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

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

Your loving daughter,

Louisa

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!