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

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.

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.