Lucas Lodge
Eliza,
How I miss seeing you my friend. To that end, I have taken your suggestion (after gaining permission from my parents) and contacted the Gardiners about joining them when they travel to Lambert Hills. They seconded your invitation, which I understand was issued by Mr and Mrs Lambert. Your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner assured me as they travel with two carriages when the children are with them, it is no hardship for me to join them.
I am not sure if I mentioned this after I told you how Miss Bingley was hoodwinked into marrying that lieutenant and the way she maimed him when she discovered the truth, but that discovery pushed her beyond the bounds of sanity. She is now resident at Bedlam, and will be there for the duration of her life. As to the former Lieutenant, I understand he failed to gain any funds from Mr Bingley other than a nominal amount. He was sent to London via the post, and hopefully will never be heard from again.
Since the bad behaviour of the officer he expelled from hisregiment, Colonel Forster has imposed even more restrictions on his men to ensure the safety of the residents of the area, both young ladies and the merchants alike.
What I am about to tell you is not a fiction, so before you think it is, allow me to assure you of its veracity.
Eliza, you will not recognise your family! Your father spends more timeoutof his study than in it. He is busy many hours making sure all of his tenants’ concerns are addressed, their cottages repaired, and he is assisting them in implementing the most modern farming methods.
He has also employed a companion who has experience as a governess for Catherine (she no longer answers to Kitty) and Lydia, and it seems your mother has been learning from Mrs Perkins as well. Will wonders never cease?
Your parents are once again accepted by all in the community because, (when you read this, you will definitely think I am in my cups, but I am not) they haveBOTHaccepted responsibility for their actions. Yes, your mother too! Even more wonderous is your mother no longer gossips, is far more demure, and never raises her voice above an acceptable volume.
I swear to you Eliza, had I not seen it myself, I would not have believed it. My poor mother is most confused, as is Mrs Phillips. They cannot fathom the changes in Mrs Bennet.
There is still no suitor on the horizon for me regardless of your predictions in the previous missive you sent me.
It almost slipped my mind. Mr Bingley, the Hursts, and Mr Darcy will not be at Netherfield Park for Christmastide. I heard Mrs Nichols tell the owner of the general store her master and the Hursts will be in Derbyshire at Pemberley with Mr Darcy for the festive season. They will return to Netherfield Park after Twelfth Night.
I wonder how close you are to the Darcy estate, my friend? What are the chances you will see any of them?
I await your next letter, Eliza, and as I said, I am missingyou every day.
With warmest friendship,
Charlotte
“Lizzy what is it? You look greatly shocked. Did Charlotte write something which disturbed your equanimity?” Mary asked as the sisters sat in their sitting room.
“I think you should read this, and then you will know what has…not upset me, but rather shaken me to my core,” Elizabeth stated as she handed the letter to her younger sister. While holdinghishandkerchief, she watched as the emotions played over Mary’s face.
“Can this be true? It must be, otherwise Charlotte would never write it!” Mary exclaimed as she answered her own question. “What does this mean regarding when you will see our parents again? In my wildest dreams I would never have imagined a change like this.”
“That is what I feel. I wish Aunt Maddie was here to speak to, but I will write to her and enclose Charlotte’s letter,” Elizabeth decided. “I am sure Aunt Maddie will agree the time to forgive Mother and Father is much closer at hand than it was before I read this letter.” Elizabeth paused as she cogitated on other parts of the letter. “Although I would not wish anyone, even Miss…no, Mrs Wickham to be consigned to Bedlam, I always felt there was something unbalanced about her. I can only be grateful none of the Bennet sisters will ever meet that terrible Mr Wickham. I cannot feel sorry for him for what his wife did to him when she discovered the truth.”
“Nor me. Praised be our father put Kit … Catherine and Lydia back in before they were ruined by an officer like that one,” Mary stated gratefully.
“Are you looking forward to shopping for gifts in Metting on the morrow?” Elizabeth enquired. “We need gifts for all of the Lamberts, and to find things we can post to theGardiners, Catherine, and Lyddie.” A shadow of sadness passed over Elizabeth and some tears fell from her eyes. “It just hit me this will be the first Christmastide without Janey. I still miss her all of the time.”
“As do I, Lizzy, as do I. Remember what Charlotte told you, each of us grieves in our own way. One day you will move past the sadness and only remember the vast good which was our late sister,” Mary suggested.
Once she composed herself, Elizabeth followed Mary out of the suite as they went to join the family in the drawing room.
Chapter 24
“Where are you off to, Giana?” Darcy asked when he saw his sister and her co-guardian preparing to go out.
All of the Fitzwilliams had arrived the day before, including Richard as he had a full six weeks leave from his regiment until he needed to report back in late January. With five adults and two children having arrived, albeit one of them less than six months old, Pemberley felt like it was alive again. Little Joshua, who was recently three, and the future heir to the earldom after his father and grandfather, loved to run in the halls. He was never happier than when chased by ‘Unca Rich’ who loved to indulge his nephew.
“Richard is accompanying me to make some purchases,” Georgiana replied honestly. She was sure William would assume she and Richard were headed for Lambton, and she had no intention of correcting his misapprehension. William was far too familiar with the shops and the wares found within to find him something there which would surprise him.
“We did not want to bother you,” the Colonel grinned. “Especially since you have been salivating over that collection of first editions you purchased from Gardiner. I still cannot fathom your expending more than ten thousand pounds on books.”
“They are first editions I never thought I would find, so to me they are worth far more than I paid. Do not forget they were evaluated by someone well respected in the world of books, one who is neither connected to me nor to Gardiner, so we both accepted his valuation without argument,” Darcyexplained. “Giana, as long as Richard, Mrs Annesley, and several footmen are with you, I have no complaint. When will you two be back?”
