Chapter Sixty-Five
Letters flew back and forth from Matlock House to Netherfield Park and back, Longbourn to Gracechurch Street and back, Longbourn to Kent and back.
Darcy,
Do you truly mean to tell me that you have gotten yourself engaged to a young lady of no importance whatsoever?
I confess to a good deal of disappointment in your decision.
You will say that I told you it would be best for you to attend the Season’s events with a Mrs. Darcy by your side, but I in no way intended for you to offer for the first country lass who took your eye!
Your irate aunt,
Ellen
***
Dear Aunt Ellen,
I certainly did not offer for the first country lass who took my eye; I offered to the one and only woman who could ever make me happy!
And consider this. If you hoped that my marriage would take everyone’s eye off Georgiana, my choice of wife should certainly help in that regard, though I am certain she will win everyone over soon enough.
I hope I may count on you to make certain that she is properly outfitted for the Season.
Your very happy nephew,
Darcy
***
Darcy,
I am delighted that you are to marry Miss Elizabeth. I am, however, the only person here at Matlock House who is delighted.
I will be there, of course. I suspect you should not depend on my parents being present.
Richard
***
Dearest Brother and Sister,
It is with the greatest pleasure that I write to tell you that both Jane and Lizzy are engaged to be married!
And to gentlemen of fortune! Jane will wed Mr. Bingley, the new neighbour I told you about when last I wrote!
And Lizzy, much to everyone’s surprise, is engaged to Mr. Bingley’s friend, a Mr. Darcy of Pemberley!
His estate is in Derbyshire, so it is possible, Madeleine, that you know him!
The double wedding will take place on the fourteenth of January. I know you will be here for Christmas; might we hope that you will venture forth again for the wedding? It could not possibly be a real celebration were you to be absent!
Much love from,
Fanny
***
Dear Fanny,
I read your letter with immense joy! I cannot imagine two young ladies more deserving of such happiness than our Jane and Lizzy!
I most certainly do know Mr. Darcy of Pemberley; or, I should say, I know of him, as we hardly move in the same social circles!
I met his mother on more than one occasion, and she was everything gracious.
To think of our Lizzy becoming Mrs. Darcy and living in that great house!
I hope they will allow us to visit, as nothing would give me more pleasure than to drive around that park in a little phaeton.
I spoke with Edward, and we will very definitely come to the wedding. Be prepared for the amount of noise that three little boys can make!
We look forward to seeing you quite soon for the holidays!
With great excitement!
Madeleine
***
My dear Charlotte,
Here is news that I am certain will astonish you! Jane and Mr. Bingley are to wed on the fourteenth of January – wait, wait, that is not the surprising part. The surprise is that Mr. Darcy and I will wed on that date as well! Yes, a double wedding, just as Jane and I always dreamed of!
I know you have only now gotten settled into your parsonage, but I do dare to hope that you will be able to come to Meryton for the wedding; otherwise, I know not when we shall see one another again.
With hope and much love,
Lizzy (I refuse to write “Eliza”!)
***
Dear Eliza,
Alas! Mr. Collins spoke with Lady Catherine about the possibility of my attending your wedding to Mr. Darcy (he speaks to her about everything, you know) and she flatly refused to consent. Indeed, she told him that if I did attend, it would give her the greatest displeasure.
I wish I could say that she is not usually so unreasonable, but it has been impressed upon me it is unchristian to lie.
My mother has promised to write me with all the details of the wedding.
Sadly,
Charlotte