Page 78 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

They will each have a basket, for they are much larger than when we brought them north, and cannot reasonably be expected to travel comfortably piled upon one another. Kitty said that Darling ought to be permitted to sit upon her lap, but withdrew the suggestion after finding her inside a box of ribbons which had been left open for scarcely a minute.

Darling appeared to consider it an excellent travelling arrangement.

Rufus is coming too. Darcy settled that question very briefly, and Elizabeth did not attempt to argue with him. She only suggested that Rufus travel in the servants’ carriage, so that he and the cats may not cause chaos together confined in the same space for days upon end. Darcy clearly thought this an exceedingly wise suggestion, for he agreed at once.

I went to speak to the gardener about my rose. He has promised to look after it while we are away, and seemed rather amused by the number of things I wished to know before leaving it in his care.

It occurred to me afterwards that he has kept all the roses at Pemberley alive for many years without my assistance, and may certainly be trusted with one more.

Mary received a letter from her mother today, full of wedding arrangements. Mrs Bennet has found some lace which she considers particularly suitable for Mary’s gown and wishes to have it added when we reach Longbourn.

Mary does not wish for any more lace.

She said this very firmly to us, but had rather more difficulty putting it into her reply. Elizabeth read what she had written and pointed out that she had thanked her mother for the trouble without actually saying that she did not want the alteration.

“I thought she would understand what I meant,” Mary said.

“My dear, if there is any possibility of understanding that you wish for the lace, Mama will discover it.”

Mary sighed and began again.

I was glad she did. Her gown is very pretty as it is, and she ought to be permitted to wear it as she chooses.

Later, while she finished her letter, I sat for a little while without doing anything useful. I had begun to think about leaving Pemberley, which I have avoided considering very closely.

I shall be glad to see Jane, and interested to discover more of London. But I have been happier here than I ever expected to be anywhere. I know which rooms catch the morning sun, and where Georgiana is likely to have left her music, and how long Elizabeth will generally remain undisturbed before somebody comes to ask her a question.

I do not wish for a house like Pemberley.

I shall nevertheless be very sorry to leave it.

29 September

Jane has written from London, where the Bingleys appear to be comfortably established already.

She is pleased with the arrangements of the house, though she has discovered several things which she wishes had been brought from Netherfield. Charles has offered to send for all of them, but she thinks that most may wait until they return for the wedding.

There was also some news of Miss Bingley.

Elizabeth began to smile before she had finished reading that part, and presently called me over to sit beside her.

“Listen to this, Anne.”

Jane wrote that Caroline had received several visits from a gentleman whose company she particularly enjoyed, and had taken great pains to ensure that he should meet their friends.

“She is very attentive to his comfort,” Jane continued, “and can generally find a place for him beside her, even when I had supposed every chair to be occupied. I am glad that she wishes to make him welcome.”

Elizabeth paused there, looking exceedingly amused.

“How fortunate he is to have found so considerate a friend,” she observed.

I asked whether Jane had said who he was, but Elizabeth shook her head and continued.

The gentleman is rather shorter than Caroline. Jane did not consider this any objection to him, though she had noticed that Caroline had lately preferred shoes with scarcely any heel.

“I hope she finds them comfortable,” Jane wrote, “for she has always been so fond of the others that I was surprised to see them put aside.”

I could not help laughing.