Work Text:
Excerpts from various letters
Netherfield
June 3, 1812
My Dearest Lizzie,
Lydia and Wickham have come to stay with us again. I'm afraid Charles' patience is sorely tried, and I am at my wits' end. I know my father was only joking when he said that we are both of us so complying that nothing will ever be resolved upon, but I am afraid, dear Lizzie, that it is only too true...
Yours worriedly,
Jane
Pemberley
June 7
My Dear Jane,
I shall not triumph at your expense by saying I told you so, but really, you are far too lenient with headstrong, foolish Lydia. You are much too good and kind; I should have sent them packing in a trice. What you need is someone with a backbone. Caroline would be the ideal person to chase off the Wickhams...
Yours laughingly,
Elizabeth
Netherfield
June 13
Dear Caroline,
I hope my letter finds you well. While there has been some ill-will between us in the past, I hope, now that we are sisters, that we can put it behind us. I write to invite you to come and stay with us at Netherfield. You have not visted since we have made it wholly our own, as you have been living with the Hursts since Charles and I married. My sister Lydia and her husband are also staying with us...
Yours dutifully,
Jane
Grosvenor Square, London
June 20
Darling Jane,
How your letter made me laugh! Such subterfuge is beneath you. I can read between the lines, I hope. You, asking assistance from me? I suppose that if I must, I must. Someone must save you from yourselves, and ensure that there is something left of the Bingley fortune for the next generation.
Yours scornfully,
Caroline
Netherfield
June 24
Dearest Lizzie,
Caroline has agreed to come and help us roust out the Wickhams. Oh, Lizzie, I feel terrible, for I invited her under false pretenses. However, she saw through my ruse immediately...
Yours ashamedly,
Jane
Pemberley
June 28
Dearest Jane,
I had not the least notion that you would take my joke seriously! Did you really write to invite Caroline Bingley to stay with you? Be careful—for once you have cut off the head of the hydra, two more may grow in its place! (And by that, I mean Caroline and Louisa.)
Yours mythologically,
Lizzie
Netherfield
July 5
Dearest Lizzie,
Caroline has come, and we have had no peace at all since her arrival. Charles has retreated to his study and emerges only for meals. Caroline heaps recriminations upon his head at every opportunity, and I am afraid that Lydia might be a match even for Caroline Bingley, for she has no shame, no shame at all...
Yours harriedly,
Jane
Pemberley
July 9
My poor dear Jane,
It seems that Caroline is in a fair way to becoming a second Lady Catherine... Perhaps you should send for reinforcements?
Yours martially,
Elizabeth
Netherfield
July 13
Dearest Lizzie,
I know you are only joking this time, but really, it is very tempting...
Yours in exasperation,
Jane
Netherfield
July 13
My dear Darcy,
You know I am no great hand at writing letters. It has been far too long since we have been to Pemberley. What do you say if we come for a visit? We have some guests staying with us, but you have plenty of room, I know.
Yours entreatingly,
Bingley
Pemberley
July 17
Bingley,
Good god, man. Get a hold of yourself. Can't you control your household? No, you may not come here, or foist off your horrid sister-in-law on me. Elizabeth is in a delicate situation and I will not have her worried.
Yours sternly,
Darcy
Netherfield
July 21
Dear Louisa,
What a bore this visit has turned out to be. Jane's ill-bred sister and the steward's son have ensconced themselves at poor Charles' expense and are eating him out of house and home. I told Charles he should not marry into that wretched family. Only see what has come of it. Clearly, I am the only competent person in this family. I have to do everything myself.
Your affectionate sister,
Caroline
Netherfield
July 24
Dearest Lizzie,
There has been such a to-do! I hardly know whether I am on my head or my heels. I only hope that what I write is intelligible. Caroline has surpassed herself. I never dreamed she would do such a thing. Lizzie, she has written to every tradesman that Wickham has ever cheated, every merchant whose daughter he has trifled with, and even the Colonel of his former regiment, which is stationed again in Meryton this summer. You must recall that he left debts of honour behind when he eloped with poor, foolish Lydia; apparently these were not all disclosed before his marriage. An angry mob formed outside the house yesterday, and the situation would have turned very ugly indeed, if Lydia had not recognized Corporal Denny in the crowd and snuck out to meet him. In the confusion, Wickham was smuggled out the back, and taken under cover of night to Longbourne. I am afraid his former comrades were most wroth with him, and took what was owed from his hide; poor man. (Lizzie, I can see you rolling your eyes at me, but truly, I cannot help but feel for him.) Charles was required to placate the merchants and tradesmen by promising restitution for the debts they were owed. I only hope we have seen the last of this trouble...
Yours in awe,
Jane
Longbourne
July 26
Dearest, darling Lizzie,
Please, please, please say that Wickham and I can come stay at Pemberley. Jane is being such a bore, and her nasty sister-in-law said the most vicious things to my darling Wickham. Now Papa is saying that we must leave Longbourne! Mama is beside herself, but of course he will not listen to her. I know you won't cast your favourite sister out into the cold, cruel world.
Yours hopefully,
Lydia
Pemberley
July 31
Jane,
Oh lord, I didn't mean for you to saddle me with the Wickhams! Darcy will never forgive me if they come here—not to mention what it would do to poor Georgiana. I might have to borrow Caroline Bingley myself... Do you think she would come?
By the by, pray don't tell our mother than I am increasing, for her raptures would be more than Darcy or I could bear...
Yours fretfully,
Elizabeth
Pemberley
July 31
Wickham,
If you ever show your face here again, I will have you horsewhipped.
Darcy
Longbourne
August 4
My dear Mrs. Younge,
Thank you for your hospitality of last summer. I write to beg your aid once again. You must know that I was called by duty and honour to serve my country, and alas, I have sustained grievous injuries in the pursuit of said duty. My mother-in-law is very fond of me, but her opinion holds little sway in this household. In short, my father-in-law refuses to house us any longer. I know not what I have done to offend him, but to maintain family harmony, I must find new lodgings. We find ourselves in pressing need of friends, and who better than you to shelter us? Lydia speaks so highly of you and the kindness you showed her before our marriage. I know you would not deny us in our time of need.
Your ever loving,
George Wickham