Through the Lens of a Letter: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Elizabeth Frerichs

Author:Elizabeth Frerichs [Frerichs, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Fantasy, Read
Goodreads: 59122491
Published: 2021-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Darcy frowned at the letter he held in his hands. It was from Georgiana, requesting news. He ought to have included a letter to her in the post he had sent yesterday, but he had been so worried about protecting her that he had forgotten—again—to warn her personally. He sighed. Apparently, he was doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again.

With a heavy heart, he took up pen and paper.

Dearest Georgiana,

You have likely noticed the arrival of an express I sent Uncle Stephen; I should have sent one to you as well, and I offer my wholehearted apologies. My only excuse is simply this: I was preoccupied with warning Uncle so that he may take steps to ensure your security.

Unfortunately, Wickham is in London delivering dispatches. I do not believe he is a danger to you, but I am concerned that he may be meeting the Letter-writer while there, and together they may pose a threat. Please follow any guidelines Uncle gives you as they are for your well-being. Do not fear, though; I have every confidence that Uncle will keep you safe while at his house, and I do not anticipate Wickham will remain in London for more than a week.

As you know from my previous letter, I arrived at Netherfield safely on Monday last. On Tuesday, I attended a party at Miss Elizabeth’s aunt’s home. Wickham did not attend. As I was unable to converse freely with Miss Elizabeth regarding the Letter—

Darcy paused, realising he had capitalised the Letter and wondering when it had assumed such importance in his mind that it superseded all other letters. Given the trouble it had caused, it certainly deserved the capitalisation.

—Bingley and I visited the Bennets on Wednesday morning and spoke at length with Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet. Both ladies denied any part in writing it. Miss Elizabeth claimed that she found the Letter whilst on her morning constitutional before she knew of Bingley’s existence and that she had not told anyone of the Letter before giving it to me, nor has anyone approached her regarding its contents.

I intended to speak to Wickham until I learned of his absence. I do not know exactly when he will return to Hertfordshire, but I am hopeful of flushing out the true culprit behind the Letter once he does so.

Unless of course Wickham deserted, but, as Darcy had concluded every time he’d considered the matter, deserting now seemed premature even for Wickham. Deserters were not treated kindly—often either shipped off to the colonies or imprisoned. He doubted Wickham would desert until things grew financially desperate, which, as Miss Elizabeth had warned the shopkeepers to be wary of providing credit, seemed unlikely to have occurred yet.

You asked whether I have ascertained the truth regarding Miss Elizabeth’s culpability, and I now believe Miss Elizabeth blameless in the matter of the Letter. Though I do not yet know who has perpetrated this plot against us, she bore all the marks of truth in her manner when she declared how she found the Letter and that she had no desire to force a compromise.

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