Chapter 2

Cheapside

8 th January, 1812

Dear Lizzy,

I called on Caroline this morning at Grosvenor Street. I did not think Caroline was in spirits, but she was very glad to see me and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to London. I was right, therefore; my last letter had never reached her. I inquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much engaged with friends that they scarcely saw him. I look forward to her return visit, while also realizing that it is obvious that Mr. Bingley never truly cared for me.

I am thankful, so very thankful, for my uncle and aunt’s kindness and am confident that I am also serving them well by assisting in the care of my small cousins.

It would be intolerable to be at Longbourn now, with Mother fussing and wailing about Mr. Bingley’s departure. I should have known better, I suppose, in thinking that Mr. Bingley truly loved me. He is a wealthy, sophisticated gentleman, educated at Cambridge and used to the ways of the ton. I see it was merely a flirtation, and I took it far too seriously.

At least I have hope that I will be able to spend time with Mr. Bingley’s sisters. Caroline and Louisa are both good tempered, clever ladies, and with Mr. Bingley rarely at home, I need not worry about running into him.

I will attempt to write more when my spirits have recovered a little.

With much love,

Your Jane

/

12 th January, 1812

Dearest Jane,

Jane, my dearest sister, please do not blame yourself for anything that happened. We may not be particularly experienced in the ways of gentlemen, but if Mr. Bingley was not in love with you, then he was playing with your heart, and I do not think that likely. He seems an honest, open man, and I think he genuinely loved you.

As for his departure, I believe that he was kept in London by his sisters and Mr. Darcy, who convinced him to stay by, perhaps, insulting our relatives in trade. I know you think that Bingley’s sisters are genuine friends, but I am confident they are not. They look down on us for our lack of fortune and connections.

I do believe he loved you, Jane; that is probably not encouraging, given that you love him dearly in return, but I cannot lie to you.

However, I do not intend to harass and distress you on this matter, either, and will not mention it again unless you wish to speak of it either in person or by letter.

Charlotte was married last week to Mr. Collins. I am still disturbed at the union – she is so sensible, and he is so ridiculous! But they are joined before God and man now, and Charlotte has never shown the least sign of regretting her choice.

January has been cold, and we had some snow which covered the brown grass and made the view from Oakham Mount particularly lovely. In the midst of sorrow and disappointment and struggle, there is a peace in the changing of the seasons. In a few months, the cold and mud will give way to green fields and sprouting leaves. It will be beautiful.

Yours,

Lizzy

/

17 th January, 1812

Hunsford

Dear Eliza,

I have safely arrived here in Hunsford and am now happily settled in the parsonage with Mr. Collins.

Our travel was good, the roads in goodly repair and the posting houses clean and pleasant. Kent is lovely country, of a gentle and undulating nature, and the trees, though currently bare, are graceful in limb. I have no doubt that they shall be very pleasing to the eye in the spring.

I am delighted with the parsonage, Eliza. It is quaintly situated, of cozy dimensions, with a charming view from the drawing and sitting room windows and no drafts from the windows. It is all appointed quite pleasantly, and the tenants and villagers have been most welcoming.

We had scarcely been at the parsonage for a day before Lady Catherine de Bourgh invited us to tea. She is most gracious and condescending, her manners friendly, her knowledge encompassing. Conversation was entirely enjoyable, and Miss de Bourgh was, though rather quiet, perfectly polite. The meal itself was excellent and befitting its setting – Rosings is truly magnificent, decorated all in the latest style. Oh, but the gardens; you would like the gardens, dear friend. They are laid out with impeccable taste. There is a wilderness of majestic appeal and sprawling proportions, and along all the walks in the formal gardens are benches for resting and fountains to refresh the eye.

I am writing to you now from my own sitting room. It has but one small window. The room is not large, but it is sufficient, and I have filled it all precisely to my own taste, with my husband’s good blessing. During the morning, it gets the sunlight, and come evening, I sit beside the fire and am quite comfortable.

I am looking forward to your visit in March, along with my father and Maria.

Sincerely,

Charlotte

/

Scarborough

1st February, 1812

Darcy,

It is very cold here and I find myself wishing that I had stayed in London. I daresay it is cold in London as well also, but at least I do not experience the cold wind off the sea in Town.

I do have many a few relatives here, including my Aunt Amelia, who is constantly introducing young women to my notice. Naturally. They are, without exception, dull young women, nothing like Miss Bennet.

I hope and pray that Miss Darcy is healthy well again. If you think you will be returning to London in the near future, pray please let me know. I will probably join you there.

Sincerely,

Charles Bingley

/

Pemberley

4th February, 1812

Bingley,

I do have intentions of coming to Town for the Season; indeed, I will likely journey south in early March, assuming Georgiana continues to feel better. She is mostly over her illness but was sadly pulled down by it. Moreover, there is not much to do in Town this time of year, and I would much prefer to stay here at Pemberley and enjoy the clean air. It was not a particularly vicious winter, unlike a year ago, and I am thankful; last year, we struggled to provide enough wood for Pemberley and the tenants.

I look forward to seeing you in London in a few weeks, if you do, indeed, choose to return.

Sincerely,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

/

Cheapside

6th February, 1812

Dear Lizzy,

My dearest sister will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing at my expense due to her better judgment when I confess to have been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley’s regard for me. Although the event has proved you right, do not think me obstinate if I still assert that, considering her behavior toward me in the past, my confidence was as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her reason for wishing to be intimate with me; but if the same circumstances were to happen again, I am certain I should be deceived once more. Caroline did not return my visit until yesterday, and not a note, not a line, did I receive in the meantime. When she did come, it was very evident that she took no pleasure in it. She made a slight formal apology for not calling before, said not a word of wishing to see me again, and was, in every respect, so altered a creature, that when she went away, I was perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity her, though I cannot help also blaming her. She was very wrong in singling me out as she did. I can safely say that each advance to intimacy began on her side. I suspect she was bored in Hertfordshire and chose to honor me with her attention in order to have company.

She took great pleasure in telling me that Mr. Bingley was no longer in Town. He left London more than a week ago for Scarborough, apparently on business, and Miss Bingley does not think he will be returning, either to London or to Netherfield, any time in the near future! Indeed, she spoke smugly of giving up Netherfield entirely.

I have been thinking a great deal in the last weeks, my dear sister. We have long said that we would marry for true love, and I loved Mr. Bingley. Indeed, I still love him. But when I see our aunt and uncle together, it is not merely love I observe, but also respect. My aunt respects Uncle Gardiner for his hard work and abilities. Our uncle respects our aunt for her diligence in caring for the house and their children.

It seems obvious to me that none of the Bingleys respect me in the least. I was simply a light flirtation for Mr. Bingley and a barely agreeable companion for his jaded sisters.

I have met several young men at my aunt and uncle’s table, all of them in trade, all of them working with Uncle Gardiner. One of them, a Mr. Russell, is a most interesting man of some thirty years.

He is not, of course, a gentleman. His father owns a company which does business with India. He is intelligent and kind and speaks to me as if his first interest is not of my features and form, but of my mind.

I do not love him, but I do respect him. I have no idea whether or not he would care to align himself with a lady with no dowry, but I wonder if I have set my sights … not too high, but rather on the wrong things. Mr. Bingley is charming and handsome and gentleman like, but he left me, and Netherfield, without a word of excuse. You know as well as I do that an estate ought not to be abandoned by either its owner or lessee.

I am not Charlotte Collins. I could not marry a man like William Collins, who is ridiculous. But I think I might be willing, even eager, to wed a man of the so-called lower classes if I grow to love, and yes, respect him.

Love,

Your Jane

/

12 th February, 1812

London

Darcy,

I assume you will be joining me at Rosings this spring as usual? I would say, bring Georgiana, but the poor girl does not deserve Lady Catherine after already enduring mumps!

I will be taking leave, of course, to spend time with our dear aunt and cousin. My general is not concerned about my being away, but I reserve the right to make my army duties an excuse if Rosings grows too wretchedly intolerable.

Best regards,

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam