I have told Elizabeth that she should use her influence with Jane and advise her sister to show more interest in him, but Elizabeth is romantic and thinks that Jane needs more time to truly understand Mr Bingley’s character. I cannot agree with her. Jane and Mr Bingley have spent four evenings together, and if she were married tomorrow, I should think Jane had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character a twelvemonth. But it is no good. Elizabeth is content to let them go on as they are, and Jane has such a composed manner that Mr Bingley will never guess at her feelings unless she does or says something to make him understand.

It is a pity. It is clear that he likes her, and if she would only do something to help him on, I believe he would make her an offer. But otherwise I fear it will come to nothing. He is an unassuming young man, unaware of his own attractions, and he will not have the courage to ask for her hand unless she gives him some sign that it would be welcome.

My own prospects for marriage are no better than they were when you went away. Although I am happy enough at home, I would like my own establishment, rather than having to live my life with Mama and Papa; but unless another young man just happens to arrive in the neighbourhood, I fear my chances are slim.

But what of you? Has Bath cured your father of his unfortunate propensities? Has it brought you any new acquaintance worth having? Write and tell me all your news.

Your friend,

Charlotte

NOVEMBER

Miss Mary Bennet to Miss Lucy Sotherton

Longbourn, Hertfordshire,

November 5

Most noble Friend,

My plans for improvement have already reaped me rich rewards and I hope that your own endeavours have been as well received. As you know—for you, dear Lucy, are of a similar mind—I am not inclined to waste my time in the frivolity of social engagements, but I was compelled by my mother to attend a gathering at Sir William Lucas’s house last night. She swept aside my arguments—for, not being a Learned Woman, she was unable to appreciate their potency—and said irritably, ‘I thought you would want to show off, you have been practising that piece long enough.’

I was much struck, for though her sentiment was badly expressed, it echoed my own feelings that I should indeed be sharing my accomplishments with the world. I therefore condescended to attend the gathering. I was amply rewarded, for when I succeeded my sister Elizabeth at the pianoforte, Mr Darcy listened to my concerto with a look of astonishment. He had obviously not expected such a high degree of excellence from a young woman in such a small town.

Alas! My sisters then demanded a jig and I was forced to accede to their wishes, though as I remarked to Mr Shackleton afterwards, ‘A jig might feed the body but a concerto feeds the soul.’

He was much struck and begged for permission to copy it into his book of extracts.

Lydia, Jane and Kitty danced for the rest of the evening, but I did not indulge in the activity. Elizabeth almost danced, for when Sir William saw that she was without a partner, he begged one for her, but it came to nothing. If Sir William had been a Learned Man, he would not have chosen Mr Darcy to be the object of his solicitations, for Mr Darcy had already said that he did not like to dance.

I believe that Mr Darcy and I have much in common. We share a love of music and, like Mr Darcy, I am not given to dancing. I think he had the right of it when he explained his aversion to the exercise by saying to Sir William, ‘Every savage can dance.’ I was much struck by the truth of it and I have copied it into my book of extracts.

Your friend,

Mary


Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Miss Susan Sotherton

Longbourn, Hertfordshire,

November 5

My dear Susan,

I should not triumph in it, I know, but I had a chance of turning the tables on Mr Darcy when we were at the Lucases’ last night, thereby changing mortification to something far more satisfactory. Sir William, seeing me without a partner, entreated Mr Darcy to dance with me, and before Mr Darcy could refuse I replied coolly that I had no intention of dancing. Mr Darcy was confounded and my feelings were assuaged.

Jane’s evening was even more satisfactory than mine, as Mr Bingley continued to pay her attention of the most particular kind.

I truly believe he is falling in love with her, and he is so agreeable that I think he might even be worthy of her.

Mama is effusive in her praise of him already, and if he offers for Jane, then her joy will know no bounds. Poor Mr Bingley! I fear he does not know what awaits him.

Your friend,

Lizzy


Mrs Louisa Hurst to Mrs Bingley

Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire,

November 12

Dear Mama,

We are now settled at Netherfield Park for the winter, it seems. Charles is very happy here, though Caroline and I are less so. The town is devoid of fashionable people and we have to make do with a strange assortment of neighbours. Mr Darcy is as bored as we are. He refused to dance at the first assembly and although he was nearly forced into it a few days ago, for the sake of politeness, it all came to nothing, for when Sir William Lucas tried to encourage him to dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, she refused him. I am not surprised. Sir William had all but begged a partner for her and no one with any spirit would have acquiesced. It did her no harm in Darcy’s opinion—quite the opposite. He was caught by her refusal and remarked later that she had fine eyes. If only Caroline would take a lesson from this, she might have a better chance of catching him, but she can never bear to refuse him anything. She was annoyed when he praised Miss Elizabeth, and she vented her feelings by teasing him about his forthcoming marriage. Mr Darcy said he knew she would be jumping to conclusions and he bore it all with perfect indifference. It made Caroline so jealous that for a week she would not invite Jane Bennet to dine with us, but fortunately she has now relented, though it is more because we are to be alone this evening, the gentlemen dining from home, than any lessening in her jealousy. She is writing a note to Miss Bennet now.

Your daughter,

Louisa


Miss Caroline Bingley to Miss Jane Bennet

Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire,

November 12

My dear Friend,

If you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day’s tête-à-tête between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.

Yours ever,

Caroline Bingley


Miss Kitty Bennet to Miss Eleanor Sotherton

Longbourn, Hertfordshire,

November 12

Dear Ellie,

You will never guess! It is the most adorable thing! The town is full of officers! Yes, I know, is it not marvellous? They are all young and handsome and they wear bright red coats with brass buttons and they are so handsome you have never seen anything like it. Lydia and I go to my aunt’s every day and we meet them there all the time. We see them on the way there, too, and on the way back again. I wish you were here, there are so many officers we have enough and to spare. I hate to think of you in Bath with all the old people with gout and corns. Tell your Papa to hurry up and win his fortune back again and then you can come back to Netherfield—although no, not too soon, because Jane is going to marry Mr Bingley or so Mama says, so Mr Bingley must remain at Netherfield until that is accomplished. But once he and Jane are married, then you must come back and meet all the officers. Lydia and I are wild to see them every day. Papa says we are the two silliest girls in the country, and to be sure that put a dampener on my excitement for a minute, but then Mama said that we are very clever and I believe she has the right of it.

The colonel of the regiment is Colonel Forster and Mama says that if a smart young colonel with five or six thousand a year should want one of her daughters she would not say him nay. He used to be always at Miss Watson’s but they quarrelled and he does not go there so often now. Miss Watson does not mind, for she is besotted with Mr Robinson now. Lydia and I cannot understand it, and Lydia and Miss Watson have had a falling out about it. How can anyone like a man if he is not in a red coat? My aunt Philips says that now the colonel does not go to the Watsons’ he is very often to be met with in Clarke’s library. Lydia and I are wondering which of us he will pick, now that he is free again. Lydia thinks it will be her because she is the tallest, but I am the oldest. We are agreed that the other of us can have Captain Carter. We go to the library all the time and we are always changing our books but we never have time to read them. And now the officers are dining with Mr Bingley and we only found out because Jane has been invited to dine with Miss Bingley when the gentlemen are out. Mama thinks that that is unfortunate and I am sure I agree, for who would want to dine with Miss Bingley? But Jane has had to go. Mama sent her on horseback in the hope that it will rain and then Miss Bingley will have to ask her to stay overnight, so that Jane can see Mr Bingley in the morning. I wonder what he will have to say about the officers? I am quite wild to know what they talked about.