P&P Prelude to Pemberley: News from Netherfield

Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on our journey as the Austen Variations authors post the events of 1811 in real time on the date they happened – 214 years in the future.

News from Netherfield

October 29, 1811

“Excellent!” Georgiana exclaimed when she saw the letter presented to her on the silver salver, for she recognized immediately that the direction was written in her brother’s hand. She had been every day expecting news about his foray into Hertfordshire to visit Mr. Bingley at his new estate, and here it was at last!

Anticipating the great pleasure she should take in reading the missive, Georgiana carried her prize to her favorite chair by the window. Only then did she break the seal and begin an eager perusal of the contents.

My Dear Georgiana –

I hope this finds you very well in all respects, and I assure you that I am the same. I know you will be impatient to hear the news from Netherfield, so I will not exasperate you with further niceties.

Although nothing to Pemberley, of course, Netherfield is indeed a very fine estate, entirely suitable for someone of Mr. Bingley’s fortune and situation – a young gentleman on the rise. The possession of such a place is sure to lend his name that other degree of importance that alone was missing before.

As you might expect, Bingley was very desirous of showing me all round the place as soon as I arrived – from the well-kept stables and park to every single room in the house. He seemed mightily relieved afterward to know I approved.

Although I was at first disappointed to find a want of any families of much distinction in the neighborhood (as exampled by a few visitors who have called and a rather inferior ball at the Meryton assembly rooms), I have since concluded this is just as well. Here, Mr. Bingley may enjoy being a gentleman of importance by comparison, and he need not fear being snubbed by the local society. In fact, he is invited and welcomed everywhere, and he seems altogether very well pleased with the situation.

Last night, we were all the guests of a Sir William Lucas, who I understand was knighted for nothing more than making a fine speech in the king’s honor. He has since taken a disgust of his businesses, I am told, and set himself up as a gentleman of leisure instead. It was an evening party at his home – Lucas Lodge, as it is styled – where the area’s other principal family, the Bennets, and a few more people were also present. Cards, refreshments, an impromptu dance, and so forth.

As you may imagine, these types of social intercourse, among so many unfashionable strangers, are very little to my own taste, but I am enduring it as best I can. I have vowed to set aside my own preferences for the sake of helping Mr. Bingley become well established here.

You must not feel too sorry for me, however, for I have at least discovered one subject with which to entertain myself. I am almost afraid to mention her, lest you get the wrong idea, but one of the several Miss Bennets (for there are five of them in all) has caught my attention. She is entirely unsuitable, of course, and besides that, she has taken an immediate dislike to me. So there is no danger. Still, she makes an interesting study for the fact that she is vastly different from other young ladies of my acquaintance.

But I know you, Georgiana, and I can hear you asking for a description of the lady. Her person can boast nothing particularly remarkable, I assure you, although I will do her the justice of acknowledging her to be tolerably pretty, with a light, graceful figure, dark hair, and a pair of very fine eyes.

As to comportment, think of Miss Bingley and then think of her opposite. Whereas Miss Bingley is careful to hang on my every word and always has a compliment for me, Miss Elizabeth Bennet seems best pleased when she can be impertinent or ignore me altogether. What do you think of that? Although I cannot say that I fully comprehend this peculiar attitude as yet, no doubt I shall solve the puzzle presently.

So you see how little you are missing here, that your brother’s only entertainment is making a study of the most disobliging lady he has yet run across. Although, when I think of it, being unlike Miss Bingley may in itself be considered by some a recommendation in this Miss Bennet’s favor.

But enough of such nonsense. I only hope I have succeeded in amusing you at least a little, Georgiana, which was my foremost goal.

I know I can trust you to put to best use the time until I return, minding Mrs. Annesley and diligently attending to your lessons. Mr. Bingley and his sisters asked very particularly to be remembered to yourself, and of course I add my best wishes as well. Know that I think of and pray for you every day, my dear, and I will see you again very soon.

Your devoted brother,

William

Georgiana read the letter through a second time. Other than being shorter than she might have liked, she had no complaint, for it had indeed informed and amused her. Then it had gone far beyond, thanks to the intriguing mention of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Despite her brother’s disclaiming any serious interest in the “unsuitable” lady, Georgiana could not help wondering what, if anything, might come from his obvious fascination with her.

“Only time will tell,” she whispered to herself as she refolded the missive, tucked it into her pocket, and turned to gaze distractedly out through the sunny window beside her.

The same was true for herself, she supposed. Only time would tell where the future would take her, what it would make of her. Would she marry Mr. Bingley, as her brother seemed to favor, or somebody else? Or perhaps nobody else? Perhaps she would live out her days quietly at Pemberley – safe and protected, the reclusive and eccentric doting aunt to William’s children, filling her hours with music and his family instead of one of her own.

It was pure conjecture at the moment, and not even the sort to give her pleasant daydreams. She did not wish to think about making any plans or decisions at present. The past year had comprised far too much turbulence, peril, and intrigue. She was only too glad to put those things behind her and be content as she was for now. But were her near-fatal blunders really behind her? Would they ever be? She had to hope and pray that William was correct, that her recent lapses in judgement had not damaged her reputation beyond repair.

She would diligently attend to Mrs. Annesley’s instruction, as her brother had exhorted her to do. But life had taught Georgiana other more important lessons, lessons learnt the hard way. By that knowledge, painfully acquired, she would be made forever wiser, whatever lay ahead.

Read all the scenes in Prelude to Pemberley here!