Page 15 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

I was on the small footbridge that leads back to the house when I spied Darcy walking briskly in my direction, his favourite spaniel at his heels.

“Good morning, Rufus.” I stroked the spaniel’s silky ears when he came to meet me. “Good morning, cousin.”

Darcy looked at me. “Have you walked all the way around the lake?”

“I have. I feel stronger than I did when we first came here.”

He seemed to hesitate a moment before offering his arm to escort me back to the house. I accepted it with another smile.

“I know why I would not permit you to go to London,” Darcy said, “but waiting here for news is hard. Elizabeth and I feel it too.”

There seemed little I could say to that, so I merely nodded.

“I wrote to Bingley earlier this week. He and Jane have invited us to stay at Netherfield for several weeks. It is only half a day from London. I shall go to see Richard myself, and if the doctors think him fit to travel, bring him to Netherfield. We could all be near him while he recovers.”

“When do we leave?” I asked.

He laughed gently. “In the morning, if you can be packed in time!”

17 May

We have reached Netherfield. It is pleasant to see Jane and Mr Bingley again. Mrs Annesley has joined us here after her visit to her sister in Richmond. Darcy goes to London in the morning. He hopes to return within a day or two, with Richard if the doctors permit it, or with news of him.

I met Mr Bingley’s sisters and brother-in-law today. Mr Hurst rose to greet us, said very little, and soon fell asleep on the sofa. Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley kept the conversation going while he snored through it.

Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley took no notice of his snores. Elizabeth and Jane exchanged a glance; Kitty hid a laugh behind her hand. Georgiana and I pretended not to hear.

Mrs Hurst can be pleasant, and I wonder how often she must make conversation for both herself and her husband. Miss Bingley is another matter.

Kitty told me that Miss Bingley had hoped to marry Darcy and was furious when she heard of his engagement to Elizabeth. Kitty heard the story through the servants, so I cannot know how much of it is true. Miss Bingley’s manner towards Elizabeth gives me little reason to doubt her disappointment.

Miss Bingley demanded that we all call her Caroline, then began to use our Christian names without waiting for an invitation. She smiles at Jane and Georgiana, and at me when she remembers to, but can scarcely look at Elizabeth. She ignores Kitty altogether, which suits Kitty well enough. I rather wish she would ignore me too.

18 May

Mr and Mrs Bennet came to dinner today. Miss Bingley was rude to the Bennets, and Mrs Bennet spent much of the meal advising Elizabeth on how to produce an heir. At the table! I was glad Darcy had gone to London; I cannot imagine what he would have said.

Elizabeth asked Georgiana and me into her private sitting-room before we retired, to apologise for her mother. Georgiana could scarcely speak. I put my hand on Elizabeth’s arm.

“Darling Lizzy, we all have relations for whom we blush. My father was a philanderer, and the woman I called Mother is a murderous madwoman. Darcy and Georgiana must still call her Aunt.”

Lizzy was shocked to silence for a moment as well, and then both she and Georgiana began to laugh.

Their laughter caught me too. When Jane and Kitty joined us and asked what was amusing, Elizabeth told them only that I had reminded her we all have relations for whom we blush.

“And now poor Jane is stuck with Miss Bingley, too!” Kitty put in as she began to chuckle, and Jane shook her head severely, though she was smiling.

“I daresay Caroline feels that way about us!” she exclaimed, and a fresh wave of laughter travelled through the room.

19 May

A rider brought a letter from Darcy to Elizabeth this morning. She went to her room to read it and gave me a small nod before she left. I waited a few moments, then followed her.

She admitted me at once and held out a sheet of paper. “Read this.”

“But it is from Mr Darcy to you!” I said.

“The other sheet is mine,” she said, lifting it. “This one is for you.”