We will stay with you until Monday.
Your sister,
Janet
Miss Mary Bennet to Miss Lucy Sotherton
Longbourn, Hertfordshire,
October 16
Most noble Friend,
This has been a doleful time for the cause of Learned Women. One of my sisters is already married, and now two more of my sisters are betrothed. Although I never had any hope of Lydia, and very little of Elizabeth, I did think, in time, that my sister Jane might abandon the path of frivolity and walk the highway of learning. But alas! It is not to be. Now Kitty and I are the only two girls remaining unspoken for. Kitty says she will never find a husband if Papa keeps her chained to Longbourn. I applauded her attempt at imagery; however, as we were at my aunt Philips’s house at the time, her metaphor of being chained to Longbourn was not well chosen. When I pointed this out, Mama said, ‘Oh, Mary, do be quiet,’ but Mr Shackleton agreed with me.
He told me I looked charming in my new gown and asked me to dance with him. When I demurred, he reminded me that dancing was a healthful exercise and said that, in point of fact, he thought it more beneficial than playing the pianoforte, for that exercises only the fingers and dancing exercises the entire body.
I was much struck by his comment and I have decided that I should dance more often. Once my sisters have left the neighbourhood, I will no doubt be called upon to display true elegance and erudition, in the physical as well as the mental arts.
As Mr Shackleton led me back to my seat, I overheard my aunt Philips saying that we had had three weddings, and would no doubt soon have another one.
I cannot think what she means, unless she was referring to Kitty, who sat next to Mr Haydock all evening. He is visiting his cousins and means to spend some weeks in the neighbourhood, though what he can have to talk to Kitty about I do not know.
Your fellow traveller through this vale of vice,
Mary
Miss Kitty Bennet to Miss Eleanor Sotherton
Longbourn, Hertfordshire,
October 17
Dearest Ellie,
It is not fair, Mama is to go to London tomorrow with my sisters Jane and Elizabeth, but she will not take me. I do not see why I should not go to London, for I am sure that my attendant’s gown is just as important as their bridal gowns, or at any rate, nearly so. But I am to be left behind with Mary.
We have had a new visitor to the neighbourhood: Mr Haydock, the vicar of Kympton. I met him at my aunt Philips’s house. You may be sure I let him know what I thought of him for stealing poor Wickham’s living from him, but Mr Haydock just looked down his nose and pretended not to know what I was talking about, then tried to say that Wickham had not deserved the living, and then laughed at me when I told him he was an odious man and that I would not speak to him. And he is odious, though admittedly very handsome. It is a good thing Lydia was not here, or she would have been very severe on him.
Mama says that, now my older sisters are getting married, I must hurry up and find a husband for myself. Mr Darcy’s cousins will be at the wedding and Mama says I must try to catch one of them. I am sure I will do my best. They are all very rich and if they are handsome as well, I think I would like to marry one of them. Lydia got a husband by running away with him and Jane got one by going to stay with him and Lizzy got one by nursing her sister devotedly. But as I believe Papa would track me down if I ran away with anyone, and as I cannot invite myself into someone else’s house, and as I have no sister to nurse, then unless Mary should happen to be taken ill, I do not know how it is to be done.
I said so to Mr Haydock, but he only laughed at me.
I saw that he was to be no help and so I suggested to Mary that she should visit Cumbria and endeavour to catch a cold there, but she said she could not catch a cold to order, and when I said that she should pretend to have a cold, she said that he who walketh in vice does so ne’er so often as something or other, and then looked pleased with herself and said she must remember to tell it to Mr Shackleton. I do not know why she does not marry him and have done with it, but she says she will never marry, she is a follower of the goddess Athena. She has asked Mama to buy her an owl. Mama said she had better have a new dress instead and make herself agreeable to all the rich gentlemen who are certain to be at Mr Darcy’s wedding.
Lots of love and kisses,
Kitty
Mrs Lydia Wickham to Miss Elizabeth Bennet
Newcastle, October 23
My dear Lizzy,
I wish you joy. If you love Mr Darcy half as well as I do my dear Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so rich, and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but, however, do not speak to Mr Darcy about it, if you had rather not.
Your sister,
Lydia
Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire,
October 29
My dear Anne,
I write this to you in the carriage on my way back to London from Netherfield Park. You made me promise to tell you all about the wedding and I have now the leisure to do so. I travelled to Hertfordshire on Saturday and my guardian escorted me. I must confess I thought of you for most of the journey, and how you would have liked to be sitting with him in the carriage; I do so sincerely hope he comes to see you soon. We stopped for lunch at an inn and arrived at Netherfield Park in time for dinner. Caroline was there, saying how happy she was, but although I do not like to think ill of people, I believe she was not really happy. I overheard her once, as I entered the room, saying something spiteful about Elizabeth to her sister; however, perhaps I misheard. I hope so.
I spent the next few days getting to know all of my future sisters, as well as Elizabeth’s parents, and the time passed very quickly.
We all retired early the night before the wedding and woke to mist, but it soon lifted and by the time we had finished breakfast it had cleared away completely. Fitzwilliam seemed very nervous and so did Mr Bingley. It was up to my guardian to distract their thoughts and occupy them until it was time to leave.
I dressed with great care, as you can imagine, given that I was to be an attendant. My dress was very elegant, white muslin with ribbon trim and white flowers in my hair. Elizabeth and Jane looked beautiful. They were dressed in white silk, but Jane’s dress had a round neck whilst Elizabeth’s had a square neck, the one trimmed with ribbon and the other with lace. They wore veiled bonnets and carried bouquets of roses, from which Kitty had removed the thorns. I believe she enjoyed the day as much as I did, for she was an attendant, too. She had the idea of decorating the lich-gate with flowers, and they smelled lovely as we passed underneath.
The ceremony was so beautiful that I almost cried, although I must confess I had an anxious moment when the vicar asked if anyone knew of any reason…I could only think of you saying that your mama might turn up and halt the wedding, and I glanced towards the door once or twice, expecting to see her there. But it all went well. Mary played the organ—I believe it must have several keys missing, for it sounded very odd—and then all too soon the ceremony was over and we all went back to Longbourn for the wedding breakfast.
Mrs Bennet introduced Kitty and Mary to my guardian and remarked on how handsome they were looking, and said what a pity it was that all his brothers had not attended the wedding. And I could only think how I wished you were there, and that your mama would say that you were looking handsome to him. There was a great deal of eating and drinking, and one of Charlotte Collins’s little brothers kept saying that when he was a man he would drink as many bottles of wine as he wanted, and Mrs Bennet said that he shouldn’t, and he replied that he should, and so it went on—until Mrs Bennet espied Mr Bingley’s brother, Mr Ned Bingley, who stood up with his brother, and
introduced him to Kitty and Mary.
Mr Ned Bingley is very different to his brother, but I like him. He is very honest and says what he thinks. He did not flatter me or praise me and I liked that. I am afraid that a great many men give me compliments because they know I am an heiress. Miss Bingley tried to introduce him to Miss King, saying that she had inherited ten thousand pounds, but he said he had no wish to live off his wife.
He does not have a great deal of charm, but I have experience enough to know that charm is dangerous and not worth a great deal.
He asked me about myself, and he was interested to learn that I was Fitzwilliam’s sister, but more because I was the sister of his brother’s friend than because I was a great heiress. Somehow his straightforwardness made it easier for me to talk to him and I asked him about himself. He is engaged in trade, and although I should have been horrified, I found that instead I was interested. He owns a number of shops in the north and he said that if ever I find myself in Yorkshire, I should tell Charles and then Charles will tell him and he will show me round one of the shops himself.
I was also introduced to Mr Bingley’s mother. Anne, what can I say? I have never met anyone like her. She frightened me at first because she was so different to anyone I knew, and she was so very unlike Caroline and Louisa. But she had a good heart and I saw her wiping away a tear as Jane and Charles left the church. I believe she will by this time have returned north with her son Mr Ned Bingley.
Elizabeth and my brother left for the Lake District at about the same time. Elizabeth looked radiant. There is no other word to describe it—she positively glowed. Her eyes were sparkling with happiness and I have never seen my brother look more proud or happy. I hope I may be so lucky when I marry.
By this time they will be on their way to the Lake District, where they are to visit the Fitzwilliam cousins and tour the lakes before returning to Derbyshire. Elizabeth is looking forward to meeting Ullswater. I am glad Ullswater is more staid now and does not jump up at people as she used to, though I think that Elizabeth would only laugh and not shout at her and say she should be confined to the stables.
I will soon be back in London but I will be spending Christmas at Pemberley with my brother and sister. My sister! How good that sounds!
I hope your mama has recovered from her ill humour by then, and we might all be there together.
Your loving coz,
Georgiana
NOVEMBER
Mrs Elizabeth Darcy to Mrs Gardiner
Fitzwater Park, Cumbria,
November 4
My dear aunt,
You will see from the address on this letter that at last I am touring the Lakes, and it has been well worth the wait. I thought nothing could be better than our wedding, which was perfect, but the week since then has been even better. Every day brings me new knowledge of my husband and the knowledge draws me closer to him. I am more in love with him than ever and I know my husband to be violently in love with me.
How you will smile as you read that phrase, and how you teased me when I used it last year, saying that Bingley was violently in love with Jane. But if you could see me now, then you would not tease me, I am convinced, for you would be forced to acknowledge the truth of it. I have proof of my dear husband’s uncommon love and affection every day. I believe I am the happiest woman alive. And this is before I have even taken up residence at Pemberley!
But you will want to know more about our wedding trip. We set out after the wedding breakfast, travelling for some way with Jane and Charles and seeing the sights together, alternating an hour or two in the carriage with an hour or two of walking through new and pleasant countryside or visiting some place of interest.
We stopped overnight along the way, once at an inn and the rest of the time with my husband’s friends. They were very pleased to see us and welcomed us into their homes. When we had travelled as far north as Yorkshire, Jane and Charles left us, going on to see Charles’s family. I know that Jane was feeling apprehensive about meeting the rest of his family, but I have had a letter from her this morning and she says with relief that they made her very welcome and that she likes them very much. This will not surprise you, for when did Jane ever dislike anyone? But I believe, from what she has said, that they are good people, and more like Charles than Caroline.
My husband—you will be hearing that phrase a great deal in this letter, for I am very much enjoying writing it!—my husband and I then travelled on to Cumbria, stopping to enjoy the scenery whenever a particularly splendid view offered itself. We took advantage of the fine weather and often made a picnic in some picturesque location, enjoying being just the two of us.
Today we arrived at Fitzwater Park. Colonel Fitzwilliam was here to greet us, having travelled more quickly, and it was good to see a familiar face in the midst of so many unfamiliar ones. He has a large family. His mother made me very welcome, but his father was more reticent, merely looking down his nose at me and saying, ‘Harrumph!’ It was no worse than I expected from an earl, and it was a good deal better than I was prepared for. At least he did not tell me I was polluting the shades of his ancestral home. I cannot really be surprised at his attitude, since he obviously expected his nephew to marry a young woman with an old name, at least, and very possibly with a title. What interested me was my husband’s reaction. He was not in the least put out. There was no hint or suggestion in his face, voice or manner that he agreed with his uncle; indeed, he wore an expression of quiet pride and happiness whenever he looked at me. It is wonderful to see how it transforms his face, that smile. I cannot decide which I like most: his haughty expression, which, it must be admitted—though not to him!—is decidedly attractive, or his softer expression, which is merely decidedly handsome!
He introduced me to his cousins and they were all more or less agreeable. Peter was out walking with one of his friends, but another five cousins were indoors. I will not trouble you with all their names here; suffice it to say that I liked all of them at least a little, and I liked Maud very much. I expected to like her, because Georgiana had already told me something of her kindness, but how often does it happen that a person we think we will like turns out to disgust us in some way? But Maud was lively, sensible and amusing. She has two very well behaved children and Darcy is their godfather.
It was a revelation to me to see him allowing the children to pull his coat tails and play with his watch, with never a cross expression or a word of impatience. I had never considered him in such a light before, but I believe that as well as making an excellent husband he will also make a very good father.
You see, aunt, I can find no fault with him. How long this will last I do not know, but I beg you will indulge me in this one letter and then I promise not to boast of his many perfections again. It must make you very tired; indeed, you are probably running over the lines with a quick eye and a sigh even now! And so I will tell you more of Cumbria.
The scenery is even more dramatic than it was in Derbyshire, with mountains whose sides are clothed in the colours of autumn and whose tops are hidden in the clouds. The walking here is invigorating and the scenery breathtaking.
Fitzwater Park is even larger than Rosings and more imposing. It is in an elevated position with grounds that stretch down to the lake. There is boating on the lake whenever the weather is suitable, I am told, and we hope to go sailing tomorrow. I have also been promised a view of Aira Force waterfall, which drops sixty-five feet and is said to be very splendid. I will write and tell you more when I have seen all the sights.
Your loving niece,
Lizzy
Mrs Jane Bingley to Mrs Elizabeth Darcy
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire,
November 17
My dear Lizzy will forgive me for saying that she was quite wrong when she thought that she and Mr Darcy would be the happiest people alive, for I am convinced that that honour goes to Charles and myself. I cannot believe there was ever a time when I did not know him, for he is as necessary
to me as breathing. I sought to be happy when I thought all hope had gone, but I could never concentrate or take pleasure in anything, all I could do was school myself to pretend. But now, how different everything is! I knew as soon as I met him that Charles was just what a young man ought to be: sensible, good-humoured and lively, with easy manners and good breeding. Now that I have him as my husband I have everything I could wish for.
Our visit to Yorkshire was interesting but I am glad to be back home—or where, for a time at least, we are making our home—at Netherfield Park. I like the house very well, I always have, but I must confess, Lizzy, that it is already proving to be too close to Longbourn.
When we returned from Yorkshire, we found Lydia and Wickham at Longbourn. They had overstayed their welcome, however, and Papa had given them a strong hint to be gone. They had ignored this hint, but when we returned they found it expedient to act upon it and in short, Lizzy, they came here. Fortunately, Wickham was called back north yesterday and they have left us now, but I dare say they will be here again before very long. They are finding it very difficult to manage on what little money they have. Lydia has never been good at economising and I am afraid they live beyond their means.
I hope it is not unkind of me to say that I am glad they have gone, for just at this moment I would rather not have guests. Charles and I are establishing our life together and it is not very convenient, particularly as Mama visits Netherfield every day. When she cannot get the horses for the carriage, she walks. I dare say the exercise is doing her good, and I think it is of benefit to Mary, for Mama must have company and either Kitty or Mary, or both, always accompany her. But for my part I could wish for rather more time to ourselves and rather less time with my family.
Charles bears it very well, even though he has already been persuaded to help Lydia and Wickham, and I fear that Lydia means to write to you, too. He says they are no trouble and that he is delighted to have them here, and he remarks that I was good to his family and that he has every intention of being equally good to mine.
Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice Page 31