Belle intends to work on Georgiana, encouraging her in romantic thoughts, so that she will be susceptible to my advances. I am to b.u.mp into them by chance when they are settled and then Belle will suggest I am invited to dinner. Before long, I will have Georgiana eating out of my hand.

I am going to buy a new suit of clothes but I will write to you again when I know where I will be spending the summer. Come and join me and we will celebrate: you, me and Belle together.

Wickham Mr Parker to Mr Wickham London, July 6 They say the devil looks after his own and it seems they speak truly. A rich wife and revenge into the bargain! By G.o.d, Wickham, you've fallen on your feet. Make the most of it!

Parker Miss Georgiana Darcy to Mr Darcy Ramsgate, July 8 Dearest Brother, We arrived in Ramsgate yesterday evening and we are very happy with the house. Mrs Younge says it is very convenient. It is small compared to my London establishment, but it is very comfortable and it has a pretty view of the sea. Mrs Younge and I are going down to the beach this afternoon as I am eager to make a sketch of the coast. I will send it to you when it is finished.

Your affectionate sister, Georgiana Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy House, London, July 10 It is good to know that you will soon be with us. I am in London at present and I will be here until the end of July, certainly, and probably for August as well. I have sent Georgiana to Ramsgate for the summer. Caroline Bingley was keen to go, too, until she learnt that I would not be there. Her attentions to me grow ever worse. She flatters and praises me, and drops hints as large as Derbyshire about becoming the future Mrs Darcy. Poor Charles! He is mortified by her attentions to me and he feels he has to apologise at least twice a month. He is in town at the moment but he will be going north to visit his family next week and then he intends to continue his search for a country estate. His family want him to buy one, and he is not averse to the idea-indeed, he is of their opinion, although he asked sensible questions of me, about upkeep and other practical matters. But I have promised to look over any property he is thinking of buying and I have offered to help him appoint a steward. He thinks he will settle somewhere in the middle of the country. He has his family home in Yorkshire and he visits me often in Derbyshire, so he is thinking of somewhere in Hertfordshire or thereabouts. He has told his agent to look in that area.

I hope to see you next week. Until then, my dear Henry, I am Your cousin, Darcy Mrs Belle Younge to Mr Wickham Ramsgate, July 10 We are settled in Ramsgate, and a quieter spot you could not hope to find. Georgiana knows no one here and so there is no one to take an interest in any comings and goings. The servants are all local people. The only two who knew Georgiana were the footmen who accompanied us on our journey, but they have since returned to London. She receives letters from her cousin and from her brother and her guardian, but no one calls.

I have already encouraged her to take Romeo and Juliet out of the circulating library and she is reading it with interest. I spun her a yarn about my own love for my husband and said that I hoped she found a love of her own. I sighed and said how we had eloped and how it had been so romantic, without all the fuss of a society wedding, and she was enthralled.

Meet us on the promenade on Monday; we will be walking there between eleven and twelve.

Belle Mr Parker to Mr Wickham London, July 15 How are things going along? I have had to move out of The Black Bull and back in with the Widow. Hurry up and carry your prize off to Scotland.

Parker Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Ramsgate, July 17 I am off to a good start. I met Georgiana and Belle 'by accident' on the promenade. It was a fine day, exactly the sort of day I wanted, with a smiling sea, a gentle breeze, a blue sky and white clouds floating across it. The poets themselves could not have designed a better day for my purpose.

Georgiana was even more beautiful than I expected, the years since I have seen her having done remarkable things to her face and figure. I feigned a look of surprise as I drew close and said, 'Why, if it isn't Georgiana! Or Miss Darcy, I should say.'

Belle played her part magnificently, pretending to be very wary of me until she learnt that I was a friend, and the G.o.dson of old Mr Darcy, and then she thawed and encouraged Georgiana to behave in a friendly fashion, saying that I must join them for dinner. Georgiana was hesitant, knowing that I had fallen out with Darcy but not why. However, Belle smoothed it over, saying that gentlemen often fell out and that it meant nothing.

A willing chambermaid helped me to pa.s.s the time agreeably until the evening and then I set out for Georgiana's house. I flattered her subtly, listened to her playing the pianoforte-why women must play the thing I cannot imagine, since no one can actually enjoy listening to the noise-and told her she was becoming very accomplished. I made friends with her dog and arranged to take her and Belle on a picnic.

Luck favoured me again. We took our picnic up on to the cliffs and Georgiana's bonnet blew off. We both ran to catch it, she went too near the edge of the cliff, and I caught her in my arms to prevent her falling-or so I said, though really she could have gone ten yards closer to the edge without any danger. But she did not object, far from it. I made the most of the opportunity, looked deep into her eyes and told her I was glad I had found her again. She blushed and said she was glad she had found me, too.

I bought her a new bonnet and presented her with it this morning. She is already half won. Another week to win her affections entirely, then a week to do away with her scruples over an elopement, and then we will run off before Darcy pays his planned visit at the start of next month.

Wickham Miss Georgiana Darcy to Mr Darcy Ramsgate, July 17 My dear brother, It is another sunny day here in Ramsgate and I am very pleased to be here. Mrs Younge and I are in the habit of taking healthful walks by the sea every day, which I very much enjoy. Ullswater goes with us and you would laugh to see her running up to the waves and pouncing on them. You will be pleased to know that I am using the parasol you gave me, and it is much admired. The gloves and bonnet you sent me, too, are admired wherever we go.

We have met some old friends here and made some new. How good it is to see familiar faces when we are a long way from home! Mrs Younge encourages me to be sociable, saying it is good practise for me, so that I will know how to behave when I have my formal come-out. She is instructing me on how to behave, and giving me advice on how to deal with the ladies and gentlemen we meet, so that I know how far I may go in my friendship with them. I wish Mama were alive, so that I could learn from her, for I am not convinced that Mrs Younge always knows the right way to go on, but I must not repine. I have you, dear brother, to look after me, and my dear cousin Henry, and my other friends from Pemberley who will make sure that I do not go wrong.

It is a great thing to be young, is it not? To have one's life before one, and to know that love is never far away. How I long to see you, to share my joy with you, but perhaps I speak too soon. I am still very young, I know.

Mrs Younge is calling me. It is time for us to go for our afternoon walk. I wonder if we will meet our dear friend by the sea? I hope so! But for now, dear brother, adieu.

Your loving sister, Georgiana Miss Anne de Bourgh to Miss Georgiana Darcy Rosings Park, Kent, July 17 I am thinking of you overlooking the sea as I sit here in my room overlooking the rose garden. It is very hot and I envy you a sea breeze.

Mr Collins dined with us last night. We learnt all about him, what little there is to know. He has a brother and also a family of cousins who live in Hertfordshire. Their property is entailed on him as they do not have a son, only five daughters. I am glad Rosings Park is not entailed away from the female line. I would not like to leave here even when I marry. I love the house and the grounds-even when it is very hot, as now.

We are looking forward to Henry's visit. Remember me to him if he should happen to visit you in Ramsgate.

Your cousin, Anne Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh Ramsgate, July 19 I will have to leave Pemberley when I marry, but I do not think it will trouble me. I love it dearly, but I would gladly live in a crofter's cottage if I could be with the man I love.

I think you will see my guardian before I do. He is presently in London but I have had a letter from my brother this morning and he says that Colonel Fitzwilliam intends to go to Brighton before calling upon you in Kent, after which, I dare say, he might visit me in Ramsgate, perhaps arriving with my brother, who, I know, intends to visit me at the start of next month. How happy we will be, all friends together.

Your loving cousin, Georgiana George Wickham to Matthew Parker Ramsgate, July 21 Why does anyone come to Ramsgate? The place is like death, all virtue and propriety. If not for my chambermaid, I would go mad with boredom. However, I will not be here for much longer. Darcy is due to visit at the start of August and so I must run off with Georgiana by the end of this month. She is nearly ready for my proposal. Belle has worked on her tirelessly, encouraging her romantic notions and saying that when two people are in love they do not need all the pomp and ceremony of a cathedral, but prefer a rustic wedding. The idea has borne fruit, for when Georgiana wrote to her cousin a few days ago she said that she would gladly live in a crofter's cottage with the man she loves. Not that an heiress with thirty thousand pounds will ever have to live in a crofter's cottage! I mean to treat her well when we are married and buy her all the frills and fripperies her heart desires. She will not regret having married me. And this will be my best revenge: for Darcy to see how happy she is with me and be unable to turn her against me. It cheers me every morning to think that he has no notion what is going on behind his back, for Belle reads all Georgiana's mail and prevents anything which mentions me by name from being sent. By the time Darcy learns that I have been in Ramsgate it will be too late. I cannot wait to see his face when he finds out what has happened and learns he will have to call me brother.

Wickham Mr Parker to Mr Wickham London, July 23 The end of the month, eh? Then you will need a week or two to get to Scotland and back, but by the middle of August, or the end of August at the latest, we will all be in clover.

Parker Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Ramsgate, July 28 Congratulate me, Matthew, for I have won the hand and the purse of Miss Darcy! Ah, life is good. I went to dinner there this evening and Belle left us alone on pretence of going to fetch her workbasket. Georgiana blushed very prettily and I satisfied every girlish dream, you can be sure. I told her how much I loved her and then I went down on one knee and proposed. Belle, who had been listening outside the door, came in at the right moment to hear our news and then congratulated Georgiana. 'Oh, this is wonderful news! You were made to be with each other! Just like my good, dear Stephen and me. Oh, the happy times we had together from the moment we met to all the magic of our wedding in Scotland, to all the happy years we had together until he died. I only hope you two young people can have the same,' she said.

At this I appeared much struck, and said, 'Why should we not go to Scotland?' I talked of the romance of it all and Georgiana, who has been encouraged to think of nothing else all month, was carried away with the idea. She hesitated only for a moment, thinking of her brother and worrying that he might not approve, but Belle rose to the occasion, saying that her family had thought it quite wonderful that she had eloped and had been full of admiration for her when she returned, praising her for following her dreams.

So take the best set of rooms at The White Hart, Matthew. No more Black Bull for us! No more living from hand to mouth or sc.r.a.ping along; there will be plenty for all.

Wickham Mr Wickham to Mr Parker Ramsgate, July 29 A note in haste. It is all up with me. Darcy is here. He arrived unexpectedly, d--n him, and foiled the elopement. What's more, he understood Belle's part in the scheme at once and dismissed her. He was in a towering rage, and only his sympathy for his sister and his desire to comfort her prevented him from pursuing me at once.

Belle and I are leaving Ramsgate together within the hour. Cancel the rooms at The White Hart, or play out the charade by pretending your wealthy friend will be arriving imminently, whichever you please, but do not expect to see us in London this month. We have nothing to live on but what we have on our persons, and we will have to find some cheap hole to hide in. G.o.d knows what we will live on when the money runs out.

Wickham

AUGUST.

Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy House, London, August 2 Henry, are you still at Rosings? If so, find out all you can about Mrs Younge from my aunt. I must find her at once. She has proved to be a deceitful, scheming impostor-but you do not know all. And yet you must have it.

When Georgiana wrote to me about love and happiness and the future and old friends, I thought she meant nothing more than that she was enjoying her holiday, that she felt secure in my love, and that she had by chance met someone from Derbyshire. Little did I know she meant something quite different.

When I found myself with a free couple of days, on account of having finished some business more quickly than I expected, I went down to Ramsgate to pay her a visit before the appointed time. Thank G.o.d I did! For I found her about to elope with George Wickham.

Was there ever anything more villainous than his determined seduction of such an innocent girl? And the whole thing was cynically done, of course, with a view to persuading her to elope with him, whereupon he would become the master of her fortune.

He could not have done it without the help of Mrs Younge. I soon discovered that she and Wickham knew each other and that she was responsible for inviting Wickham to the house. It was child's play for her to encourage Georgiana's romantic notions and encourage my sister to see Wickham as a romantic hero.

Georgiana, poor girl, is heartbroken, and no wonder: the villain can make himself very agreeable when he chooses. He is handsome and charming and he knows how to make women admire him. He deliberately sought her out in Ramsgate and presented himself as a respectful and attentive cavalier who flattered her gently, bought her gifts, took her on outings, reminisced about their happy childhoods and expected nothing in return. What girl of fifteen could resist such a determined a.s.sault? He so worked upon her that she quite forgot it was wrong to run away, and thought instead it was romantic. It was not until she saw me that the glamour was broken, and she came to herself. She remembered the worry it would cause her family to find that she had gone, and remembered, too, that it would ruin her reputation.

That was Wickham's hope, of course: that once he had ruined her reputation, I would do anything to prevent the knowledge of her ruin becoming known; that I would recognise the marriage and disguise its beginnings; in short, that I would welcome him into the family for the sake of appearances. He would then have everything he wanted: a wealthy wife, an indissoluble connection with the Darcy family and his revenge upon me.

The latter, I am sure, was his chief motive. Revenge. He has never forgiven me for refusing to give him the living my father promised him. He conveniently forgot that he did not want it; that he asked me for money instead; that I gave it to him, knowing him to be unsuited to the church; and that he had willingly given up all claims upon it. Only when he had spent the money and found himself with nothing to live on did he remember the living, and try to claim it.

And now he has had his revenge.

Although, not quite. Thanks to Providence I was able to save Georgiana, and she is now upset and ashamed, but otherwise unhurt. In time, I hope, she will come to see it as a lucky escape, although at the moment her sense of relief is mingled with regret at what she has lost: a handsome suitor who engaged her affections and promised her a lifetime of bliss.

Once I find him, I mean to make him pay for what he has done and to this end I need your help. Find out everything you can about Mrs Younge, for where she is, Wickham will not be far behind.

Darcy Colonel Fitzwilliam to Mr Darcy Fitzwilliam House, London,

August 4

Darcy! I was appalled by your last. I discovered Mrs Younge's address in London and went there at once, intent on calling Wickham out, but the birds had flown. Let me know what you want to do. I am entirely at your disposal.

Henry Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy House, London, August 5 I would call him out myself if I could find him. I have visited all his usual haunts but he has gone to ground. It is as well for him that he has. If he approaches Georgiana again, I will ruin him. She is devastated, poor child. She is pale and wan, and weeps at the slightest provocation. She has no appet.i.te and she wanders the corridors of Darcy House, unable to settle to anything. Her painting lies untouched and she never sits down at the pianoforte without rising again a minute later with a heartfelt sigh.

I am doing my best to cheer her, taking her out and about to all her favourite places and doing everything I can think of for her pleasure, but she remains downcast. I hope you will help me to raise her spirits, before she goes into a decline.

Darcy Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh Darcy House, London, August 15 Dearest Anne, I must tell someone, though I have to swear you to secrecy, but I know I can trust you. I am so ashamed and so unhappy I do not know where to turn. My brother and guardian are both very kind, but I miss a woman to talk to. I had Mrs Younge, but now she has gone, and oh, Anne, I am so miserable. I have been very wrong and done something dreadful but even though it is all to be hushed up so that no one will ever know, I must have someone to tell. I have been in Ramsgate, as you know, but what you do not know is that I met George Wickham there. You know how charming he is and how handsome. He was kind to me when we were children and he was friendly to me in Ramsgate, and then more than friendly. Oh, always respectful! Never a hint of anything improper, unless it was to woo me without the consent of my brother. I did not know what he was doing to begin with, even now I can scarcely say when his friendship ended and his wooing began, but before I knew it I was falling in love with him. Mrs Younge smiled on the attachment, telling me of her own romantic past when she eloped with her husband and everyone said how much they admired her for following her heart. And all the while she was in league with Wickham and they were only after my fortune. My brother has dismissed her and is trying to find me a new companion, but it is a matter of indifference to me whether I have one or not. He is trying to cheer me by giving me his time and his company, but his kindness only makes me feel worse.

Oh, how could I have been so foolish! And, oh, Anne, how can I live without him; for without George the world is empty and dull. I wish, how I wish, his love had been real, for mine was heartfelt. You will think me very foolish I know, but I cannot help it. Even now I love him.

Tell no one, I beseech you.

Georgiana Miss Anne de Bourgh to Miss Georgiana Darcy Rosings Park, Kent, August 17 My darling Georgiana, how I feel for you! I do not think you foolish at all, for if Mama had not separated me from George in Bath, I think I would have fallen in love with him myself, had I not already been...And hearing your story, it is clear to me that he was hunting a rich wife even then. What a villain, to use you so! But you are lucky, Georgiana, though you cannot see it: you have escaped the clutches of a man who is not worthy of you. No scoundrel deserves your love, only a good and honest man, and there will be many, many men who will fall in love with you-you, who are so good and lovely-and who will care nothing for your fortune.

Your letter, I suppose, explains why Henry left us so suddenly. He received a letter from Darcy and then made some excuse about business and went at once. Your brother will find you a new companion, depend upon it, someone you can trust, and you know, dearest cousin, that you can always write to me.

I am sending you my love, my dearest Georgiana.

Your devoted cousin, Anne Miss Georgiana Darcy to Miss Anne de Bourgh Darcy House, London, August 23 Dearest Anne, Your letter heartened me and made me feel that I was not so alone. I am feeling a little better than the last time I wrote, and a little more able to see things clearly. The memory of George's charm is fading and what remains is not so pleasant to think of.

My brother has found me a new companion, as you knew he would. It was Cousin Henry who recommended her; she had been with a family he has known intimately for many years. My brother went to see her last week and looked into her background most carefully, speaking with all her employers and her family, too. He feels to blame for appointing Mrs Younge without examining her account of herself, and he has been determined not to make the same mistake again. I know, because I heard him and Cousin Henry talking about me. I have been a troublesome ward, I fear.

Mrs Annesley arrived a few days ago and she is very genteel and agreeable. I think I will like her. Fitzwilliam has suggested I invite a friend to stay as he has to go away for a while in order to help his friend Mr Bingley look for an estate to rent. I know that Mr Bingley has arranged to see three properties in the coming weeks. One is in Cheshire, one is in Staffordshire and one is in Hertfordshire. I hope he finds something to suit him; I know that Caroline and Louisa would like their brother to have an estate.

Your affectionate cousin, Georgiana

SEPTEMBER.

Miss Caroline Bingley to Mrs Bingley London, September 1 Greetings and felicitations, dearest Mama.

We have seen nothing of Mr Darcy these last few weeks, but Georgiana is in London once more and I intend to visit her tomorrow. She is such a dear girl, and such a favourite with her brother. I have told Charles that he must invite her to his estate just as soon as he has one.

We went to see one in Cheshire last week but it was quite hopeless. The drive was very short and the drawing room was small and dark. We could not have possibly invited the Darcys to such a place.

Charles has made arrangements to see two further properties. We are to go to Staffordshire next week and then to Hertfordshire. I only hope we might find something suitable before the autumn.

Your dutiful daughter, Caroline Mr Charles Bingley to Mrs Bingley London, September 13 Dear Mama, You will be pleased to know that I have at last found an estate. I did not take Caroline or Louisa with me, since they criticise everything and upon my word nothing seems to please them. Instead I persuaded Darcy to accompany me.

I was shown around by a Mr Morris, a very fine fellow who praised the house and the grounds; however, Darcy spotted some difficulties and made sure they were resolved before I settled. And now I am to have the run of Netherfield Park.

You must come and see it at once, and bring my brothers and sisters. You are all very welcome to come and live with me if you have a fancy to it. I am planning to move in by Michaelmas.

Your loving son, Charles Mrs Bingley to Miss Caroline Bingley Yorkshire, September 14 Well, my girl, your brother has written to me and told me all about this estate of his, and I'm coming to see it just as soon as I can. Now don't you worry, your old ma won't go getting in the way. I've the little 'uns to look after apart from anything else, but Ned is driving me down to take a look at the place.

Make sure you invite Mr Darcy straightaway-these fashionable gents get snapped up quick-and don't forget to let your old ma know what's going on.

Your doting Ma Miss Caroline Bingley to Mr Darcy London, September 15 Dear Mr Darcy, We can never thank you enough for helping Charles to choose a house in the country. We are all beholden to you, and to show our grat.i.tude we hope you will visit us as soon as we move in to Netherfield Park.

Do not, I beg you, refuse on the suspicion that you will have to mingle with the local burghers. Louisa and I will be there to provide you with the superior company to which you are accustomed. I dare say you will never have to speak to the people of Meryton at all, except to say, 'Good morning,' if you should be unlucky enough to come across them whilst taking the air.

Hertfordshire is a pretty country, I hear. I am longing to see it! And Netherfield, Charles says, is a very fine house. Not as fine as Pemberley, I am sure, but then, what house is? For Pemberley, as I frequently say to Charles, is the epitome of a gentleman's residence, and I advise him constantly to model his own house upon it.

How happy we all were at Pemberley over the summer, before you returned to London. I am longing to see Georgiana again, and hear all about her trip to Ramsgate. I called upon her recently but she was out.

Dear Georgiana! How I dote on her. Her manners are sweet and engaging, exactly what a young lady's manners should be. How I loved to see her dancing at Pemberley, at the private b.a.l.l.s. They were just the right sort of entertainment for her, introducing her to local society and allowing her to see how men and women of fashion behave. Most of all, allowing her to see some very superior dancing.

You yourself excel at the accomplishment, and I flatter myself that the partner with whom you opened the last ball was not deficient in her skills. It was very good of you to ask me to open the ball with you, though it gave rise to so much speculation that I was quite embarra.s.sed by it all. I did not know where to look when your neighbour, Lord Sundy, said how well matched we were, and when his wife said there would be wedding bells at Pemberley before long, I am sure I must have blushed.

Georgiana, too, remarked that Pemberley needs a mistress. I am sure you would find it a help if you were able to leave the running of the household, and the care of your younger sister, to a wife, as long as the woman you chose was as fond of dear Georgiana as I am. I declare, I love her as much as I love Louisa, and you know my sister and I are very close. It is such a comfort for a woman to have another woman to talk to, and I think I may say, as your friend, that it would do Georgiana good to have some company from one of her equals. Mrs Younge is all very well, but a companion is only a companion, and can never be to a young girl what a sister can be.

But I must not lecture you. I am sure you will choose an estimable young woman to fill the role of Mrs Darcy when you are ready, and I can a.s.sure you that your friends would like nothing better than to see you happily settled. Who knows? Perhaps you will find your Mrs Darcy waiting for you when you visit us at Netherfield!

Do say you will stay with us. Charles would like nothing better, and Louisa and I quite depend upon it. It is our chance to repay you for all the hospitality you have shown us over the years. I am so glad that at last Charles has an estate of his own.

Sincerely yours, Caroline Bingley Miss Elizabeth Bennet to Mrs Gardiner Longbourn, Hertfordshire, September 14 My dear Aunt Gardiner, Netherfield Park is empty no longer! I am sorry for Susan, as I know she hoped for a last-minute miracle, but I must also admit to being curious about our new neighbours. There has been talk of nothing else for days. According to Mama, who has been gossiping with Mrs Long, the house has been taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England, a Mr Bingley. This is very pleasing to Mama, as you might imagine, for she has already married Jane off to him in her imagination, even though she does not know yet if he is single or married.

What is less pleasing to her is that Papa is refusing to visit Mr Bingley when he arrives. Mama teases him about it constantly, but he will not be moved. He says that Mr Bingley might call upon him if he pleases, but that he has no intention of being the first to pay the call. This has put Mama out of all countenance, for of course we cannot visit Mr Bingley until we have been introduced.

Jane and I have tried to console her by saying that one of our neighbours will perform the introduction at the Meryton a.s.sembly, but she refuses to be comforted, saying that Mrs Long is a hypocritical woman with two nieces and will therefore not introduce us. And even if these obstacles could be overcome-if Mrs Long were to suddenly become the kindest woman on earth and her two nieces were to become betrothed, or die, before the ball-it would still not answer, for Mrs Long will be away and will only return the day before the ball; therefore she will not have time to come to know him herself.

I dare say we will become acquainted with Mr Bingley sooner or later, whatever Mama thinks, since it is hardly possible we can be neighbours for any length of time without coming to know each other. Whether the acquaintance will be as welcome to her once it has been made I do not know, since it is almost impossible to find out anything for certain about Mr Bingley. This, however, does not stop the rumours. Almost everyone is sure they have heard something about him. Some say that he has three brothers, others that he has three sisters. He is, according to different informants, handsome, tolerably handsome and not at all handsome; temperamental, affable and condescending; a sportsman, an intellectual and a hermit. In height he is tall, medium and short; in figure he is portly, emaciated and spare.

However, we will have to wait until Michaelmas to find out for ourselves because he does not move into the Park before then.

Your loving niece, Lizzy Miss Susan Sotherton to Miss Elizabeth Bennet Bath, September 25 Dearest Lizzy, You will have heard by now that we have found a tenant for Netherfield Park, which has provoked different feelings in us all. Mama is relieved, because now, at least, some of the worst of our debts can be paid, whilst Papa is affronted at the idea of strangers living in our ancestral home, even though it is his own folly that has forced us to leave. My brothers and sisters are sad and angry in equal measure, and I must now become resigned to it. I must confess, I kept hoping against hope that Papa would see the error of his ways and stop drinking and gambling overnight, or that Mama would inherit a fortune from a hitherto unsuspected great-uncle, and that we could all return to Netherfield. But alas! It is not to be. Papa drinks as much as ever, though he gambles less, and unsuspected great-uncles are in short supply.

And so Netherfield has really gone and we will not be able to return there for at least a year, as that is the length of the lease. We know nothing about the man who has taken it yet, and I rely on you and Charlotte for the news. Papa takes very little interest in the affair and his man of business will talk to no one else.

We are settled in Bath for the autumn. It is cheaper to live here than anywhere else, at least with any pretence of gentility, and we will probably spend the winter here, too. After that, who can say?

Write to me soon, dearest Lizzy.

With fondest wishes, Susan