Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice Read online

  Louisa and I are longing to hear more about your friend Darcy. He is not…but no, I do not suppose so…and yet, perhaps…your Darcy is not Mr Darcy? Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy? Of Pemberley? If so, you must invite me to town at once. He is one of the most eligible men in England. He is just the sort of man I would like to marry. He has ten thousand a year besides his estate, and all my friends from the seminary would be green with envy if I became his wife. And why should I not? I am sure I am good enough for anyone. Let me know by return if it is he.

  Your loving sister,

  Caroline

  P.S. Thank you for the satin; it arrived this morning.

  Mr Charles Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley

  London, July 18

  Yes, Caroline, I mean Mr Darcy, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. Tell me, are we always to write of him in italics? If so, I must buy some new pens, for it is playing havoc with my nib. As for inviting you to town, it would do no good, for Darcy has returned to Pemberley and he means to remain there for the summer.

  I am glad the satin arrived.

  Your loving brother,

  Charles

  Mr Frederick Bingley to Mr Charles Bingley

  Yorkshire, July 20

  Well, my boy, you weren’t expecting another letter so soon, I’ll be bound, but your ma’s been pestering me to tell you to help your sisters and introduce them to some fine gentlemen. I believe we were a lot happier before all this tomfoolery, but your ma said as how we must have it now that the shop is doing well. She’s got me dressed up in a cravat and a tailcoat and I can’t get comfortable in ’em. Caroline and Louisa are spoilt by their schooling and they don’t want to have anything to do with the local lads. There’s my clerk, now, he’s been sweet on Caroline for years, but she must have a fine house and a carriage and all manner of things, and where is a lad like that to get ’em? I said as much to your ma, but your ma mistook my meaning and said, ‘Then Charles must find our Caroline someone who can. This Mr Darcy’s left town but there are plenty of other fine gentlemen to be had.’

  She says I’m to ask you to invite Caroline and Louisa to stay, but don’t do it if you don’t want to, my boy.

  Your proud Pa

  Mrs Bingley to Mr Charles Bingley

  Yorkshire, July 20

  Now don’t you go listening to your pa, Charles, of course you’ll have your sisters to stay. They’ll be setting off tomorrow so you can expect them on Thursday.

  Your doting Ma

  Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley

  Pemberley, Derbyshire, July 23

  I was glad to hear you had been accepted at White’s. I am sure you will find it useful to have a club in town. White’s is the best, and of course St. James’s Street is a convenient location. If you will allow me, I will give you a word or two of advice. Avoid the seats in the bow window as they are jealously guarded by those who set value on such things. Avoid, too, the betting book. You will find men there who will try to entice you into betting on any trivial thing, such as which raindrop will reach the bottom of the window first, but you should ignore their blandishments. They will soon realise you mean what you say if you hold true to your resolve, and then they will not trouble you anymore. If you have any difficulties of any kind, just mention my name. And a final word: business is never spoken of at the club.

  The weather here is very good. Would you care to join me at Pemberley? The countryside is very fine and you would be welcome to spend the rest of summer with Georgiana and myself. You will not lack for other company, as we are hosting a house party here. You will meet some of your old schoolfellows, as well as two of my cousins, and I am persuaded you will enjoy yourself.

  Yours,

  Darcy

  Mr Bingley to Mr Darcy

  London, July 25

  My dear Darcy,

  Upon my word, it is very good of you to invite me, I would like nothing better than to come and stay with you. I have heard a lot about Pemberley and I would like to see it. I have never seen Derbyshire, either, and I am already looking forward to it. My sisters are with me at present, but they will be returning to Yorkshire on Wednesday and then I will be happy to join you in Derbyshire.

  Sincerely yours,

  Bingley

  Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley

  Pemberley, Derbyshire, July 27

  Good, then it is settled. Since your sisters must pass through Derbyshire on their way up to Yorkshire, I suggest they join us at Pemberley for a sennight to break their journey. They will be most welcome. There are plenty of good walks about, and there is good riding, too. I can supply them both with horses if they are horsewomen; if not, they will find plenty to do in the house and gardens. My sister has a pianoforte and a harp, and she often sketches and paints out of doors. Though some years younger than your sisters, she is looking forward to welcoming them, as I am. Mrs Reynolds has prepared rooms for you all and we will expect you later this week.

  Yours,

  Darcy

  Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley

  London, July 28

  Mama,

  Louisa and I are going to Pemberley! Pemberley! One of the finest estates in England. How green all my friends will be. I am sure Miss Darcy will be just as delightful as her brother. She is some years younger than Mr Darcy, Charles says, but so much the better. Louisa and I are sure we will dote on her. She plays the pianoforte and the harp, which means we will have plenty of opportunities to play duets with her and sing whilst she plays; and of course we will play whilst she sings, too. How wonderful it will be, spending the summer in Derbyshire! The invitation is only for a sennight, but you must not expect us back in Yorkshire very soon, for I am sure we can make ourselves indispensable to Mr Darcy and his sister and then they will both be begging us to stay.

  By the bye, we have been shopping, as you might imagine, for we are both determined to look our best. Just think, by this time next year I might be Mrs Darcy, and you might be visiting me at Pemberley. I will be sure to write to you often and let you know all about it.

  Your dutiful daughter,

  Caroline

  Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley

  Yorkshire, July 30

  My dear girl,

  I knew that all that schooling would pay off in the end. I told your pa so, but would he listen? Not he! I had to put my foot down sharp and make him send you to the seminary, and see where it’s taken us! Now, don’t you stint at the dressmakers’; you need plenty of finery to keep up with all the lords and ladies. I’m not going to have them saying as how you look like you came from trade; and no need to mention it—these grand folks look down on things like that. I’m sure you’re just as good as any of them, and if you don’t catch yourself a rich husband, then my name’s not Bingley. Everyone says how you’re the most accomplished girl they’ve ever seen, with your French and your Italian and your goodness knows what. And elegant! The neighbourhood’s never seen anything like it. You can walk the length and breadth of a room with a book on your head, and I’ve never seen anyone do anything like that in my life. You make the most of your chances, my girl. Catch this Mr Darcy and then invite your old ma to Pemberley. What times we’ll have! And don’t you go counting the cost! Buy all the latest fashions and folderols and send the bills to your pa.

  Your doting Ma

  Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley

  London, July 31

  Mama,

  Will you speak to Caroline most seriously? She keeps saying that I must not try to attract Mr Darcy’s attention, nor engage his affections, when we go to Pemberley. She says that she is destined for Mr Darcy, she feels it most strongly, but this is absurd, she has never even met him. I am the eldest and I am the one with the strongest claim and I am sure I do not know why I should neglect a chance of fixing Mr Darcy. From what Charles says he is very rich and very handsome. Caroline will keep saying that I am as good as engaged to Mr Hurst, but Mr Hurst has not yet proposed, and he is so indolent that he might never summon up the energy to do so.

  Do, pray, write to her, Mama, and do it by return.

  Your loving daughter,

  Louisa

  AUGUST

  Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley

  Yorkshire, August 1

  My dear girl,

  Now I know you have your heart set on this Mr Darcy, and small wonder if he is as rich and handsome as you say he is, but if he should happen to take a fancy to Louisa, then let him have her. We’ll all be visitors at Pemberley, just the same.

  Your doting Ma

  Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley

  London, August 2

  Dear Mama,

  I hope your letter has done some good. I am sure I wish Caroline every success, but I believe Mr Darcy will prefer me. Caroline and I have been shopping as you instructed and we have bought two new bonnets apiece. Caroline has bought a new string of pearls and a fan, and I have bought three new pairs of shoes and a new reticule, as well as a brooch. We would have bought new dresses but there was no time to have them made. There is no time for anything, we are off in half an hour!

  Your loving daughter,

  Louisa

  Miss Caroline Bingley to Miss Violet Cranmore

  London, August 2

  My dear, sweet, most amiable friend,

  How long it seems since we were at the seminary together, and how I miss our conversations! What a joy it was to have such congenial company. It seems an age since I saw you. Have you seen any of our friends since we left the seminary? I hope they have weathered the years better than Maria Roberts. I saw her in town yesterday and I could not believe how ill she appeared. She was very thin and had neglected her looks entirely. Her face was covered in freckles. You would have been horrified to see her and I did not know where to look. It was truly mortifying.

  But of course you do not know that I am in London. Louisa and I are presently staying here with my brother Charles. However, when you reply, I beg you will address your letter to Miss Caroline Bingley, Pemberley, Derbyshire, for we are on our way there to spend the summer with Charles’s dearest friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy.

  You will be pleased to know that my mama and papa are both well, as are my brothers and sisters. Do write to me at once, my fairest friend; I am anxious to hear that your family are well, and to hear all your news.

  Caroline Bingley

  Miss Violet Cranmore to Miss Caroline Bingley

  Devon, August 4

  My dearest, most adored friend,

  How good it was to hear from you after such a long time, and how flattering to know that your communication was prompted by nothing more than a wish to be assured that my family and I are well. You will be relieved to know that they are all flourishing. My eldest sister is lately betrothed, and I am about to be betrothed as well. Papa thinks I am rather young, but Mama knows that it is True Love and so she does not stand in my way. You, of course, have plenty of time in which to find a husband. You are not so very old. Why, even Louisa, who is older than you, is not to be pitied, and when Sally Carpenter ventured to say that Louisa was becoming an old maid, I set her right at once.

  I am very sorry you have to visit Mr Darcy. He is an ill-favoured man, I hear, and his park is very small.

  Your eternally faithful friend,

  Violet

  Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley

  Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 4

  Greetings and felicitations, dearest Mama.

  You have never seen anything like Pemberley! It is the largest estate I have ever seen. There are woods and streams, and the drive is so long it took us ten minutes to reach the house. And what a house! The hall alone is larger than our morning room and dining room put together.

  We were shown into the drawing room, where the furniture is the most handsome in the world. Almost as handsome as the master of the house! I never thought Charles would know anyone half so fine as Mr Darcy. He is tall, and even more handsome than his reputation, for you know the world is like to call a man handsome just because he is rich. He has dark hair and dark eyes, a fine figure and an air of being somebody. I would be very happy to live here all my days.

  Write to Charles and tell him he must not speak of our leaving. I have told him so myself but he says that we must not outstay our welcome, but I am sure Mr Darcy will be just as glad to have us here for a fortnight as a sennight, particularly if we make ourselves agreeable to his sister. Pemberley is so large that two more visitors will not make any difference. And tell Papa he must buy an estate so that we might return Mr Darcy’s hospitality at once.

  Your dutiful daughter,

  Caroline

  Mr Frederick Bingley to Mr Charles Bingley

  Yorkshire, August 6

  Well, my boy, you’ve done it now. It’s ‘Mr Darcy this’ and ‘Mr Darcy that’—your ma can talk of nothing else. She wants me to buy an estate so I can invite your friend to stay. ‘Can’t he stay here?’ I asked, but she gave me a look, you know how she is. She expects me to go out tomorrow and buy an estate before breakfast. I won’t deny I’ve been thinking of buying somewhere in the country, away from town, a nice plain house with a bit more space for all of us. Your brothers and sisters are growing up so fast I keep falling over ’em these days. Ned’s as big as I am and little Amelia is shooting up like a dandelion. But nothing will do for your mother unless it’s got corbels and columns. I’ve been scratching my head, trying to think what corbels might be, but I’m none the wiser, so if you know, let your old pa know, because your ma won’t be happy without ’em. I remember the time when all it took to make her happy was a new bonnet. Those were the days! I do my best, but between you and me, my boy, there’s no pleasing women. Just remember that and you won’t go wrong.

  Your proud Pa

  Mr Charles Bingley to Mr Frederick Bingley

  Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 8

  My dear Pa,

  I have no more idea of what a corbel is than you do, upon my honour. Why not ask Ma? If she is so set on them, she must know what they are.

  As for pleasing women, I beg to differ when you say that there is no way of doing it. There are dozens of women here and they seem very easy to please to me. I only have to dance with them or smile at them and they look at me in the most admiring manner. Upon my word, I never knew so many pretty girls existed. Darcy’s house is full of them. They come to dinner, they come to balls, they come to stay.

  Caroline and Louisa were quite put out at first, but I believe they have rallied and they content themselves with saying that Miss Buchanan’s nose is too long or Miss Pearson’s neck is too short, when I believe that every nose and neck in the place is perfect.

  Give my love to Ma and the little ones,

  Charles

  Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley

  Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 8

  Greetings and felicitations, dearest Mama!

  What a day we have had. The most elegant rooms, the most refined company, the conversation of intelligent people and the exhibition of the most superior accomplishments! But best of all, Mama, Mr Darcy. I am convinced he likes me. He smiled at me most particularly when I asked his sister to play for me, and he smiled again when I said how well she played.

  It was no more than the truth, I am sure, and if that is all it takes to please him, then I will be happy to compliment her for the rest of my stay.

  He never takes his eyes from her when she performs and so I suggested that we play a duet. I sat with my best profile towards him, you may be sure, and I was gratified to feel his eyes upon me. He was pleased with our performance and applauded us most assiduously when we had done!

  There is a great deal of jealousy here, but that is only to be expected. One of the other young women tried to lower me in the eyes of the company by remarking that Papa owned a string of shops, but fortunately Mr Darcy had just stepped out of the room and the remaining gentlemen were all either old or married, so their opinions were of no importance.

  I have much more to tell you but it is time to dress for dinner. Tell Papa I will be wearing my best jewels as well as the new brooch he gave me. I am going to dazzle Mr Darcy in my amber silk. I will send this letter at once to let you know how I get on and I will write again when I am able.

  Your dutiful daughter,

  Caroline

  Colonel Fitzwilliam to Mr Darcy

  Fitzwilliam House, London,

  August 8

  Darcy, I am sorry to inconvenience you, but I have been delayed in London and I will not be able to call on you at Pemberley as soon as I had hoped. Maud’s new brother-in-law wants to go into the army and I have promised to give him what help I can. I am meeting him in town in a few days’ time. He is travelling to town posthaste, as he is worried that all the fighting will be over before he has time to enlist. How I remember those days! I, too, used to fear that the war would be over before I had a chance to make my mark, but it is still dragging on, five years after Louis was executed, and despite a recent improvement in matters, I fear another five years will not see the end of it. Rumour has reached me of a naval victory at Aboukir Bay, and I hope it may be so, for it will give our navy command of the Mediterranean once more and ensure the safety of our trade in the Indies. But even if rumour speaks true, there are many battles to be won before we win the war. We need more men, and if Maud’s brother-in-law seems promising, I will exert my influence to help him.

  Maud is very happy, you will be pleased to know. She asks me to give you her love, and tells me to remember her to Georgiana.

  Yours,

  Henry

  Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam

  Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 10

  The delay in your visit is no inconvenience, and Georgiana and I are looking forward to seeing you. We have a large party here and I think you will enjoy yourself. Charles Bingley is here with his sisters. I was right to take the trouble to know him better; he is an affable addition to our party. Although his father made his money in trade, having a string of shops in the north, Bingley has escaped the evils of his situation. He is proud of his father’s enterprise, but in a quiet way, and does not embarrass himself—or me—by seeking to ingratiate himself with the local gentry. He is just Charles, cheerful, honest and generous spirited, and it is a pleasure to have him here.