Let me know if you have any news of Mr Hurst.

Your loving daughter,

Louisa


Mr Wickham to Mr Darcy

The Black Bull, London,

August 23

My dear Darcy,

Can it really be three years since I last heard from you? It is, I am sure, and small wonder. You have been busy with the estate, and of course with your guardianship of Georgiana. How is she? Well, I hope, and as affectionate and pleasing as ever. I dare say she is becoming a beauty. I have many happy memories of the time we spent together, all three of us, inmates of the same estate, sharing the same amusements, growing up at Pemberley. They were happy days, and I know your father watched our friendship with pleasure and gratification. He was one of the best men that ever breathed, the truest friend I ever had, and his behaviour to me was beyond compare.

Your cousin Henry was often with us, too. I saw him in town recently; he was looking very well. The army has been working him hard but he has no complaints. He likes the life and says it has been good to him. I promised to send you his greetings, which is one of the reasons for this letter, the other being that it is too long since we have exchanged letters. My only excuse is that I have been busy.

When last I wrote, I was studying for the law, but it proved to be unprofitable. A man in my position, in such bad circumstances—for you know I have my way to make in the world, as I do not have an inheritance—must have something to live on. I looked about me for another career and the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I have a calling for the church, after all, so I plan to become ordained. I am sure you remember that your revered father, my dearest godfather, promised me the living of Kympton in his will. As I hear that the rector has recently died, and as you have no other person to provide for, I trust you will give it to me, as was your father’s intention.

Your very great friend,

George


Mr Darcy to Mr Wickham

Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 25

I am deeply sorry that you have found the law unprofitable, but the church, or at least Kympton, is not for you. As you will no doubt remember, you relinquished all claim to it in return for a substantial sum of money. I cannot help thinking it was a narrow escape for the people of Kympton. They need someone who can save their souls and you, George, cannot even save your own. I respectfully, therefore, decline to present you with the living.

Darcy


Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley

Pemberley, Derbyshire, August 25

Dear Ma,

The atmosphere has been somewhat strained today, on account of a letter Mr Darcy received this morning. I do not know what was in it, but it came from the late steward’s son, Mr Wickham, and it angered Mr Darcy greatly. He read it at the breakfast table and his face darkened, then he screwed it into a ball, excused himself and walked out of the room.

Caroline is welcome to him if she wants him, for he is an awful sight when he is angry and I do not believe I would know what to do with such a man. But Caroline was nothing daunted. She followed him and tried to talk to him but he was brief with her and quickly left the house with Charles and some of the other gentlemen.

Caroline returned to the drawing room and we amused ourselves by playing the pianoforte and singing and then we invited Georgiana to join us at the pianoforte. She is a sweet girl with a pleasing manner and she is a great favourite with us. Then we all went out riding together. The countryside hereabouts is very beautiful, particularly on a clear day.

We met Charles when we arrived back at the house and we did not rest until we found out what was in the letter. Charles did not know everything but he said that George Wickham had behaved disgracefully, despite Mr Darcy’s many kindnesses to him, and that Mr Darcy is well rid of him. There was something about an argument over a living which Mr Wickham thought himself entitled to, but was completely unsuited for.

Then Charles began to talk about our leaving Pemberley. Some of the other guests are talking of leaving, too. Colonel Fitzwilliam has been recalled to his regiment, something to do with a rumour that a General Bonaparte is leaving Egypt and returning to France. It has made the gentlemen uneasy, for if Bonaparte returns to France, there seems to be some feeling that it might be bad for us.

Caroline said that we had no need to fear a General Bonaparte when we had a Colonel Fitzwilliam on our side, but though Colonel Fitzwilliam bowed, it was clear he thought her a fool.

Lady Japhet smiled in a superior manner, like a cat who has got the cream, for she is setting her cap at Colonel Fitzwilliam and she knew Caroline had made a grievous mistake. She remarked that a colonel was not quite enough to rid us of a general, but that, as the daughter of a shopkeeper, Caroline could not be expected to understand the difference in the military ranks. Caroline tried to think of a cutting retort but could not do so, although she has thought of half a dozen since.

We have told Charles there is no need for us to leave but you must tell him so, too. Mr Darcy seems happy to have us here because we are company for his sister. Caroline wants to stay because she has not given up hope of winning his affections and I have little reason to return to Yorkshire.

Your loving daughter,

Louisa


Mr Wickham to Mr Parker

London, August 27

Matthew, it is all up with me. I asked Darcy for the living but he refused me. He said the people of Kympton need someone who can save their souls and I cannot even save my own. D——n him! Kympton would have been perfect. The rectory is a large house and the income is generous. I could have left all the work to my curate and lived a life of ease. God knows what I will do now. You and I are both pockets to let. Did you have any luck with your family? Have they agreed to give you anything?

Wickham


Mr Parker to Mr Wickham

York, August 30

No luck here. You will have to write to Darcy again. It will not do to approach him at once. Wait long enough for it to seem reasonable that you have mended your ways, then write to him again. Thank him for his honesty and tell him that his words have made you look at yourself and realise what you have become. Tell him you have set your feet on the path of righteousness but tell him also how difficult it is for a man without connections to pick himself up. Play on his sympathy. Remind him of his father’s love for you. Say anything and everything, but get him to give you some money.

Parker

SEPTEMBER

Mr Wickham to Mr Parker

London, September 5

I will do my best. I will wait until the New Year, a time of new beginnings when he might, perhaps, believe I have mended my ways. He will have filled the living of Kympton by then but he will have other livings in his gift, almost as valuable, and why should I not have one of them? A comfortable rectory, an annual stipend and the position of a gentleman are things worth playing for. I will just have to muddle through till then.

Wickham


Mrs Bingley to Miss Louisa Bingley

Yorkshire, September 6

My dear girl, come home at once. Mr Hurst is here! He got here this morning and called at the house when I was out. Your pa entertained him but never mind, I’m sure Mr Hurst will overlook the fact that your pa talked to him about his shops and then offered him a glass of ale instead of something more genteel. Mr Hurst asked about all the family and then asked about you particular like. Mr Darcy is all very well, but ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.’ You see, your old ma knows Shakespeare, too. Come home soon; we’ll have you married before the year is out.

Your doting Ma


Miss Louisa Bingley to Mrs Bingley

Pemberley, Derbyshire,

September 8

Ma, I’m ready to come home straightaway but Caroline says there is no call for her to leave. Most of the other ladies have gone home and she is overjoyed that she has Mr Darcy all to herself. But it will look very odd if she stays, so tell her she must come with me. Charles has told her so already but she won’t listen to him; she’s too busy telling Mr Darcy that he does everything better than everyone else. She sings to him, she flatters him, she parades around in front of him, she does everything but ask him to marry her. Ma, tell her she’s got to come, and get Pa to tell her, too. And whatever you do, don’t tell Mr Hurst that ‘a bird in the hand’ is Shakespeare, dearest Ma, because it isn’t, you know.

Your loving daughter,

Louisa


Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley

Yorkshire, September 10

Now, Caroline, you’ve got to come home with your sister. Mr Darcy won’t run away. If he hasn’t asked you to marry him yet, then he’s not going to do it, leastways not when you’re there. Let him see how empty that big house of his is without you, and let him see how much his sister misses you—that’s the way to do it. You’ll have him eating out of your hand in no time. If not, your pa’s going to buy an estate and then we can have this Mr Darcy to stay and we’ll see what another few weeks will do. Your pa’s writing to Charles and telling him to bring you both home, so let’s have no more nonsense.