Posted on Friday, 23 July 1999
15, December London
Dearest Jane,
This is my first letter as a married women. I hope I find you and Charles well. I cannot believe that I am now Mrs. Darcy. When I awakened in Fitzwilliam's arms, I felt complete happiness. If you are feeling even half as much happiness as I feel, then I know you must be happy. I confess I was a bit nervous about last night, but my fears were resolved as soon as my husband entered the room. Our home in London is very lovely, but I confess it to be a little dark. Fitzwilliam says that I may change whatever I would like, but I think I will save that project for another year. Everyone has been kind to me, and I will never be able to remember all of the servants' names. Fitzwilliam has given me his mother's old room, and I find it very much to my liking. It is not dark like most of the house. I find that it is very pleasing. The master bedroom is very large. I had to use a foot stool to get into the bed.
Has Mama been to see you yet? I do not think that I could bear being so close to Longbourn, even though I will miss it dreadfully. Most of all, I will miss you dear sister. What will I do without our midnight talks and our strolls in the woods. I do confess although that I will be very happy with Fitzwilliam. After all who would have thought to find me as Mrs. Darcy a year ago. How could I have hated Fitzwilliam? He is truly the best man I have ever known.
Enough about my problems. How is life being Mrs. Bingley? How long will the Hursts and Miss Bingley be with you? I don't know how you can bear to have them in the same house with you, but then you are so good and could not think ill of anyone. I wish I could be more like you, but my mind will not allow it. Forgive me, but I cannot like the Hursts or Miss Bingley. However much it pains you, I cannot do it. After all, they treated you so very poorly. I could never forgive them. Well it is getting late and I must go over the meal with my housekeeper. Fitzwilliam sends all his love that he can spare from me. Farewell, I must conclude.
Yours etc. Lizzy
17, December Netherfield Park
My dear sister, Lizzy,
Charles and I have just returned from a long moonlit stroll about the estate. I must confess that I never knew or imagined its magnitude and immense beauty. And to think, I am the mistress of it all. I won't hesitate to say that I would be just as happy, if all I had were myself and my dear Charles.
When we returned home this evening, I was notified of the arrival of your letter, and would listen to no request to wait until morning to attend to it. So, I am writing to you by candlelight, while I wait for the cook to prepare the soup Charles and I ordered. That winter wind really chilled us to the bone.
Oh Lizzy, you shouldn't speak so badly about Charles' dear sisters! After all, they are my sisters too, now. Now that I am Mrs. Bingley-oh how I love the sound of that-they are very kind to me, though I do find myself seldom in their company. They are to depart on 6 January, after spending all twelve days of Christmas here at Netherfield with us. It occurred to me that this is to be our first Christmas apart, and I was deeply saddened at the thought. I do wish there were some way that we could see each other sometime over the holiday. I felt great pity on mama, papa, Kitty, and Mary at the loss of the three of us, especially at Christmastime. Charles, being the wonderful person he is, and sensing my sorrow, asked if I would like to have them come for a great Christmas Eve feast. So, I am to write to them tomorrow with the invitation. He also told me something else that may be of some joy to you. Since Pemberley is so far, and we will see so little of each other, he made the offer that you should come to spend Christmas with us here at Netherfield. Oh how wonderful that would be! Do ask your dear husband soon! I am sure that he would love to spend the time with his dear friend, Charles! Well, the soup is ready, and after I eat I will be glad to rest: I am tired! It's been such a draining week, but much worth it! I have been so busy getting the house ready for Christmas! Well, dear sister, good-bye. I sincerely hope to hear from you soon, with your answer about Christmas. I am hopeful! Good-bye!
Always, Jane Bingley
Part 2 Posted on Friday, 23 July 1999
19, December London
Dearest Jane,
I was overjoyed when I received your letter. I have spoken to Fitzwilliam and he says that we can come to Netherfield for the Christmas holiday. He says that he would greatly enjoy spending Christmas in Hertfordshire, but then he also says that as long as I am with him, it does not matter where we spend it.
Will our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner be coming to stay with us? I am sure that would be agreeable. Fitzwilliam is anxious to see then again, and I confess that I am also. I have another request to make of you, but I hope that you don't find me impertinent. My new sister, unless invited to Netherfield, will be forced to stay at Pemberley with Mrs. Annesley. I would like to spend some time with her, since she is now visiting my new Aunt and Uncle Fitzwilliam at Matlock and will not be coming to London. We were supposed to meet at Pemberley, but as our plans have changed, we will not see her unless she is invited to come to Netherfield.
On a different note, I hope that mama has not been too much of a bother to you. I am sure that she has probably been to see you every day. You are too good to be able to put up with all of her nerves and whims. I hope that you are settling into your role as mistress of Netherfield. How is Miss Bingley taking to it, since it used to be her role and that she is now there under your invitation? Have you learned all of the names of your servants? I fear that I will never learn them all and I still have all the servants at Pemberley to meet. It will be hard, and I would not want them to think ill of me. I know that your servants must love you. Who could not. You have such a kind disposition. My housekeeper in London may take some getting used to. She is not used to having a mistress and insists on doing everything. She may be a tad bossy, but she is kind. When I was going over the menu with her for today, she started telling me about Fitzwilliam when he was a child. It touched my heart to hear her speak that way. I believe that once each of us gets used to one another, we will learn to get along a little better, and she will start to trust my judgment. I cannot wait until Christmas when I will see you again. Give Charles our love and I hope to hear from you soon.
Your etc.
Lizzy
21, December Netherfield Park
Dear Lizzy,
I am overjoyed that you will be able to come for Christmas! I am a bit embarrassed to say, though, that I had completely forgotten Georgiana, but of course, sweet Charles did not! He was just asking me today if had had remembered to invite the dear girl. So, I told him that in my next letter, I would extend the invitation to her also. I am sorry about that! Her entertainment on the piano will be such a joy. Send her my warmest invitation in your letter to her. I have just written to our aunt and uncle Gardiner, asking them to come to Netherfield for Christmas, so I am anticipating a reply today or tomorrow. I am sure that they will accept, considering that we always used to spend Christmas together. Oh, I can hardly contain myself! This will be our best Christmas ever! I hope our spending Christmas together will become a great tradition! The house is decked out beautifully: this is the best that it has ever looked. All of the preparations are being made! The cooks have already begun preparing some wonderful delicacies. The house just smells so incredibly wonderful! The servants are cleaning the house from top to bottom and preparing rooms for all of our guests: I have selected for you an especially nice room. It is the one that you always adored when you were here visiting me here when I was ill. It is one of the brightest rooms in the house: I know how much you love sunlight. I am having all new curtains, carpets, and linens put in the rooms, and some new furniture even! Charles said that I could decorate it in any way that would please me, but I only desired to make a few changes, to brighten the place up.
In response to your question about the servants, I do not think that I will ever learn all of their names. They all seem like such kind, good people, and Charles treats them so well! He has such a good heart! He is even having a separate feast prepared for all them, to be eaten in the little west dining room, which we never use. He is completely and utterly selfless! Well, though I do not want to, I must say farewell. I can hear the postman's carriage approaching! I hope to hear from our aunt and uncle. I cannot wait to see you on the twenty-third! Until then, I send my love to you and Fitzwilliam. Good-bye, I must attend to Charles, and more preparations.
Love Always,
Jane
Letter 5 Posted on Tuesday, 17 August 1999
22, December
London
Dearest Jane,
By the time you receive this letter, I will probably be with you. I informed Georgiana of our plans and she said that they would meet us at Netherfield. I hope mama hasn't been to much of a bother. I fear that I will miss my housekeeper. As soon as we were starting to get close, I am leaving. Yesterday, she told me this story about Fitzwilliam when he was a small boy coming to London with his father. She said that he had broken a vase of flowers and that he ran upstairs and hid under the bed in the master bedroom. No one could find him for hours. Can you imagine my husband crouched under the bed hiding. I starting laughing and when Fitzwilliam came in to see what I was laughing about, I couldn't tell him due to the fact that I was laughing so hard. When I finally stopped laughing and was able to tell him why I was laughing, he had left to wait until I was in control of myself. I didn't get to tell him about it until this morning. I will dearly miss Mrs. Wilkenson. That is my housekeeper. Forgive me for being lax in telling you her name. I can not wait until I am back with you dear sister. I hope our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner will be with us. Georgiana informed me in her letter that she has learned a new piece on the pianoforte. She says that she is very happy to be included in our family party. Has mama been over every day to give advice about the upcoming festivities. I bet that she has not given you a moment's peace since you were married.
Yesterday, Fitzwilliam took me to see some of his friends and their wives. I did meet a very nice woman. Her name is Mrs. Kingsley. Her husband went to Cambridge with Fitzwilliam. She told me that they were married last spring. She is originally from Kent. I asked her about my famous new Aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She seemed to have the same opinion of her as myself, but she said that she was friends with Anne de Bourgh. Her father's estate is near Rosings Park. I told her that I hoped to meet her again soon, and she said that she wished that I was in London for a longer period of time. She said that she did not have many friends in town since her husband's estate is not close to London and they come to town all but rarely.
I hope that I have not bored you with all my excitements in life. I can not wait to see you again. Fitzwilliam and I should arrive late tomorrow evening. I must now conclude. Farewell, until we meet again.
Yours etc.,
Lizzy
The snow was falling softly on the village of Meryton as the Darcy party drove into town. Elizabeth smiled contentedly as she saw all of the familiar shops that she used to spend hours in, and the rosy faces of old friends. Lizzy reminisced about all of the time she and Jane had spent in those places, happily chattering and laughing together. Darcy could see the happiness on her face as she remembered all of the days of her past. He only hoped that he would be able to make their new life together as happy for her.
The carriage slowly rolled up to Netherfield, the driver careful not to travel fast enough for the carriage wheels to slip on the newly fallen snow. They were greeted by an excited Jane and Bingley. Darcy stepped out of the carriage first, intending to help Lizzy down, but before he could turn around to offer his hand, she jumped out of the carriage and ran toward her approaching sister with arms outstretched. The two sisters embraced lovingly, while their husbands watched, seeing the close bond between the two.
When the sisters finally released each other, they all proceeded into the house. The air outside was brisk and it looked as if the snow might turn to a blizzard any minute. Inside the house, Jane led everyone, proudly, to the drawing room, showing off new curtains, vases, and furniture, she had added to the house. In the drawing room, a fire had already been lighted and the room felt warm and cozy. They all sat down to tea, to enjoy the company of one other.
That night, just as the group was finishing up their supper, one of the stable boys came running into the house, shivering and trying to catch his breath enough to talk. They could tell by the disturbed look on his face that something was not right.
"What is it boy? Speak up. Is something wrong?" Bingley questioned.
"Sir, I-I-I," he panted, "I saw it myself, you won't believe it!"
"What? What is wrong?" Darcy asked.
"It is the biggest snowstorm I have ever seen! The roads are covered! Not even the sturdiest carriage could hope to pass for days!" Everyone gasped. The women began to chatter about the storm.
"How will we get food and other supplies?" Jane cried, "Christmas will be ruined!"
"Relax Darling," Bingley said, "We have more than enough food to last for weeks, in the cellar! Christmas will be wonderful!"