Amanda Grange: Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

Your cousin,

Henry

Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam

Darcy House, London, July 12

You are welcome at Pemberley anytime, you know that. You must stay with us for as long as you can. Georgiana will be delighted to see you and so will I. I am in London at present, but I will be taking Georgiana back to Pemberley in a few days’ time. I will be very glad to hear the truth about the war; we hear only a part of it here, and even that small part comes a long time after the event.

As for Georgiana, I am partial, but I agree with you. School has done her good and she is becoming very accomplished. I am very proud of her, as you will imagine, and I am persuaded my mother and father would have been proud of her, too.

I was worried, after my father died, that I would not be able to raise Georgiana, that I would not know how to take care of her, or how to make her happy; but the last three years have shown me that I am equal to the task. It has given me a great deal of pleasure, as well as a great deal of relief, to see her grow into such a happy…I was going to say, girl , but when I called her a little girl last week, she gave me a withering look and reminded me that she is fourteen. So you see, I am not a perfect brother, for all I flatter myself that I have done well!

You, it seems, are a perfect brother, if your sister Maud’s comments are to be believed. I saw her in town yesterday, with your mama. They were buying Maud’s wedding clothes. Maud spoke very highly of your good sense in liking her betrothed. I hear that he is a good man and likely to do well.

I had another chance encounter yesterday evening, for I came across Charles Bingley. Do you remember him? We were at school together. He was a few years younger than me, but I saved him once from a bout of bullying and his generous nature has liked me for it ever since. He has changed very little. He is still friendly and trusting. He reminds me of Georgiana in that way. Though he is some years older than her, being now at university, he has an innocence about him that is not often met with. I like it. Unfortunately, it makes him a target for every rogue in the city. I had to rescue him from the men who were fleecing him at cards and I suggested that, if he wished to play in future, he should join a reputable club. He confessed that he would like nothing better, but said he had no one to propose him, or to second him, either.

‘If that is all,’ I said, ‘I will propose you myself.’

He thanked me unaffectedly and I liked him even more.

I mean to make sure he is elected to the club. His open temper is agreeable and a good foil for my reserve. I will never rid myself of it, I fear, as it is a Darcy family trait and unavoidable. My father had it and, as you know only too well, my cousin Philip has it, too. It is fortunate that your side of the family suffers from no such difficulty. My mother was forthright, your father, too, and our aunt, Lady Catherine, cannot be accused of being reticent, or backward in giving her opinions!

We will look forward to welcoming you at Pemberley. Philip will be here. It is a long time since you have seen him and I know he is looking forward to meeting you again. I have to warn you, however, that he will probably try to find you a wife. He is always encouraging me to marry and reminding me that I am the last of my line. Fortunately, I have outgrown the morbid fancies that plagued me following my father’s death and I am content to take my time. A wife of mine must be beautiful, but in my experience, beauties are all too often conceited and I have no fancy for a conceited wife. Then, too, they rely on their beauty for their attraction and I must have an intelligent wife. All the bluestockings of my acquaintance are dull, however. Besides, they never want to leave town, and as I spend much of my time at Pemberley, that would not do.

I have looked about me in Derbyshire but I demand a great deal from a woman I could call Mrs Darcy, and as I have never met anyone who satisfies me I am content to remain a bachelor, at least for the time being.

If there is one thing I am looking forward to when I marry, it is that I will no longer be the target of every woman between the ages of sixteen and sixty. They follow me everywhere, and I grow tired of them flattering and praising me. How refreshing it would be to find someone who did not like me! But unless Pemberley should fall down, or I should lose my fortune, I believe I will search for such a woman in vain.

Darcy

Mr Charles Bingley to the Bingley family

London, July 15

Dear Mama, Papa, Caroline, Louisa, Ned, Harry, Amelia and Sue,

I should have written sooner, but upon my honour I have been very busy these last three weeks. I never knew it would be so difficult to engage a set of rooms! However, it is done now and I am very comfortable. My lodgings are in a good part of town and you will be pleased to know, Mama, that I have been invited to a number of parties. I met one of my old schoolfellows, Darcy, at the Carmichaels’. You have heard me speak of Darcy before: he saved me once at school, when some of the older boys were making sport of me. He performed a similar office for me two weeks ago and, though the bullies wanted my gold this time and not my hide, the upshot is that he has done me the great kindness of proposing me for White’s. There are many people who find him proud, but I have seen nothing of it. He is taciturn and reserved with those he does not know, but he is talkative enough with his friends, and I count myself lucky to be one of their number.

Caroline, I have bought the satin you asked for, and Louisa, I have bought you your music. They should reach you in Yorkshire in the next few days.

My love to you all,

Your affectionate son and brother,

Charles

Mr Frederick Bingley to Mr Charles Bingley

Yorkshire, July 16

Well, my boy, your ma has been pestering me to write so I suppose I had better get on with it. We were all very pleased to hear about your friend Darcy helping you out. I said to your ma, ‘Ma,’ I said, ‘there’ll be no good comes of all this fancy schooling,’ but she would have you go to university, and I was afraid what would become of it. But this Darcy sounds like the right sort and I’m glad you’ve made friends with him. I don’t know I hold with you joining a club, but your mother says of course you must, it’s what all the gentlemen do. Just be careful, my boy, there’s plenty of sharks in the water, in business and in the fine world, too.

Your brother Ned has destroyed all your mother’s plans for him by saying he wants to take over the running of the shops. It won’t happen for a while, not till I’m dead, or at least so old I can’t manage, but I’m glad he’s taking an interest—as glad as I was when you didn’t. You’re a good lad, Charles, and I’m proud of you, but you never did have a head for business. You’d have been robbed and cheated by everyone you had to deal with, and we’d have ended up bankrupt.

Your mother and sisters are dancing about, saying I’m to ask you more about this Mr Darcy, but I’ve told ’em if they want to know more they’ll have to ask you themselves; I’ve work to do.

Your sister Caroline says she’ll put a note in with my letter.

Well, my boy, take care, and write again soon, your mother looks forward to your letters.

Your proud Pa

Miss Caroline Bingley to Mr Charles Bingley

Yorkshire, July 16

Greetings and felicitations, dearest brother.

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.