Part 5 (2/2)

August 4

Darcy! I was appalled by your last. I discovered Mrs Younge's address in London and went there at once, intent on calling Wickham out, but the birds had flown. Let me know what you want to do. I am entirely at your disposal.

Henry Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy House, London, August 5 I would call him out myself if I could find him. I have visited all his usual haunts but he has gone to ground. It is as well for him that he has. If he approaches Georgiana again, I will ruin him. She is devastated, poor child. She is pale and wan, and weeps at the slightest provocation. She has no appet.i.te and she wanders the corridors of Darcy House, unable to settle to anything. Her painting lies untouched and she never sits down at the pianoforte without rising again a minute later with a heartfelt sigh.

I am doing my best to cheer her, taking her out and about to all her favourite places and doing everything I can think of for her pleasure, but she remains downcast. I hope you will help me to raise her spirits, before she goes into a decline.

Darcy Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh Darcy House, London, August 15 Dearest Anne, I must tell someone, though I have to swear you to secrecy, but I know I can trust you. I am so ashamed and so unhappy I do not know where to turn. My brother and guardian are both very kind, but I miss a woman to talk to. I had Mrs Younge, but now she has gone, and oh, Anne, I am so miserable. I have been very wrong and done something dreadful but even though it is all to be hushed up so that no one will ever know, I must have someone to tell. I have been in Ramsgate, as you know, but what you do not know is that I met George Wickham there. You know how charming he is and how handsome. He was kind to me when we were children and he was friendly to me in Ramsgate, and then more than friendly. Oh, always respectful! Never a hint of anything improper, unless it was to woo me without the consent of my brother. I did not know what he was doing to begin with, even now I can scarcely say when his friends.h.i.+p ended and his wooing began, but before I knew it I was falling in love with him. Mrs Younge smiled on the attachment, telling me of her own romantic past when she eloped with her husband and everyone said how much they admired her for following her heart. And all the while she was in league with Wickham and they were only after my fortune. My brother has dismissed her and is trying to find me a new companion, but it is a matter of indifference to me whether I have one or not. He is trying to cheer me by giving me his time and his company, but his kindness only makes me feel worse.

Oh, how could I have been so foolis.h.!.+ And, oh, Anne, how can I live without him; for without George the world is empty and dull. I wish, how I wish, his love had been real, for mine was heartfelt. You will think me very foolish I know, but I cannot help it. Even now I love him.

Tell no one, I beseech you.

Georgiana Miss Anne de Bourgh to Miss Georgiana Darcy Rosings Park, Kent, August 17 My darling Georgiana, how I feel for you! I do not think you foolish at all, for if Mama had not separated me from George in Bath, I think I would have fallen in love with him myself, had I not already been...And hearing your story, it is clear to me that he was hunting a rich wife even then. What a villain, to use you so! But you are lucky, Georgiana, though you cannot see it: you have escaped the clutches of a man who is not worthy of you. No scoundrel deserves your love, only a good and honest man, and there will be many, many men who will fall in love with you-you, who are so good and lovely-and who will care nothing for your fortune.

Your letter, I suppose, explains why Henry left us so suddenly. He received a letter from Darcy and then made some excuse about business and went at once. Your brother will find you a new companion, depend upon it, someone you can trust, and you know, dearest cousin, that you can always write to me.

I am sending you my love, my dearest Georgiana.

Your devoted cousin, Anne Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh Darcy House, London, August 23 Dearest Anne, Your letter heartened me and made me feel that I was not so alone. I am feeling a little better than the last time I wrote, and a little more able to see things clearly. The memory of George's charm is fading and what remains is not so pleasant to think of.

My brother has found me a new companion, as you knew he would. It was Cousin Henry who recommended her; she had been with a family he has known intimately for many years. My brother went to see her last week and looked into her background most carefully, speaking with all her employers and her family, too. He feels to blame for appointing Mrs Younge without examining her account of herself, and he has been determined not to make the same mistake again. I know, because I heard him and Cousin Henry talking about me. I have been a troublesome ward, I fear.

Mrs Annesley arrived a few days ago and she is very genteel and agreeable. I think I will like her. Fitzwilliam has suggested I invite a friend to stay as he has to go away for a while in order to help his friend Mr Bingley look for an estate to rent. I know that Mr Bingley has arranged to see three properties in the coming weeks. One is in Ches.h.i.+re, one is in Staffords.h.i.+re and one is in Hertfords.h.i.+re. I hope he finds something to suit him; I know that Caroline and Louisa would like their brother to have an estate.

Your affectionate cousin, Georgiana

SEPTEMBER.

Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley London, September 1 Greetings and felicitations, dearest Mama.

We have seen nothing of Mr Darcy these last few weeks, but Georgiana is in London once more and I intend to visit her tomorrow. She is such a dear girl, and such a favourite with her brother. I have told Charles that he must invite her to his estate just as soon as he has one.

We went to see one in Ches.h.i.+re last week but it was quite hopeless. The drive was very short and the drawing room was small and dark. We could not have possibly invited the Darcys to such a place.

Charles has made arrangements to see two further properties. We are to go to Staffords.h.i.+re next week and then to Hertfords.h.i.+re. I only hope we might find something suitable before the autumn.

Your dutiful daughter, Caroline Mr Charles Bingley to Mrs Bingley London, September 13 Dear Mama, You will be pleased to know that I have at last found an estate. I did not take Caroline or Louisa with me, since they criticise everything and upon my word nothing seems to please them. Instead I persuaded Darcy to accompany me.

I was shown around by a Mr Morris, a very fine fellow who praised the house and the grounds; however, Darcy spotted some difficulties and made sure they were resolved before I settled. And now I am to have the run of Netherfield Park.

You must come and see it at once, and bring my brothers and sisters. You are all very welcome to come and live with me if you have a fancy to it. I am planning to move in by Michaelmas.

Your loving son, Charles Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley Yorks.h.i.+re, September 14 Well, my girl, your brother has written to me and told me all about this estate of his, and I'm coming to see it just as soon as I can. Now don't you worry, your old ma won't go getting in the way. I've the little 'uns to look after apart from anything else, but Ned is driving me down to take a look at the place.

Make sure you invite Mr Darcy straightaway-these fas.h.i.+onable gents get snapped up quick-and don't forget to let your old ma know what's going on.

Your doting Ma Miss Caroline Bingley to Mr Darcy London, September 15 Dear Mr Darcy, We can never thank you enough for helping Charles to choose a house in the country. We are all beholden to you, and to show our grat.i.tude we hope you will visit us as soon as we move in to Netherfield Park.

Do not, I beg you, refuse on the suspicion that you will have to mingle with the local burghers. Louisa and I will be there to provide you with the superior company to which you are accustomed. I dare say you will never have to speak to the people of Meryton at all, except to say, 'Good morning,' if you should be unlucky enough to come across them whilst taking the air.

Hertfords.h.i.+re is a pretty country, I hear. I am longing to see it! And Netherfield, Charles says, is a very fine house. Not as fine as Pemberley, I am sure, but then, what house is? For Pemberley, as I frequently say to Charles, is the epitome of a gentleman's residence, and I advise him constantly to model his own house upon it.

How happy we all were at Pemberley over the summer, before you returned to London. I am longing to see Georgiana again, and hear all about her trip to Ramsgate. I called upon her recently but she was out.

Dear Georgiana! How I dote on her. Her manners are sweet and engaging, exactly what a young lady's manners should be. How I loved to see her dancing at Pemberley, at the private b.a.l.l.s. They were just the right sort of entertainment for her, introducing her to local society and allowing her to see how men and women of fas.h.i.+on behave. Most of all, allowing her to see some very superior dancing.

You yourself excel at the accomplishment, and I flatter myself that the partner with whom you opened the last ball was not deficient in her skills. It was very good of you to ask me to open the ball with you, though it gave rise to so much speculation that I was quite embarra.s.sed by it all. I did not know where to look when your neighbour, Lord Sundy, said how well matched we were, and when his wife said there would be wedding bells at Pemberley before long, I am sure I must have blushed.

Georgiana, too, remarked that Pemberley needs a mistress. I am sure you would find it a help if you were able to leave the running of the household, and the care of your younger sister, to a wife, as long as the woman you chose was as fond of dear Georgiana as I am. I declare, I love her as much as I love Louisa, and you know my sister and I are very close. It is such a comfort for a woman to have another woman to talk to, and I think I may say, as your friend, that it would do Georgiana good to have some company from one of her equals. Mrs Younge is all very well, but a companion is only a companion, and can never be to a young girl what a sister can be.

But I must not lecture you. I am sure you will choose an estimable young woman to fill the role of Mrs Darcy when you are ready, and I can a.s.sure you that your friends would like nothing better than to see you happily settled. Who knows? Perhaps you will find your Mrs Darcy waiting for you when you visit us at Netherfield!

Do say you will stay with us. Charles would like nothing better, and Louisa and I quite depend upon it. It is our chance to repay you for all the hospitality you have shown us over the years. I am so glad that at last Charles has an estate of his own.

Sincerely yours, Caroline Bingley Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Mrs Gardiner Longbourn, Hertfords.h.i.+re, September 14 My dear Aunt Gardiner, Netherfield Park is empty no longer! I am sorry for Susan, as I know she hoped for a last-minute miracle, but I must also admit to being curious about our new neighbours. There has been talk of nothing else for days. According to Mama, who has been gossiping with Mrs Long, the house has been taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England, a Mr Bingley. This is very pleasing to Mama, as you might imagine, for she has already married Jane off to him in her imagination, even though she does not know yet if he is single or married.

What is less pleasing to her is that Papa is refusing to visit Mr Bingley when he arrives. Mama teases him about it constantly, but he will not be moved. He says that Mr Bingley might call upon him if he pleases, but that he has no intention of being the first to pay the call. This has put Mama out of all countenance, for of course we cannot visit Mr Bingley until we have been introduced.

Jane and I have tried to console her by saying that one of our neighbours will perform the introduction at the Meryton a.s.sembly, but she refuses to be comforted, saying that Mrs Long is a hypocritical woman with two nieces and will therefore not introduce us. And even if these obstacles could be overcome-if Mrs Long were to suddenly become the kindest woman on earth and her two nieces were to become betrothed, or die, before the ball-it would still not answer, for Mrs Long will be away and will only return the day before the ball; therefore she will not have time to come to know him herself.

I dare say we will become acquainted with Mr Bingley sooner or later, whatever Mama thinks, since it is hardly possible we can be neighbours for any length of time without coming to know each other. Whether the acquaintance will be as welcome to her once it has been made I do not know, since it is almost impossible to find out anything for certain about Mr Bingley. This, however, does not stop the rumours. Almost everyone is sure they have heard something about him. Some say that he has three brothers, others that he has three sisters. He is, according to different informants, handsome, tolerably handsome and not at all handsome; temperamental, affable and condescending; a sportsman, an intellectual and a hermit. In height he is tall, medium and short; in figure he is portly, emaciated and spare.

However, we will have to wait until Michaelmas to find out for ourselves because he does not move into the Park before then.

Your loving niece, Lizzy Miss Susan Sotherton to Miss Elizabeth Bennet Bath, September 25 Dearest Lizzy, You will have heard by now that we have found a tenant for Netherfield Park, which has provoked different feelings in us all. Mama is relieved, because now, at least, some of the worst of our debts can be paid, whilst Papa is affronted at the idea of strangers living in our ancestral home, even though it is his own folly that has forced us to leave. My brothers and sisters are sad and angry in equal measure, and I must now become resigned to it. I must confess, I kept hoping against hope that Papa would see the error of his ways and stop drinking and gambling overnight, or that Mama would inherit a fortune from a hitherto unsuspected great-uncle, and that we could all return to Netherfield. But alas! It is not to be. Papa drinks as much as ever, though he gambles less, and unsuspected great-uncles are in short supply.

And so Netherfield has really gone and we will not be able to return there for at least a year, as that is the length of the lease. We know nothing about the man who has taken it yet, and I rely on you and Charlotte for the news. Papa takes very little interest in the affair and his man of business will talk to no one else.

We are settled in Bath for the autumn. It is cheaper to live here than anywhere else, at least with any pretence of gentility, and we will probably spend the winter here, too. After that, who can say?

Write to me soon, dearest Lizzy.

With fondest wishes, Susan

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