6 July 1792
Dear Jane,
Much to my surprise, I find Charlotte to be quite content as the wife of Mr. Chatterton. She is agreeable to all that is expected of a minister’s wife and has been well received by his parishioners. With Mr. Chatterton in his study writing sermons and Charlotte content in the parlour, this marriage may prove to be a success. They have a lovely garden and a good view of Desmet Park. I walk in the park every morning, as the weather is perfect for such exercise.
Last evening, I dined at Rosings Park and was introduced to Lady Sylvia Desmet and her daughter Anne. Lady Sylvia wore an elaborate powdered wig, and her gown was the richly embroidered brocade favoured by the Queen and wide enough to hide a litter of kittens. I much prefer the French-styled dresses, which are so popular in town and are truly elegant in their simplicity. Shall I offer Lady Sylvia some of the muslin I bought in London?
Charlotte tells me Her Ladyship is very attentive; I say she is nosy. She asked me a dozen questions before the tea was poured. She has an opinion on everything, and I felt as if I was constantly defending myself. Because of nerves, I was so unsure of my French that I professed ignorance of a language I have studied. For the same reason, I chose not to disclose that our grandmother saw to our education, so we had no need of a governess.
As for the daughter, she is rather pretty but looks as fragile as a porcelain doll and said hardly a word all through dinner. Just as we were leaving, she told me that she liked Charlotte very much and would have said more, but when her mother came near, she stopped talking. Charlotte says we will probably have a visit from Anne tomorrow. She rides by in her phaeton every day when it is warm, so she can get fresh air and get away from her mother, I suspect. I have lost the light and will write more tomorrow.
Anne Desmet did visit Charlotte today and surprised me greatly by saying she already knew about me from letters from her cousin, Mr. Lacey. He told her I possessed intelligence and great wit, and he was very complimentary of my beauty. I asked her if that was why he had fled Hertfordshire, because he had met an intelligent woman, to which she replied, ‘Very possibly.’ I do not understand why Mr. Lacey would write to his cousin and tell her I was a beauty, when he had decided at the assembly that I was only tolerable. Anne said he is to come to Kent in a week. At present, he is attending the cricket contests between Oxford and Cambridge. I may meet him in the park on my walks, but other than that, I am sure he will keep to the manor.
Please write often. Papa gave me money for the post. I want to hear all that is going on in London.
Love,
Lizzy
It was clear from this letter that Anne knew her cousin was already in love with Elizabeth, and because of that, she felt comfortable in telling Lizzy that Will admired her. It must have been Anne who had informed Mr. Darcy that Lizzy was in Kent, and guess who was coming to Desmet Park?
12 July — Mr. Bingham and Mr. Lacey and his cousin have arrived at Desmet Park, and Mr. Bingham has called on Charlotte at the parsonage. When he asked after Jane, I said she was in good health and was ever as she had been, and he said it was the same with him. I am very surprised the gentlemen have come at all. When I was in London, the season was providing an endless succession of breakfasts, balls, dinners, and concerts. We were unable to obtain tickets to the opera because the crowds were so great. It is possible that the lords and ladies have tired of town and have returned to their country estates. As exciting as it was to be in London, the city did stink because of the heat, horses, and overburdened cesspools.
14 July — Mr. Bingham, Col. Devereaux, and Mr. Lacey came to the parsonage today to pay their compliments. Although the colonel is not as handsome as his cousin, his personality has great appeal, and he actually enjoys a good conversation. Mr. Lacey said little other than to ask after my family. He has that distracted look again. Before leaving, he said his aunt had invited us to supper on Friday and is to send her carriage for us. Mr. Chatterton just about fell over himself when he heard the news.
17 July — For the most part, I had a delightful evening. I sat between Col. Devereaux and Mr. Bingham. When I informed Mr. Bingham that Jane was currently in London, visiting with our uncle, he was genuinely pleased to have news of her and said he would call on her when he returned to town. Col. Devereaux is a man of many tastes and is very knowledgeable, especially about events taking place in France, and fears that things will go badly for the king. The only flaw in the evening was when Lady Sylvia insisted, quite emphatically, that I play on the pianoforte. I believe, in an effort to put me at my ease, Mr. Lacey offered to turn the pages and insisted I underestimated my musical talents. Col. Devereaux joined us, and wishing to tease the gentleman from Derbyshire just a little, I asked the colonel if he enjoyed conversation more than his cousin did. Mr. Lacey defended himself by saying he has no talent for talking with people not of his acquaintance. Now, in an effort to put him at his ease, I told him that the people of Hertfordshire were eager to engage in conversation with someone of his education and position in life. Then he said, ‘You are quite right. If my behaviour has given offence, I apologize. Hopefully, there will be opportunities to make amends.’ I did not know how to respond. Mr. Lacey has the most mercurial temperament of anyone I know. If only he would smile more, for he is very attractive when he does, and did I mention his fine legs?
After reading this entry, I couldn’t understand how Lizzy failed to recognize that Will Lacey was attracted to her. He repeatedly crossed paths with her while she was out walking in Rosings Park, visited with her at the parsonage, and apologized on more than one occasion for the unfavorable impression he had made when they had first met. And what did Lizzy think he meant when he had said he hoped to have opportunities to make amends in the future? If Lizzy was confused, Charles was less so, because on July 22nd, he left Rosings Park to return to London, no doubt to call on Jane.
23 July — I have met Mr. Lacey three mornings in a row in the park. I am sure he knows when and where I will be walking. I do not understand why he rides just at that time, especially since he does little except to ask after my health and to comment on the weather. Charlotte thinks Mr. Lacey is in love with me. What a ridiculous notion! I assured Charlotte that someone of Mr. Lacey’s position in life considers me to be nothing more than a diversion, because he is bored in the country.
25 July — I have had the privilege today of meeting Mr. Lacey’s sister, Miss Lacey. She is eighteen or nineteen years old and greatly resembles her brother with her dark hair and gray eyes. Miss Lacey came to Rosings from London. She said she has been in town since Easter and has attended so many balls and dinner parties that she is glad everyone has returned to their country estates. She spoke with great amusement of all the young men who professed their love for her although she had done no more than dance with them. She is well aware that their attentions had more to do with her fortune than her. A Mr. Oldham, a strong, handsome man of about twenty-five years, accompanied Miss Lacey, and it is my understanding the gentleman is her constant companion. I wonder if something happened to Miss Lacey, making it necessary for her brother to employ a man for her protection.