Chapter Text
Sam Wilson was diligently penning his fifth letter of the day, comfortably ensconced behind the mahogany desk in the study of the Longbourn estate. Though he was the primary occupant on any given day, the study was actually his uncle’s. However, Harrison Carter was more likely to be found meandering around the Longbourn property or tucked away in the small room in the house that doubled as a den now that he had passed most of the everyday running of the estate to his nephew.
Sam found the study a restful place most of the time, a quiet and undisturbed haven from the rest of the household that was full to the brim of loud, lively ladies. He loved it here, truly, but with a sister, an aunt and three cousins all in residence, sometimes a temporary retreat was required.
Today though, his focus was broken by a raised, dare he say shrill voice. He heard a clamouring of feet down the hallway answering the call, which most likely meant one thing – there was gossip to be had.
Sam smiled to himself and put down his pen, deciding now was a good a time as any to stretch his legs.
“Mr Carter please, come to the drawing room at once – oh Sam, there you are. You too please, to the drawing room.” His aunt Amanda Carter was practically breathless, her face split in a wide, excited smile as she hustled the masses together to hear whatever titillating news she had come across.
“Yes dear.” Mr Carter heaved as he appeared in the hallway, dutifully following Sam to their required posts.
“I have just heard from Mrs Jarvis down the lane- oh, it is such good news!” Mrs Carter gushed, absentmindedly smoothing back a lock of her second daughter’s hair where it had come loose from its fastenings.
“Well stop fussing and let us have it then!” Sharon called, waving away her mother’s hands.
“Netherfield Park is let at last!” Mrs Carter said, clapping her hands together in front of her mouth, pausing to gauge the reaction of her family.
Unfortunately, vague interest and general amusement at her antics were all she received.
“Well, do you not wish to know who has taken it?” she queried incredulously.
“I doubt we have a choice…” Sharon continued her cheek, rocking slightly as her older sister Peggy gently elbowed her in reproach.
“A Mr Rogers, a young and wealthy man from the North, arrived yesterday with a small party to take up residence. And he’s single.” Mrs Carter gushed, not at all put off by her daughter’s teasing.
“Single and with good fortune? Then he must be in want of a wife.” Sarah said, her teasing much more dry and sarcasm less detectable than her cousin’s. Sam shot his sister a small smile. Indeed, the prospect of marriage was entirely the source of Mrs Carter’s delight.
“Precisely my dear. Oh, what a wonderful thing for my girls!” Mrs Carter clapped again, truly ecstatic. “Mr Carter, Sam, you must visit him at once!”
Sam looked to his uncle, whose lips were twitching in amusement.
“A capital idea my darling. In a rare turn in our marriage, it appears I am a step ahead of you today.” He said.
“What do you mean?”
“I visited the young man just this morning.”
“Oh, Mr Carter!” Mrs Carter gasped. “And without telling me, that I might find out from Mrs Jarvis. How did you find him?”
“Is he amiable?” Sarah asked.
“Is he handsome?” Sharon grinned.
“Is he sensible?” Peggy, ever pragmatic, enquired more genuinely.
“He’s rich, does any of that matter?” Karli spoke up, her typical cynicism shining through, despite her young age.
“Though I do not count myself as the best judge of a man being handsome or amiable to the opposite sex, I did find him to be a pleasant and sensible fellow.” Mr Carter acknowledged, with a nod at his eldest daughter.
“Oh, he sounds a fine match, to any of our girls.” Mrs Carter enthused.
“Mama, you can hardly know that from such little information. A woman should certainly hope for more in a husband than a reputation for being rich and generally tolerable.” Peggy informed her mother firmly but kindly.
“Is he coming to the ball tomorrow?” Sam finally piped up, before another philosophical argument on the credits of marriage could erupt between the women.
“I believe so.”
Mrs Carter let out a rather girlish squeal, already chittering about how they must air out the girl’s best dresses for tomorrow’s public ball, now the stakes had been significantly raised. It was nice to see his sister and cousins let themselves be caught up (at least a little) in Mrs Carter’s excitement. He and Mr Carter slipped away quickly, lest they be caught up in a discussion of which muslin best brought out the colour of one’s eyes, or which ribbons might be most appealing to a potential husband.
However, Sam realised as he went to slip back into the study, that he was not alone.
“Did the attorney send the papers for the new building?” Peggy asked as she entered the room so gracefully that it almost disguised the fact that she was pushing Sam aside to do so.
“Just this morning. I put them aside for you, here.” He replied with a smile.
“Thank you Sam.” Peggy took a seat, opening the envelope to begin leafing through the papers.
“I hate to point out the obvious…” Sam started, amused by the way Peggy’s eyes flicked up to him and wordlessly dared him to suggest that her place was anywhere but where she wanted to be.
“But if you’re in here, you’re not out there tempering your mother’s designs on how she can get this Mr Rogers to propose to you within the month.”
Peggy arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “I am sure Sharon is keeping her occupied with criticism of the worst of her plans, at least.”
“Yes, but we both know it is you she is going to be trotting out in from of the gentleman, all but wrapped in a bow.”
“I have no intention of refusing his acquaintance, nor do I have any intention of throwing myself at his feet for 5,000 a year.” Peggy said primly.
“5,000 a year? Who said anything about 5,000 a year?”
Peggy smiled mysteriously. “Mama is not the only one with connections.”
Sam laughed.
“Well, we shall find out what we can about his character tomorrow, but I know for certain that he would be a lucky man indeed to win the affections of any of my female relatives.”
“Very complimentary of you Sam, but you know none of us are in a hurry to wed, even me as the eldest. I have a few years left before spinsterhood looms. Besides, we may find ourselves sick of hearing the name ‘Mr Rogers’ before too long – after all, mama has the entirety of dinner and all day tomorrow to wax poetic about his charms as a future son-on-law.”
“Perhaps you are right. At least, you shall all benefit from your mother’s wisdom as she shares all her man-catching tricks.”
“Yes, I suppose we all would be interested in such advice, wouldn’t we Sam?” Peggy asked meaningfully.
Sam smirked. “Yes, I suppose we would.”