Netherfield Park Revisited (12 page)

I know it is difficult for you to travel in Winter, but should you wish to make the journey in Autumn, when the weather in Kent is still very pleasant, I could arrange to send the carriage to convey you to London and thence to Rosings. Do let me know if you wish me to make the necessary arrangements.

As it happens, I expect to be in Hertfordshire with my parents and Mr and Mrs Darcy early next week, to look over a property. We will probably stay overnight at Longbourn, if that is convenient to you and Miss Mary Bennet.

Charlotte was a little puzzled at Jonathan's letter, since it had only been a day ago that she had received one from Elizabeth Darcy, urging her not to worry about Jonathan and Amelia-Jane.

Elizabeth had written:

Jonathan has been here only yesterday and he seems very happy. Jubilant about the Whig–Liberal victory in the Parliament, he certainly did not seem at all miserable … Perhaps, dear Charlotte, you saw him after a long spell of hard work, with all those late sessions at Westminster. He tells me he intends to spend more time with his family in Kent, in the future …

But despite both letters, Charlotte's feeling of unease persisted.

Much as she disliked interfering in her children's lives, she decided to write to her daughter Catherine Harrison and discover how things were in Kent.

Meanwhile, Jonathan had already called on his daughter at Harwood House and reassured her that all was well, or at least, it was soon going to be.

“Anne-Marie, your mother is safely back in Kent and so are Tess and Cathy,” he declared. “As for this nonsense about Bath, she has told me that she was invited but refused to go because she could not leave her dear ones behind—those were her very words,” he said.

Anne-Marie smiled but remained unconvinced. Her father had always been an optimist. She still had serious doubts.

***

The visit to Hertfordshire was a great success.

Late Summer weather had clothed the woods and fields in gold and green, while the hedgerows and meadows were richly sown with flowers.

They were all agreed that the countryside had the appearance of great prosperity.

“I have never seen it look so well,” said Bingley, admiring the wide enclosed fields as they journeyed towards Netherfield, where Mr Armstrong waited for them.

“It grows more prosperous every year, sir,” said Jonathan, and Darcy reminded them that in some parts of England, the enclosure of fields had contributed to prosperity without necessarily pauperising the landless tenants.

“I cannot remember ever seeing it look so pretty,” said Jane, with a touch of nostalgia for the place, “not in all the years we lived here.”

Elizabeth teased her sister, suggesting that long absence might have something to do with her appreciation, and Jane protested that this was certainly not the case.

“Indeed, no, Lizzie!” she cried, “for we have been back on many occasions, but this time it is truly the best I have seen it.”

Her husband was quick to support her, as usual.

Even Elizabeth and Darcy had to admit to a few sentimental memories as they drove past familiar landmarks and favourite walks which they had not seen in some years. The country around Netherfield had certainly gained a new degree of charm in their eyes.

Mr Armstrong was waiting for them at Netherfield Park and, as they alighted from their vehicles, everyone, including Darcy, who had remained rather sceptical about the “improvements” had to agree that the work done around the grounds and the house was excellent.

Jonathan was eager for Elizabeth's approval. Like his mother, he had always depended upon her good taste in such matters.

She did not disappoint him on this occasion.

“It has certainly improved the appearance of the place, Jonathan; it shows up the graceful lines of the house to better effect,” said Elizabeth, as they surveyed the grounds before going indoors.

Once inside, they were all quick to express satisfaction with the improvements that had undoubtedly added convenience with style to the solid old house. Jonathan was soon convinced this was exactly what he wanted for a country residence for his family.

Bingley and Jane were happy to endorse his judgment.

Elizabeth was delighted with some superb detailing on the architraves over the doors and windows, which all had fine new drapes. She and Jane went upstairs to inspect the bedrooms and indulge in more nostalgia, while the gentlemen stayed to discuss more mundane matters, like the price, with Mr Armstrong.

Looking out of the windows upstairs to admire the view of the park, Jane and Lizzie saw a carriage turn into the drive.

“I wonder who that could be,” said Jane, not recognising the unfamiliar vehicle that had drawn up in front of the house.

“It's Maria and her husband, Dr Faulkner,” said Elizabeth and added soon afterwards, “and they have their daughter Anna with them.”

Jane was rather puzzled. “They are at Haye Park, are they not? I wonder, could they be interested in this place, too?” she asked and her sister, declaring there was only one way to find out, led the way downstairs.

Meanwhile, the Faulkners, seeing Jonathan and the others, were quick to assure them that their visit was merely the indulgence of a nostalgic whim.

They had been passing, on the way home from visiting a sick relative, and decided to take a last look at Netherfield before it was sold.

“Dr Faulkner and I have been to dinner here on many occasions,” said Mrs Faulkner, explaining the extent of her interest in the house. “We knew the previous tenants well; they were Dr Faulkner's patients.”

Dr Faulkner declared his interest, too. “It's a fine place, Mr Bingley,” he said, and with his knowledge of historic buildings, he was able to point out some unique and attractive features, which increased Jonathan's conviction that he was making a very good purchase.

“Haye Park is not as impressive a building, as houses go, I grant you,” he admitted, “but it suits us well. It is just the right size and accommodates the three of us very comfortably. There is plenty of room, too, for either of our elder children and their families when they visit us.”

By this time, Mrs Faulkner had come over to them and invited their entire party to dinner at Haye Park on the following day.

When Elizabeth and Jane expressed some disquiet about putting her to so much trouble to accommodate so many guests at such short notice, Maria laughed and dismissed their concerns, saying simply, “It is so rarely that we have the pleasure of having all of you down here together, you must come.”

Her husband added his voice. “Pray do not concern yourselves; it will be no trouble at all and the pleasure will be ours, I assure you, Mrs Bingley.”

Although they had not intended to stay over two nights, they allowed themselves to be persuaded and agreed to attend the Faulkners for dinner on the following day.

Having completed their discussions with Armstrong, they repaired to Longbourn, where Charlotte Collins and Mary Bennet welcomed them cordially. Tea and other refreshments were soon served in the parlour, and the rest of the afternoon was spent in light-hearted conversation, involving everything and everyone from Mary's music pupils to the newcomers into their neighbourhood, opening up a veritable Pandora's box of memories.

Some of them had been embarrassing at the time, but now were no more than remembered follies. Others, like recollections of Mr Bennet and Sir William Lucas, were more melancholy, but they were determined not to be sad on such a pleasant evening.

One piece of information, however, was new and Charlotte was happy to recount it for their entertainment.

A few days ago, they had had a sudden visit from Lydia Wickham and Jessie Phillips, their aunt Phillips' daughter, both of whom lived a short distance outside of Meryton. They had come bearing what they called “very exciting news” and were determined that Charlotte and Mary should hear it forthwith.

“As Lydia told it,” said Charlotte, “a certain Mr Bingley is said to be interested in Netherfield Park! Not just interested, but has made an offer to buy the place and, said Jessie Phillips, ‘the whole town is talking about it.'”

Charlotte could feel a ripple of amusement pass through her listeners as she continued, “Lydia was sure we would not be able to guess who this mysterious Mr Bingley might be and, in her usual excitable way, made a great to do about it, pretending that it was such a big secret, which she had heard quite by chance,” said Charlotte, and they were all agreed that age had certainly not changed Lydia.

“Of course, we pretended we knew nothing at all,” said Charlotte, adding, “and indeed, we did not, to tell the truth.”

“Though we might have guessed, of course,” said Mary, “but we thought it best that we say nothing to Lydia and Jessie, else it would have been all round the town in half an hour!”

Charlotte went on, “But, of course, it came out that Lydia knew it because her housemaid's mother is the sister of the caretaker at Netherfield Park! So, having been around and about a few times to tease us, she declared, ‘Why, Charlotte, it is your son-in-law and our dear nephew, Jonathan Bingley! He is going to purchase Netherfield Park and move his family to Hertfordshire. There, now what have you to say?'

“Well, of course, we said nothing, and she then took the opportunity to utter such abuse against poor Mr Bennet for having cut her son Henry out of his inheritance and leaving it all to your Jonathan, who she said would now own both Netherfield and Longbourn and was that not selfish and greedy? Dear me, she was very cross indeed,” said Charlotte, and while the others laughed, she added, “I had no wish to give her any encouragement, Eliza, so I said straight away, ‘Well, Lydia, if it is indeed true, I shall be delighted. Nothing would give me greater joy than to have at least one of my daughters and some of my dear grandchildren within calling distance of Longbourn.'”

Seeing the smile on Jonathan's face, she said, “But I have not, of course, had any confirmation of this story.”

Jonathan was happy then to confirm that it was indeed true and Lydia's gossip had, for once, been well founded.

There was no mistaking Charlotte's pleasure. She missed her grandchildren terribly. Jonathan did ask, however, that his plans be kept confidential for a while yet, until the legal formalities had been concluded.

***

On the following day, the entire party dined at Haye Park as arranged, for Miss Faulkner had called that morning at Longbourn to extend the invitation to Mrs Collins and Mary.

During a very pleasant evening, they admired Miss Faulkner's drawings, enjoyed her father's tales of his boyhood in India, and were taken on a conducted tour of his remarkable conservatory, which held an amazing collection of tropical plants. Mr Bingley was very interested indeed and asked many questions, wondering whether they would survive in his own hothouse at Ashford Park.

After dinner, they were entertained by Anna, who played the harp. It was an instrument that neither Elizabeth nor her sister had ever attempted to learn. Mr Darcy, whose sister Georgiana had mastered the harp, was most favourably impressed by Anna's performance, and Jonathan was as much charmed by the sweetness of her playing as by the music.

When they were taking coffee, Mrs Faulkner revealed that Anna was to travel to London on the coach the following day.

“She is going to stay a while with the Armandes, the Flemish couple whose school she attended in Brussels. They have recently arrived in London and have taken an apartment in Belgrave Square,” she said.

Anna, feeling some explanation was required, said, “Monsieur Armande is to conduct some classes on the French painters, and I am to assist him with some of the teaching.”

Jane, who had been standing with Jonathan beside the coffee table, said, “But why must you go by coach, Anna? We leave for London tomorrow, and you could travel far more conveniently with us. Mr Darcy and Lizzie are going on directly to Woodlands, but we shall be travelling with Jonathan to Grosvenor Street, which is not at all far from Belgrave Square. Should you come with us, we could take you to your friends.”

Anna was, at first, taken aback by her offer, but was soon persuaded by her parents to accept.

“Oh, my dear, I should be so much happier to know you were travelling safely with friends, rather than on a public coach,” said her mother, and Jonathan, noting her apparent reluctance, pointed out that it would be far quicker as well as safer.

“The public coaches tend to stop more often—to set down and pick up passengers; we would be in London in half the time,” he said.

When Anna explained that her friends would not be expecting her until the evening, Jane solved the problem by inviting her to dine with them before going on to Belgrave Square.

With both her parents keen for her to accept, Anna agreed and it was arranged that she would be ready to leave early on the morrow.

As they drove back to Longbourn, Mr Bingley said he wished more young women of today were like Miss Faulkner. His friend and mentor agreed.

“Indeed, she is all a young woman should be,” he said, “intelligent, accomplished, and handsome as well.”

From Mr Darcy, this was high praise. She had already gained his approval by her conversation at dinner, where she had sat next to him, and later delighted him with her performance on the harp.

“Her proficiency in French and German is remarkable,” he continued, “and yet she remains modest and unassuming. Throughout dinner she was able to carry on an interesting conversation about the time she spent in Europe, without once being boastful about her achievements.”

The ladies had to agree. “Rarely does one meet a young woman who combines talent and beauty with an unpretentious manner,” said Elizabeth, and Jane, whose sweetness of disposition had triumphed over every possible exigency, went further.

“Anna Faulkner is surely one of the most accomplished young women I have met and yet she is thoroughly unspoilt and charming,” she said.