatched a footman to deliver it to George Wickham at the Sleeping Dog.

At two of the clock, the footman led George Wickham into the same parlour as earlier in the week. There Lady Catherine endorsed the cheques from the banks and gave them to George Wickham as the man signed and provided the woman with the stock certificates.

Lady Catherine saw the name ‘New World Tea Co.’ printed across the top of each page and underneath the name, there was an engraving of a wilderness scene filled with palm trees and stylized images of the native people who inhabited the land before the Europeans arrived.

“Now, I must find my nephew and use the stocks to entice him to marry my daughter.”

Inclining his head, George Wickham asked, “Is Mr Darcy not at Pemberly or Mayfair?”

“No. His servants in Mayfair claim they do not know where their master resides today.” Peering at the businessman with some suspicion in her gaze, Lady Catherine asked, “You grew up with Darcy and know his haunts. Do you have a notion of where he is hiding himself?”

“I imagine that Darcy is visiting with Charles Bingley, his friend from university,” George replied with a humble tone in his reply.

“And where is Mr Bingley living?” Lady Catherine asked imperiously.

“Bingley has leased an estate in Hertfordshire,” Wickham explained. “The manor is named Netherfield and is located near a village of Meryton, just three hours from London.”

Lady Catherine allowed her satisfaction to display now that she learned where her nephew was hidden.

She waved Wickham away and once he was escorted out the front door, Lady Catherine hurried above stairs.

As soon as she could arrange to slip away with the Matlock carriage and four, she would venture into Hertfordshire and capture her nephew’s attention with gold.

~~~

As soon as he left Lady Catherine at Matlock House, George Wickham made his way to Olive Street where he found Miss Bingley entertaining Lord Campbell with Mrs Young as their chaperone.

In the parlour, he displayed the cheques that totalled fifteen thousand pounds to Miss Bingley who had never seen wealth displayed in such a vulgar manner.

However, Miss Bingley was not repulsed but rather she was excited and could believe that the New World Tea Company was within her reach.

Lord Campbell made the appropriate responses about Lady Catherine making a wise investment and Wickham played the role of a prosperous man of business who was looking into the future with his plans to purchase the new ship.

After the men departed, Caroline remained excited, and she sent a footman to the office of her attorney with a note to obtain their services the next day.

She would visit the bank to withdraw some funds from her dowry and she wished for the men to accompany her to the bank.

It was after the sunset before the footman returned with a written response.

The attorneys, Mr Freed and Mr Yonkers, agreed to the visit the next day at any time after ten of the clock, but in their response, they included the suggestion that Miss Bingley consult with Mr Bingley before making any decisions concerning her dowry.

Mrs Young was prepared to make a suitable comment to praise Miss Bingley’s willingness to seize the opportunity, but that proved unnecessary.

After reading the note Caroline grimaced and said, “My brother Charles is blind to the opportunity in the New World Tea Company! I shall be richer than my brother in ten years and then we shall see who leads society.”

~~~

The next morning, Edith Young recognised that her opinions on any matter would not be welcome. She took care to dress appropriately for a lady’s companion and acted as a chaperone for Miss Bingley. However, she made no comments unless Caroline asked a direct question.

When they left the house, the footman at Olive Street summoned a cab for Miss Bingley and Mrs Young to travel to the legal office of the attorneys.

There, a second cab was hired by the attorneys; the four persons travelled separately to the bank.

When they arrived and stepped from the cabs onto the street, Mr Yonkers once again cautioned Miss Bingley about making investments without her brother’s oversight.

Irritated to have such a discussion on a public street, Caroline inquired, “Is there a requirement in my father’s will that places restrictions on my dowry after I am of age?”

“No, Miss Bingley,” admitted Mr Yonkers.

The young woman was quick and sharp with her reply, “Then provide the services I requested for a silent witness.”

Inside the bank, the gentleman who handled the Bingley fortune heard Caroline’s request, and he immediately suggested that they consult with Charles.

This caution caused Caroline to lose her temper.

After a moment to recover her composure, Miss Bingley demanded that the bank provide the funds she desired immediately.

The banker required a third party provide identification of the person making the request, and Mr Yonkers affirmed to the man that this was indeed Miss Caroline Bingley who was of age and per the will of her late father, she did have the right to manage the funds in her dowry.

The banker surrendered the argument and brought out the appropriate papers for Miss Bingley to sign. Shortly afterwards, the banker provided Caroline with five sheets of paper that he identified as cheques each worth three thousand pounds.

“I saw similar papers just yesterday,” Caroline admitted, and this statement startled the banker and attorneys.

However, there was not the opportunity to make inquiries about where or who the young woman was with when she saw other cheques.

The banker did explain and demonstrate on a blank sheet of paper how to endorse the checks to assign the value to another person.

Mr Freed and Mr Yonkers separated from Caroline and Mrs Young at the door of the bank without best wishes or words of appreciation. The trip back to Olive Street was filled with Caroline’s celebration that Edith endured with good humour; the wealth she had hoped to enjoy was within reach.

Tomorrow, Edith would be free.

At three of the clock, George Wickham called on Miss Bingley at Olive Street with Lord Campbell in attendance.

Despite having the funds on hand, Caroline remained embarrassed to conduct business in front of her beau.

But Lord Campbell assured her that he was pleased to see a woman intelligent enough to seize this opportunity.

In short order, Caroline Bingley endorsed over each check to Mr George Wickham and received back stock certificates for the New World Tea Company. Once their business was complete, Wickham told the others he would leave for the bank immediately to move forward with the purchase of the ship.

However, Lord Campbell lingered long enough for tea to be served.

In a discussion that once again excited Caroline, Lord Campbell asked, “Do you care for the receptions and dances in the City of Bath, Miss Bingley? My circle of friends considers that city to be the only destination for a honeymoon in Britain until such time as matters with Bonaparte are settled.”

With a smile on her face, Caroline inquired, “A honeymoon, sir?”

With confidence in his voice, Lord Campbell stated, “I do not believe in long engagements but will hope for a fine wedding breakfast.”

Conflicted about the speed with which the man was speaking of arranging a wedding but pleased to finally have the moment upon her, Miss Bingley asked, “What of the bride’s gown and trousseau?

“I shall think my bride is lovely in any gown and her trousseau can be assembled after the wedding,” he said, leaning closer than was proper. Mrs Young coughed but did not express her admonition verbally.

Blushing, Lord Campbell asked, “Miss Bingley, might I be allowed to call again tomorrow at three of the clock?”

“Of course, Lord Campbell,” replied Caroline.

The woman was slightly confused by the request before the gentleman explained, “And during my visit, may I have the honour of a private interview?”

After this request was granted, Lord Campbell departed, and Edith Young endured two hours of Miss Bingley revising every moment of the day and the daydreams of her life as the Countess of Argyle.

And Caroline was certain to detail the steps she would take to put her sister and brother in their place.

With a sneer on her face, Caroline spoke aloud, “I shall never allow them to bring their spouse around! Mr Hurst is a cad and Miss Bennet–Mrs Bingley–is the daughter of a common farmer.”

~~~