Confessions & Correspondence: Lady Catherine Writes to Darcy About Visiting at Easter

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. 

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Rosings, 18 February 1812

Dear Darcy,

With Easter fast approaching, I find myself obliged to set pen to paper so that we may settle the principal points regarding your upcoming visit. You made no reference to it in your last letter, which was a disappointment, for these particulars must be made known to me as soon as may be. Still, I expect you will arrive just before Palm Sunday or immediately after, and be with us by Tuesday the 24^th at the latest. I need not tell you that Anne is eagerly anticipating your visit, and so am I. I trust that this time you will stay for longer. It was bad enough that you could not spare us any time at all at Christmas. In your last letter you said that you were much engaged with your man of business and with sundry affairs pertaining to the management of Pemberley, but I daresay all those affairs would not have been quite so pressing, had you attended to them sooner instead of spending four or five weeks in Hertfordshire.

You will be pleased to hear that Anne and I are in good health – or I should say, in much better health than we were a month prior. You know how Anne suffers in the cold season, but with the greatest fortitude, as befits one of her station. With equal fortitude I bore the inconvenience of a severe head cold, with which I was afflicted for five days together. A sad effect of my unswerving dedication to my duties. Last Tuesday I was called upon to settle a dispute between Parker, the tenant of High Cross, and Old Harris, who farms the acres by the river. Their feud goes back to the days of Parker’s father, and I would have thought that after all my efforts to silence their complaints against each other, they would have been brought to reason, but nay! You may remember me telling you last Easter that the bad blood between them is to do with a disputed boundary. I hope that, next you visit, you will have the goodness to consult the deeds and examine Sir Lewis’s papers regarding the changes to that confounded boundary, so that the matter might be settled once and for all.

As it was, the sole result of my latest efforts to quieten the headstrong fools was the severe head cold I mentioned. The day was fine enough when I set out, but while we were in the field examining the lie of the land, and old stone walls and ditches and whatnot, a fierce wind sprang up, bringing rain, then hail. Long story short, my coachman drove me back in the foulest weather, so there was little wonder that by the following morning I was in a frightful state. But one must not complain. Such are the trials and tribulations that come with our condition in life. Praise be, spring is on its way, so before long those two and all the other tenants will be out with the ploughs, instead of sitting by the fire mulling over old feuds and real or imagined grievances.

Thankfully, my parson is nothing like Lord Metcalfe’s, and indeed my brother’s. Their rectors are for ever trespassing on their time with all manner of advice as to how they should meet the needs of their respective parishes, as though Lord Metcalfe and your uncle do not know their duty without being told. I daresay I had more common sense than both of them put together when the living of Hunsford became vacant, for I flatter myself that I have chosen a great deal better. Mr Collins knows his place, and can take instruction. Of course, I would rather he were able to put together a good sermon without my assistance, but be that as it may. As for his wife, I shall reserve judgement, but I will say that she seems a good enough sort upon first acquaintance. From what Anne tells me, your praise of her was lavish – but then you do have the propensity to think unduly well of everyone you meet. You should watch yourself in that regard, lest you be preyed upon by the unscrupulous and artful. But to return to my earlier point, Anne informed me that it was your good report of Mrs Collins – Miss Lucas as was – that had served to allay some of her concerns regarding my parson’s choice of bride. It gratifies me that you endeavoured to restore her peace of mind, but I remain baffled by your choice to convey the tidings through Georgiana, when you could have easily written to Anne yourself. I should dearly like to hope that you will follow my advice and write to her more often. As you are to make a match, it would be just as well to form the habit of direct and frequent intercourse, without involving Georgiana in your communications.

So, as I was saying, Mrs Collins has not disappointed me as yet. She seems attentive, dutiful and eager for instruction, which is just as well, for her domestic talents could do with some improvement. She has no flair in arranging furniture to make the most of a small room, her housemaid can often be detected in negligence, and her joints of meat are too large for her family. Still, she has only just begun to manage her household, so I daresay she would improve in time and with my assistance.

I understand that two of her relations are to visit soon – her father, I believe, and a younger sister – and that Mrs Collins’s closest friend is to join them. All of them eager to marvel at the young bride’s excellent establishment, no doubt. But enough of Mrs Collins and her friends and family. Give my regards to Georgiana, and tell her from me that on no account she is to neglect her music practice. Needless to say, there are other skills she ought to practise in order to deport herself with grace and poise when she makes her entrance into society. To that end, I hope you will bring her with you next you come. Where better for her to practise all the necessary skills than here at Rosings, under my guiding hand and watchful eye?

Write soon, Nephew, and let me know the exact date of your arrival.

Your affectionate aunt,

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Read all the letters from Confessions & Correspondence here!