Pemberley
Monday, 1st March, 1813

Need I say, my dearest Jane, how welcome your letter was to me? Thank you for the immense pleasure it brought. Selfishly, it had not occurred to me that you might have anxieties of your own settling into your new life and home. Forgive me, I thought only of myself so far away from you all and imagined you happily settled at Netherfield, within easy reach of our friends and acquaintance, everything familiar and nothing to cloud your daily joy. Had I been a more considerate Sister I might well have imagined the possibility of friends and acquaintance (and yes, even family) being within too easy a reach of Netherfield. But perhaps you are right, once the notion of Miss Jane Bennet as Mrs. Charles Bingley and mistress of Netherfield is no longer the novelty it appears to be at present, you will be able to lead a life less encumbered by overly attentive neighbours. Your forthcoming stay in London is an excellent idea and will enable them all to become accustomed to it in your absence—and your sweet, patient nature, which would not wish to offend, and Mr. Bingley’s easy temperament, are spared even thinking about otherwise remedying a tedious situation!

Will Miss Bingley be in town when you are there? I understand she was mortified by our marriage but we have received very civil messages from her via an acquaintance of Mr. Darcy’s and she writes very affectionate letters to Georgiana. I hope you will find her company tolerable and that she will feel a sense of obligation to pay off every arrear of prior incivility to you as befits her Brother’s wife.

Georgiana has arrived from London. Mrs. Annesley, her companion, accompanied her here but has now left us for several weeks to nurse an ailing sister. In her sweet, shy way Georgiana shows me real affection and I am confident that with time we shall become fast friends. Her disposition is cheerful and open, without conceit or affectation of any kind, though she is clearly astonished to hear my lively, sportive manner of talking to her Brother, and to see him as the object of open pleasantry. The walls of Pemberley, I fear, have been unaccustomed to the sound of laughter for too long and here, at least, I may be able to exchange my role of willing student for that of teacher.

Now that Georgiana is here, my dear Husband is free to devote more time to business matters which have been sadly neglected since our arrival here, a consequence of his solicitousness for my comfort. Very timely too, since otherwise I would probably be in great danger of becoming a shameless, spoiled creature, fit for nothing but constant adoration and effusive praise! As it is, since it is still too cold for much outdoor activity (though there are signs of Spring), Georgiana and I spend a good part of each day together, often in Georgiana’s very pleasant sitting room, which was fitted up by her Brother just last summer after she had taken a liking to the room. It has a graceful elegance and lightness which befits its owner. You will be amused that the music room sees me more often now that Georgiana is here, and I may say that her example of constant practice has encouraged my own fingers to follow suit. I know you will find this news surprising, since I was never known for taking trouble to practise.

I am very happy indeed that Kitty is spending time with you at Netherfield. Although she is already eighteen, I do not feel she is entirely beyond the reach of amendment and, removed as she now is from the influence of Lydia’s poor example, I hope that she can be just as easily persuaded that vanity and idleness should not be the business of her life and will come to see the advantages of improving her ignorant, empty mind.

Papa intends to pay us a visit during the summer and writes that he dearly looks forward to seeing Mr. Darcy’s library, which pleases Mr. Darcy enormously, the library being a source of great pride to him. Begun by his Grandfather and nurtured by his Father, Mr. Darcy has taken up the reins of responsibility most enthusiastically and constantly seeks to improve and add to it. I think my Father will not be disappointed by what he finds, and dare to hope that this common interest will promote a closer understanding between him and Mr. Darcy.

You ask about Charlotte. Just after our arrival here she wrote that because Lady Catherine is still in high dudgeon about Mr. Darcy’s marriage to me, she had wished to delay her return to Hunsford for as long as possible. Her condition, however, obliged her to make the journey much sooner than she would have wished. Poor Charlotte, as the dearest friend of the person who thwarted Lady Catherine’s plans for an alliance between her daughter and Mr. Darcy, I am sure Lady Catherine attaches some blame to her for the shades of Pemberley being polluted by me, and so Charlotte must suffer the consequences. While we were still at Longbourn I believe I told you that since Lady Catherine’s offensive reply to Mr. Darcy’s announcement of our betrothal, all intercourse between them is at an end, so any attempt by us to mollify her would merely fan the flames of her indignation. I have no doubt, however, that Charlotte’s good sense will prevail, and surely Mr. Collins’s extravagant daily civilities will help to smooth Lady Catherine’s ruffled feathers in time?

Tomorrow we go to Hurstbourne Park, just five miles from here. In my honour, Sir Richard Mansfield, an old family friend of the Darcys, has kindly gathered together most of his, and consequently Mr. Darcy’s, intimate circle to meet me formally. This is to be a much smaller affair than Sir Richard had in mind; his original plan, Mr. Darcy tells me, was for a grand ball to take place the week of our arrival. Mr. Darcy was adamant, however, that his wife should not be overwhelmed by visitors and social obligations immediately, and his acquaintance has respected those wishes, even though they may not fully comprehend them.

Apart from a few informal morning visits (at which I feel I passed myself off creditably) this will be my first real social outing of any import. So, your Sister is to be thrown into one large den of lions rather than several smaller ones and should be suitably grateful for it, I suppose. Let us hope that my stubbornness that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others will carry me through, since I am quite determined not to feel intimidated, and equally determined that my Husband and Sister will be proud of me.

And so, my dear Jane, you may imagine me in my suit of armour, spear in hand, setting forth to subdue the discontented horde; my head held high, a smile on my face, and always your devoted, loving Sister,

Elizabeth