Chapter 15: Country Life 9: Echinacea and Uninvited Guests
The days in the countryside passed like flowing water, and Heather quickly adapted to the days where she didn't have to hustle and bustle about doing things that didn't interest her.
The weather in Longbourn has been exceptionally comfortable in the past two weeks. The sun is bright but not scorching, and the breeze makes people feel calm. This is a rare good season in the UK.
That afternoon, Heather and Mary were reading by the skylight on the top floor again.
Heather asked Mrs. Johnson to help find some cotton and cloth to make a lazy sofa and placed it next to the window. After Lydia and the others watched, they asked the maid to replicate it.
"What book are you reading?" Heather found that Mary had changed to a different book today.
Mary showed her the cover of the book. She had rarely read books on philosophy and religion recently.
"It's a book on arithmetic written by William Petty. It explains how to calculate the rate of return on land and capital."
Heather understood: "Oh yes, Mr. Darcy sent a letter back from London yesterday. He has signed a contract with my lawyer and also found out some new information, right?"
Mary nodded and opened the book again.
"Yes, Lizzie and I have studied the letter. Now I need to learn how to calculate investment returns so that I can keep abreast of the situation in the future."
Heather couldn't help but sigh. Mary was truly a serious student. She, the one with the biggest headcount, hadn't even opened a serious book. Feeling a little guilty, Heather glanced at the British Botanical Garden, which was full of pictures and few words.
But when Mary mentioned this, she remembered that she had a letter to reply to.
Mr. Lancaster also wrote to update her on the latest developments after the contract was signed, reassuring her that everything was progressing smoothly.
He also asked about Mr. Darcy's identity at the end, saying that it was necessary to clarify the current and future relationship between Mr. Darcy and his employer in order to grasp the right measure for gaining benefits in subsequent cooperation.
Heather was confused. Could it be that Mr. Lancaster had already predicted that Darcy would become her future niece-in-law? However, she would have to wait until he actually became her niece-in-law before making concessions.
Heather pulled a piece of paper from her hand, put the book under it and began to write a reply.
Heather felt that she had to maintain a good relationship with the lawyer because he was more useful than the assistant to the president of a multinational company, so she had to be a little sweet-talker and say nice things.
"Dear Mr. Lancaster, the successful implementation of this investment is entirely due to your foresight, wisdom, and ability. Without you, I wouldn't have made a penny. I simply don't know how to thank you, except to promise you a full dividend upon completion."
Heather carefully considered her own words and felt that she was a genius at winning people's hearts. She hoped that when Mr. Lancaster read this letter, he would be able to feel her appreciation for talent.
"However, Mr. Darcy and I don't have any special relationship. He's just a friend of my sister's neighbor. I chose him as my partner mainly because he's the most qualified wealthy man in the area. So when it comes to working together, you must be generous. It will be more beneficial for us to strive for mutual benefit and win-win results while getting as much as possible."
Hazel carefully sealed the letter and had just put a perfect wax seal on it when she heard Mrs. Bennet calling her downstairs. She hurriedly put the letter away.
"Hazel!" Mrs. Bennett's voice was penetrating enough to carry through three floors. "I'm going to visit Mrs. Lucas's, and Lizzie is going too. Will you come with us?"
Heather quickly asked Mary, "We've been reading all afternoon, it's time to rest our eyes. Let's go for a walk!"
Mary nodded in agreement.
They immediately put down their books, tied their cloaks and prepared to go out.
As Heather went downstairs, she called downstairs, "Sister, Mary and I are ready to go for a walk in the woods at the back. Please tell her that I will visit Mrs. Lucas next time."
When Mrs. Bennet came out to block them, Heather and Mary had already slipped out the back door.
She looked at Heather's back and muttered, "I don't know why you end up hanging out with that nerdy Mary all the time. Mrs. Lucas has asked about it several times."
Elizabeth retorted, "Mother, Mary is not a nerd. She can do math better than I do now. And Mrs. Lucas's house is always full of overly enthusiastic ladies who always try to introduce her to potential partners. If it were me, I wouldn't be happy to go there either."
Mrs. Bennet could not understand their reluctance at all. There were so many young ladies waiting to get married in Longbourn. If someone was willing to act as a matchmaker, it meant that Hazel was very popular.
Elizabeth was right. Heather was very interested in the country gossip forum at first, but after a few times she couldn't stand it anymore.
Why am I still being urged to go on blind dates even though I’ve already been married?
Since the last ball at Netherfield, Heather's name had spread throughout Longbourn, and even to some of the families in Meryton.
However, not many men actually take action after the dance.
Thanks to her sister's loud voice, Heather's financial situation is already on the table.
Hearing that she was nearly 30 years old and married persuaded a group of people to give up, and the fact that she had less than 4,000 pounds of assets persuaded another group of people who planned to take over the estate painlessly to give up.
Many people were cursing the cruelty of the French for coldly taking away the husband's belongings from a countess who had just lost her father, leaving her with only a few thousand pounds of dowry and some jewelry that she brought with her.
It seems that the British still have a rich imagination.
But even so, Heather is still a decent choice for men who have lost their wives in middle age and have a certain amount of family wealth.
Marrying a lady like this, who has excellent looks, outstanding temperament, and has been a countess, would definitely be decent and suitable for raising children. Maybe in a dozen years, she could even get a countess son-in-law.
Mrs. Bennett and her friends have been working hard to screen and select, and those who remain are gentlemen who are considered to be of good conditions even for some first-time married women.
But Heather had no interest in causing trouble for herself when she had no worries about food and clothing and was even about to become rich. It would be a great misfortune if she used the inheritance she had just obtained to add to other people's families.
So these days she would drag Mary out for a stroll every afternoon tea time, under the pretext of familiarizing herself with the terrain of Longbourn, and she was determined not to go out with Mrs. Bennet again.
It's fun to listen to other people's gossip, but it's terrible to make yourself the topic of conversation.
Heather and Mary walked aimlessly along the grove outside the field. There were no large trees here, only some sparse short trees, so it was quiet and safe.
During the day, there are still some tenants working on the ridges of the fields nearby, but by the evening, the place is deserted.
Heather was happy to observe the various plants along the way. She was really worried that if she stayed in this era for too long, she would forget all the botanical knowledge she had learned from her professional teachers.
Mary was a wonderful companion. Although she wasn't particularly interested in botany, she was well-read and had often walked alone in the area, so she was familiar with most of the plants here.
"But what is this? I don't think I've ever seen this kind of flower before." Mary looked at the purple flower in Heather's hand. It looked very strange, with a bulge in the middle.
Heather studied the plant carefully and said with certainty, "This is Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower. It's commonly found in the Americas. It can be used to boost immunity, clear away heat and detoxify, and can also assist in treating colds, coughs, and upper respiratory tract infections."
She turned to Mary and asked, "Haven't you seen this plant before?"
Mary shook her head and said, "No, I haven't seen it in any books either. And at least I'm sure no one uses it to treat colds. The last time Jane was sick, they reduced her fever by bleeding her."
Heather shuddered. Bleeding was too scary. She carefully wrapped the flower in a handkerchief and planned to take it home to cultivate its seeds in case she caught a cold that was beyond cure.
When they strolled back home, Mrs. Bennett had already returned, and the other girls were gathered around her in an orderly manner.
As soon as Heather came in, she noticed her sister's extremely ugly face. She looked sad as if someone owed her a thousand pounds and didn't pay it back. Jane was beside her, massaging her temples.
"Sister, what happened?" Heather walked over quickly.
Elizabeth whispered to her aunt, "Papa has just told us that our cousin, Mr. Collins, is coming to visit to-morrow afternoon, and that mother is very reluctant to see him."
Kitty added: "The truth is none of us want to see him."
Mrs. Bennett stretched out her hand to her sister with a fragile expression, and wailed with all her might, "It's that awful fellow who will inherit your brother-in-law's fortune in the future. He will definitely kick us out as soon as Mr. Bennett dies. Mr. Bennett is so cruel!"
Heather understood that this was mainly due to the law of limited inheritance, but the Bennetts had neither planned in advance nor taken timely measures to remedy their property, which was indeed an important reason for the current situation.
Mr. Bennett's main source of income is the rent of land and the income from the farm, and because the land was originally inherited, these will belong to Mr. Collins in the future.
Over the years, almost all of Mr. Bennett's income was used to maintain the family expenses. Even the dowries of his five daughters mainly came from the 4,000 pounds dowry that Mr. Gardner originally gave to Mrs. Bennett and its interest.
Apparently, the Bennetts hadn't anticipated their sonlessness and therefore hadn't saved money. Furthermore, in the fifteen years since Lydia's birth, they hadn't considered saving money to invest in other financial channels.
But it was too late to say this now. Hazel could only hold Mrs. Bennet's hand silently and witness Mr. Collins' arrival.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
