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.
Lydia Bennet
Brighton
22 July 1812
My dearest Kitty,
I write to you in the greatest confidence, and you must not tell anybody what I am going to say, for if you do, I shall never forgive you as long as I live!
But before I begin, you must first promise to seat yourself, for you will certainly faint from the shock of what I am about to divulge!
Oh, la! I can hardly hold my pen, as I am all aflutter at the thought that before the week is out, I expect I shall be quite gone from Brighton—and where do you think I shall be? You shall never guess in all the world!
I am going away with Mr Wickham! But you are not to breathe a syllable of it to Mama, Lizzy, Jane, or anybody else until I give you leave.
To own the truth, I was quite cross with Wickham earlier in the week, for only two days ago he told me, in the greatest secrecy, that he would be leaving Brighton soon—indeed, leaving the regiment entirely!—which I thought the most provoking thing imaginable, for he is the tallest and handsomest gentleman here, and the only one who laughs heartily at all my jokes. But after pouting the whole of yesterday, I had the most delightful idea, and declared that he should not escape me so easily. After laughing at me a great deal, he said that if I was so determined, I might accompany him if I pleased. Was not that charming? We shall have such wonderful fun together!
Do not look so grave when you read this, for I know exactly what you are thinking. You fancy we ought to wait, and have licences and settlements and all those tiresome things first. But what signifies all that? We shall be married soon enough, and then everyone will laugh to think what a fuss they made over nothing. Only think how surprised Mama will be when she learns that I am married before any of my sisters! I would not have missed that for all the world!
You must tell Mary that all her solemn lectures have come to nothing after all, and tell Lizzy that she may despise me if she dares, but I shall have the handsomest husband in all of Hertfordshire. As for Jane, she will forgive me directly, because she forgives everybody.
Now remember—you are not to say one word. I depend entirely upon your honour, for I wish to astonish everyone at once. Mrs Wickham! Oh, how well that sounds! Only imagine all our neighbours’ faces when I tell them the news!
Your loving sister,
Lydia Bennet
P.S. You may have my best gown if you are very good and do not share my secret! You know the one I mean, the pale pink with the charming lace trim. I know it has always been your favourite, and I shall have no need of it now, for I shall soon have all new things.
P.P.S. Pray ask my aunt Gardiner, when next she writes, which warehouses sell the prettiest muslins, ribbons, and lace. I know my dear Wickham will deny me nothing once we are married.
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How naive she is! If Wickham leaves the regiment where is the money coming from to buy all her new things? If it comes to that he doesn’t earn enough in the regiment to buy stuff! Then there’s his gambling debts etc!
Poor Kitty, sworn to secrecy, but then she sees nothing wrong either!
This completely captures Lydia’s stupidity and brash nature, and gives us a reason why Kitty didn’t inform her family of Lydia’s plans. To think that a frilly pink dress was worth the ruination of herself and her sisters… Kitty is definitely to blame and should not be allowed out until 30! Nicely done! ;o)
It catches Lydia’s tone and shows how much influence she had over Kitty.
Oof! Lydia! That she assumes Wickham’s “come with me, if you want” means “happily ever after” is definitely problematic! Then again, the fact that this 28-year-old is happy enough to seduce a 15-year-old…well, Austen makes pretty clear that Lydia lacks self-control in a way that probably has less to do with her age than her temperament. Still, I also feel a pang when I think about young she is (especially since I have a child that age)!
Wonderful job capturing her voice and attitude, Jennifer!