Master of Longbourn Chapter 18 - Tea and Tantrums, a pride and prejudice fanfic

~MoL~

Tea and Tantrums

Darcy did get Bingley to get on his horse and accompany him on a tour of inspection of Netherfield.

Considering the lack of enthusiasm displayed by his host for the estate, Darcy could not resist to ask, 'Bingley, why are you here? Henry said you wanted to learn how to manage an estate, but you do not appear to be particularly interested.'

Bingley sighed. 'To be honest, I am here because our father wanted us to move up in the world and become landed gentry. He made quite a good fortune in trade, but he hoped for better for his children. When he passed, he bequeathed me his fortune, apart from my sisters' dowries, and recommended that I should buy an estate.'

'You are only leasing Netherfield though, are you not?'

'Indeed, I am. Henry suggested I should try before I buy.' Bingley chuckled. 'That seems to be one of his favourite sayings.' He would have said more but then remembered that Darcy was a lot more strait-laced than his cousin. He might not appreciate Henry's cavalier attitude towards ladies.

'So, you actually have no real interest in managing an estate.'

'It is too early to tell. I have only been here for four days. The neighbours are very friendly, much more so than in London. There is also not the frenetic quality in the entertainments here as in town. I confess that I like that.'

That statement caught Darcy by surprise. Perhaps there was more to this young man than was apparent at first glance. A moment later, Bingley spoiled that impression by asking, 'How long do we have to do this? I would like to get back to the house in good time to clean up before we visit the Bennet ladies. I want to be sure that I present at my best. Do you not think Miss Bennet is an angel?'

Darcy barely refrained from rolling his eyes.

~MoL~

Since Bingley could not keep his mind on the business at hand, Darcy gave up and Bingley had his wish. He was washed, brushed, and dressed in his good blue coat when they set out for Longbourn.

As neither the sisters, nor Mr Hurst accompanied them, the gentlemen all fit very comfortably into Darcy's coach.

Despite their unexpected visit, they were received with perfect civility and Mrs Bennet immediately sent for refreshments.

They made polite conversation for a few minutes until Darcy drew Collins aside for a private conversation.

'Miss Bingley has expressed a desire to learn more about the practical aspects of being the mistress of an estate and I promised her that I would ask you to recommend a mentor for her.'

Collins tilted his head as he watched Bingley flirting with Jane. 'Is Miss Bingley younger or older than her brother?'

'I believe she is a year or two his junior.'

Pursing his lips, Collins contemplated the options. 'I believe the best person to undertake that education would be Mrs Bennet. She only recently learnt about those duties herself and the lessons are fresh in her mind.'

'From what I have seen today, the lady has done a magnificent job in stepping up. The estate looks very prosperous and well kept. I still remember what you told me that time we met in London. You have obviously done a magnificent job yourself as well.'

'We have all worked together quite well.' Collins acknowledged and gave Darcy a conspiratorial smile. 'While it would probably be wise not to mention the other reason for my choice of tutor to Miss Bingley, but because Mrs Bennet was also not born to the position, she understands the difficulties better than her daughters.'

'Do you think that Mrs Bennet would be agreeable to the idea?'

'I will canvas the issue with her and send you a note to let you know her decision, although I suspect that she will be utterly delighted to be seen as an expert on the subject.'

'In that case, if she is favourably inclined, I shall recommend that Miss Bingley requests assistance from the lady.'

Collins briefly observed the interactions between his cousins and Darcy's companions before offering, 'Feel free to drop in and see me any time you like.'

'You mean when I can no longer tolerate the immature display of my host and my cousin?' Darcy smirked. 'I am reminded of a time when you urged me not to judge without knowing the young man. I am not certain what is worse. The general debauchery of many high-born or the thoughtless actions of young people.'

Darcy paused briefly before he added very quietly, 'I may be doing them an injustice, but would you recommend caution to your ladies as far as they are concerned. They may not mean any harm, but I would not rely on their constancy.'

'Will either of them set out to deliberately… get their way?'

'No. I believe that they are only guilty of youth, high spirits and carelessness. Compared to them, I feel like an old man, and I am only four years their senior.'

'They never had any real responsibility to make them grow up.'

Darcy and Collins exchanged understanding glances, both knowing that having had to shoulder great responsibility at a similar age to these young men had had a profound effect on them.

~MoL~

Elizabeth was having a wonderful time with her attentive companion.

Over the last two years she had come to realise that the behaviour she had learnt from her father had not been kind. While it had been great fun tweaking people's noses, she had unwittingly hurt several people. Since Elizabeth, while flawed, was basically a decent person, she had mended her ways, and now reserved her biting wit for people who deserved it.

Like the high-born brat, which was Henry Fitzwilliam, a young man who seemed to think that having an Earl for a father entitled him to whatever he fancied.

'Do you enjoy the theatre, Miss Elizabeth?' he queried in a bid for her attention.

'I do indeed. It is wonderful watching those plays, which I have read many a time, come to life. What about you, Mr Fitzwilliam? I expect having much greater access to these pleasures, you would take full advantage of what the theatre offers.'

Henry smiled winningly, taking her final comment at face value, since he felt certain that a gently reared lady from the country would be unaware of the additional enticements the theatre offered to gentlemen. 'Quite. I agree that watching a play on the stage is much superior to reading it.'

'Shall I guess as to which play is your favourite?'

'By all means. I should be interested to hear how close you come to judging my taste.'

'I would think that Much Ado About Nothing would be your preferred entertainment,' hazarded Elizabeth with a sweet and guileless smile.

'I am afraid that you have misjudged me. While you are correct in thinking that I enjoy comedies, I prefer A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

'In that case, pray tell, which is your favourite character? Titania or perhaps Puck?'

Henry refused to admit that he had enjoyed watching Titania for reasons other than her thespian accomplishments, replied, 'They both have their own charm.'

'I should have guessed that you appreciate charms,' teased Elizabeth and was pleased to see that Henry took her comment as a compliment.

Their conversation was interrupted by Jane's exclamation, 'Good heavens, look at the time. My apologies, Mr Bingley. I became so engrossed in our delightful conversation that we have detained you unconscionably. Did you not say that you had several other calls planned?'

While Bingley had said that, it had been only a polite platitude, but the comment roused him and Henry to remember their manners. Together with Darcy, who was frustrated at not having had an opportunity to converse with Miss Elizabeth, they soon took their leave.

Once the gentlemen were well away from the house, Jane said to the remaining company, 'At the assembly I thought that Mr Bingley had charming manners and was excessively amiable. Now I think he is just excessively amiable. I am minded of a cocker spaniel pup.'

Elizabeth laughed at the comparison. 'My dear sister, that was probably one of the most unforgiving speeches I have ever heard come from your lips.'

On their ride back to Netherfield, the gentlemen on the other hand were nothing but complimentary about the ladies. Bingley in particular could not stop enthusing about the angelic Miss Bennet.

~MoL~

Mrs Bennet was indeed thrilled to be helpful to her new neighbours, and as a result, a few days later, Miss Bingley extended an invitation to the mistress of Longbourn to join her for tea.

Darcy, who was on hand to introduce the ladies, barely raised a brow when he recognised Mrs Bennet's companion. He introduced Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, Mrs Bennet, and Mrs Hill to each other before taking his leave. 'I will absent myself to allow you ladies to speak without concern about subjects no mere male should be privy to.' He would be busy with Bingley going over estate matters.

As the ladies were about to take their seats, Caroline Bingley said, 'Mr Darcy forgot to mention the estate of which you are the mistress, Mrs Hill.'

'Mr Darcy did not forget. He knows that Mrs Hill is my housekeeper,' Mrs Bennet explained. 'I thought that it would be helpful for her to provide her own insights, together with Mrs Nichols.'

Miss Bingley drew herself up to her full height, looking down her nose at Mrs Hill and giving a sniff before she turned to Mrs Bennet and declared, 'Really, Mrs Bennet. I thought you were a gentlewoman, not given to consorting with the lower classes. I most certainly shall not do so.'

Mrs Bennet briefly pursed her lips but suggested civilly to her companion, 'Mrs Hill, perhaps it would be best if you took your tea with Mrs Nicholls, while I speak with these… ladies.'

'You and my housekeeper will most certainly not make free with my expensive tea,' snapped Caroline Bingley.

'As it happens, I brought a packet of the tea Mrs Nicholls enjoys. Mrs Bennet is kind enough to have it procured for me by her brother,' Mrs Hill said, quite undaunted. She gave a small curtsey and quit the room, leaving behind a spluttering Miss Bingley.

'Miss Bingley, Mr Darcy said that you were desirous in learning how to be the mistress of an estate. You should know that in the country, your most valuable asset is your housekeeper.'

'But she is just a servant.'

As Miss Bingley seemed to be distracted, Mrs Hurst encouraged both ladies to sit and accept a cup of tea from the tray which had just been delivered, before they continued their conversation.

Mrs Bennet took a sip of her tea and nodded in appreciation at Mrs Hurst. She then looked at Miss Bingley and tilted her head in query. 'Am I correct in assuming that you have a high turnover of staff?'

Caught by surprise at this apparent non-sequitur, Caroline answered, 'We do indeed, as good staff are so hard to come by. It is rare for maids to stay much above a month. Not that they are a great loss as they all seem to be completely incompetent.'

'Do you think perhaps that your attitude has something to do with the level of service you receive?'

'What should my attitude have to do with this? I hire these people to do a job. But it seems none of the lower classes take any pride in their work.'

'Perhaps if their work was appreciated, they would take pride in it?'

'I pay them for their work. That should be enough for them.'

'Miss Bingley, I would guess that as the daughter of a tradesman you have been the recipient of an, shall we say, unpleasant attitude from members of the first circles. I would guess further that you found this attitude hurtful. Why should servants not feel pain if treated with disdain. They are no less human than you.'

When Mrs Bennet mentioned Caroline's antecedents, her expression became pinched and she wanted to object, but her guest kept speaking. When at last Mrs Bennet stopped, Caroline said, 'I treat my servants the way I saw the other ladies at the seminary treat their servants.'

'You saw spoilt young women behaving badly. Perhaps you would be better served observing and emulating the behaviour of adult persons of quality. I understand that Mr Darcy for instance comes from an excellent family and is related to Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the Earl of Matlock. Yet he is always polite to servants and expresses his thanks for any service which they perform.'

Not inclined to delve into her own behaviour, Miss Bingley grasped at the last comment. 'How come you know about Mr Darcy's relations?'

'Our cousin, Mr Collins and Mr Darcy have been acquainted since they were children, which is the reason Mr Darcy suggested me to help you understand the duties pertaining to the mistress of an estate.'

Happy for the change of subject, Miss Bingley asked, 'In a community such as this, how often do you host a ball?'

'We have not had a private ball for more than two years. We do have monthly assemblies such as the one you attended the other day.'

'What about houseparties, dinners and other soirees?'

Instead of answering this question, Mrs Bennet had one of her own. 'Miss Bingley, are you under the impression that hosting functions is the main duty of the mistress of an estate?'

'Naturally. Although I would prefer to hold balls and dinners at the townhouse. Although housparties during the summer months would of course be preferable in the country as the air in London becomes quite vile in the heat of summer.'

'While dinners and balls are enjoyable, organising those functions is the least part of a mistress's duties.

Since Miss Bingley was dumbstruck, Mrs Bennet filled the conversational void by listing her duties… at length. During her monologue Miss Bingley's eyes got ever bigger and on several occasions she gasped in horror.

Eventually the lady found her voice. 'You mean to say that if I married a gentleman such as Mr Darcy for instance, I would be expected to spend the majority of my time in the country?'

'Indeed.'

'And I would have to deal with the lower classes an a regular basis,' said Miss Bingley with a moue of distaste.

'Quite. But if that is how you feel, I do not believe that being the mistress of an estate is the right situation for you.'

Caroline Bingley swallowed convulsively and took a big gulp of her now cold tea. 'But why did they not teach that at the ladies' seminary? I learn about organising functions and everything pertaining to that but nothing about dealing with tenants and such.'

Mrs Bennet gave her an understanding smile. 'I too did not know about this until after I married Mr Bennet. I suppose that at that school you attended, the teachers assumed that their students had grown up on an estate and had learnt those lessons from their mothers.'

To Miss Bingley's mind there was small comfort that she was not the only one who had suffered the same lack. But she thanked her good fortune that Charles had decided to bring them to Netherfield where she had learnt about the realities of life in the country before she made a big mistake.

She still asked more questions to see if there were any alternatives which would allow her to have the rank without the duties. During the remainder of the visit, Mrs Bennet answered patiently but became ever more convinced that Miss Bingley would be better off choosing a man who lived in town.

It was not until after Mrs Bennet had taken her leave that Caroline turned to her sister. 'If she were not dead already, I would like to strangle mother for sending me to the wrong school.'

~MoL~