Page 33 of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn

Breakfast Parlor

Netherfield

“Good morning, Caroline,” Louisa Hurst said, looking up from her plate of food.

“There is little that is good about it,” her sister said irritably, stalking over to the buffet and placing a few dainty morsels on her plate.

“Whatever has upset you?” Louisa asked in surprise.

“Need you ask?” her sister riposted. “Mr. and Miss Darcy are back in London, and we are here, and still Charles insists on staying on in this hideously dull place!”

“Oh.”

“Oh indeed! It is entirely insupportably boring here, Louisa; our neighbors are mostly simple people of no interest, and without Mr. Darcy and his sister, and with Lydia and Kitty Bennet in mourning, well, I am confident that I will go quite mad with ennui. We simply must convince our brother to return to Town! ”

The door opened, and the butler entered and said, “Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, the master requests that you join him in his office when you have broken your fast.”

The two ladies exchanged looks and Mrs. Hurst said, “Certainly, Bates.”

The man retreated, and Caroline said, “Perhaps Charles has come to the obvious realization that he ought not to stay here.”

“Perhaps,” her sister said noncommittally. “Do finish your meal and we will see.”

/

Office

Longbourn

Elizabeth stepped through the door of the long-closed office of Longbourn.

When last she had been in here, the cramped little room had been dusty and disorganized and half-empty.

Her father had long preferred to conduct estate business in his own library.

Now though, the neat plain curtains at the windows had been washed and starched, the shelves were dusted and organized, and the small plain desk in the center of the room was cleaned, polished, and replenished with paper, pens, and ink.

Elizabeth had little doubt that all this activity had been at the behest of the new mistress of Longbourn.

“You called for me, Uncle?” she asked.

“Please sit down, Lizzy,” Josiah said.

Elizabeth did so, though with a twinge of concern. There was an odd look in her uncle’s face.

“Is something wrong?” she asked nervously.

“No, not really,” her uncle said, his eyes fixed on the pen in his hand, and then he raised his countenance and said ruefully, “I have a favor to ask, dear niece, but if you simply cannot bear it, I beg you will tell me.”

She smiled at these words, relieved. She knew that her uncle spoke the actual truth when he gave such reassurances. “Pray ask, and I will answer.”

“You know that your mother is being disruptive, and thus needs to leave for London soon,” her uncle said, and at a nod from Elizabeth, continued, “I know that our original plan was for you and Jane to keep your mother company, but the more I look at the ledgers, the more I realize how little I know. Jane tells me that you oversaw the estate these last weeks, and I am confident your little finger knows more about the estate than my entire hand. Would you be willing to stay here at Longbourn for a few weeks to assist me in learning what I need to know?”

Elizabeth thought for all of two seconds before nodding decisively. “Of course I can, Uncle.”

Josiah eyed her uneasily. “You responded very rapidly, my dear. Please do think it over; I know you were very close to your father, and being here must bring substantial pain.”

“Longbourn is also my home, and while yes, I feel anguish whenever I step into the library and see Father’s seat empty, I also love the estate.

I am happy that you are striving to be a good master, and I am eager to assist in any way I can.

Besides,” and here she wrinkled her nose, “I confess to some pleasure in having some time away from my mother.”

She immediately flushed in embarrassment – that was hardly an appropriate thing to say, no matter how true. But she was tired and grieving, and given the sympathetic look on her uncle’s face, he understood completely.

“I am concerned about Jane, though,” Elizabeth continued, regaining her composure. “If she is responsible for managing our mother alone, she may find herself overwhelmed.”

“I intend to send Lydia with Jane,” Josiah explained, “and I have already asked your youngest sister if that is pleasing to her. She is eager and willing and it seems, based on admittedly limited experience, that Lydia is the most adept at handling your mother’s…?”

“Vapors and tantrums?” Elizabeth finished. “Yes, she is.”

“I think perhaps in a month or so, once I am more familiar with managing Longbourn, I will ask you or Kitty to join Jane in London. But we will see.”

“Very well,” Elizabeth agreed. She felt a sudden twinge of disappointment, and it took a moment for her to realize that she was dismayed that she would not have the opportunity to spend time with Miss Darcy and her brother.

But then, there was no reason to imagine that the Darcys, certainly denizens of one of the finest neighborhoods in all of London, would lower themselves to visit a small home in Cheapside.

“Uncle, there is one more matter I wish to bring to your attention,” she said.

“Yes?”

“It concerns a new arrival in Meryton, an individual by the name of George Wickham. He has just accepted a commission as a lieutenant in the militia regiment there, and he is the Darcys’ enemy.”

Josiah’s dark eyebrows flew up at this remarkable statement. “That is a dramatic contention. ”

“But none the less, true,” Elizabeth said, and described her conversation with Mr. Darcy, along with Lydia’s impressions of the man.

When she was finished, Josiah’s expression was grim. “He does sound like a dangerous reprobate, Elizabeth.”

“Yes, he does, and according to Lydia, he is very handsome and has charming manners, which I think makes him more treacherous, especially to young women.”

“I agree,” Josiah said, pondering, and then looked up with a determined nod. “Do not concern yourself any more, my dear; I will decide what to do about Mr. Wickham.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

/

Office

Netherfiel d

In the days since Jane Bennet had refused him, Charles had spent at least three hours a day toiling over ledgers and reading books about agriculture.

The desk, formerly bare and pristine, was now piled high with various paperwork and letters, and thus Charles chose to remain standing as his sisters sailed into the room and took their places on a small sofa near the fire.

Bingley was nervous about this upcoming conversation.

As the only male Bingley of his generation, and the master of Netherfield, he had substantial power over his womenfolk, but he had long been in the habit of allowing his sisters to rule his life.

That needed to change; not, of course, that he should be abusive or power hungry, but Miss Bennet was correct; he had been too easygoing for some years.

“Why do you wish to see us, Charles?” Caroline demanded, brushing a piece of lint off of her embroidered sleeve. “Have you decided to return to London?”

“No,” her brother said, circling around to face his sisters directly. “I need to speak to you about some changes that will be happening here at Netherfield in the next days and weeks.”

Both ladies looked at him, startled at his tone.

“Changes?” Mrs. Hurst asked. “What kind of changes? ”

Her brother straightened still more and said, “This pertains mostly to Caroline, but a little to you, Louisa. It has become evident to me that both of you are rude, snobbish, and condescending towards our neighbors, which is not desirable. It is harming my reputation, and as one of the principal landowners in the area, that is unacceptable.”

Louisa stared at her brother in wonder, and she found herself grasping her sister’s arm, both as support and to restrain her hot-headed sister from doing something foolish.

Caroline, on the other hand, promptly went on the attack.

“What are you speaking of, Charles?” she demanded indignantly.

“Louisa and I attended one of the finest seminaries in the land, and I assure you that we are far more aware of social niceties than any of the provincials here in Hertfordshire.”

Bingley’s jaw tightened dangerously, and he felt a sudden urge to step forward and slap his sister in the face. The moment passed within seconds, but he saw Louisa’s eyes widen, as if she had seen something alarming on his countenance.

He took a deep breath in and out, and he forced himself to speak calmly.

“Caroline, it may be true that you are aware of the social niceties, but that does not mean that you practice them. I have observed your less than subtle insults and disparaging asides many a time, but I did not have the moral integrity to address them. But that changes now. I am determined that you will not bring any more shame upon me.”

Caroline had been turning more and more pink throughout this measured speech, and Bingley was certain that only Louisa’s firm grip on her sister’s arm was keeping the younger woman from interrupting him, or attacking him, or rushing out of the room. Caroline was not used to being rebuked.

“This does sound very serious,” Louisa said as soon as he had finished speaking. “Am I correct that someone locally has complained about us?”

Bingley paused, and apparently the answer was so readily apparent that Miss Bingley cried out, “Charles, this is insupportable! Do you mean to tell me that one of our neighbors had the temerity to hunt you down and complain about our manners? You speak of our behavior when one of the vulgar locals found it appropriate to accost you regarding our behavior?”

“No,” Bingley snapped, and again, he forced himself to breathe deeply. Yes, he had long been too genial, too meek, but it would not do to swing to the other extreme and begin yelling.

“No,” he repeated, and sat down across from his sisters, whereupon he leaned forward to glare. “The truth is that I offered for Miss Jane Bennet a few days ago… ”

“What?” Caroline screeched. “Charles, how could you engage yourself to a…”

“And she refused me!” he finished loudly.

This struck both ladies dumb, and Caroline even gaped unbecomingly.

“She refused you?” Louisa demanded incredulously.

“She did. And when I asked whether there was some aspect of my character that she found wanting, she demurred until I insisted that I wished to know of her criticisms. She then informed me that I have been lazy in overseeing the estate, and greatly at fault for not requiring you to speak courteously and kindly to and about our neighbors.”

“Nonsense! Nonsense!” Caroline cried out indignantly.

“It is not nonsense,” her brother said sternly.

“We heard you speaking to Mr. Darcy, you know, that day when Miss Bennet and I were walking in the shrubbery while Miss Kitty was ill. You were mocking Miss Elizabeth openly, and it is an indication of my own failure as brother and master of my house that I never spoke to you on the matter. ”

Caroline actually had the grace to look slightly uncomfortable, and Louisa demanded, “What was the conversation about?”

“It was nothing,” Caroline muttered. “It was merely that Mr. Darcy told me he admired Miss Elizabeth’s ‘fine eyes’ and well, such a thing is absurd of course; she is not worthy of his admiration. I pointed out that …”

She trailed away at the sight of her brother’s narrowed eyes and thin lips.

“In any case, it hardly matters,” she said loftily. “No one in these environs is worthy of our attention!”

“Given that I wished to marry Miss Jane Bennet, I obviously believe differently,” Bingley said sternly.

“Now I did not call you here to bandy words; as you know, I am in charge of your allowance until you reach your majority, Caroline, and I have every intention of withholding funds if you continue to deride and insult our neighbors. As for you, Louisa, I have long been generous to you and Hurst, but if you do not change your ways, I will send you back to London and remove all financial support.”

Caroline’s face was now plum red with outrage, while Louisa was pale. Fortunately for the younger sister, Mrs. Hurst recovered first .

“Of course, Charles, of course,” Louisa said and rose hastily, pulling her sister along with her. “I do apologize for my own poor behavior in this matter, and I assure you that I will mend my ways. Do you wish to speak of anything else?”

“No,” her brother said.

/

Louisa Hurst’s Dressing Room

“Why did you hurry me off?” Caroline demanded, pulling her arm loose from her sister’s firm grip.

“This entire situation is absurd! I have said nothing that was not true about our neighbors! I do not believe any of the local girls have been away to a good school, and I have, on occasion, pointed out their obvious deficiencies. There is nothing wrong with that!”

Louisa sat down next to the fire and eyed her sister with irritation. She had no desire to argue with Caroline, who was far stronger willed than she, but nor was she willing to lose her brother’s financial support.

“It does not matter whether you said anything wrong or not,” she said. “Charles is upset, and I assure you that I do not wish to be sent back to London. Do you? Do you not value your allowance?”

Caroline tossed her head and said, “Oh, Louisa, do not be ridiculous! Our brother’s bark is worse than his bite! He is not serious about this, I am certain! It will blow over soon enough.”

“Charles neither barks nor bites, and you know it,” Louisa argued and shook her head.

“I have never seen him like this, as he has always been remarkably easygoing. No, Caroline, I have no desire to live off of Hurst’s limited income, and I will not provoke our brother in this matter.

You may do what you wish, but I intend to be very careful in my speech from now on regarding our neighbors. ”

Caroline clenched her teeth, glared at her sister, and then flounced out of the room. She had no desire to make any changes whatsoever in her behavior.