Snow Over Netherfield (Pride & Prejudice Vagary)

Chapter 1

Dear Fitzwilliam,

You will call me churlish, no doubt, for returning only complaint after you have troubled yourself to find and mend your pen, but you must not consider me ungrateful.

Indeed, your account of Georgiana’s residence with your mother has lifted a great weight from my mind.

I had suspected, when I departed for Hertfordshire, that some weeks away from her domineering brother and in company with her favourite aunt and cousins might speed Georgiana’s recovery, yet this conviction could not silence my disquiet at our separation.

Had she been unhappy in my absence, she would never have informed me herself. Your report quiets my doubts.

Providence permitting, I shall be with you all in London within the week. Only Bingley’s ball constrains me here, and then I may depart.

If it can be managed, I shall bring Bingley back to town with me.

His easy company always gives Georgiana pleasure, and I begin to suspect that prudence demands his removal from Hertfordshire.

He grows rather too besotted with his latest angel.

Scarcely does any conversation pass without some remark upon the perfections of Miss Jane Bennet.

I have nothing to say against the lady—though I suspect you might find her more than a trifle insipid—but no woman’s virtues could be so great that the endless discussion thereof would not sour them.

One more paean to Miss Bennet’s sweet temper or golden curls may rob me of my sanity.

On the subject of the Bennets, I note in your letter several inquiries regarding Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Your interest perplexes me, for I can scarcely recall mentioning her in my last, and you are unlikely ever to meet the lady.

Her only connection in London, to my knowledge, is a tradesman uncle in Cheapside.

She would certainly not be received amongst the first circles.

It is a pity, for her lively mind would make her a success, I suspect.

You would undoubtedly find her amusing. She gave Miss Bingley a clever set-down after dinner one evening in a conversation regarding feminine accomplishment. Miss Bingley was led to contradict herself and did not even notice.

I shall return to London on the twenty-seventh if the weather holds.

On this subject, I am not wholly sanguine.

During my morning rides, I have encountered a number of local farmers, and, to a man, they grumble of the eastern wind and predict an early snow.

The air has indeed turned frigid since the rains passed, and their fears seem not implausible.

Still, I may hope that the roads will remain in an acceptable state until I can discharge my obligation to Bingley and make my escape.

I eagerly anticipate our reunion and a comfortable Christmastide together in London.

Until then, I remain,

Yours, etc.,

Darcy