By the bye, we have been shopping, as you might imagine, for we are both determined to look our best. Just think, by this time next year I might be Mrs Darcy, and you might be visiting me at Pemberley. I will be sure to write to you often and let you know all about it.
Your dutiful daughter,
Caroline
Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley
Yorkshire, July 30
My dear girl,
I knew that all that schooling would pay off in the end. I told your pa so, but would he listen? Not he! I had to put my foot down sharp and make him send you to the seminary, and see where it’s taken us! Now, don’t you stint at the dressmakers’; you need plenty of finery to keep up with all the lords and ladies. I’m not going to have them saying as how you look like you came from trade; and no need to mention it—these grand folks look down on things like that. I’m sure you’re just as good as any of them, and if you don’t catch yourself a rich husband, then my name’s not Bingley. Everyone says how you’re the most accomplished girl they’ve ever seen, with your French and your Italian and your goodness knows what. And elegant! The neighbourhood’s never seen anything like it. You can walk the length and breadth of a room with a book on your head, and I’ve never seen anyone do anything like that in my life. You make the most of your chances, my girl. Catch this Mr Darcy and then invite your old ma to Pemberley. What times we’ll have! And don’t you go counting the cost! Buy all the latest fashions and folderols and send the bills to your pa.
Your doting Ma
Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley
London, July 31
Mama,
Will you speak to Caroline most seriously? She keeps saying that I must not try to attract Mr Darcy’s attention, nor engage his affections, when we go to Pemberley. She says that she is destined for Mr Darcy, she feels it most strongly, but this is absurd, she has never even met him. I am the eldest and I am the one with the strongest claim and I am sure I do not know why I should neglect a chance of fixing Mr Darcy. From what Charles says he is very rich and very handsome. Caroline will keep saying that I am as good as engaged to Mr Hurst, but Mr Hurst has not yet proposed, and he is so indolent that he might never summon up the energy to do so.
Do, pray, write to her, Mama, and do it by return.
Your loving daughter,
Louisa
AUGUST
Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley
Yorkshire, August 1
My dear girl,
Now I know you have your heart set on this Mr Darcy, and small wonder if he is as rich and handsome as you say he is, but if he should happen to take a fancy to Louisa, then let him have her. We’ll all be visitors at Pemberley, just the same.
Your doting Ma
Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley
London, August 2
Dear Mama,
I hope your letter has done some good. I am sure I wish Caroline every success, but I believe Mr Darcy will prefer me. Caroline and I have been shopping as you instructed and we have bought two new bonnets apiece. Caroline has bought a new string of pearls and a fan, and I have bought three new pairs of shoes and a new reticule, as well as a brooch. We would have bought new dresses but there was no time to have them made. There is no time for anything, we are off in half an hour!
Your loving daughter,
Louisa
Miss Caroline Bingley to Miss Violet Cranmore
London, August 2
My dear, sweet, most amiable friend,
How long it seems since we were at the seminary together, and how I miss our conversations! What a joy it was to have such congenial company. It seems an age since I saw you. Have you seen any of our friends since we left the seminary? I hope they have weathered the years better than Maria Roberts. I saw her in town yesterday and I could not believe how ill she appeared. She was very thin and had neglected her looks entirely. Her face was covered in freckles. You would have been horrified to see her and I did not know where to look. It was truly mortifying.
But of course you do not know that I am in London. Louisa and I are presently staying here with my brother Charles. However, when you reply, I beg you will address your letter to Miss Caroline Bingley, Pemberley, Derbyshire, for we are on our way there to spend the summer with Charles’s dearest friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy.
You will be pleased to know that my mama and papa are both well, as are my brothers and sisters. Do write to me at once, my fairest friend; I am anxious to hear that your family are well, and to hear all your news.
Caroline Bingley
Miss Violet Cranmore to Miss Caroline Bingley
Devon, August 4
My dearest, most adored friend,
How good it was to hear from you after such a long time, and how flattering to know that your communication was prompted by nothing more than a wish to be assured that my family and I are well. You will be relieved to know that they are all flourishing. My eldest sister is lately betrothed, and I am about to be betrothed as well. Papa thinks I am rather young, but Mama knows that it is True Love and so she does not stand in my way. You, of course, have plenty of time in which to find a husband. You are not so very old. Why, even Louisa, who is older than you, is not to be pitied, and when Sally Carpenter ventured to say that Louisa was becoming an old maid, I set her right at once.
I am very sorry you have to visit Mr Darcy. He is an ill-favoured man, I hear, and his park is very small.
Your eternally faithful friend,
Violet
Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 4
Greetings and felicitations, dearest Mama.
You have never seen anything like Pemberley! It is the largest estate I have ever seen. There are woods and streams, and the drive is so long it took us ten minutes to reach the house. And what a house! The hall alone is larger than our morning room and dining room put together.
We were shown into the drawing room, where the furniture is the most handsome in the world. Almost as handsome as the master of the house! I never thought Charles would know anyone half so fine as Mr Darcy. He is tall, and even more handsome than his reputation, for you know the world is like to call a man handsome just because he is rich. He has dark hair and dark eyes, a fine figure and an air of being somebody. I would be very happy to live here all my days.
Write to Charles and tell him he must not speak of our leaving. I have told him so myself but he says that we must not outstay our welcome, but I am sure Mr Darcy will be just as glad to have us here for a fortnight as a sennight, particularly if we make ourselves agreeable to his sister. Pemberley is so large that two more visitors will not make any difference. And tell Papa he must buy an estate so that we might return Mr Darcy’s hospitality at once.