Part 4 (1/2)

FEBRUARY.

Mr Parker to Mr Wickham York, February 5 Good G.o.d, George, I could not believe it when I received your letter. I thought you were dead! Well, well, well, so that is where you have been: debtors' prison. I should have guessed. It is very good to know you are still alive and well, however, and looking for the love of your life. George Wickham married! What a sight that will be. I wish I knew any heiresses, but if I did, I would be making a play for them myself. My pockets are empty, as always.

Let me know the name of your widow. If you are leaving, then there will be a warm berth there for me, and it will suit me to leave York just at this moment. You might be able to pa.s.s for a respectable man here, but alas! I cannot. I must leave the city, at least for a while, and London would be as good a place as any for me to pa.s.s the time.

Have you seen anything of Belle lately?

Parker Mr Wickham to Mr Parker London, February 13 The widow is Mrs Dawson. Meet me at The Black Bull and I will take you home and introduce you, and then I will be off in pursuit of a wife. A pity there are none in York, but never mind, I will try my luck with Anne de Bourgh. If I can catch her away from her dragon of a mother, then something might be done.

You ask about Belle but sadly I have not seen her for years. We had some times together, Belle and I! But neither of us had any money and although we managed to sc.r.a.pe along together for a while, in the end the creditors were pressing and so we had to part. The last I heard of her, she was thinking of turning respectable.

Wickham Mr Parker to Mr Wickham Leeds, February 16 Belle! Respectable? Good Lord! That is the best joke I have heard in a long time.

The de Bourgh girl sounds promising. Does she have any money? If so, you'll have to fight the mother for her. Not the first time a George has fought a dragon!

Parker George Wickham to Matthew Parker London, February 18 Of course she has money; why else would I want to marry her? Miss Anne de Bourgh is the heiress of Rosings. She not only has a fortune, but the property will pa.s.s to her on her marriage as well. I have only to marry her and I will be George Wickham of Rosings Park. It has a fine sound, do you not think?

Wickham Mr Parker to Mr Wickham Leeds, February 22 Better than George Wickham of Debtors' Prison at any rate. Hurry up and marry the girl. I am in low funds and need somewhere to stay. Let me know when you have tied the knot and I will join you at Rosings as soon as the deed is done. Summer in Kent would suit me well.

Parker Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Kent, February 27 It is going to be easier than I thought. I travelled down to Kent, where I took a room at the local inn and made discreet enquiries as to Anne's movements, hoping that once I knew them I could arrange to b.u.mp into her 'accidentally' whilst she was out taking the air. But the de Bourghs are no longer in Kent; they are in Bath as Anne is sickly and she has gone there to take the waters. It will be far easier for me to renew our acquaintance there, where there are a thousand and one ways of meeting her. I am on my way to Bath now and I will write to you when I get there.

Wish me luck!

Wickham

MARCH.

Mr Parker to Mr Wickham London, March 1 Bath, eh? You're in luck. You can b.u.mp into her easily in the Pump Rooms and it won't look suspicious. Tell her you've got a touch of gout!

It should be easier for you to get her alone there, too. Her mother will have a lot of acquaintances and be gossiping half the time, I don't doubt; either that or playing the grand lady and entertaining herself by patronising everyone else.

Parker Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Bath, March 2 Well, I have made a start. I found Anne at the Pump Room this morning and she was alone, apart from her companion. I took a gla.s.s of the waters and then sidled over to her, b.u.mping into her and apologising, and then being concerned in case I had spilt the water on her dress. I affected surprise on recognising her and she blushed very prettily. She was flattered by my attentions, because of course I told her how well she looked-I am sure everyone else must tell her how sickly she looks-whilst the companion glowered at me and tried to hurry Anne away. So then I started talking about old Mr Darcy and mentioned that I was his G.o.dson and reminded Anne of all the happy times we had spent together at Pemberley. The companion was mollified and she was soon all smiles, for I bowed and kissed her hand, of course, and looked at her as though she were a beauty when in fact I am sure she must turn milk sour.

All was going well, very well, until Lady Catherine arrived. Anne shrank at once, and the companion looked nervous. I greeted Lady Catherine respectfully and told her that I had seen Darcy lately and that he was well. She raised her eyebrows but I saw that she remembered me and I thought everything was going to be all right, until she looked down her nose and said, 'Ah, yes, the steward's son,' and with that she turned her back on me.

I hid my disappointment, bowed and smirked, and accepted my dismissal gracefully. But I have not given up. If I can only find Anne alone, I am certain I can win her. Let me have but half an hour with her and I will persuade her to leave her drab and dreary life behind and elope with me.

Wickham Mr Parker to Mr Wickham London, March 4 Use all your charm. I am sick of the Widow. I want my freedom, and the freedom of Rosings Park.

Parker Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Bath, March 5 I renewed my a.s.sault this morning, meeting Anne in the library. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and I bowed and kissed her hand. We were soon talking about her favourite books and all was going well until the companion hurried over from the other side of the room, saying that Lady Catherine had instructed them not to be more than ten minutes. I tried to talk to Anne again but it was no good. At the mention of her mother, Anne became anxious, and as the companion was evidently not going to leave her side, I had to withdraw with a good grace.

There is no use in my remaining: Anne and her mother are due to return to Rosings in a few days. But I have not given up. In a few years' time, Lady Catherine might have pa.s.sed away and then I can try again.

In the meantime, I am returning to London. Meet me in The Black Bull on Sat.u.r.day at midday and we will drown our sorrows together.

Wickham Lady Catherine de Bourgh to Mr Darcy Rosings Park, Kent, March 17 Dear nephew, I called in at Darcy House on my way back from Bath and I spent the day with Georgiana. Her school has done well with her but it can do nothing more for her. She is old enough now to have an establishment of her own and you should form one for her in London. It is what your mother would have wished.

You will be pleased to hear that Anne's health is much improved by drinking the waters. I knew it must be so. Mr Feather was quite wrong when he said that Anne's condition was not the kind to benefit from a visit to Bath, and he has of course been forced to admit that I was right. I have been responsible for many cures by giving out good advice.

Your father's steward's son was in Bath. He did not seem to have any employment and I told him that he must apply himself if he wanted to get on in the world. It is amazing to me how many young men these days seem to squander their time and their energies. I told him that the Lymingtons were looking for a steward and I promised to mention his name. He told me he was very grateful for the attention.

Your friend Bingley was at Darcy House with his sisters when I arrived. They were visiting Georgiana and they had taken her riding in the park prior to my arrival. They were all impressed with Georgiana's equestrienne skills.

Mr Bingley's eldest sister is newly married to a Mr Hurst. He is a man who evidently suffers from fatigue and I told him that he would find the waters beneficial. Miss Bingley was much struck by the idea and a.s.sured me they would go to Bath forthwith.

'Let it be soon,' I said, 'for he will never recover without drinking the waters,' and she was forced to agree.

Mr Bingley is looking for an estate of his own. I advised him that he should look no further than Surrey. He said that he did not know if he would like the place but I told him he would like it very well: people in trade are always fond of Surrey.

Lady Catherine Mr Darcy to Lady Adelaide Fitzwilliam Pemberley, Derbys.h.i.+re, March 20 I have had a letter from Lady Catherine and she raises a subject close to my thoughts at the moment, saying that she thinks I should set up a separate establishment for Georgiana in London. I have thought of it often recently but I have done nothing about it as I like to have my sister here at Pemberley when she is not at school. It is her home and she is very fond of it. I must also confess that I do not like to think of the place without her. But she is old enough now to leave school, and although it is one thing for her to spend the holidays at Pemberley, it is quite another for her to live here alone, for I cannot always be in Derbys.h.i.+re.

If she had an establishment in London, she would have plenty of company all year round. There are always aunts, uncles and cousins in town on business or pleasure, and she would also have the parks, the picture galleries and the museums of London to educate and entertain her. I am more often in town than in Derbys.h.i.+re and she would have my company then, as she would have it every summer when she would join me at Pemberley.

Let me have your thoughts on the matter; you know how much I value your opinion. I do my best for her, but it is at times like these that I realise how little I know about raising a child-or a young lady, I should say, for Georgiana is a child no longer-and I need advice.

Your affectionate nephew, Fitzwilliam Miss Anne de Bourgh to Miss Georgiana Darcy Rosings Park, Kent, March 23 Dearest Georgiana, How good it was to see you last week. How Ullswater made me laugh! And you are grown so talented. Your watercolour of the Thames was the prettiest thing you have done, and I am not surprised your brother wants to hang it in the drawing room. I wish I could learn to paint but Mama says that I am not well enough and that the lessons would fatigue me. I am sure they would not. However, I take my sketchbook out of doors whenever I can and I think the fresh air does me good, though Mama says it is injurious to my health.

We were sorry to miss your brother but your friends the Bingleys seem pleasant people. Mr Bingley is very handsome, is he not? And so good-humoured. What a change it was to hear someone who was pleased with everyone and everything, saying that London was the finest place in creation, full of the most interesting gentlemen and the prettiest ladies. I liked his sisters less, but you know them better than I do and I must confess they were very elegant-even Mama said they were well dressed for people whose family are in trade.

Have you heard anything of Henry recently? We have not heard anything since Christmas, but as he is your guardian I thought you might have some more recent news.

Affectionately yours, Anne Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh Darcy House, London, March 29 Dearest Anne, Ullswater is very funny, is she not? She makes me laugh all the time, although sometimes I should not laugh, I know. She knocked my paint box flying yesterday and I had to scrub the carpet before my governess returned so that Ullswater would not be in trouble. My governess does not like dogs and looks for any excuse to criticise her. I am not allowed to take her with me when I go riding but she begs to come with me every time. I tell her she may not go, but I always relent. It is true she chases rabbits, but the sight of her lolloping along beside me makes up for any inconvenience.

My brother was sorry to miss you, too, and he was sorry not to be able to visit you for Easter, but he says we will see you in the summer. He is back in London now and he is staying with me at Darcy House. He had a letter from Colonel Fitzwilliam yesterday and everything is well, or at least it was when the letter was posted, but it is difficult for letters to get through, you know. There was a lot in the letter about the war and the price of everything, also about military manoeuvres and some of the commanders, and there was a note in it for me. My guardian told me that the weather is good, much warmer than it is here, and the food bearable, and that he has some leave coming to him in the summer so that he will join us at Pemberley. The Bingleys will be coming, too. They are very agreeable people, are they not? Miss Bingley plays duets with me and she and her sister sing with me. They remained in Yorks.h.i.+re over the winter on account of a sad bereavement but they returned to London recently and they are often here. I am glad of it. Mr Bingley dances with me after dinner sometimes whilst his sister plays the piano. I am preparing myself for the future, you see. I must know how to go on when I come out.

Miss Bingley is at present trying to persuade her brother to buy an estate. He is willing, but my brother does not think he will find it easy to settle because he enjoys travelling too much and meeting new people. He is at that time of life when friends.h.i.+ps are growing and the circle of acquaintances is always expanding.

My brother says that Mr Bingley is so easily persuadable that if one of his friends only says to him, 'Bingley, I think you had better not buy an estate, you know,' Mr Bingley will probably not do it.

All the same, his sisters seem determined for him to have somewhere and I think they will prevail in the end.