With deepest apologies,
Lizzy
Mr Edwin and Mrs Madeline Gardiner
Gracechurch Street, Cheapside
Dear Uncle Gardiner,
All is well here in my present situation, but I wish to share news which is quite exciting. I recently made the acquaintance of a family much like yours. They are everything wonderful and remind me much of you and my aunt. The gentleman is a wool broker and deals much in wools from the north country.
I have become a particular friend of their daughter, Margaret, who is near Kitty’s age, though as unlike Lydia or Kitty as it is possible to be while yet belonging to the female sex. She has no siblings and has taken quite a fancy to the idea of having a sister by proxy for a time.
The family has generously offered to take me on a journey with them which starts in a week and continues for six weeks through several northern counties. It may be like the Tour of the Lakes we have occasionally discussed. They may even have business near Lambton, which I shall visit should I have the opportunity.
I cannot possibly impose upon you for permission for such a change to my travel plans, so I have written to Papa directly. You need not trouble yourself nor worry for me, but I would beg you to share this letter with Jane, along with my regrets that I shall not see her for a while longer. Presuming no objections from Papa, I shall not return to Gracechurch Street, but instead will travel north with the family, and return directly to Longbourn.
I look forward to the journey, and though I shall dearly miss your family and Jane’s company, I feel an obligation to Miss Margaret to share the trip. She is a young lady in need of a friend at this time, and it would be rude to refuse such a generous offer.
My apologies for the short notice and pray give all my love to Jane and my nieces, along with my promises that I shall write in more detail soon.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth regarded the letters with grim satisfaction, though she ruefully thought she should hold her nose from the stench, considering the amount of folderol they embodied.
Much of life consists of organized lying. What is politeness and etiquette but a set of rules for lying. If you wish to tell an untruth, do so with aplomb and without flinching.
Make your audiencewantto believe you!
Her father’s advice aside, it was distressing to be in this position, but no amount of second-guessing had caused her to repine the journey to relative freedom. It might even prove useful to have more contacts in trade, as she was almost certain to be cast from Longbourn when she returned—if she returned.Mr Wythe could no doubt find her some employment better than governess.
She sighed and read the letters one last time. Some finesse was called for, and they served the purpose. They said just enough to avoid alarm and spoke no untruths—so long as one were generous about lies by omission. Her father routinelyomitted salient details when speaking with her mother to either reduce the screeching in the house or increase his own amusement, so her actions were simply following his advice. What else were ghosts for if not to offer advice?
The letters, misleading as they were, would have to do! She was determined to have no complications in her life… save that she seemed bereft of honesty, integrity, honour, pride, or decorum. Other than that, all was well.
Mr Thomas Bennet
Longbourn, near Meryton, Hertfordshire
Dear Papa,
All is well here in my present locale, but I wish to share some quite exciting news. I made a new acquaintance, a family with a daughter named Margaret who are people of great fashion and sense. They are everything wonderful and remind me much of the Gardiners. The gentleman is a wool broker and deals much in the finest wools from the north country.
I have become a particular friend of their daughter Margaret, who is near Kitty’s age, but different from my sisters, chiefly for the better. Imagine a younger version of Jane who has not had the advantage of a somewhat sensible sister, nor the disadvantage of two silly ones, and you would not be far from the mark.
The family has generously offered to take me on a journey with them which commences in less than a week, and travels for six weeks through several northern counties.
The offer came unexpectedly, so I apologise for the short notice; but I cannot imagine your objection, so I have provisionally accepted the scheme. Therefore, absent your objections via a speedy reply by express, I shall travel with them and return to Longbourn near the middle of June. I shall of course keep you informed at each step, and in the unlikelyevent you object, I shall follow our original scheme and return to Gracechurch Street.
I look forward to the journey, and though I shall dearly miss our family, I feel some obligation to young Margaret to share the journey with her, and it would be rude to refuse such a generous offer.
Lizzy
Elizabeth regarded the note with even deeper grim satisfaction. She asked Margaret to address the letter, then smeared the ink slightly to ensure it would not be read promptly, put it in the common post for delivery two days hence, and considered the matter settled. Her father might be angry when he eventually read it in a few weeks, and there might be consequences for her action, but it was done and done for the best. Absence of refusal did not truly imply permission, but why quibble over minor details?
Sometimes Lizzy, you just have to do what you have to do. Quit whining and just do it.
Elizabeth silently thanked Charlotte for her good advice, blew out the candle, and went to sleep.
