"Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet hopes you will join the family for breakfast," Mrs. Hill said.
From her chamber window, Mrs. Bennet had observed Elizabeth and William walking back toward Longbourn. She insisted Mrs. Hill rush down to invite William to stay for breakfast while she hurriedly finished her morning preparations. She was hoping to advance her plan for bringing Jane to William's attention.
"I thank you, but I will be breaking my fast with my mother and sister when I return to Netherfield," William replied. However, something in Elizabeth's eyes urged him to stay. "I would be happy to join you for a cup of coffee and a bit of toast."
After seeing to their outerwear, Mrs. Hill ushered them into the dining room and set a place at the table for him. Mr. Bennet and Mary were the only occupants of the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Darcy. I did not expect you to grace my table, but you are very welcome. Did you enjoy the assembly?" Mr. Bennet set aside his newspaper to welcome their guest and he motioned for Mary to close her book.
"As I was telling Miss Bennet, I cannot remember a more enjoyable evening."
Mr. Bennet looked between William and Elizabeth and saw that, though they did not look at each other, their pleased expressions were remarkably similar.
"Miss Mary, I know you do not care for the entertainment but thank you for your patience last evening. I hope you have recovered from my missteps."
"Oh no, Mr. Darcy, I thought you were quite good!" Mary appreciated Mr. Darcy's efforts to make her feel comfortable and that she was the superior dancer.
"You are very kind, but I will take more care for our next dance. And, if you will indulge me, what is it you are reading?" William nodded toward the book Mary had set aside.
"It is the Memoirs of Modern Philosophers; do you know it?" Mary handed the book to him.
"I do, and if I may say, it is a novel that begs for good, robust debate. If you would like to discuss it, my mother and I are both familiar with the text and would be happy to hear your opinions." Each of the Bennets present at the table felt their estimation of William rise, but Elizabeth felt increasing captivated by him, with this sincere interest in her sister's thoughts. If his kindness to her and her family continued, she thought she could find herself quite smitten before too long.
Unaware of Elizabeth's thoughts, William examined the volume in his hands. "Hmm, fourth edition, good binding, but Robinson's paper has always been inferior. Oh, pardon me, it is a professional habit. GG and J Robinson are the publishers of this particular work. They are located near my company's offices on Pasternoster Row in London. And it happens, paper is what takes me to London tomorrow."
"You go to London tomorrow?" Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet uttered the words in unison as Mrs. Bennet entered the dining room with Kitty and Lydia. She was just in time to hear William's last statement.
William looked between both ladies but spoke to Elizabeth. "I hope to acquire a paper mill. I meet with my solicitor and the owner wishing to sell tomorrow. And when I return in a few days, Moss & Co. will be better situated for the future."
"Why, I was just going to inquire about your next journey to London. If you are for town already, it will be no imposition for you to take a letter to my Jane and, of course, my brother and sister."
"I would be pleased to do so, madam. I leave quite early tomorrow. If you would like to send your missives to Netherfield Park by this evening, I shall carry them with me when I depart."
"Wonderful!" Mrs. Bennet clapped her hands together. "And now you shall have the opportunity to meet Jane. I am sure you will find her the most handsome woman of your acquaintance."
"I have no doubt she is lovely, as are all your daughters," William responded evenly, as Kitty and Lydia giggled.
"But my Jane is so admired, I am sure you will agree." Mrs. Bennet was gleeful that William would do her bidding.
"Jane is all that is kind and good. How could one not find her so? Mr. Darcy, I am glad that you will have the opportunity to meet my sister." Elizabeth spoke in a detached voice, causing William to examine her face for signs of distress. "You must promise to give our letters to her directly and not leave them with my aunt or the housekeeper."
"I will, if that is what you wish," William replied quietly.
"It is long past due, I suppose," Elizabeth sighed. "I shall await your return, and your report on how you found her."
William wished he could speak to Elizabeth alone but as he glanced at the clock, he realized he must hurry back to Netherfield Park to join his family. He rose to leave but could not leave things as they were, for he knew not what to think. "If your father agrees, you are welcome to ride to London in my carriage. I can escort you to your family and collect you on my way back." William looked at Mr. Bennet, "Chaperoned, of course."
"Mr. Bennet will agree to anything that reduces the number of females in the house, but it will not do at all. I need Lizzy here with me," Mrs. Bennet countered.
"Mama, I thought you wished for Jane to come home and for Lizzy to go to London. Would this not facilitate just what you wanted?" Mary asked, she had discerned her mother's machinations and quietly rebelled against them. She liked William and thought he was well suited to her favorite sister.
"Not now, child," Mrs. Bennet hushed her. It was a calculated risk on Mrs. Bennet's part. As much as she wanted Jane home to entertain William, she did not wish for Elizabeth to take even the brief trip to London in his carriage, nor did she wish to divide his attention when he finally met Jane. "Mr. Darcy has other things to concern himself with than escorting Lizzy to London."
"But he will still be going to my aunt and uncle Gardiner's, it would not even be out of his way-"
"I am sorry, Mr. Darcy. Mary is still young, and she does not even realize the inconvenience of what she suggests." She hurriedly ushered him to the door the collect his coat while giving him thorough directions to the Gardiner home on Gracechurch Street.
After Mrs. Bennet and William exited the room, Mr. Bennet look to Elizabeth. He spoke quietly so the other girls would not hear. "I know I am confused. I imagine Mr. Darcy is as well."
"I know, I know. I like Mr. Darcy very much but I do not want to be hurt if he should prefer Jane over me. It is best that he meets her now, before my heart is more fully engaged, so I will not have to wonder or worry about what may come."
"I think you do both yourself and Mr. Darcy a disservice, Lizzy. Though he has not confided in me, I recognize when a young man has taken a fancy to a young lady."
"He has been most attentive, but I do not wish him to feel obligated if his inclinations lead him in another direction."
"Oh, Lizzy. I do not think you will have any worries in that respect."
~~PoR~~
William had been in deep thought since departing Longbourn the day before, and now, arriving at his solicitor's office, he needed to set that aside to see to business.
"Ah, Mr. Darcy, come in, come in." His solicitor, Mr. Boyer, led him to his office which was already occupied by two other gentlemen. The older man, he recognized as a solicitor who he had met while studying law. Seated next to him was a very young man, fair and lanky, who smiled nervously. If the lad had reached his majority, William would have been very surprised.
Mr. Boyer proceeded to introduce William to Frederick Provorse, the solicitor, and Mr. Provorse's client, Charles Bingley.
"We have met before, Mr. Darcy. It is very good to see you again." Mr. Provorse's words were enthusiastically delivered. William knew the man's cheerful demeanor hid a shrewd legal mind and that he was known to be an honest and tenacious representative for his clients.
"I share the sentiment. I am pleased to be working with you on this matter. Mr. Bingley, I hope we may find a satisfying resolution to our business for the both of us."
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am sure we shall." The serious tone of the young man somehow seemed incongruent to the man himself, as if it was a topcoat that did not fit well. William wondered at it when a large grin split Mr. Bingley's face. "It is very exciting, is it not?"
William found himself grinning, both at Mr. Bingley's genuine delight and the affectionate exasperation it provoked in Mr. Provorse. "I was not supposed to say that I think. I have been discouraged from displays of exuberance. Not good for business." Mr. Bingley spoke as if he were letting William in on a great secret.
"I will not hold it against you," William replied, enjoying the other man's unaffected manners.
The conversation turned to the venture at hand. William was pleased with what the records revealed about Mr. Bingley's paper mill. They corroborated the findings of his own investigation. It was a very sound enterprise with annual profits that showed a healthy increase each year for the last ten years, at least. The negotiated price was more than he wished but it was a fair price, nonetheless. "Mr. Bingley, everything looks to be in order, but I have one final question. May I ask why you are selling?"
"My father spent his life in trade, and it was his intention to purchase an estate, but he did not live to do it. He passed last year. The mill is the last of his holdings, with its sale I hope to fulfill his desire and join the ranks of landowners and leave trade behind. He wanted his son to be a gentleman and I was raised as such. In fact, I just left Cambridge earlier this year. The purchase of an estate is the next requirement. Of course, I realize society may not accept me, given my ties to trade are not far removed, but it will establish future generations." After his rushed speech, Mr. Bingley suddenly looked alarmed. "I mean no insult, Mr. Darcy. I did not think! Please do not think I look down upon those in trade. It can be a noble and prosperous endeavor. Some of the best people I know are tradesmen."
William was quick to calm Mr. Bingley's fears. "You may be assured that I take no insult. Your father is not the first man to seek to elevate his family in society. However, I do want to be certain you make this move for your own best interests rather than to fulfill the wishes of your father. If you have any reservations, I will withdraw my offer until you are more secure in your decision. If you decide to retain the business, I would be willing to purchase my paper from you, if that is a concern. You will not see a loss."
"You do not want me to sell you the mill?" Mr. Bingley asked perplexed, as he looked to Mr. Provorse for guidance.
"This is not a negotiation tactic. I do want to buy the mill, but I have seen how the drive for status and position can be twisted as well as the damage that can be caused by adhering too blindly to a father's wish."
"I, er, want to sell…I think. Provorse?"
"I cannot make the decision for you, Charles, I can only advise. If you would like to think on it, we can reconvene tomorrow, if that is acceptable to Mr. Darcy," Mr. Provorse replied.
"Of course. Would you care to join me at my club for luncheon, Mr. Bingley? We can speak more and, perhaps, that would help you come to a decision. I have no wish to take advantage of your situation."
"Thank you. I would appreciate that. I will just need to inform my sisters. They have the carriage and were to collect me after this appointment. Do you mind waiting?"
"Not at all," William answered, then addressed the other two gentlemen. "Shall we meet tomorrow morning? I plan to return home to Hertfordshire the day after next."
The arrangements made, William and Mr. Bingley waited, making idle conversation for well over thirty minutes. Mr. Bingley found himself apologizing for his sisters' tardiness. "I am afraid I am a distant second to Bond Street. They no doubt lost track of time. I have half a mind to leave without a word, but I know I would never hear the end of it." Mr. Bingley flushed a bit when he realized what he said.
Before William could respond, a carriage slowed in front of the solicitor's office. It took them a few moments to don their outerwear and gather their things. In that brief time, the Bingley sisters had grown impatient.
"Charles, do hurry. You have kept us waiting all this time." Caroline Bingley moaned from the carriage. Her voice was nasal, and her accent exaggerated, pretentious almost, as she struggled to mask the northern origins her brother made no attempt to hide. William thought it very unpleasant and was glad he did not have to spend any time with the lady. He immediately chastised himself for his snide thoughts. He had not even met her, and it was not for him to judge another.
"Caroline, I thank you for your timely retrieval of me," Mr. Bingley said, dryly. "However, Mr. Darcy and I will be lunching at his club so you may continue on without me."
Caroline interrupted with a heavy sigh. "Really, Charles. It is most inconvenient to make us come to such a neighborhood for nothing. Did you say Darcy?" Caroline looked William up and down. She saw a tall, handsome man, impeccably dressed. She had heard of a Lady Anne Darcy; she was a highly sought-after guest among the ton's hostesses. Caroline knew she was also the daughter of an earl who married one of the wealthiest landowners in Derbyshire. She wondered if her brother's companion was Lady Anne's son, and she became more interested.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy. He is a potential buyer for the mill in Sheffield."
"Ah, a tradesman, pity." Caroline's distaste was apparent, and she directed the driver to their next destination with no further conversation. As the carriage drove away, Mr. Bingley looked embarrassed.
"And those were my sisters, well, actually, my youngest sister Caroline. Louisa was blissfully silent and discreet for once. I am sorry about that, Mr. Darcy. It seems the Bingleys are not making a good showing today."
"It is of no consequence, please do not worry yourself about it. My carriage is just there. If you are ready, we can make our way to my club."
William's club was Boodle's, for he knew his father preferred the more exclusive White's. As they found seats, Mr. Bingley looked around eagerly. "Is it true Beau Brummel is a member?"
"He is but you usually will not find him here until much later. He can be quite good company and is not as frivolous as one might be led to believe."
"So, he is not as he seems, just as I believe you are more than you have revealed, Mr. Darcy."
"As it appears you are not aware of my background, I shall let you know that my family is well known among the ton. We are just shy of infamous, and I am an anomaly. I straddle the line between the classes, which many find quite scandalous."
"I know of your publishing firm and some of your other business interests from Provorse. I confess I have never heard your name attached to any scandal."
"I may have overstated," William admitted. "I am borne from two very old, distinguished families of the ton. The Darcys hail from Derbyshire and I am heir to Pemberley, the family seat. My mother is Lady Anne Darcy née Fitzwilliam, daughter and sister of the 8th and 9th Earl of Matlock, respectively. They, too, hail from Derbyshire."
"And you want to buy my paper mill? I was merely going to say I thought Provorse mentioned you were a barrister."
"Oh, that. It is true, I read law after Oxford and trained to be a barrister. However, I found publishing and investing more to my interests."
"So, you are in trade and also part of the gentry. I believe I have heard of Pemberley but did you not say you were returning to Hertfordshire, not Derbyshire, in a few days' time?"
"I have leased an estate near the town of Meryton in Hertfordshire. It is much more convenient to London for me, and my mother prefers its closer proximity to Kent, where her sister lives."
Though curious, Mr. Bingley could not politiely ask more questions and William was not forthcoming with more information. Their meal arrived and, once they had tucked in, William broached the topic that brought them together.
"Why do you want to sell your mill, Mr. Bingley?" he asked again.
"As I said, my father-"
William held up a hand to interrupt. "Why do you want to sell your mill, Mr. Bingley? Are you doing it simply to honor your father's memory?"
"Is that not reason enough?" Mr. Bingley responded, a bit defensively.
"I am sorry. I am by no means trying to disrespect your father. However, I feel compelled to caution you against prioritizing the desires of those who have passed over your future without careful consideration. You may find that your sentiments remain the same, but the process of evaluation may save you great distress."
"Surely, divesting myself of my father's business holdings and purchasing an estate is not cause for concern. All my father wanted was to better the position of generations of Bingleys to come."
"Most likely, it is not cause for concern, but the choice should be yours alone. And the world is changing. The landscape your children and grandchildren will come of age in will be very different from the one we currently inhabit. Your mill will only increase in value as the market for quality paper continues to grow and the profits can support those next generations just as easily as the income from an estate. I will say no more, I am merely suggesting you consider what is best for you and what it is you want."
Mr. Bingley was thoughtful for several minutes as they ate in silence. "I am a simple man, Mr. Darcy. I could be equally happy in the city or the country, or as a farmer or a manufacturer or a gentleman. Some might think that a fundamental flaw in my character, that it means I am foolish or too malleable. I think it makes me grateful. I can appreciate what I have and where I am, regardless of the circumstances. But I promise to think on your words.
"As it happens, I could be persuaded either way, though, I do have my sisters to consider. I would not want to deprive them of what my father wished for them. Truth is, it will be much easier to marry off Caroline if I can elevate our status among the ton. She has a handsome dowry, unfortunately one cannot say the same about her temperament. If I cannot get rid of her, my own chances on the marriage mart with be affected. A fortune acquired through trade might be forgiven. However, when coupled with a harridan of a sister, my prospects become much more limited."
"I will admit she did not make the most favorable impression, but she cannot be so very bad." William said, doubtfully.
"Oh, yes, she can. And the type of woman I would wish for a wife would not be able to endure Caroline's presence."
"Are you not young to be thinking of marriage."
"Am I? My father was twenty-three when he married. He and my mother were very happy. They were well suited."
"And what suits you, Mr. Bingley?" William asked. At twenty-six, William had only just started thinking of marriage. Even then, he had not considered the type of woman that might suit him, his thoughts were limited to one specific woman.
"Again, I am a simple man. I wish for nothing more than a good, kind, sweet-natured wife. If she happens to be beautiful and a gentlewoman, all the better."
William had heard of such a creature since his early days in Meryton, and now a plan began to form in his mind. "Tell me, Mr. Bingley, are you partial to blondes?"