Page 1 of Just Between Us

24 April, 1803

Portman Square, London

Dear Darcy,

I hope this letter finds you well – indeed, I hope it finds you at all! I saw Marcus last week in London. Your elder brother and your charming niece send their regards, along with a crayon drawing enclosed which little Miss Darcy has contrived of your ship on the high seas. I had supposed it to be a sea monster and not a vessel in His Majesty’s navy, but with all the Darcy pride a three-year-old could muster, I was soundly admonished!

Marcus and Little Lou, as she styles herself, are in Town with your parents and sister, having come out of mourning last month. The latter have some plans to go to Bath with the Russells – Marcus gives me leave to inform you of the fact, as he is too occupied in certain dealings at Rosings to write, and your mother maintains her position that you shall hear from her when you are safely returned to English soil.

I have extracted a promise from Marcus that he will accompany me on a certain endeavour once he has seen to the planting at his late wife’s estate – I give you leave to imagine all his muttering on the interference of your aunt, Lady Catherine, with assurances that his language was twice as severe as whatever you may suppose.

If these pictures of home are not enough to entice you to come amongst us as soon as you can contrive, perhaps I might tempt you with the promise of some time in the country. I mean to let an estate at last – I have asked my solicitor to make inquiries on my behalf, though I am sure I should take whatever place I could find within an easy distance of London. Marcus has promised to advise me in the running of the place, and you would be a most welcome addition to the party!

Yours in friendship,

Charles Bingley

***

The Phaeron

16 June, 1803

Dear Bingley,

Any letter from England is always a prize of great value – speaking of which, we have captured several vessels, resulting in a considerable windfall for myself and all my shipmates. If my relations continue to harangue you with their disapproval of my choice in career, you may inform them that I find myself more fortunate at present than many a second son.

I am pleased – nay, delighted – to learn of your intentions to join the landed gentry. As I hope to purchase an estate of my own with my prize money, you may someday have the honour of reversing our roles from our days at Cambridge together; you may advise me on the management of a country estate.

As ever, I have shared your most recent letter with a few close shipmates, as any word from home is a boon even to those not acquainted with the writer. My friend Oliver Lucas sends you his particular regards, and bids me advise you to look into a property in his own neighbourhood that has long been vacant. It is called Netherfield Park, a large manor house in the modern style, with a few hundred acres of fertile land in Hertfordshire. He assures me that his relations there dine with four and twenty families and that the society is warm and welcoming; I understand many of the first families there have long hoped to see the place rented to a respectable family.

I am to be given a few months leave at the end of summer, and I intend to visit my relations wherever they may be; a visit to whatever estate catches your fancy is a prospect that will carry me through the tribulations of our next campaign.

Your loyal servant,

Captain Fitzwilliam Darcy

***

Laura Place, Bath

1 August, 1803

Captain Darcy,

How well that sounds! You have my heartiest congratulations on your promotion! Caroline is pacing about behind me; she bids me offer you her regards as well. My step-sister has experienced an overpowering desire to take the waters, which will likely not surprise you when I tell you that Marcus has joined the rest of your family here in Bath.

Your mother betrayed a very pleasing smile when I spoke of your recent triumphs, though of course you are aware of her wish that you will resign and make better use of your new fortune, rather than continuing on in your perilous pursuit. I would even venture a suspicion that your father looked very proud, though in general the climate here has given him some little improvement in his health.

How excellently timed, that you should have leave from your duties just as I take possession of Netherfield! I have seen the place, and you may convey all my gratitude to Oliver Lucas. His recommendation was just the thing!

I shall remove to Netherfield by Michaelmas; Caroline is to act as hostess so that I might entertain and amuse all my charming neighbours, though you may imagine her apprehension at what manner of country rustics they shall prove themselves, despite your friend’s assurances. Our half-sister and her husband will also accompany us; it may be supposed that dining at my table seems preferable to my brother by marriage than dining at his own expense. Your prediction that he should be twice as corpulent and idle as he was when last you met is not without merit, though I know it is wrong of me to laugh at the notion – anything to cheer the spirits of a Captain in His Majesty’s service.

I look forward to your return to English soil, and hope you shall join us in Hertfordshire, where I intend to recommend myself to the Lucases and other principal families with all the affability you have ever chided me for.

Cheerful Regards,

Charles Bingley

***

The Phaeron

21 September, 1803

Dear Bingley,

I shall congratulate you in turn, as I must suppose you are even now on the verge of journeying into Hertfordshire to begin your tenure at Netherfield Park. You will soon have the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Captain Lucas, who has also been granted a few months of leave. He shares your open and easy manners; I can only hope I shall not find myself supplanted in your esteem when I join you in three weeks’ time.

As I write this missive, the very welcome sight of Portsmouth greets me on the horizon. I have some business in London, where I understand Richard is presently recovering from a recent injury. Once I have gained my land legs, as they say, I shall journey north to Pemberley. My mother has finally written to inform me of where I might find them in a week from now, and I confess I am equally excited and anxious to return to the home of my youth after so many years’ absence.

While my parents may not be pleased that I mean to continue on in my career a few years yet, I nonetheless desire their company for a week at least before I travel south. I am assured of a warmer welcome from my sister, brother, and niece, and I shall indulge myself here by commenting with tremendous pride at the maturity and elegance of Georgiana’s latest communication.

I have even begun to look forward to a reunion with my old friend George Wickham, who was lately given the living at Kympton after I refused it a third and final time. I do not think him better suited to the role of vicar than I might have been, but five years at sea have softened the reproofs I was prone to give him during our years at university, and I hope to find him improved by his own good fortune.

I shall conclude for now as I am needed on deck; I bid you not adieu, but au revoir, with every intention of joining you ere long.

Your homeward bound friend,

Captain Fitzwilliam Darcy