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.
Colonel Fitzwilliam writes to Darcy
March 9th, 1811
Letter from Colonel Fitzwilliam to Darcy
Dear Darcy,
I have just received a letter of complaint from Aunt Catherine about what she calls your dawdling and dilly-dallying. She urges me to put a stop to it and compel you to set a date for your visit. I laughed out loud as I read it. I cannot imagine anyone more unlikely to dawdle than Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, whose reputation for punctuality is legendary. You have always been unnaturally stubborn in your adherence to doing your duty. I am frankly astonished to discover you are even capable of having second thoughts about going to Rosings. Can it really be possible that you are hesitating? Surely not! It seems you are mortal, after all!
In fact, now that this issue has come up, it has me questioning the whole thing myself. Why do we continue to go to Rosings? Why do we submit ourselves to the torment of spending time with our aunt? Have we become so set in our ways that we simply do it out of habit? I suppose it was drummed into us since childhood that we must take care of Lady Catherine and assist her in managing her estate. Ha! As if she ever heeds our advice! It is the most pointless endeavor one could ever imagine. I have lost track of the times I have given her good, solid advice which she has ignored completely.
Not to digress, but I am particularly annoyed at her latest obsession, which is cutting down the ancient oaks lining the drive leading to the manor. I have objected strongly, saying it is part of the heritage of Rosings. Needless to say, my objections fell on deaf ears. Each time I go, I discover more trees have been removed. “Rosings is mine,” she said, the last time I confronted her, “and I can do as I wish with it.”
Someone needs to remind her that Rosings, in fact, belongs to Anne, but if Anne will not do so herself, how can we make our aunt understand it? Perhaps when we go you can put a word in Lady Catherine’s ear? Something about preserving Rosing’s ancient heritage or some such thing? I do believe she means to fell all the trees in front of the house. I suspect she wants to remove all obstructions that prevent her from spying on the inhabitants of Hunsford from her lofty position. After all, how else is she going to make certain they are following her instructions?
But seriously, and to return to the issue at hand, I understand your reluctance to set a date, but really, Darcy, you know very well that you will do your duty as you always have. So please spare me the agony of having to read through another long letter from Lady Catherine. You may as well set the date of your arrival and be done with it.
Your cousin Fitz
Darcy tossed aside the letter, frustrated beyond measure. As if he needed a reminder to set the date! His cousin’s taunting was particularly vexing because it happened to be true. Yes, Darcy was indecisive. Yes, he was reduced to a state of inaction. For once, he was incapable of making up his mind. But not because Darcy did not want to visit his aunt in Rosings.
If only that were the case!
No, it was quite the opposite. Every fiber of his being, every instinct, every muscle in his body was urging him to go to Rosings. He desperately wanted to go to Rosings.
It was taking every ounce of his will to resist the temptation.
How could it not, after the news Lady Catherine had given him in her letter? It had come just when he had thought himself free. When he had reached some level of acceptance. When he had finally achieved some measure of control.
Then the letter from his aunt Catherine had arrived and the calm had shattered, turning his world into shambles. The words she had written were burned into his mind.
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.
Mrs. Collins’s closest friend. Darcy knew only too well who that was. There could be no doubt. Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She would be there if he went to Rosings. Miss Elizabeth Bennet would be staying at the parish in Hunsford, a stone’s throw from Rosings. He would not be able to avoid seeing her. All his hard-earned peace of mind, all the effort he had put into forgetting her, into resigning himself to never seeing her again. All of it would have been in vain.
He must resist.
He ought to resist.
He could not resist.
Darcy sighed and pulled a piece of paper towards him, surrendering to a mix of excitement, anticipation, and dread. He would cast his lot with fate, be it as it may.
Dear Aunt Catherine,
I am writing to inform you of the date of my arrival…
1 comment
The Colonel’s letter is dated March 1811, surely it should be 1812 if Elizabeth is visiting Charlotte and if Darcy even knows Elizabeth? My understanding is that Georgiana was in Ramsgate the summer of 11 and Bingley took Netherfield in the Autumn of that year.