“You are quite wrong, as it happens. A family with three children can live on five hundred pounds a year, and there is only one of you. Now then, pay attention. I believe we can find you a furnished townhouse for one hundred pounds a year. Peggy earns fifteen pounds a year, a maid of all work will get ten pounds, a manservant fifteen pounds, and a cook will get twenty pounds. There now, we have covered a house and servants and have only spent one hundred and sixty pounds a year. Plenty of money left for food, candles, clothing and what not, though I must tell you that your dressmaker bills are normally six hundred pounds a year. You will want to keep an eye on such expenditures so as not to exceed your income.”
His sister gaped at him.
“Did you think that I do not know the prices of things?” he asked her.
Caroline shook her head, still dazed at the idea of living on eight hundred pounds a year. What would her friends think? And what about suitors?
“Charles, how am I to find a husband?”
“I do not know, Caroline. What I do know is that you have a good many friends or, at least, acquaintances, and they will doubtless invite you to all sorts of gatherings. In any case, I will begin searching for a house for you tomorrow. If you wish your opinion to be considered, be ready to leave at ten in the morning.” With that, Mr. Bingley rose, bowed to his sister and left the room.
He was able to make his way up the stairs and into his own room before succumbing to the anxiety that now threatened to overwhelm him. He fell into his bed, fully clothed. Dunstan had seen his employer in this condition before; it usually followed a spat with Miss Bingley. Dunstan knew what to do; he quickly poured a glass of brandy and added a drop of laudanum.
“Sit up, sir,” he coaxed.
Mr. Bingley did so, and swallowed down the concoction without hesitation. “Thank you, Dunstan,” he whispered. “I am sorry about – three hours in the carriage – sorry –“
“I understand, Mr. Bingley.” Moving quickly, Dunstan was able to get Mr. Bingley out of his clothes and into a nightshirt before drugged sleep claimed him.
Chapter Forty-Three
Georgiana had changed her clothes three times already, despite knowing that it did not matter what she wore. The cut and colour of her gown would not change how Brother would react when he saw her. She could only hope that he would not notice her pregnancy right away. Perhaps they could be in charity with one another before he learnt that she was carrying Wickham’s child.
The Countess finally insisted that Georgiana leave her room and wait in the drawing room “like a civilised young lady,” as the Countess put it. Georgiana was not certain she qualified as a civilised young lady, but she had to obey her aunt’s dictates.
Her uncle was already waiting there. “It will be all right, Georgiana,” he assured her.
Georgiana just shook her head. It was not all right, and she rather doubted that it would ever be all right again.
Her aunt gave her a cup of tea, but her hand shook so badly that she had to put the cup down before she spilled it on the Aubusson carpet.
***
Mr. Darcy’s carriage arrived at Matlock House before luncheon. Mr. Darcy had still not determined what to say to his sister, or how to manage his anger. He supposed he would just have to do his best to be the supportive older brother that she doubtlessneeded. And the supportive older brother that I have always been, he thought to himself, bitterly.
As the carriage came to a stop, he prepared to leave the carriage. Richard put a hand on his arm. “Cousin, just – be kind, will you? I do not doubt that she has endured a great deal.”
Mr. Darcy shook off Richard’s hand and climbed out.
The butler opened the door as they approached. “Colonel, Mr. Darcy,” he greeted them. They followed the butler into the house and waited behind him as he announced them. Mr. Darcy huffed impatiently at the delay – what nonsense this was, as if his aunt and uncle did not know his name! – and finally the butler stepped aside.
There was a minute of silence as everyone just looked at one another. No one quite knew how to break the tension in the room. Finally, Richard elbowed his cousin aside and said, “Georgiana!” He opened his arms and the girl jumped up and ran to him.
“Oh, Richard, I am so glad to see you!” He hugged her tight, suddenly and inevitably aware that she was pregnant.
Georgiana then turned to her brother; it was then that he saw her changed shape. His brows drew together as she whispered, tentatively, “Brother?”
Mr. Darcy ran from the room and managed to make it outside before casting up his accounts into the shrubbery.
Chapter Forty-Four
Mrs. Bennet did her best to be tactful when explaining to Mr. Collins that Mr. Bennet would never allow him to have Jane as his wife, nor Elizabeth. “But Mary, Kitty, Lydia?” she offered, hopefully.
Shaking his head, Mr. Collins left Mrs. Bennet wringing her hands and went into the back garden to be alone with his thoughts. Mr. Bennet would never consent? Mr. Collins was stunned. Was he not in possession of an important post, rector to the extremely important Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Was he not the proud possessor of a large and comfortable cottage, separated only by a narrow lane from Rosings Park? And, most importantly, was he not the heir to this very estate, Longbourn? How could Mr. Bennet have the slightest doubt that he, Mr. Collins, was the best possible husband for any of his daughters? It was baffling.
He heard someone opening the back gate; looking up, he saw a young woman walking toward the house. He did not want to frighten her by allowing her to come upon him unexpectedly, so he rose to his feet as she approached.
They both hesitated; with no one nearby to introduce them, neither was willing to speak first. Finally, Mr. Collins, thinking that as a rector, he would be more likely to be forgiven for breaking the rules than a young lady, bowed low to her. “I begyour pardon, miss. Please allow me to introduce myself, as there is no one about to do the honours. I am Mr. Collins, Mr. Bennet’s cousin.”
