Pemberley
Monday, 26th July, 1813

Dearest Jane,

I have no excuse to beg for having so long delayed thanking you for your agreeable letter and for the news that you are quite restored and feeling well again. Mr. Bingley is on his way back to Netherfield having left very early this morning, anxious to be on his way now that his business here is completed, and wanting to see for himself that his dear Jane is quite herself again. He and Mr. Darcy returned only yesterday from their visit to the estate which Mr. Daley talked about at the ball. Accompanied by Mr. D. they were gone some three days and appear well pleased with what they saw there. Mr. Darcy tells me the estate has been well run but lacks the capital to modernise and make those improvements which will be necessary to ensure a profitable undertaking. In short, he considers it to be an excellent proposition and approves wholeheartedly. I understand Mr. Bingley’s enthusiasm is the equal of my dear Husband’s, so let us hope there will be no obstacles to bar the way, for I am quite set on the idea that you and I will be no more than thirty miles apart in the future.

While the gentlemen were gone from home, Kitty, Mary and I paid a visit to the Norlands’ cottage one morning, then all together we continued on to Hurstbourne Park where we were invited to dine. A severe headache obliged Georgiana to stay at Pemberley. We were none of us too disappointed to find that Lady Mansfield was gone for a few days to visit her Sister, taking all the children with her, being quite unable to be separated from them for even a day. Without the subduing influence of his Wife, Sir Richard was even more ebullient than usual and we were a very merry party indeed.

After dinner, Kitty, Mary and Fanny entertained us with music and Anna Norland and I had the opportunity to discuss some verses by Mr. Crabbe which I had lately sent to her. Her gentleness of manner and an engaging address endear her to me more and more, and she particularly wished me to tell you how much she regrets that you were unable to be with us.

The next day we were invited to dine with Mrs. Daley and her Father, who amused us greatly by his concern for our health: Mrs. Darcy should not go outdoors into the garden without a little shawl (even though the day was one of the hottest yet this summer)—Miss Bennet’s parasol is a little small; he is afraid she is not well-protected from the sun—Miss Georgiana Darcy is very pale; she ought to sit quietly indoors—we should all be careful walking on the grass for fear of getting our feet wet. Yes, yes, the sun may have dried the grass, but for the sake of our health and complexions we should stay in the shade where there may still be damp spots, even in the afternoon. Dear Margaret Daley is a paragon and bears her Father’s idiosyncrasies with equanimity and infinite patience.

Another day we drove to Lambton to show Kitty and Mary where their Aunt Gardiner spent her childhood, then to some scenic spots to admire the incomparable beauty of the Peaks. I trust it will be in their power to tell you they have spent their time here not unpleasantly.

Today I feel just a little forlorn: my Father and Mary and your Mr. Bingley gone; Colonel Fitzwilliam already left us some days ago. Kitty sits here quietly at her work while I finish this letter; Georgiana plays a mournful song at her instrument. She assures me she is quite well; the headache which prevented her joining us at the Mansfields is gone but she has been very quiet since. She can neither sit still, not employ herself for ten minutes altogether. With an endeavour to do right, she applies to her work, but after a few minutes sinks again without knowing it herself, into languor and listlessness, moving herself in her chair, from the irritation of weariness, much oftener than she moves her needle. It is as incomprehensible as it is mortifying that she feels unable to share the burden of her unhappiness with me or her Brother. How we should like to give her comfort, yet until she feels able to open her heart we must feign a happy indifference, since to question her directly or otherwise show concern only serves to make her retreat further and pretend a cheerfulness which fools none of us—she has never wanted comfort more.

How pleasant that you have Charlotte for company until Mr. Bingley returns! Yes, I can well imagine Lady Lucas parading her prize grandchild around the neighbourhood (especially at Longbourn, of course!) What a blessing that you are obliging Mamma with one of her very own in February to even the score!

Yours very affectionately,
E. Darcy