Changing House

We’re thinking of Netherfield in November, and today I have for you a “missing scene” derived from the last chapter of Pride and Prejudice.  In that epilogue-style chapter (which was my guide and jumping-off point when I wrote The Darcys of Pemberley), Jane Austen tells us quite a bit about what lies ahead for the Darcys, Bingleys, and the Bennets, including this passage, on which the following scene is based:

Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.



netherfield[The Darcys] were presently returned to Netherfield and to the Bingleys, with whom they spent the whole of the next day in mutually enjoyable pursuits.  The men walked out to shoot whilst the ladies sat and talked.  The ladies took a turn round the park whilst the men occupied themselves with billiards.  The four of them played Whist, but paid more attention to their companions than to the cards.

As the game paused between hands, Darcy leaned back in his chair and cast an admiring gaze about the room. “This has always been a handsome house, Bingley, and you have made some fine improvements since you came here.  Do you plan any further changes?” Darcy asked.

jane-and-bingley-at-netherfieldMr. Bingley gave Jane a quizzical look, and she offered a little nod in answer.

“Well, since you ask…,” Bingley began tentatively.  “After thinking about this for some considerable time, we have come to the conclusion that it would be best for us to change to another house entirely.”  Seeing Darcy and Elizabeth’s astonished expressions, Bingley went on to explain.  “As you know, old friend, it has always been my goal to acquire an estate of my own, something solid that I can hand down to my son one day.  Jane and I agree that now is the time to act on it.  We adore Netherfield but it does have certain insurmountable drawbacks, chiefly the fact that I am obliged to lease the house because it is not for sale.  So now we intend to start the search for a suitable estate to purchase or lands on which to build our own home.”

Recovering from his surprise, Mr. Darcy had the presence of mind to inquire, “Where are you looking?  In this general area, in Hertfordshire?”

“Actually, no,” said Bingley.  “I have never very much occasion to go into town anymore, so there is no need to be this close to London.  And we have found after living here for some months that certain aspects of the neighborhood are not completely…uh…agreeable.  We would, therefore, like to make a change.”

Although he did not say the words, his meaning was clear enough.  They could all appreciate the idea that it is possible for a woman to be settled too near her family.

“Then where will you go?”  Elizabeth demanded.  “Do not keep us in suspense!  What is your plan?”

With a shy grin, Jane answered, “We were thinking that some place in Derbyshire might be nice.”

darcy-and-elizabeth-poseThe Bingleys could have been in no doubt as to how their friends would receive this proposal.  Exclamations of delight immediately confirmed the general approbation of the plan.  While the sisters expounded on their felicity, the men discussed the logistics of the move and the task of making inquiries.

“My resources are entirely at your disposal, Bingley,” said Darcy.  “I will send word as soon as I hear of anything suitable.  What specifically do you have in mind?”

“You know that Pemberley has always been my ideal, but I suppose it is not available,” Bingley said laughing.  “And something on a more modest scale will do very well for us.  Let it be a place with a little charm, a good income, and within an easy distance of our friends and we shall be satisfied.”

“Again, as with the other matter,” said Jane, “we must ask you to keep this confidential until we are able to find the best way of telling my parents. I am afraid they will not be as pleased with our decision as you are, Lizzy.”

“Indeed.  I do not envy you the job of informing Mama; she will likely go into hysterics.  Our gain is truly at her expense. I should be sorry for her loss, but I cannot help smiling.  Oh, Jane, to have you and Bingley close to Pemberley – I could ask for nothing better!”



I hope you enjoyed this scene, which is an excerpt from The Darcys of Pemberley. I wrote it several years ago now, but I still remember how thrilled I was to be translating what Jane Austen implied in her epilogue into a fully fleshed-out sequel to her masterpiece.

Do you love the last chapter of Pride and Prejudice like I do? When is the last time you read it? Is this the way you pictured the Bingleys’ change of house coming about?

17 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Anji on November 8, 2016 at 2:22 am
    • Reply

    I re-read P&P earlier this year and have read the final chapter again just now. It’s a lovely little epilogue, isn’t it? I also love yor books The Darcys of Pemberley and it’s companion volume about Georgiana. When it comes to the Bingleys moving north, I can imagine them acquiring a modest country manor, probably in what is now South Yorkshire, as it was a “neighbouring county”. I live in North Yorkshire, work a lot in West Yorkshire where there’s a lovely stone built manor, typically Yorkshire, that I drive past on some of my commutes. The very first time I drove that way, I thought to myself “That’s the Bingleys’ house!” It’s a LOT more modest than somewhere like Lyme Park or especially Chatsworth, but just the sort of cosy, yet teasonably substantial place that I’ve always imagined they’d move to.

    One thing I particularly picked up on this time is the implicaton that Darcy was never totally free of the Wickhams’ importuning. Yes, Elizabeth tried to shield him from it as much as possible: “As it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not, she endeavoured in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind.” but “Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth’s sake, he assisted him further in his profession.”

      • Anji on November 8, 2016 at 2:24 am
      • Reply

      P.S. sorry about the typos – virtual keyboards can be a pain!

      1. Thanks for your comments, Anji. I would love to see your version of the “Bingley House” sometime! Sounds wonderful. I enjoy P&P’s epilogue for itself (I love prologues and epilogues in general) but also because it worked perfectly for me writing the sequel. There was enough information to give me something to go on, but not so much that I was boxed in tight with no room for creativity. And, yes, the Wickhams do continue to impose themselves on the Bingleys and the Darcys… at least for a while. 😉

          • Anji on November 8, 2016 at 5:22 pm
          • Reply

          I’ve got a photo of that house somewhere in my cloud storage Shannon. I’ll see if I can dig it out from the depths of cyberspace and post it on FB.

          1. That would be great, Anji! All the other commenters want to see it too!

    • Betty Campbell Madden on November 8, 2016 at 8:14 am
    • Reply

    Thank you, Shannon. It’s so pleasurable to read your work. I hope you are nearly ready to release something new for us to enjoy.

    Hugs,
    Betty

    1. Thanks, Betty. Two new books coming in January if all goes well! One is JAFF; the other not. Both part of a new series all about second chances: https://shannonwinslow.com/first-of-second-chances-2/

    • Carole in Canada on November 8, 2016 at 10:12 am
    • Reply

    Oh yes, I love reading the epilogue of P&P and have been reading on JustJane1813, chapter by chapter, P&P.
    I so enjoyed this scene from your book knowing how thrilled Elizabeth and Darcy would be. I too would love to see a picture of this manor house, Anji! I always imagine one with a walled garden…something I would love to have myself…

    1. Sounds good, Carole. We’ll have to meet up over there and make Anji our tour guide!

    • Glynis on November 8, 2016 at 1:27 pm
    • Reply

    I did enjoy this scene Shannon and will have to check out this book as I seemed to have missed it. Yes I definitely think Jane and Charles would find living close to the Bennets would be harder than they thought and that they would rather live near Elizabeth and Darcy. I too like the sound of Anji’s ‘Bingley house’ it does sound perfect.

    1. Hi, Glynis. Lovely to connect with you and I would be very pleased if you would read The Darcys of Pemberley. It now has its own sequel (Return to Longbourn) as well as a companion novel about Georgiana (Miss Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley). You can learn more about them and my other books at shannonwinslow.com. Thanks for your comments. The list for Anji’s tour is growing!

    • Carol on November 8, 2016 at 3:40 pm
    • Reply

    Enjoyed this scene. There are many parts of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that could use a few additional scene tweaks that extend the happenings of the original story. Truthfully, I’m surprised Charles and Jane made it that long staying at Netherfield. Bravery was needed to deal with Mrs. Bennet.

    1. You’re right, Carol. I don’t think I could have done it!

  1. For those of you who were interested, Anji has posted a lovely picture of her idea of ” The Bingley House” on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.winslow.3

      • Anji on November 8, 2016 at 7:33 pm
      • Reply

      Thanks for posting the link, Shannon. I was on my iPad and it wouldn’t let me copy a link over.

      1. No, thank YOU!

  2. Enjoyed this excerpt. Speaking of houses. I saw on a site of Hollywood Actors buying houses that George Clooney had bought the Bennet Longbourne House used in the Colin Firth’s version. and is now living there. I recognised the grounds with the church in the background where the girls and Mr. Bennet was reading Mr. Gardiner’s letter giving news of Wickham

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.