Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice Page 5
His sisters, Louisa and Caroline, are very different. I suggested they join us as they were staying with Charles and would have to pass close by on their journey home, but they are far more conscious of their position. However, they are company for Georgiana. They are well educated, accomplished and very kind to her. They sing with her and play duets with her and go out riding with her, and so I tolerate their attempts to win my attention—or rather, to win my hand and my house. They will try to win your hand and your house, too, or should I say your father’s house? But you are used to such assaults and well able to defend yourself and so I will say no more.
Yours,
Darcy
Colonel Fitzwilliam to Mr Darcy
Fitzwilliam House, London,
August 12
My duty is done. I found Maud’s brother-in-law to be a promising young man and I have helped him to a commission, and now I am free to join you. I am already looking forward to it. The army offers many things, but an excess of well-bred female company is not one of them. I have had little company in London whilst on leave, either. Town is empty in the summer and everyone is on their estates. I am sure I will enjoy talking to your houseguests, even Louisa and Caroline! They may set their caps at me if they please, but I will give them fair warning that an earl’s son has expensive tastes and that, if he is not the heir, as is my own sad case, he must take an heiress to wife.
By the bye, I saw George Wickham in town yesterday. At first I was not sure it was he, but he saw me and recognised me. I would as soon have walked on but he hailed me and so we exchanged a few words—a very few, for he was roaring drunk, though it was the middle of the afternoon. He was with some very unsavoury people, a man—I can hardly call him a gentleman—Matthew Parker, and two women. One of the women was hanging around George’s neck and the other was bestowing her ample attentions on Parker. I could not understand more than one word in three, for his speech was slurred and he kept forgetting what he was saying, but I think he was trying to ask me for money. I am very sorry for it. I remember him when we were boys. He was likeable enough then. Perhaps he used his charm too freely to get his own way, but nothing worse.
With all his advantages of person, and all the material advantages your father gave him, I thought he would do better for himself. I thought—or at least I hoped—he would take after his father, who was a good man. I liked Mr Wickham very much, as you did, but I fear that George will come to a bad end.
Yours,
Henry
Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam
Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 14
Henry, it will do you no good to tell Caroline you are in need of an heiress as she has twenty thousand pounds. You must think of another excuse, unless you take a liking to her, in which case your problems are solved. I am sure she would like nothing better than to marry the son of an earl. Poor Charles is embarrassed at her antics, but she is young yet, and she has time to change. Once she is used to mixing in superior company, she will no doubt find it less exciting and behave herself accordingly. Let us hope so, for Charles’s sake as well as our own.
I am sorry to hear about George Wickham, but not surprised. I watched him sink at university and although I tried to help him, it was impossible. He was always in the wrong company and spent much of his time drunk, and if not drunk, then not entirely sober. He spent more than his allowance and railed against fate for not providing him with more. Since leaving university he has sunk still further. I have seen him occasionally in town, drunk and in very low company.
To begin with, I gave him money, but despite his protestations that he would use it to furnish himself with a career, he abandoned everything he attempted.
I have done more for him than I was inclined to do, because of the love my father bore him, but to no avail. Once he runs through the money he has had from me, what then?
I would be obliged if you would not mention his shortcomings to Georgiana. She still remembers him fondly, as he was kind to her when he was a boy living on the estate. I do not want to spoil her memories of him, for she has precious few happy memories of that time. Her childhood was too often overshadowed by death.
You will be pleased to find her much grown, and very accomplished. She plays very well, and sings with a true sweetness of voice. Her painting is progressing and some of her work is now hanging in the parlour. She is working on a portrait of Ullswater at the moment and it is very promising. I have told her I will hang it in the library when it is finished, although I do not know when that will be: Ullswater has a dislike of sitting still, and is constantly hampering Georgiana’s best efforts by bounding off after rabbits.
Mrs Reynolds has had your room ready for weeks and you may come as soon as you please. You know you are always welcome here at any time.
Your cousin,
Darcy
Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 14
Dear Ma,
Pemberley is the most elegant house in all of England, and Mr Darcy and his sister are the most agreeable people, except for his pride and his aloofness and his air of looking down on everyone all the time. Caroline says that shows his quality. She is fast becoming as superior as he is. Not that it does her any good, for I can perceive no special regard when he looks at her, though Caroline is sure he is about to propose at any minute.
His sister is charming. She is a great deal younger than he, being about fourteen years old, but already very accomplished. She sings and plays extremely well, and Caroline practises assiduously every morning so that she shall not seem inferior.
We are to have another visitor soon. Mr Darcy’s cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam will be here in the next few days. He was meant to be here sooner but he was delayed on business and this has given us an excuse to remain, for Caroline said how much she was looking forward to meeting him, and so Mr Darcy could hardly hurry us out of the house before he arrived. Of course, she has no interest in him, only in Mr Darcy. It is a pity, for I am sure a military man would suit Caroline. It would solve everything if she should take a fancy to him, and he to her; then I can marry Mr Darcy and live at Pemberley. I do not despair of it.
There is the dinner gong. I must go. Write and let me know if you have seen anything of Mr Hurst. Has he noticed my absence?
Your loving daughter,
Louisa
Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Pemberley, Derbyshire,
August 16
Greetings and felicitations, dearest Mama.
What a week we are having! I hardly have time to tell you about any of it, but I had to let you know that Colonel Fitzwilliam has arrived. We have all been awaiting him with anticipation, and now at last he is here. He is tall and well built, and best of all he is the son of an earl, though a younger son and not very handsome. However, if his three elder brothers were to die, he would be Lord Fitzwilliam, and if I were to marry him, I would then be Lady Fitzwilliam. But as it is, a military man with no fortune and no title…perhaps he will do for Louisa. She says she prefers Mr Hurst, but if he has not come up to scratch yet, then perhaps he never will.
I hope we may meet some of Mr Darcy’s other relatives whilst we are here. Georgiana speaks of them often and she thinks that her aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh may join us.
There is a portrait of Lady Catherine hanging in the gallery—Ma, you must tell Pa we need a gallery when he buys an estate, and he must have someone paint my portrait—and she looks very commanding. She is the sister of Mr Darcy’s mother. She has a daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh, and I am sure that Anne and I would be great friends. I hope she comes to Pemberley, for then I might be invited to Rosings Park, which is said to be very fine. I have told Mr Darcy how agreeable Anne looks and I have dropped several hints about my desire to see Kent, which made Charles look uncomfortable. He took me to task, but I am sure Mr Darcy thought nothing odd about it. He seemed pleased that I liked the look of his relations.
The other lad
ies here make me laugh with their blatant attempts to win his favour, but I am persuaded he is not taken in by their flattery.
Your dutiful daughter,
Caroline
Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Pemberley, Derbyshire,
August 17
Ma, you must tell Caroline not to be so superior, because she is making herself ridiculous. She was admiring the portraits in the hall yesterday, trying to pretend to be knowledgeable about art, and then she went on to admire the miniatures by the fireplace, saying that the dark boy was very handsome and pretending to be surprised when Mr Darcy said it was a picture of him. Then she said that the fair boy next to him was handsome, too, thinking it to be a relative, and no doubt thinking she might meet him and marry him one day, only to find that it was a painting of Mr Darcy’s late steward’s son, who has turned out very wild. I saw Colonel Fitzwilliam laughing at her, but when I told her about it later she said that I had completely misunderstood the matter and that he had been laughing with her because she had expressed her sorrow at George Wickham’s unsatisfactory nature and had said, ‘How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have an ungrateful child.’ Now, don’t worry, Mama, it has nothing to do with serpents, there are no snakes here, it is just something out of Shakespeare and Caroline wanted to show the Colonel that she had been to a seminary. But I am still sure that he was laughing at her and not smiling admiringly as she said.
Let me know if you have any news of Mr Hurst.
Your loving daughter,
Louisa
Mr Wickham to Mr Darcy
The Black Bull, London,
August 23
My dear Darcy,
Can it really be three years since I last heard from you? It is, I am sure, and small wonder. You have been busy with the estate, and of course with your guardianship of Georgiana. How is she? Well, I hope, and as affectionate and pleasing as ever. I dare say she is becoming a beauty. I have many happy memories of the time we spent together, all three of us, inmates of the same estate, sharing the same amusements, growing up at Pemberley. They were happy days, and I know your father watched our friendship with pleasure and gratification. He was one of the best men that ever breathed, the truest friend I ever had, and his behaviour to me was beyond compare.
Your cousin Henry was often with us, too. I saw him in town recently; he was looking very well. The army has been working him hard but he has no complaints. He likes the life and says it has been good to him. I promised to send you his greetings, which is one of the reasons for this letter, the other being that it is too long since we have exchanged letters. My only excuse is that I have been busy.
When last I wrote, I was studying for the law, but it proved to be unprofitable. A man in my position, in such bad circumstances—for you know I have my way to make in the world, as I do not have an inheritance—must have something to live on. I looked about me for another career and the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I have a calling for the church, after all, so I plan to become ordained. I am sure you remember that your revered father, my dearest godfather, promised me the living of Kympton in his will. As I hear that the rector has recently died, and as you have no other person to provide for, I trust you will give it to me, as was your father’s intention.
Your very great friend,
George
Mr Darcy to Mr Wickham
Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 25
I am deeply sorry that you have found the law unprofitable, but the church, or at least Kympton, is not for you. As you will no doubt remember, you relinquished all claim to it in return for a substantial sum of money. I cannot help thinking it was a narrow escape for the people of Kympton. They need someone who can save their souls and you, George, cannot even save your own. I respectfully, therefore, decline to present you with the living.
Darcy
Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 25
Dear Ma,
The atmosphere has been somewhat strained today, on account of a letter Mr Darcy received this morning. I do not know what was in it, but it came from the late steward’s son, Mr Wickham, and it angered Mr Darcy greatly. He read it at the breakfast table and his face darkened, then he screwed it into a ball, excused himself and walked out of the room.
Caroline is welcome to him if she wants him, for he is an awful sight when he is angry and I do not believe I would know what to do with such a man. But Caroline was nothing daunted. She followed him and tried to talk to him but he was brief with her and quickly left the house with Charles and some of the other gentlemen.
Caroline returned to the drawing room and we amused ourselves by playing the pianoforte and singing and then we invited Georgiana to join us at the pianoforte. She is a sweet girl with a pleasing manner and she is a great favourite with us. Then we all went out riding together. The countryside hereabouts is very beautiful, particularly on a clear day.
We met Charles when we arrived back at the house and we did not rest until we found out what was in the letter. Charles did not know everything but he said that George Wickham had behaved disgracefully, despite Mr Darcy’s many kindnesses to him, and that Mr Darcy is well rid of him. There was something about an argument over a living which Mr Wickham thought himself entitled to, but was completely unsuited for.
Then Charles began to talk about our leaving Pemberley. Some of the other guests are talking of leaving, too. Colonel Fitzwilliam has been recalled to his regiment, something to do with a rumour that a General Bonaparte is leaving Egypt and returning to France. It has made the gentlemen uneasy, for if Bonaparte returns to France, there seems to be some feeling that it might be bad for us.
Caroline said that we had no need to fear a General Bonaparte when we had a Colonel Fitzwilliam on our side, but though Colonel Fitzwilliam bowed, it was clear he thought her a fool.
Lady Japhet smiled in a superior manner, like a cat who has got the cream, for she is setting her cap at Colonel Fitzwilliam and she knew Caroline had made a grievous mistake. She remarked that a colonel was not quite enough to rid us of a general, but that, as the daughter of a shopkeeper, Caroline could not be expected to understand the difference in the military ranks. Caroline tried to think of a cutting retort but could not do so, although she has thought of half a dozen since.
We have told Charles there is no need for us to leave but you must tell him so, too. Mr Darcy seems happy to have us here because we are company for his sister. Caroline wants to stay because she has not given up hope of winning his affections and I have little reason to return to Yorkshire.
Your loving daughter,
Louisa
Mr Wickham to Mr Parker
London, August 27
Matthew, it is all up with me. I asked Darcy for the living but he refused me. He said the people of Kympton need someone who can save their souls and I cannot even save my own. D——n him! Kympton would have been perfect. The rectory is a large house and the income is generous. I could have left all the work to my curate and lived a life of ease. God knows what I will do now. You and I are both pockets to let. Did you have any luck with your family? Have they agreed to give you anything?
Wickham
Mr Parker to Mr Wickham
York, August 30
No luck here. You will have to write to Darcy again. It will not do to approach him at once. Wait long enough for it to seem reasonable that you have mended your ways, then write to him again. Thank him for his honesty and tell him that his words have made you look at yourself and realise what you have become. Tell him you have set your feet on the path of righteousness but tell him also how difficult it is for a man without connections to pick himself up. Play on his sympathy. Remind him of his father’s love for you. Say anything and everything, but get him to give you some money.
Parker
SEPTEMBER
Mr Wickham to Mr Parker
London, September 5
I will do my
best. I will wait until the New Year, a time of new beginnings when he might, perhaps, believe I have mended my ways. He will have filled the living of Kympton by then but he will have other livings in his gift, almost as valuable, and why should I not have one of them? A comfortable rectory, an annual stipend and the position of a gentleman are things worth playing for. I will just have to muddle through till then.
Wickham
Mrs Bingley to Miss Louisa Bingley
Yorkshire, September 6
My dear girl, come home at once. Mr Hurst is here! He got here this morning and called at the house when I was out. Your pa entertained him but never mind, I’m sure Mr Hurst will overlook the fact that your pa talked to him about his shops and then offered him a glass of ale instead of something more genteel. Mr Hurst asked about all the family and then asked about you particular like. Mr Darcy is all very well, but ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.’ You see, your old ma knows Shakespeare, too. Come home soon; we’ll have you married before the year is out.
Your doting Ma
Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley
Pemberley, Derbyshire,
September 8
Ma, I’m ready to come home straightaway but Caroline says there is no call for her to leave. Most of the other ladies have gone home and she is overjoyed that she has Mr Darcy all to herself. But it will look very odd if she stays, so tell her she must come with me. Charles has told her so already but she won’t listen to him; she’s too busy telling Mr Darcy that he does everything better than everyone else. She sings to him, she flatters him, she parades around in front of him, she does everything but ask him to marry her. Ma, tell her she’s got to come, and get Pa to tell her, too. And whatever you do, don’t tell Mr Hurst that ‘a bird in the hand’ is Shakespeare, dearest Ma, because it isn’t, you know.
Your loving daughter,
Louisa
Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley
Yorkshire, September 10