Welcome to our epistolary retelling of Pride & Prejudice! Jane Austen’s original version of the story, First Impression, was told entirely in letters, so it seemed like a great group project. We’ll be posting a new letter every Wednesday.
Elizabeth writes to Mrs Gardiner about the Upcoming Trip to the North
Longbourn, 24 June 1812
My dear Aunt,
I have just received your letter regarding the new demands upon my uncle’s time. You are exceedingly kind, as is he, to seek to console me for the disappointment of having to relinquish our hopes to see the Lakes this summer, but pray have no fear in that regard. I fully understand that his many duties must, and shall, take precedence over our amusements.
Having written the above, Elizabeth looked up from her dutiful letter with a sigh. In truth, it was a grievous disappointment that Mr Gardiner’s affairs would prevent them from setting off on their northern tour on the appointed date, and would moreover require his presence in town much sooner than he had previously thought. Thus, the time available for their tour of pleasure had been reduced to a mere three weeks, which her relations had deemed insufficient for a leisurely exploration of the Lake Country.
In her heart of hearts, Elizabeth disagreed. There would be time to travel to the Lakes! Perhaps not quite so leisurely as they might have wished, but they would still be able to visit the most notable places and feast their eyes on sights of which she had read so much. The travel journals that her father had recently added to his library had given her plenty of fodder for her imagination, and it was very hard indeed to bid adieu to each and every one of the delights she had anticipated.
And yet she would have to do just that, and console herself as best she could. It was not her place to draw up her uncle and aunt’s itinerary, and she had no business to try to persuade them to accede to her wishes. It was very generous of them to include her at all and invite her to join them. The least she could do was respond with gratitude and cheer. Thus, she dipped her pen and resumed.
There will be other opportunities for us to travel to the Lake Country, so let us think no more of that at present, but focus instead on the different tour that you and my uncle have chosen. I have no doubt that we shall enjoy every stage of it, and I am most eager to visit the town of Lambton, of which you wrote with such affection. I should be very glad indeed to see the place that inspired your fond recollections.
Her pen stilled once more, as other recollections intruded and took centre stage. Not her aunt’s recollections, but her own. She had sought to ward them off as she wrote, but they could not be defeated. For the contracted tour that Mr and Mrs Gardiner had settled upon would take her into Derbyshire. And that part of the world was inextricably linked to Mr Darcy.
But surely it mattered not. They would not cross paths. Surely she might enter his county with impunity, and rob it of a few petrified spars without his knowledge.
Exactly why she would wish to bring back mementoes from his home country was something that Elizabeth chose not to explore at this precise moment. She dipped her pen again and returned to her letter.
Needless to say, I am just as eager to acquaint myself with the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale and the Peak. I do believe that there is enough to see in Derbyshire to occupy the chief of our three weeks, and I am looking forward to our new adventure.
Mama and Papa send their good thoughts and best wishes, as does Jane. Papa has just received a consignment of new books, and is as delighted as you can possibly imagine. Mama is very pleased to have heard from Lydia. We now know that she is safely arrived in Brighton, and is in good health and high spirits. The same can be said of Mary, although for different reasons. The music sheets ordered for her several weeks ago had arrived at last, and she is as happy as a lark as she begins to practise. You will be glad to hear that Kitty is almost cheerful too. At the very least, I can safely say that she is much recovered. Monday last she was able to enter Meryton with some composure and no tears. Hopefully she will continue to improve over the coming fortnight, and you might find her restored to her former self by the time you join us.
I shall close now, with my best love to you and my uncle, and all my dear cousins. Travel safely, and see you very soon. Until then I remain,
Your affectionate niece,
Elizabeth
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