Meanwhile, he should attend to his host. “Charles, it is still early in the day. Let me wash up a bit and then I will join you in an inspection of the house. That will allow me to at least get a feel for Netherfield.”
“Excellent! I will await you here.” Bingley’s face was wreathed in smiles.
Mrs. Bingley led Mr. Darcy up the stairs and to his room. He glanced about him as he walked; the window sashes were tight, and there was no evidence of damp. “Mrs. Bingley, in order to give you and your husband a full assessment of the property, I will need to look into all the rooms, including the attics.”
“I understand completely; my father told me to expect that request.”
“I hope I will have the opportunity to meet your father, Mrs. Bingley. Miss Bennet has told me of the game they play and I have looked forward to testing my skills against him.”
“Oh, the First Line game! Yes, they enjoy it immensely. My sister is a great reader in any case, but her memory has become prodigious now that she also memorizes the first line of every poem and book she can lay her hands on, hoping to stump our father.”
“I enjoyed playing the game with her in Kent,” Mr. Darcy said.
“Yes, she mentioned that you and your cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, were worthy opponents.”
He stopped walking and turned to her. “Please believe me, Mrs. Bingley, when I say that I was horrified at what transpired in Kent; I hope with all my heart that your sister does not blame me for it.”
“She does not, no. But you will be able to reassure yourself on that score, as I have invited my entire family for dinner tonight. You will soon understand why I said that we all have relatives for whom we must blush.” With that, she walked on and opened a door. “Here is your room, Mr. Darcy. I hope you will find it comfortable. If there is anything at all that you require, you have but to pull the bell cord and you will be attended to immediately.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bingley. Oh – are your husband’s sisters in residence?”
“Mrs. Hurst is here with her husband, though they are in Meryton shopping just now.”
“And Miss Bingley?”
Mrs. Bingley hesitated. “I suppose I should just speak frankly. It is easier for me if she does not live with us, so she is at Bingley House in London. She has not been told of your visit here, as she would then insist on joining the party. I am given to understand that you do not welcome her attentions, and we had no wish to make you uncomfortable.”
Mr. Darcy was relieved; he would not have to fend off Bingley’s rapacious younger sister. “Thank you again, Mrs. Bingley. You are very gracious.”
Chapter Eighteen
Mr. Darcy did his very best to be interested in Netherfield, and to comment appropriately to his friend Bingley. Though the house was fairly new, the tricks now often employed by masons to cut costs were not in evidence. The brick was solid all the way through; there was no outer facing employed to hide cheaper materials inside. The wooden floors showed no signs of damp; if the rugs covering the floors were worn, this was not to be wondered at, given that it was a leased estate. Mrs. Bingley would doubtless want to select her own furnishings, including the floor coverings, if Bingley chose to make the purchase.
The windows were all sash, allowing ventilation to be controlled throughout the house. There were a good number of windows, so Bingley would have to deal with window tax, but he was wealthy enough to pay it easily. Both gentlemen went up to the attics, for if the roof was not sound, the attics would be the first to suffer, but the attics, like the rest of the house, passed muster.
“There is nothing wrong with the house that I can see, Bingley,” Mr. Darcy assured his friend.
“Should I buy it? Jane would be delighted to be settled so near her family!”
“Hold; we must ride the estate and speak with the tenants. It may be that a good deal of money has been poured into the main house at the expense of the tenant housing and proper drainage.”
“And I have heard you say often enough that the tenants are the most important part of any estate,” Mr. Bingley commented. “Jane says the same.”
“Yes, I recall Miss Bennet making a similar comment.”
“Say, Darcy.” Bingley’s tone was now less cheerful.
“Yes, Bingley?”
“It was a rotten thing that was done to my sister-in-law, Elizabeth, while she was in Kent. I am surprised you allowed it to happen.”
“Iallowedit? Bingley, it was done before I even knew of it!”
“What happened, then? You must recall that I am her brother now. Her father is somewhat remiss in exercising his paternal duties, so I think it rather falls to me.”
“The truth of the matter is that I made the mistake of showing Miss Bennet attention, and the sight of a young lady other than her daughter occupying my notice was more than my aunt could bear.”
“I had heard that you were engaged to your cousin, though you had never mentioned it.”
