Chapter 22

Brighton

28 th August, 1813

Dear Papa,

Mr. Darcy will be visiting you soon, though when exactly is not yet certain, due to a variety of family issues.

But when he does visit you, he will be asking for your blessing on our marriage. Yes, he is in love with me, and I am in love with him, and we are engaged, and I am confident that we will be happy together.

The timing of our marriage is uncertain, thanks to the aforementioned family issues, and Jane’s doubtful health. She is doing better, but given that it is still hot in London, we will be staying by the sea for another month. Mr. Darcy must return to Rosings and then to his estate in Derbyshire. He intends to visit you at Longbourn to obtain your blessing and to speak of the marriage settlements on his way to Pemberley. I expect it will not be too many days before he arrives.

Oh Father, I am overjoyed!

Jane needs me, so I must go.

Love,

Your Lizzy

/

Longbourn

10th September, 1813

Elizabeth,

Your young man visited a few days ago, and I duly gave him my blessing. He is a fine man and clever enough to be a good match for you, my darling Lizzy, though I will sorely miss you.

Or perhaps I will journey unexpectedly to Pemberley and refuse to leave. Mr. Darcy informs me that his library is truly impressive, the sort of place that provides a lifetime of pleasure for a bibliophile like myself. What would you think of my being a permanent resident of your new home, my dear? But I jest.

Your mother, of course, is ecstatic. She was pleased enough at Jane’s marriage, but an engagement to a man with an income of ten thousand pounds a year? Let me just say that she is not entirely speechless.

I am thankful that Jane is somewhat better.

With love,

Thomas Bennet

/

Pemberley

29 th September, 1813

Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth,

These last weeks have seemed as long as years because my heart beats for you, and my soul longs for you. I am counting the seconds and hours and days until we see one another again.

That sounds remarkably romantic for a stiff, often silent man like myself, but you have inspired a love, an admiration, a devotion, and, yes, a hint of poetic ability in me.

I hope we will be together soon. I know you are devoted to your sister’s well-being, and I would not wish for you to depart Brighton while you are still concerned for her health. But I long to make you my wife and install you as the most wonderful mistress that Pemberley has ever known.

With much love,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

/

Cheapside

21 st October, 1813

Dear Fitzwilliam,

We are settled in Cheapside again, and the accoucheur thinks that Jane will deliver very soon. She is certainly remarkably large. I am guessing the child will be a son based on his size, but we will soon see!

I am confident that both of us are too practical and sensible to abandon our duties, but it is hard being separated for so long. I have been dreaming of Pemberley and of walking her halls at your side. This is, in truth, remarkable to me, as my dreams have generally been more likely to involve dogs in trees and horses in the dining room of Longbourn. Does that terrify you, that your betrothed has such peculiar dreams? I have always ascribed it to having a robust imagination. It seems that my imagination is now only occupied with images of you and our future together.

I intend to stay with Jane for at least a fortnight after her child is born and then will proceed to Longbourn. Given that it will be winter by that time, I think it sensible for me to come to you? We could be married in the chapel at Pemberley and enjoy our first months together through the winter. I rather take pleasure in the idea of cozy days spent with one another in Pemberley’s library.

Now that would require that my family travel with me, which means that Pemberley will be full of Bennets. Can you bear that, my dear? I will freely admit that my parents and sisters can be tiresome, but I would like them to be there for my wedding. As Pemberley is very large, perhaps it can be tolerated.

Oh! I put down my pen some hours ago at the news from a maid that my sister was officially in labor, and she has delivered not one, but two healthy children, a boy and a girl! I am praising God for his great mercy in bringing her through the labor without complications. My new niece and nephew are small but delightful, and based on their squalling, we are hopeful that they will grow sturdily.

My brother Russell is, not surprisingly, both joyful and anxious, and he will be hiring a wet nurse so that there is no fear that the babies will go hungry.

Well, I had best close this out, my darling Fitzwilliam. Let me know your thoughts about marrying at Pemberley.

With love and adoration,

Your Elizabeth

/

Pemberley

1 st November, 1813

Dear Elizabeth,

My love, I would welcome all of Meryton into Pemberley if you like!

Well, perhaps not all of Meryton, as we have not quite enough bedchambers.

But of course I will welcome your family with open arms, though I hope you are as eager as I am to spend much of our time together after the wedding.

Many, many congratulations to the Russells. It is indeed a gift from the Lord on High for Jane to bear two healthy children.

Do you mind if Bingley is here over Christmas as well? He has been toiling faithfully at Greymond and is sounding rather worn down. As my close friend, I would like for him to be present for our wedding. If you find his presence awkward, please tell me. He can always journey to London for a few weeks to get away from his estate.

Georgiana is ecstatic at our upcoming wedding and wishes to know what you like best as she is planning the wedding breakfast with Mrs. Reynolds. I am aware that you prefer plain dishes over ragout, but embarrassingly, I can be certain of little beyond that.

Once you have decided when you are coming north, please inform me so that I can obtain a common license for our wedding.

With much love,

Your Fitzwilliam

/

28 th November, 1813

Longbourn

Dear Fitzwilliam,

I have returned to Longbourn for the last few weeks as a daughter of the house. We will doubtless visit my family in the future, but my mother will place us in the best guest bedchamber.

I thought I might feel a trifle bereft as I pack up my clothing and prepare to send the trunks north to Pemberley, but I do not. Indeed, all I feel is excitement, that by the end of the year, you and I will be joined together in Holy Matrimony.

Jane and Isaac have settled into life with two infants and are doing well. They will not, of course, be accompanying us to Pemberley, and I am thankful for reliable mail which will allow me to keep up to date on their family. I am not even particularly disappointed that Jane will not be able to attend our wedding. Life has its own twists and turns, and Jane is very happy with Isaac and the twins.

My dear Fitzwilliam, I never knew what I wanted in a husband until I met you. I had certainly thought about the matter and concluded that I would be happiest with a cheerful, outgoing man with a similar character to my own.

I realize now that such vague wishes were entirely wrong. It is good for a husband and wife to have many interests in common. I believe my parents' struggles are largely because my father and mother are too dissimilar. But there is a great deal to be said for some differences. We complement one another; you have more knowledge of the world and a truly powerful intellect, while I am naturally more outgoing, along with being more comfortable in company.

My family and I have agreed to journey north in mid-December, and I look forward to our marriage whatever day you like. You may or may not care about such things, but I am the proud owner of a new gown, as my mother insisted that the future mistress of Pemberley cannot be married in an old dress.

I have no concerns at all about Mr. Bingley being in residence. As you said, Pemberley is very large, and Mr. Bingley will doubtless prove pleasant company to my parents and sisters while we hide in our chambers.

I miss you and look forward to being reunited in a few short weeks, my love!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

P.S. I forgot to mention my food desires. I do not greatly care. I have always had a robust appetite, and I like almost everything, even ragout. I do have a special love for pound cake, however, and would like one at our wedding breakfast if that could be arranged.