Expectations by Frances Murray

Author:Frances Murray [Murray, Frances]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2012-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

The groom who went to the receiving office in Lambton to take the letters to the post and bring back any which had arrived for the household found his leather pouch uncommonly full, the day after his master's heir was born. Before she had retired to her room Lady Catherine had written briefly to a round dozen of her friends who, she felt, should have the great news from her and not be left to discover it from the columns of the journals. Mr. Collins was of this number. Mr. Bennet wrote to the Gardiners and, more succinctly to Mrs. Phillips. He also wrote his intended letter to Mr. Lacey, begging him to give the good news to the household and enclosing a guinea under the seal so that the servants' hall might have punch to drink the health of the new arrival as they had had for Jane's children.

Darcy wrote notices for the journals and brief letters to such friends and relations who might expect to hear the news from himself. Mary, at her father's request, wrote to Lydia and to Kitty; Jane, with some reluctance, to Caroline Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst though she could not feel that they were waiting breathlessly for such an announcement. Her sisters-in-law had lost all interest in Mr. Darcy after he married Elizabeth Bennet. Phoebe wrote to her mother, as she did every week, and included the glad news. She also enclosed the scrawl she had received the same day she left Hunsford from Midshipman Horatio Parker aboard HMS Jaguar in Gibraltar.

Dear Phibs, he wrote, I am well and hope that you are too and are dealing well with Aunt De Burgh. Mama said in her last that she marvelled you were there still. Last week I got a lanyard and whistle cos I won the topyard race. Tell Twin of you write. Old Phillymore says I am the only young gentleman in our mess who knows more than his two-times table which signifies I do my quadratic equations better and quicker than he does and can work out a position first of all our mess. Do ask Mama to tell the Cap. because he will be pleased even if he does not shew it. I am grown an inch and a bit measured against the gunroom bulkhead since I joined . Just as well my uniform coats was too big though I was cross at the time . Am bound out next week but no scuttlebutt yet as to where. I have bet on the West Indies but my friend Jamieson says it will just be Chatham. Have you any word from Twin? Last I heard he was in Portsmouth fitting out for the Mediterranean. My respects to Lady Catherine and my best love to Mama when you write. Say I think it is the best notion in all the world.'

Phoebe had puzzled a little over that last sentence but assured herself that her mother would know to what he referred and would tell her if it was fit for the ears of a sister.

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