My dear, dear elder sister, how are you? I do sincerely hope all is well for you, Lizzy. And how is your husband, Mr. Darcy? (Kitty wrote to me of your meeting with his aunt, Lady Catherine.) I hope you do not mind if I ask you a question. Would you be so kind as to lend my dear Wickham and I a bit of money? I know that you and Mr. Darcy can spare it; just a little. That is all I ask of you.
May 11, 2009~ The Longbourn Letters: Kitty Bennet writing to her younger sister, Lydia Bennet (now Lydia Wickham,) of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her visit to Longbourn. ~
Kitty Bennet writing to her younger sister, Lydia Bennet (now Lydia Wickham,) of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her visit to Longbourn.
Lydia,
Now that you and Mr. Wickham are married, it seems so different here without you. You asked us to write to you often, and so I shall, whether our other sisters do or not. My main reason for writing to you now is that I miss you, and, well, you will not believe what happened just a few moments ago (I write by candlelight now, though I don’t think that anyone is asleep). Mary and I were just talking (actually she was reading aloud and I was pretending to listen), when there was a knock at the door. We all hurried downstairs to see who our visitor was—Lady Catherine! (I really don’t see what that dreadful Mr. Collins thinks is so great about her.) She wished to speak with Lizzy, and so we all huddled close to the door trying to hear what was said. Lady Catherine left in a hurry, and did not look happy in the least. And Lizzy! You and I have both seen her in an unpleasant mood before, but this was much worse. She ran upstairs shouting at us to leave her alone. I don’t think that anyone but Jane has spoken to her since. (Have I mentioned that Jane is engaged?) I do wonder why Lady Catherine was here, and why Lizzy was so upset. Mary just asked if I was done writing, and I can hear Mamma’s footsteps as she goes to check on Lizzy. Will write again soon, Lyddie.
Elizabeth writing to Mr. Darcy, after reading his letter that tells the truth of Wickham.
Mr. Darcy,
Upon reading your letter, I am uncertain of what to say. The deep hurt of your sister, if anything like that of my own sister, is quite awful to learn of. And Georgiana, so young. I am deeply, truly sorry for her. The picture I had painted of Mr. Wickham is certainly not his true likeness, I had thought him a gentleman, but I see now how wrong I was; so very wrong, blind to his charade. But, after seeing the suffering of my sister, Jane, and learning of poor Georgiana’s, I fear I, too, am suffering the same: a broken heart. I must have been so very blind not to see how much I care for you. In truth I thought you arrogant, self-centered, and rude, and one of the most vile people on this earth. How wrong I was! And, now, I have thrown every chance for you to still care for me away, with what I am writing in this letter. Now, I close this letter, asking for your forgiveness, if possible for you to give to me after everything. I also want to express my thanks for what you have shown me: that first impressions are not always what they appear to be, and neither are the reflections we see in the looking-glass.
Jane Bennet writing to her sister Elizabeth, in response to Elizabeth’s letter from Rosings.
Lizzy,
Upon the arrival of your letter, I too was troubled for you. I am inclined to agree with you; ’tis strange indeed. We are all quite well; I hope the same for you. Mamma is quite nervous (when is she not?), since Papa is not out searching for single men of wealth to marry his daughters. Papa, as you know, being rather quiet anyway, has decided to spend time in his beloved library. At least he can do that, for the rest of us must listen to Mamma go on so. Oh, dearest Lizzy, how you are missed! Upon your return, you must tell me all about your travels. Though Lyddie and Kitty will beg to be first to hear of it all, I must be first to beg for the very same. Mary is still her usual self; she only asked that I tell you hello for her. And, as she says “hello”, I shall be telling you “goodbye”.
Elizabeth Bennet writing to her elder sister, Jane Bennet, during her stay at Rosings.
Dear Jane,
I first began writing this letter quite awhile ago, but it has taken me a while still to get this far. My original intentions for writing to you, my dear sister, were to see how everyone is doing. My stay at Rosings has been enjoyable. Charlotte has done everything, I think, that is possible to make me feel welcome here; (though Mr. Collins still praises Lady Catherine with every word, it seems, which can become tiresome…). But, sister dear, I am a bit distressed. Mr. Darcy came today; I was just sitting here in the parlor (writing to you), and he walked in. He said very little, and almost as quickly as he came, he left, uttering, “Good day, Miss Elizabeth,” as he went. Charlotte, having just returned, witnessed the event, and asked what I had done to “poor Mr. Darcy”, and I had no idea, and so told her such. (I discovered that he was staying here at Rosings the day I met Lady Catherine and her daughter. The same day I learned that he is her nephew.) Why this troubles me so, I know not, dear sister. The hour grows late, and ’tis hard to see to write.
The Longbourn Letters are fictional letters based on the book Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, and some of the events in the movie, (I guess you could call it fan fiction), that I have started writing recently. I hope you enjoy reading them.
