Lizzy engaged!

Tonight Lizzy told me the strangest thing: she's engaged to Mr. Darcy! At first I couldn't believe it, I mean she absolutely despised him. I had no hint that she might fancy him, but I suppose I was too worried about seeing Mr. Bingley and then getting engaged myself. She explained that she fell in love with Darcy gradually, ever since he wrote her that letter explaining his behavior. I find that honesty is a very attractive quality and a good foundation to build a strong relationship on.

It took a couple minutes for Lizzy to convince me that she really did love Darcy, which seemed sudden on my part. I confess myself the happiest I've ever been. Not only do I get to spend the rest of my life with my beloved Bingley, but Lizzy also has someone to share her life with. We shall not live that far apart from each other either, so we can have dinner and see each other often. This will certainly appease mother to be able to visit her girls often and have us married to such respectable gentlemen.

Engaged

Bingley has returned to Netherfield with Mr. Darcy and visited us at Longbourn yesterday. This was quite surprising as we had not seen each other for some time, and now he suddenly wishes to resume contact. They dined with us the next night and Mr. Bingley sat next to me and it almost seemed as if no time had passed since the last time we saw each other. He was as pleasant as always, if not a little hesitant. I did my best to encourage him and show him that I was glad to see him.

He has had dinner with us almost every day this week and I hope Bingley doesn't see how my mother is trying to get us alone together. Eventually she succeeded, and when she did, Bingley told me that he was going to ask my father for permission to marry me. Can you believe it! He really does love me! After my father agreed it was like I was flying on clouds! I am possibly the happiest creature there ever was! I can't wait to tell Lizzy!

Letter about Lydia

Today we were visited by Colonel Forster and he had some distressing news about Lydia. It appears that she has run off with Wickham to London and it is not known if they are married. Poor mother is so upset as not to be consoled and I've never seen father so angry. I really had that Lydia had more sense than to run off with practically a stranger. A part of me wishes that Lizzy and I had told Lydia what we had discovered about Wickham's character, but we had no way of knowing this result and it wouldn't have been right to expose him so. Lizzy and I had tried to hard to introduce more important matters to her but she wouldn't listen and now she's in a horrible mess.

It occurred to me that Lizzy has missed this recent news and so I hastily wrote a letter to inform her. I wished not to end her vacation with our aunt and uncle, but I desperately need her at home to help me with mother. Mary and Kitty seem fine, although Kitty may not realize the seriousness of the situation. Lizzy and I need to redouble our efforts with Kitty to make sure that she does not make a similar error as Lydia has done.

Bingley leaves

Mr. Bingley left Netherfield for London today and Mr. Darcy and his sisters followed him. I received a letter from Miss Bingley and she said that Mr. Bingley is staying in London all winter. She also wrote a good deal about Miss Darcy and the possibility of her marrying Mr. Bingley. I simply don't understand; how could he just up and leave without saying goodbye? I don't believe he is the type to lead a girl on and then just disappear. I must have misread our time together, he must not have cared for me the way I care for him. What a fool I am! It does not help that mother cannot stop bringing it up. My heart breaks a little more each time his name is spoken.

I guess I just need to forgot about him, and move on. There's no point in thinking of what might have been and what will now never be. I am sure that Miss Darcy is very lovely and that she and Mr. Bingley will be very happy together. Well, my aunt and uncle have invited me to stay with them in London for a few weeks and I was delighted to accept. It's not very often that I go to London and there's a small chance that I might see Mr. Bingley while I'm there. At the very least, it will be good to get out of the house and visit with my aunt and uncle.

Mrs. Jane Bingley (?)

The past few balls I have found myself the object of Bingley's attention and I must say that I am enjoying it. I care about him very much and can only hope that he feels the same way. Bingley is so charming and polite and pleasant to be around. And he's such a wonderful dancer! I can't wait until the next ball so I can see him and see his lovely smile. We enjoy each other's company immensely, and I adore his sisters.

My mother has been in a very good mood recently and she has said that she expects wedding bells for me and Bingley soon. I must confess that it would be wonderful to be Bingley's wife. Mrs. Jane Bingley sounds so grand, but I must not get ahead of myself. He has yet to propose, but mother expects it to be any day now and I find myself waiting, wishing for it to happen. I shouldn't appear to eager or expectant to put him off, so I'll just be calm when I'm around him.

Getting better (Jane)

I have been feeling much better since my dear sister Elizabeth has come to see me here at Netherfield. Under the most considerate care of the Bingleys, I was well enough to dress for dinner today. Mr. Bingley seemed very pleased that I was feeling better and watched me carefully to see how I was doing throughout dinner. I find myself very pleased that he was so attentive and concerned about my well-being. His sisters were also insisting that I stay until I am much improved, which is so kind of them.

Lizzy, however, is anxious to leave Netherfield, which may have to do with getting away from Darcy. I must say that I don't see what she has against him, apart from being a little reserved he is a gentleman. Well, Lizzy has written to mother to call for the carriage to take us home but she replied that she will not do so until Tuesday. Lizzy is upset but she bears it well for my sake. I am glad to spend a few more days under Bingley's attentive eye and regain my strength.

Visit from Lizzy (Jane)

Ever since I came to Netherfield I have not felt very well. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were kind enough to insist on calling the doctor Mr. Jones. I was restricted to bed rest and became very bored. Thankfully Lizzy came to visit me the day after I rode to Netherfield. She arrived late and quite dirty from walking the whole three miles distance between our houses. I was too sick at the time to feel anything but relief at seeing her, though I would have normally have spoken to her about it.

It is a good thing that sense I was not very good company in bed, that Lizzy came. Although she can not do much for me other than talk and press cold cloths to my forehead, I was comforted by her presence. I am to Netherfield for dinner and good company but Lizzy took over my place instead. She did a most wonderful job too, I'm sure. Ever since she got here I have felt much better and should be back on my feet in no time.

Visit to Netherfield (Jane)

A note came today from Miss Bingley that she would like me to join her and her sister for dinner. My mother was very excited by this but insisted I go on horseback. I really would have rather go in the carriage, since it was to rain. However, the horses were needed in the field and it was mother's idea for the weather to break so that I the Bingley's would not send me home. I was not excited by the possibility of getting caught in the rain, but mother insisted and I was glad that Mr. Bingley's sisters wanted to spend more time with me.

 

Well, it was not long after I left that the clouds broke and rain poured on me as I made the three mile trip to Netherfield. I was dreadfully cold and shivering by the time I arrived but the food was delicious and hot, which made me feel better. Due to the weather, the Bingleys insisted that I stay the night which was just as well, as I still felt a chill. At the end of the night I was not well and my kind friends refused me to go home until I feel better. I appreciate their taking care of me and Mr. Bingley's concern. I will write a quick letter to Lizzy to inform her of my not feeling well so she and mother will not worry about my absence.



Bingley's Sisters (Jane)

A few days after the ball, Mr. Bingley's sisters called on our house. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst are most respectable ladies and I delight in their company. They are so kind to me and we get along so nicely. I did notice they seemed warmer to me than the rest of my sisters, probably due to the fact that I spent the most time with them at the ball. Lizzy has mentioned to me that she does not hold them to be very pleasant towards her, but she must be mistaken, for they truly are lovely ladies. I am sure that once Lizzy and my sisters, and mother spend more time with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst they will come to see them as I do.

They seem to desire the very best wife for their brother and I feel honored that they might include me to be eligible. Although my family is not of the highest society, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst seem to think that I would be an acceptable, and perhaps favorable candidate for Mr. Bingley. I can only hope that Mr. Bingley feels as strongly about the possibility of our match as his sisters seem to. Whenever he is in the room I can hardly take my eyes from him, he is so captivating. We have spent a considerable amount of time together, so he must find me at least somewhat captivating. I cannot wait for the next ball!

The Ball (Jane)

Mother has informed us that we have a new neighbor at Netherfield, a Mr. Bingley. She has high hopes that he is in search of a wife and that one of my sisters or I will catch his eye. This morning father has informed us that he went to meet Mr. Bingley so that we might him, but he has refused to tell us anything about the man. Mr. Bingley is going to be at the ball so I guess we will be able to see for ourselves what he is like. Kitty and Lydia are excited of course at the news of another party, and I confess myself most curious about Mr. Bingley. Lizzy is quite fond of dancing as am I so I'm sure we will have a good time, and Mary will go to see Mr. Bingley as well.

Mr. Bingley is most handsome indeed, and very polite. He danced with many women and I had the pleasure of being his partner not once, but twice! Oh he is a wonderful dancer and very charming to talk to. I confess myself to like Mr. Bingley very much and can't wait for the next ball so that I can dance with him again. He has two sisters, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, and they were very polite to me as well. I can see us becoming very good friends during their stay at Netherfield.