“I thank you for your consideration. Now, let me see what Fanny has to say.” Leticia broke the seal and opened the missive.
22 October 1808
Longbourn
Leticia, my dear friend,
I suspect that you will be close to the end of your deep mourning, and your son and daughter-in-law will be almost at the end of their period of mourning by the time this letter reaches you.
There is much to say and tell, so allow me to begin with this. You have very kindly offeredto still sponsor Lizzy, her friend Charlotte Lucas (the one Lizzy demanded join her to be presented), and me in May 1809, once your year of mourning is complete. That will be a few months after Lizzy turns 18. If you need more time, please let me know. We do not want you to do anything for which you are not ready. (Lizzy says she means this, and it is not only because she is willing to defer being presented as long as possible.)
In all seriousness, my friend, if you would prefer to wait another year, we will all understand.
You remember that I told you how I used to be if any single man entered the neighbourhood, do you not? Well, it seems that Alicia (Mrs Annesley) was correct that when I stopped trying to force things, they would happen on their own.
Let me start with two months previously. Hattie came to tell me that Netherfield Park was let for 6 months. She reported that not only was the man single, but a viscount as well! According to my sister, he would take up residence as soon as he had supervised the harvest at his estate in Staffordshire.
Even though Jane has been out locally for more than 2 years, I kept to my resolve not to convince Jane towards the man. You will never guess who he is, but I wager your son will because the man is a friend of his, and Jane had met him previously in London.
I am speaking of Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale! Did he inform your son he is leasing Netherfield Park? Is it not a coincidence that he is a tenant at the same estate you were when we met you?
It seems he has been enamoured of Jane since he met her the first time when she was only 16. Jane tells me he related how he did not want to approach her when she was too young, as he wanted to be sure that she would know her own mind. As she will be 20 in a few short months, he wanted to see if they would suit, so for now he is calling on Jane. Nothing official, and I am doing nothing to try hurrying them along.
Leticia looked up from her letter. “Harold, did you have a hand in making sure that Netherfield Park was available for Lord Hilldale? And did you know he is interested in Jane Bennet?”
“Yes, Mother, to both questions,” Hurst owned. “It has been…”
“I know; Fanny told me in her letter.” Leticia held the pages up. “Since Jane was sixteen. Very honourable of him to want to wait until she is of an age to know her own mind so that he knows she will make a decision which is right for her.”
“Caroline would have an apoplexy if she heard a viscount we know was interested in someone who is not her, especially as he is a Fitzwilliam,” Louisa stated with a smile. “I think she will expire if she ever discovers that Harold is a baronet and I am titled. I care not, but Caroline would.”
“Then, we should tell her,” Hurst jested.
“Harold!” Leticia and Louisa chorused, the latter bestowing a playful slap to his arm.
After smiling at her son and daughter—Leticia saw Louisa as a true daughter, not an in-law—she returned to her letter and began to read again after she found the place where she had stopped reading.
His parents are the Earl and Countess of Matlock. Before he gave his consent for Andrew (as he has asked us to call him) to call on Jane, Thomas asked him if his parents were sanguine with him calling on a woman not of the first circles, with connections to those in trade. Andrew said it mattered not to them. All they demanded was that his future wife be gently born and they love one another.
Once Thomas was assured thusly, he granted Andrew’s request.
If this had happened with how I used to be, even though he has not even asked for an official courtship yet, never mind an engagement, I would be crowing to anyone and everyone in Meryton about how Jane will be a countess one day. He would have run for the hills had I been that Fanny still.
He does not call every day because he does not want to pressure or overwhelm our Jane. What will be will be.
How are you, Louisa, Harold, and the darling children all coping after the loss of yourhusband? I know it is almost 6 months, so I pray it is somewhat less painful for you now.
The rest of my children and Thomas are all well. Mary, who turned 16 in May, is as proficient on the pianoforte as she ever was. She is as ambivalent about being presented as Lizzy is, but like my second daughter, she will do it when it is her time.
Catherine, who is 14 now, has become such an accomplished artist. To think that Lydia and I used to disparage her desire to draw and paint so that she had stopped altogether before Thomas brought the Firth sisters to Longbourn. Her master says she is one of the rare talents who is able to capture anything, from portraits to landscapes or even to still-life subjects.
It is hard to believe that Lyddie, who was 12 this June past, is the same girl. She is still lively, but like her older sisters, she is very intelligent and loves to play her violin. Would you believe she has asked Lizzy to teach her to play chess! Lizzy says she is learning quickly. She is by far the best of my daughters at embroidery as well. To think what I almost taught her to be. Yes, I know; I need to stop looking back.
Tommy, who as you know was 3 on the 10th of July, is the heart of this house. That being said, I will not repeat the mistakes I made with Lydia when she was my baby andspoil my son (how well that sounds to say) as I did with her.
Thomas is also very careful not to overindulge Tommy as well. We are greatly entertained by his antics, but if he ever does the wrong thing purposefully (thankfully he is not a wilful child so far), then he will be punished.
My sister Hattie and brother-in-law Frank are both very well and asked to be remembered to you.
