Page 8 of Pride, Prejudice and Prudence

They left silence in their wake. Elizabeth looked around at her family. Jane had a soft smile on her face; it was clear that she had enjoyed this opportunity to get to know Mr Bingley better, and the attention from that gentleman to her eldest sister was most marked.

“What are we to do with Mr Darcy?” Mrs Bennet said, breaking the silence.

“Don’t worry about him or Mr Bingley,” Mr Bennet replied. “Darcy is quite a knowledgeable landowner, and I intend to take advantage of his attendance in Longbourn to discuss farming techniques. He had some interesting insights during our ride. He is here with Bingley to instruct him on land management, and I see no reason that instruction cannot continue at Longbourn. He may provide some practical advice on increasing our yields,” he said, rubbing his chin with his hand.

“That is all very well, but you cannot keep him out on the farm all day and night,” Mrs Bennet replied.

“We will make do,” Mr Bennet assured. “If need be, I can lock him in my study!” he laughed, a teasing look in his eyes making it clear it was merely a jest.

Chapter 14

“I have used crop rotation for many years,” Elizabeth heard her father say, as the three men re-entered the manor house, having been some hours walking the land.

“I use a seed drill in Pemberley to speed up planting.”

“Yes, that is all very well, but Pemberley is many times larger than Longbourn. I fear the expense would outweigh the increased yield,” Mr Bennet replied.

“But if you make an agreement with your neighbours, including Bingley, or whoever the future tenant might be, the machine and men could be hired for a time to plant all the neighbours’ fields.”

“Fine idea,” Elizabeth heard her father say and saw him clap Mr Darcy on the back in a gesture of bonhomie. “I will pass you back to the ladies,” her father said, arriving at his study.

The gentlemen did not see Elizabeth, given that she had paused some way up on the stairs, listening to their conversation with her father.

“It does not all add up,” Mr Darcy opined.

“What does not add up, Darcy?” his friend enquired.

“The gentlemen of the neighbourhood have said that Mr Bennet is well liked but is an indolent master of Longbourn. However, the lands of Longbourn are well cared for and appear to be diligently managed. And Mr Bennet is aware of all the latest advances in farming techniques, more so than many landowners with more extensive properties.”

“So, they are wrong,” Mr Bingley replied with a shrug.

“Yet before we left, I heard Miss Lydia taking instructions from Miss Bennet on the making up of a dress for her. If the estate is as well-managed as it appears, it should have sufficient funds for the ladies to afford a modiste, to make up dresses for them. But it seems their youngest sister is performing the role of seamstress. I cannot help but wonder where the income, which the Bennet family should be earning, is going.”

Elizabeth thought on it, she recalled a time when her father spent many hours in his study and few acting the part of steward of the lands of Longbourn or interacting with the tenants, but it had been many years since that was the case. However, if anything, their pin money and the outgoings of the Longbourn family had been reduced. Elizabeth had thought it had been to have the funds to engage Miss Farnsworth, but in the intervening years, she had learned more about sums. The reductions in the family’s outgoings would be many times the cost of engaging a governess. She determined that she would question her father on this when next she had the opportunity.

But she also knew that Mr Darcy had at least misunderstood one aspect of life at Longbourn; Lydia did not act as seamstress to her sisters. What a fine notion to have drawn from the overheard conversation. The Longbourn ladies had dresses made by the local modiste, as did every other lady in the environs of Meryton, but Lydia had a great eye for fashion and also kept abreast of the London styles. And under Miss Farnsworth, she had perfected her stitching, and she enjoyed altering their gowns to match the London fashions. However, she only carried out the final additions of the most delicate work herself. Sally, the housemaid, did all the larger alterations under Lydia’s direction.

Chapter 15

“It is your move, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said. Mr Darcy had requested that she play a game of chess against him after her father had told him she was a most accomplished player. The game had begun well; she had taken white, at his offer, and made the first move. Mr Darcy had raised an eyebrow at her choice but made his countermove in good time. They had even begun to have what seemed to be a fairly pleasant conversation. But Mr Darcy had needed to be recalled to the game not once but twice, seeming to have been lost in thought, not contemplation of his next move.

“Forgive me,” he said, shaking his head. “You are a most interesting player,” he explained. But as this was a repetition of what he had said after his first episode of inattention, Elizabeth did not quite believe it, but she let it pass as he made his move, and she was the one who now needed to concentrate.

“Mmh,” she said, considering the board. He was a particularly skilful player, and he had nearly brought her to check once already. Elizabeth was the best chess player of her sisters, but she was not the equal of her father. He had told her time and again that she would never be a true master if she did not take time to practice, but she had not sufficient interest in becoming a master to allot the needed time to the endeavour. She believed that Mr Darcy might give him a real challenge, and she wondered if her father had suggested he play against her in order for her to assess whether it would be worth his time. As she made her final move, knowing that it would lead to Mr Darcy’s declaring checkmate, she had to admit he would.

The completion of the game came at the right time as Miss Farnsworth entered the room. Miss Farnsworth was an excellent piano teacher, and in the early years of her joining their household, she had taught Elizabeth and Mary much, and they had both needed the guidance she provided, having achieved everything they could without instruction. But they had both outgrown her abilities, and they now took lessons with a master in town when they stayed with their aunt and uncle Gardiner for three weeks each summer. Jane did not have such a natural ability at the instrument, but she did have a sweet voice. So, Elizabeth or Mary normally played while she sang, although Elizabeth often sang with her.

Elizabeth had been trying for some time to encourage Mary to start singing. Mary had a fine voice, although at a different range to Elizabeth’s or Jane’s. Elizabeth, in trying to encourage her, had suggested that the three of them practice a piece which they could perform together. Mary had agreed, although she was still obviously nervous at the thought of performing the piece.

“Are you ladies ready to practice?” Miss Farnsworth said. It was the time they had allotted to practice the piece, but the unexpected guests at Longbourn had thrown the house into disorder.

“I think perhaps,” their mother began, but Mr Bingley had begun to speak at the same time, so Mrs Bennet halted and waved a hand to Mr Bingley and said, “pray continue.”

And with a bow of his head in acknowledgment, Bingley said, “I would dearly love to hear some music.”

Mr Darcy, on the other hand, looked faintly disapproving, and Elizabeth was unsure if it was directed at her family, who had not thought to fully rearrange their day around their guests, or at Mr Bingley for asking for entertainment when they were merely to practice.

Nevertheless, Jane and Mary looked to Elizabeth, who accepted the request on behalf of her sisters. Mary looked quite pale at the suggestion, until Elizabeth suggested that she play as they sang.