Page 21 of Timing Is Everything

“I may not have then, but I do, now! Thank you for finally asking my opinion on the matter!” Elizabeth exclaimed, relieved that her puzzling burden had now been shared.

“You do?”

“Yes, I do. Though I hope that you will ask my opinion on a great many things. You may have become comfortable with taking control of a situation, but I feel much more settled when my opinion is sought. Now, is there anything else you would like to ask me?”

Relieved that he had received a positive response to his inquiry concerning marriage, Darcy thought for a moment before asking his next question.

“Would the dower house at Netherfield Park be suitable for your mother and sisters?”

“Have you seen the place? It is not habitable.”

“But there are still over five months until your family would be expected to move. We could make it habitable in that time.”

“Why are you set on Netherfield Park? Have you viewed any of the other homes in the area?”

“Renovations could easily be made to the dower house while it is being made habitable, and by continuing to lease the main house we would recoup our assets in a shorter amount of time.”

“And what if Mr. Bingley decides he no longer wants to lease the house?”

“It would be available to lease to someone else.”

“Are you aware as to how long Netherfield Park sat unoccupied before Mr. Bingley leased it?” When Darcy shook his head in the negative, Elizabeth continued. “It was vacant for three years.”

“That is a long time,” Darcy conceded, trying to do some quick sums in his head to determine how long it would take to make Netherfield Park profitable if he did not have someone in the main house.

“Would it not make more sense to either lease or purchase a smaller home in the area?”

“But the drawing rooms are too small in the Great House at Stoke; Purvis Lodge has dreadful attics; the Gouldings will not quit Haye-Park; and Ashworth is too far away.”

“But, if you’re willing to make renovations, wouldn’t it be possible to make either Purvis Lodge or the Great House at Stoke acceptable?”

“Both are such small estates. Neither would be much of an inheritance for our second son.”

“You are the only son in your family, and my mother only has daughters. Why do we not consider providing for a second son after we have had one? They may be small estates, but either one would require a much smaller initial investment than purchasing Netherfield Park.”

After taking a moment to think through her arguments, Darcy conceded that it was a good idea. His headache was gone.

“Which house would you recommend?” he finally asked.

“Do you think it would be easier to overcome small drawing rooms or damp attics with a renovation?” Elizabeth asked in response.

“Small drawing rooms,” Darcy stated decisively. “It is much easier to knock down a wall than it is to fix attic ventilation.”

“Then the Great House at Stoke it is,” Elizabeth replied.

“I will speak to Mr. Morris about purchasing the house and the surrounding estate.”

“You should also talk to Mr. Bingley.”

“But, I thought we had decided not to purchase Netherfield Park.”

“That is true, but you should apologize to him for trying to pressure him into making it available for you.”

“Apologize?”

“Yes.”

“Very well,” Darcy agreed, after seeing the determined glint in Elizabeth’s eyes.