More Letters From Pemberley Read Free Page A

shorter, had he not been frequently detained by the urgent entreaties of his fair one that he should go. At length, however, he drew on his gloves with leisurely care and set off with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
    I need hardly mention that Georgiana was not of the party which welcomed the Wickhams at The Great House. Indeed, she and Colonel Fitzwilliam have been at Rosings for two weeks and will stay a fortnight longer. It will be in her power to bring me first-hand news of Charlotte, whom she visits often, no doubt in order to escape Lady Catherine, who has been issuing instructions as to the only suitable arrangements to be made for Georgiana’s marriage in November. Not surprisingly, Georgiana desires the simplest, quietest of ceremonies. Lady Catherine, feeling all the importance of Miss Darcy, daughter of Lady Anne, marrying the youngest son of an Earl, has a very different occasion in mind. In taking this strong, personal interest in Georgiana’s nuptials, we must assume that Lady Catherine in fact intends to witness them. (Upon Georgiana’s betrothal, my Husband wrote his Aunt a most conciliatory letter, to which he has yet to receive the honour of a reply.)
    I should have mentioned this earlier (forgive me) but pray, do not fret that you will not be at my side while I am in child-bed. I, too, had presumed my Mother intended to remain with me at Pemberley where, incidentally, she could have prolonged her pleasure in Lydia’s company by another fortnight. Yet Mama professed an urgent need—indeed, it was her duty—to return to Longbourn and my Father, having been absent far too long. I cannot help wondering whether other reasons persuaded her to return so urgently: my Mother continues to feel herself intimidated by Mr. Darcy, and to stay under his roof for several weeks without the support of Jane or Kitty, or even my Father, was an intolerable prospect. But I beg you not to concern yourself, my dear Aunt. I am in good health and spirits, though it would hardly be truthful if I said I was without anxiety or fear. However, I have faith that all will turn out well. One knows, of course, the uncertainty of all this, but we must think the best and hope the best.
    We left Jane last Saturday in good spirits and restored health. It gives me such pleasure to see her and Mr. Bingley so happy. Frederick Charles is a strong infant with (as I mentioned previously) such a fine set of lungs, it is hard to believe he is the offspring of such soft-spoken parents. I confess to feeling a little envious and pray that Mr. Darcy and I will be as fortunate as the Bingleys.
    A letter from Kitty just now arrived: Mamma is safely at Longbourn, but the journey has left her nerves in a poor state. My Mother remains exhausted following her anxiety over Jane’s confinement and is urging Papa to take her to the seaside for several weeks at the very least this summer if he wishes to see her restored to her former self. She gave him to understand that, but for her very real concern for her Husband’s health and happiness, she would—indeed, should—have stayed until Lizzy’s confinement—yet her duty to her Husband outweighed every other concern, even a Mother’s natural wish to be at her Daughter’s side. Kitty adds that my Father was unmoved by this rare outpouring of spousal affection, and retired to his library forthwith. It is fortunate that my Mother’s indifferent health did not prevent her calling upon Lady Lucas immediately following some restorative refreshment urged on her by Hill. Poor Kitty! Jane and I are resolved to have her with us as often as our Mother can do without her. It is too bad that she must be at my Mother’s beck and call in the absence of any other diversions.
    You cannot write too often. Bless you.
E.D.

Pemberley
Tuesday, 19 th April, 1814
    My dear Jane,
    At last, a moment to myself! Lydia is gone into Lambton, which hitherto she had found “an excessively tedious place, with