In times of crisis and concern, one always craves to hear from one's friends and family, and the Netherfield party was no exception. Whenever one receives a letter it means that the mail system still works, despite all the unrest in the world, so there is at least something one can trust in an uncertain world. In the normal course of events, getting a letter also indicates that the sender was alive to write it, which would make one happy unless it was from someone one would rather see dead. If a reply is expected, letters have also the added benefit of keeping one occupied for twenty minutes or more, so there is less time to fret.
Mr. Hurst's younger brother informed him that he had bought that horse he had long wanted, for a shockingly low price. The owner had not originally planned to sell but then he had died, quite unexpectedly, and it was out of his hands. The bereaved family practically gave the horse away. It was a really beautiful bay with a good pedigree, and Mr. Hurst heartily approved of the purchase.
"Have you seen the horse?" Mr. Bingley inquired.
"Yes, it is a lovely animal, and I am quite envious. What a tremendous stroke of luck for my brother," Mr. Hurst commented.
"Although not for the previous owner," Mr. Darcy noted.
"To be sure, it is a great tragedy for a man to die before his horse," Mr. Hurst said. "Particularly if it is such a fine beast."
"Do you know what he died of?" Mrs. Hurst asked.
"No, my brother only said he had been ill for a couple of days but no one thought he would die."
"How terrible to die so suddenly," Mrs. Hurst was shocked.
"Would you rather know the exact time that you are going to die beforehand?" Mr. Hurst asked.
"It would ruin the entire day," Mr. Bingley said.
"Probably the whole week," Mr. Darcy said.
"The last meal could be great though," Mr. Hurst said.
A Bingley cousin from Scarborough wrote to Mr. Bingley that everyone in the family was healthy and hale but their shoe business was suffering because there were fewer people out and about making purchases.
"I think the business will pick up eventually. People will always need new shoes," Mrs. Hurst said.
"The ladies will," Mr. Hurst said. "I have had these shoes for seven years and would be sad to part from them."
"Quality will last," Mr. Darcy said.
"Oh yes, but they are a little out of the fashion," Miss Bingley said.
"Fashion cares not for men's shoes if men care not for fashion's shoes," Mr. Hurst said.
"That probably sounded better in your head, darling," Mrs. Hurst said.
"Everything sounds better in my head," Mr. Hurst said cheerfully. "A marvellous place. Wish you could be there."
"There would be a lot of room to be sure," Mrs. Hurst said. Mr. Hurst blew her a kiss.
Mr. Bingley laughed embarrassedly and returned to his correspondence, reading aloud more passages that described how all the relatives were doing. Little Walter must have grown at least two inches since Mr. Bingley saw him last, and Sarah had lost all her front teeth, and if only he could see her now. Margaret was drawing a portrait of her. She had a whole sketchbook full of familiar faces, and one could see she had improved quite a bit in the arts, as she had been practicing diligently.
"Oh, it has been so long since we saw them last." Mrs. Hurst sighed wistfully. "I wish I was able to check out Margaret's facebook."
"I hope she can draw a picture of me one day," Miss Bingley said.
Bingley read on. As for business, it was not all bad news from that front, as an uncle who sold wine and spirits was doing splendidly.
"Speaking of wine and spirits, what is the status of our cellars here?" Mr. Hurst asked. "Are we all set in the event that there is a quarantine, or should we go a-hoarding?"
"How many bottles do we need for a quarantine?" Mr. Bingley looked at Mr. Darcy for guidance.
"As an estate owner you would have to make those decisions so I shall leave that to yourself to determine," Mr. Darcy said. "It is easy enough. You must first consider all the pertinent factors and then make a calculation."
"Such as?"
"How long do you think the quarantine will last, how many people do you need to provide for, and how drunk do they want to be?"
"And whichever result you get, buy double for good measure," Mr. Hurst said. "If the people stuck in the quarantine start to get on each other's nerves, you would absolutely not want to run out of brandy."
Mrs. Hurst got a missive from great aunt Clara in London who asked her whether she had heard of that terrible new disease, and reminded her to keep her feet warm and to wear gloves at all times. It was not certain that getting chilled would cause the sickness but surely it could not help. Aunt Clara hoped they had had a tolerable carriage journey, although she knew that travelling was seldom pleasant. If Mrs. Hurst got ill she should consider drinking lots of willow bark tea, but preferably she should not get ill if she could help it. The great aunt had a couple of friends who were ailing at the moment but whether it was that new dangerous disease she could not be sure. It might be rheumatism, as they were prone to rheumatism. She hoped that Charles and Mr. Hurst were in good health, and of course Caroline as well. When were they planning to return, and if Louisa could remember the name of that great ointment for the treatment of ingrown toenails, would she please share?
"Just asking for a friend, I am sure," Mr. Bingley said.
"Why would you know anything about the treatment of ingrown toenails?" Miss Bingley asked.
"Well, you know Aunt Clara," Mrs. Hurst said.
"Dear old Aunt Clara," Mr. Bingley said.
"She gets ideas," Mr. Hurst said.
Not being familiar with Aunt Clara, Mr. Darcy could offer no opinion. "Hope everyone's toes are fine."
Mrs. Hurst started penning a reply immediately. She thanked Aunt Clara for her well wishes and told her that the willow bark tea sounded like a wonderful idea. Truthfully, the carriage ride to Netherfield had been a little arduous as the weather had been cold and everyone had shivered. This was not a pleasant time of year to travel but Charles would insist, as he was looking forward to buying an estate, and Netherfield seemed like a great prospect. She had felt a little queasy in the carriage, and there was so much dust on the road that it made her cough, but she was fine now so there was no need for Aunt Clara to worry. The epidemic might keep them at Netherfield for a while. The toe nail ointment was Dr. Baker's Miracle Balsam, and she had bought it from the apothecary in Scarborough. If Aunt Clara could not find it locally there might still be an unopened bottle in the Hurst townhouse that she could send for. Charles and Mr. Hurst were indeed quite healthy, and as for Caroline, she was her usual self. Louisa hoped to convey their best regards, and remained Clara's devoted niece, etc.
Mrs. Hurst sealed her letter without sharing the contents with the present company.
"What news did you get, Mr. Darcy?" Miss Bingley was eyeing the letters that Mr. Darcy had received.
Mr. Darcy said that he had heard from his sister who wrote that she was staying at her aunt Matlock's home with her companion. Colonel Fitzwilliam, her other guardian, had felt that she should not be alone during an epidemic, and had brought her to the Matlock townhouse. Lady Matlock was quite scared of the infection because a number of her friends had become ill, and they were not accepting visitors or visiting anyone at the moment. It was a quiet time but Georgiana was happy to have the company of the family members, and she was spending a lot of time learning an exceedingly difficult piece for the pianoforte. She was afraid that it was a little beyond her musical abilities but she was determined to practice.
"Dear Miss Darcy," Miss Bingley said. "To be so accomplished, at such a young age! Please tell her that I wish her continued good health and long to see her - although I suppose that pleasure must be suspended for an indeterminate time. She has such a neat, precise handwriting, and I am sure it is a sign of an organized mind."
"She would thank you for the compliment, I am sure," Mr. Darcy said, and shifted the letter so it was out of Miss Bingley's line of sight.
Miss Bingley had paid more attention to what Darcy was reading than her own correspondence, but when she finally got around to opening her letter she exclaimed in dismay. It had been forwarded from their town address. It was from her modiste who reminded her of what she owed and respectfully asked for payment as soon as possible, as they had agreed that it would have been paid two months previously. As there was no doubt Miss Bingley had every intention to settle her accounts, it was suspected that the previous bill may have been lost in the mail, but in case she was unable to pay the whole of it immediately, a partial contribution would be appreciated as well. Miss Bingley was a valued customer, and her business would be most welcome, also in the future. Supposing the delay to be due to a misdirected bill, when this letter reached her perhaps Miss Bingley would be so kind as to furnish her current address.
"I do not know why I deal with that woman. I am certain I told her that I would pay in the next quarter. Can you lend me some money, Louisa?"
"You might consider suspending the pleasure of buying things until such time that you have received the funds for them," Mrs. Hurst said.
"Oh Caroline," Mr. Bingley sighed. "Have you overspent your allowance again?"
"My dear Charles, some day soon you will have to lose your damnable naivete," Mr. Hurst said. "It is time for you to accept the facts of life: Caroline will always overspend her allowance."