Your affectionate aunt,
Margaret
Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Mrs Gardiner
Longbourn, Hertfordshire,
January 24
My dear aunt,
I have that to tell you about Mr Wickham which will please you more than it pleases me: his attentions are at an end. I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards him, they are even impartial towards Miss King, to whom he has transferred his affections.
I cannot find out that I hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to think her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all this. My watchfulness has been effectual; and though I should certainly be a more interesting object to all my acquaintance were I distractedly in love with him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance. Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly.
Kitty and Lydia take his defection much more to heart than I do. They are young in the ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on as well as the plain.
Your loving niece,
Lizzy
FEBRUARY
Mr Charles Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Bath, February 10
Dearest Ma,
Caroline said that I looked seedy, she thought London was not doing me good and she persuaded me to take a house in Bath, so here we are. Upon my honour it is lively enough but somehow the concerts and amusements do not entertain me as much as I thought they would. I am glad you are coming to stay with us; I am looking forward to seeing you again and you must stay until Easter.
I thought of going back to Netherfield Park next month but as I would have to see Miss Bennet again, and as Darcy and Caroline assure me that Miss Bennet had no affection for me, I have decided against it. I think it would be hard to be with her and know that she did not care for me. I am not complaining. She is an angel and can do far better I am sure, for I am a very ordinary sort of fellow. Come soon, Ma, you will like it here. If Ned cannot tear himself away from business, then come without him.
Your loving son,
Charles
Mrs Bingley to Mr Charles Bingley
Yorkshire, February 12
If that girl doesn’t think she’s the luckiest girl alive to have won your affections, Charles, then she’s not worth a candle. There are plenty of other girls who know a good thing when they see it. You’ll have them falling all over you before long, you mark my words. Never you fret, your old ma will be there next week and we’ll have a high old time of it. Is that friend of yours, Mr Darcy, there? How is Caroline getting along with him?
Your doting Ma
Mr Charles Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Bath, February 14
Dear Ma,
Caroline thinks she is getting along very well with Mr Darcy but she is no further forward than before. He is not in Bath; he has gone to stay with his cousins in Cumbria. Caroline wanted me to take a house there also but I told her I will not chase Darcy round the country like a puppy and so she has had to make do with Bath.
Your loving son,
Charles
Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley
Fitzwater Park, Cumbria,
February 19
Dear Charles,
I have just had a letter from Georgiana and she asked after you particularly. I know how much she enjoyed your company over Christmas and I hope you will come to stay with us at Pemberley after Easter.
I find myself in the middle of unusually clement weather up here in the Lake District, thank God, for you know how much I detest bad weather in the country. But the days are fine and we spend them out of doors, sailing on the lake, riding, fishing, and taking outings to entertain the ladies. They are all of them very accomplished and they paint and sketch; they are as pleased as we men that the weather is fine.
Maud is well and my godson is thriving. He was christened yesterday. He has a fine set of lungs and he displayed them to us throughout the ceremony. Maud made several comments about wanting to repay me by standing godmother to my children and exhorted me to provide her with them without delay. My aunt was of the same mind and introduced me to a very pretty young woman by the name of Miss Barton; however, I made it clear to her that I have no plans to marry this year.
The rector, Mr Grayson, accompanied us back to the Park and I was glad of it for I wanted to ask if he could recommend a deserving young man to fill the living of Kympton. It is only eighteen months since I had to appoint a new incumbent when Mr Rogers died, but now his successor has met with an unlucky accident and I am having to fill the living again. Luckily Mr Grayson was able to recommend a young man who is newly ordained but who is known to Mr Grayson personally and sounds very promising. I mean to speak with him tomorrow and see if he would be suitable.
The only complaint I have to make of my present circumstances is that my aunt is fond of charades and I am obliged to play, though I avoid it whenever I can.
I hope you are well entertained in Bath. Pray write to Georgiana and let her know how you get on—she has never been to Bath and she is longing to hear all about it. I know that Caroline and Louisa have promised to write but I believe Georgiana would value a letter from all of you. I have encouraged her to reply to everything she receives, as it will give her some practise in the art of letter writing, which will be very useful to her.
Darcy
Mr Bingley to Mr Darcy
Bath, February 25
My dear Darcy,
Of course I will write to Georgiana. You should bring her here, there are concerts and balls and all manner of entertainments. She is a little young for some of them, to be sure, but Caroline is convinced she would like the libraries and the firework displays and begs me to ask you to join us here as soon as you return from Cumbria. One of my younger sisters is here, who is not yet sixteen, and two of my younger brothers, and they are all very taken with the place. My mother is enjoying herself, too.
Have you heard anything from Colonel Forster? You will remember we met him in Meryton. I have written to him several times to ascertain his thoughts on the war. It seems a long way away, but my brother Ned is interested in the future of the hostilities because it affects the future of trade. Upon my soul, Ned has done very well for himself and we are all very proud of him, though Caroline says he needs to buy himself a new coat.
You will like to hear something of our neighbours at Netherfield. Colonel Forster happened to mention something about them in his letters and it seems that Charlotte Lucas has married Mr Collins. Did you know? If you remember, Mr Collins was the cousin of the Bennets, and also, I believe, your aunt’s rector. If you go to Rosings at Easter as usual, it seems likely you will see her there.
Bingley
MARCH
Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley
Fitzwater Park, Cumbria,