Letters from Kympton
The Bennets have more than one relative in the ministry. Unlike cousin Collins, who she has yet to meet, Elizabeth is quite fond of her other cousin-by-marriage, Jonathan Whyte, who was recently given the prosperous living at Kympton. Because he is older, married, and Elizabeth's tutor in several subjects, Mr. Bennet allows his daughter and the Whytes to correspond.
Chapter One – The Living
Elizabeth Bennet, fresh and rosy from her early morning jaunt, slipped back into her father's estate through the kitchen door. It was still quite early, but she had little desire to hear her mother's usual rant concerning her "hoydenish obsession with traipsing around the highways and byways like a man!"
Cook smiled at her entrance and nodded her head over towards a cooling tray, "Take a meat Pie, Miss Lizzy, and one for your Da. Mrs. Hill said theys a post for ya." Elizabeth bussed the short round woman on the cheek just as she had done since she was a "wee bairn" and skipped towards her father's book room with the meat pies and a grin. Cook only smiled and shook her head, "Don' see mooch value in gals larnin Latin an' sooch, boot if'n it makes the lass happy..."
Elizabeth knocked lightly on her father's study door and heard his voice calling, "Come on in, Lizzie."
Thomas Bennet nodded at his favorite daughter and, after taking the proffered meat pie, gestured towards the two letters sitting on her favorite chair. He resumed his own reading with only a small, amused shake of his head. Thomas loved books and loved learning, but he found teaching to be rather taxing. It also distracted from his books. Elizabeth, unlike his other daughters, was a veritable sponge for learning. She wanted to know anything and everything and she was insatiable in her need to know. So when his sister-in-law's younger cousin volunteered to provide her with advanced lessons, Thomas happily consented. Madeline Gardiner's cousin was a good man and a scholar, a combination which appealed to Mr. Bennet and his precocious daughter.
Prior to his marriage, Jonathan Whyte had been a Fellow at King's college. At some time in the future he might have been made full professor, but his bent was more pastoral than academic. He loved to teach, but his heart was in helping his fellow man and woman. After discussing the matter with his newly-wed wife, Marjorie, they had agreed that he should take a church. While waiting for a "living," the young couple had moved to St. Albans, only seven miles from the Bennet's estate of Longbourn, where Jonathan served for five years as curate for an aging vicar.
Elizabeth had liked the couple straight-away, and she became a frequent guest at the Whyte's home. Elizabeth's own mother was high-strung and irritable, especially with her second daughter who she couldn't understand. The Whyte's home became a nearby sanctuary and a place for pleasant, intelligent conversation. When Jonathan discovered his cousin's hunger for higher learning, he began feeding her books from his library. When he learned just how brilliant the young girl was, he approached her father with the offer to become her tutor.
This was the best for both father and daughter. It provided him with solitude in his "book room" and provided Elizabeth with a handy excuse to be away from Longbourn as often as possible. Jane was also a frequent visitor, but she gravitated to the genteel and soft-spoken Mrs. Whyte.
Jonathan began Elizabeth's with the basics of maths and British literature, then moved on to include the sciences, foreign literature, ancient literature, politics, economy, and philosophy. Marjorie, who was of a more practical bent than her husband, made sure to spend time with both of the older Bennet daughters on proper social interaction, conversation, decorum, and domestic concerns. The two young ladies had learned much under the guidance of their aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, but as the Gardiner family grew it became harder for her nieces to spend extended time with that worthy woman. Marjorie Whyte took over where her husband's cousin left off.
In the past three years Mrs. Bennet had begun to resent her eldest daughter's interest in the other lady, so she had curtailed many of Jane's visits. Mary had then become a frequent visitor, soaking up the kindness and attention of Mrs. White that she had never enjoyed from her own mother. The two youngest Bennet daughters, Kitty and Lydia, had shown no interest in visiting. In fact, they found the idea of visiting a parson quite laughable. Elizabeth had been able to remain consistent throughout and had cherished all that she had learned.
Then, two months ago, Jonathan Whyte had interviewed for the position of the vicar of a community in far-flung Derbyshire in the town of Kympton. Elizabeth was not often given to tears, but it had been a great struggle for her on the day she waved the Whyte's away in the large and shiny carriage sent by the master in whose power the living resided. The young couple had promised to write and Jonathan had promised to continue his tutelage. Other than a brief letter from Mrs. Whyte describing the journey and her new home, nothing had yet been heard.
Elizabeth confirmed the senders and then opened Marjorie Whyte's letter first. The seal had already been broken, but she had expected that since there had probably been a page for Jane and page for Mary. Jonathan Whyte was an interesting correspondent, but Marjorie's letters were often more light and entertaining. She might not necessarily "gossip," but she did drop the occasional story about this or that person which could make Elizabeth laugh.
Dear Lizzy,
Never have I ridden in such comfort as in the carriage that Mr. Darcy sent to us from London. Nevertheless, by journey's end I was heartily sick of it and all other carriages. Three days, even on well-maintained roads, can be a trial. I am afraid that I became less-than-enamored with the books I chose for the trip, my embroidery samples, and even (shocking to write and you must keep my secret) with my dear husband's handsome visage. But alas, we are now safely delivered to the parsonage of Kympton and my mood and appreciation for the finer things are once again restored. My dear Jonathan is even more handsome than ever and all is right with the world.
You will wish to hear about the parsonage and I am more than ready to tell you. The last parson, Mr. Harvey, was a widower when he took the position twenty years ago. He took good care of the place, or at least his housekeeper, Mrs. Thistlewaite, did, but it has the feel of being the home of a bachelor. Prior to his tenure there was a family with six children and the house was enlarged for their benefit. It has four bedrooms, a morning room, sitting room, and dining room. There is an office for Jonathan with plenty of shelves to satisfy even his taste for books. The kitchen is well appointed and serviceable.
The servants, Mr. and Mrs Thistlewaite, live in their own cottage on the property and take care of the basic necessities. They are a kindly couple who are opposites in disposition. Mrs. Thistlewaite speaks often and concerning many subjects, but mostly about the neighborhood. Jonathan was concerned at first that a woman prone to gossip would be a detriment to his profession, but Mr. Darcy assured us that it would not be a problem. According to the late Mr. Harvey, the lady often brought important information and concerns to him, but never carried tales of his meetings with parishioners away from the parsonage. Mr. Thistlewaite almost never speaks and then it is usually, "Aye, Sir," "Aya," or "Ah'll git on it, Mum."
Mr. Darcy upgraded the kitchen and other amenities before we arrived. He also had repairmen go over every square inch of the place to address any issues. The coal bins were filled when we arrived and the coal man has been scheduled to make regular deliveries. There is a chicken coop with a rooster and five hens and Mr. Darcy has arranged for the daily delivery of milk to our door. He waited upon my arrival to inform me that he was giving me a budget for new paper, rugs, and paint to use as I saw fit. Never had I imagined that the master of a great estate would take such care of his parson, and I understand that he has three livings at his disposal.
As his name has already come up so often, I feel that now is the time to describe the man. I was surprised to learn that Mr. Darcy is a young man of only six, almost seven and twenty. He became master when his father, a man highly esteemed in the area, passed on almost four years ago, leaving Mr. Darcy and a younger sister who is fourteen and currently at finishing school. Their mother, God rest her soul, passed on within hours of Miss Darcy's birth. Their estate, Pemberley, is by far the largest estate in the area and is situated in the midst of one of the most beautiful parks I have yet seen. There are rocks, mountains, and trails enough to satisfy even our Lizzy. The lands tied to the estate are so vast that most locals proudly state that "Mr. Darcy owns half of Derbyshire!" That is an exaggeration, of course, but perhaps not by too great a degree.
As to the man himself, were I not so loyal to the handsome face of by beloved husband, I might suggest that Mr. Darcy is the handsomest man I have ever seen. He has coal-black hair, blue eyes, and a face fit for a marble bust. He is over six feet tall, lanky but well-proportioned. You would probably say that the man smiles too little, but under the weight of his many responsibilities I think that it is understandable. His demeanor was actually off-putting at first, but once he relaxed around Jonathan and I his face relaxed. It is odd to imagine with someone of his consequence, but I think that the poor man is quite shy.
Now then, the paper-hangers have just arrived and I wish to get this and in the post, so I will write good-bye for now.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte
Elizabeth smiled as she closed the letter and resolved to write in return before the day was out. Then she turned her attention to Cousin Jonathan's letter. He took only a few lines to describe his new situation and then launched back into lessons just as if there had been no break in their program. She felt just a moment of irritation but then reminded herself that this was a program of her own design. Elizabeth had wanted, even begged to continue with her lessons.
Resigned and determined, Elizabeth collected the books assigned in the letter from her father's shelves and began her work.
Chapter Two – News of Trouble
(In a letter sent three months later)
Dear Lizzie,
It has been an interesting and somewhat alarming two weeks since last I wrote to you. Interesting in that we have been inundated with parishioners and other locals warning us about a young man who might cause trouble for us. Alarming because just two days ago several drunken men interrupted the Sunday morning service with insults, cries of "thieves!" and "give good ole' George his livin'," before being dragged out by several of our larger men and Mr. Darcy himself.
It seems that old Mr. Darcy had a steward by the name of Alan Wickham, a good man and a good friend to the master for many years. Mr. Wickham married a woman much younger than himself in whose character he was deceived and she delivered to him a son in whose character it seems that the elder Mr. Darcy was deceived. When Mrs. Wickham ran off and Mr. Wickham suddenly passed away, the elder Darcy took the boy in as his godson.
According to the locals, the boy did not turn out well and has been a scourge in the neighborhood for many years until he went off to school and then off to London. He left behind considerable unpaid debts and, I am sorry to write, several dishonored young woman. The elder Mr. Darcy would never accept the tales told of his charge, even going so far as to will the living in Kympton over to him. The younger Mr. Darcy was not deceived. He paid off the debts left behind and even went so far as to aid at least two young women who were left with-child.
As to the living which we now hold, it seems that the young man, George Wickham, chose not to take orders and asked instead for the value of the living. According to Mr. Darcy and two others who knew the situation, Mr. Wickham was paid one-thousand as a bequest and three-thousand for the value of the living. That was three years ago and Mr. Wickham had the audacity to present himself in Mr. Darcy's office last month to demand the living. When he was refused he swore revenge, stormed out of Pemberley, and spent the last two weeks making a general nuisance of himself. He even had the effrontery to approach me when Jonathan was out visiting and attempt to flirt.
Mr. Darcy and the constable searched for the man to put an end to his current misbehavior. Unfortunately it seems that he heard of the search and promptly absented himself once again to London or wherever such a man chooses to lay his head. As my mother often said, "good riddance to bad rubbish."It is an example of his unworthiness to wear the collar that the only men who rallied to his banner were drunks and ne'er-do-wells.
In other and unrelated news, I am expecting! I had thought that my unusual ill feelings and tiredness were due to the problems in the community. Instead I am overjoyed to announce that you shall have a new cousin in around seven months. Jonathan jokes that we need to best the previous parson who boasted six children. I have informed him that if my stomach continues to feel this unwell, we may only have one. Men!
Please give all my love to your family from me, Jonathan, and the youngest Whyte who is currently unable to speak for his/herself.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte
Chapter Three – Disquiet in Derbyshire
(Ten months later)
Dear Elizabeth,
I have decided to address you by the more adult version of your name after the great good you have done for me, Jonathan, and baby Albert. I was only sorry that your father requested you to come home so soon after Albert's birth. You were a godsend before, during, and after the event of his birth. Jonathan and I discussed how much you have grown and matured since our time at St. Albans and have come to a decision: we would be pleased and honored if you would consent to be Albert's godmother.
Of course, we do have other motives in asking this, namely that it will give you an excuse to fly off to the north and visit more often.
We have asked Mr. Darcy to be godfather and he has agreed. We worry about him and his sister. Something happened to make the usually cheerful, if painfully shy Miss Darcy even more withdrawn and has caused Mr. Darcy to seem even more dour and taciturn. Even now though, his good character stands out. He not only agreed to stand as godfather, but placed five-hundred pounds into the four-percents for Albert's future.
It is a shame that he was gone to London for the entirety of your stay with us, and that you departed shortly before he returned. You will accuse me of being like your mother, but I admit to the desire to introduce the two of you. He is a man of great concerns and high intelligence. I believe that your liveliness would soften his reserve and his reserve and consequence would temper your best qualities into a woman worthy of note. Alas, though he is a gentleman and you are a gentleman's daughter, I fear the gulf between your stations would be much too much for either of you to overcome.
Since writing the last, the most amazing news has come to me: Mr. Darcy will be going to Meryton! It seems that his dear friend, a Mr. Bingley, had leased the estate of Netherfield upon Mr. Darcy's adice in order to learn how to manage an estate before purchasing. Mr. Darcy departed for London this morning and made a quick visit to Jonathan. Jonathan, Lord love him, admits to me that he was distracted with the issues of a parishioner and therefore failed to mention that the Bennets were family and lived within three miles of Netherfield.
I look forward to reading news from you concerning the visit of two such eligible young men.
Until then, May God bless you and your family,
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte (and Albert)
Chapter Four – Poor Beginnings
Dear Elizabeth,
I noted the brevity of your response concerning your first meeting with Mr. Darcy and naturally supposed that there was little of note to write. Jane, of course, would write nothing uncomplimentary about anyone and devoted most of her letter to subtle praises for Mr. Bingley. She also wrote a somewhat complimentary description of Mr. Bingley's sisters, which, having met them, read as either blind or false. As I have never heard Jane speak even the smallest lie, I can only fear that she was deceived or deceives herself concerning them. I know that you are not so easily fooled. Please watch them carefully lest they hurt dear Jane.
As I began to note, your own letter was brief and uninformative on the matter of our patron, Mr. Darcy. I therefore had to rely on Mary's account to piece together the events of your first meeting. It pains me to read how Mr. Darcy behaved at the assembly and specifically how he spoke of you. We knew that something had overset the man, but had not expected him to strike out at the world in this manner. I would like to have a few words with him on his behavior toward our favorite distant cousin. Please know that he is a good man and that this is not his normal mode of behavior.
Jonathan has sent some manner of letter to the man, though I do not know what is written. Forgive us if it causes additional distress. Albert sends one of his best grins (and drool).
Should you feel the need to deliver a sound set-down to the man, you have my blessing.
We love you and wish you well,
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte
Chapter Five – Forgiveness and a New Beginning
Dear Elizabeth,
It was with great pleasure that I read about Mr. Darcy's apologies and your promise to allow for a fresh start. Albert's two god-parents should not be at odds with each other. Hopefully it also made your stay at Netherfield more "tolerable."
I do feel sorry for poor Jane and the untenable situation that your mother put her in. She does not seem to understand that men of substance do not wish to be pushed. Jane is enough with her beauty, kind heart, and gentle disposition without your mother attempting to force the issue. This can only put a bad taste in the mouths of men like Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy.
We are both aware of your mother and how she is, so try not to be missish when Mr. Darcy reacts negatively toward her. You are also a very sweet young lady, yet you tend to slip into the guise of a warrior any time someone judges your family. With a great estate, a very large income, and notable connections within the peerage, Mr. Darcy is often pursued by eligible young women and their mothers. It is only natural that he might develop a distaste for the behaviors of your mother and youngest siblings.
In local news, Susan Baxter has asked me to extend her greetings the next time that I write, so I am doing this now. Miss Baxter was very pleased to make your acquaintance and very sorry when you had departed before her own return. Her great aunt remembered her in her will by adding substantially to her dowry, so Miss Baxter's mother wants the girl to have a season in Town. Miss Baxter expressed the wish that you might join her there as the family's special guest for the season. Mrs. Baxter was less enthused, probably either because her son was enthusiastic or in fear that you might overshadow her daughter. I leave it to you to decide what you wish in this matter.
Albert has just woken from a much needed nap, so I will close this letter with our love.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte
Chapter Six – Viewed with alarm
Dearest Elizabeth,
As you may suppose based upon this express and the other letters which I have requested you to distribute, I was alarmed with your last letter. I trust that your father will respond to the letter Jonathan wrote to him, or that your mother will respond to the letter I included for her, but just in case I also penned a letter to Lady Gwendoline Bancroft in St. Albans. She has friendships with several of the gentlewomen in your neighborhood and will be quick to spread the warning.
It is my sincere hope that with enough alarm coming from varied sources, Mr. Wickham will not target your family specifically for retribution. Nevertheless, I urge you to keep a close guard on your younger siblings. The man has displayed a particular interest in girls who are too young to see through his lies.
Mr. Whyte has also written to the man's commander, Colonel Forster, who he has a passing acquaintance with. It is to be hoped that the Colonel will take steps to control his lieutenant. We hope that Mr. Darcy will take action, though Mr. Wickham's close relationship with that family has created its own problems.
I will pass on to you only the basics which are being communicated to the others: Mr. Wickham is a consummate liar, gambler, and womanizer. He tells tales wherever he goes and has been able to pass himself off as a gentleman until his other activities catch up with him. He left Derbyshire with unpaid debts in the hundreds of pounds. W is also a gambler, leaving behind debts of honor wherever he goes.
Worse, he left at least three, possibly more young women, all but one barely more than girls, in ruin. In the two cases where I have since had personal contact with the victims, he promised marriage and convinced them to surrender their innocence. It is wrong of me to write such things to a maiden, but it was these girls' ignorance which made it possible for W to seduce them.
Concerning the other matter in your letter, I am sorry that you have to endure the fawning of Mr. Collins and wish that we might remove you from the situation. I need not warn you to guard yourself and never allow yourself to be trapped alone with such a man. Other than this, it seems you must wait for the man to propose and then reject him. Your father will support you in this I am certain.
With all our concern and love,
Marjorie Whyte
Chapter Seven – Sympathies and a solution
Dearest Elizabeth,
We were gratified to hear that swift action was taken to reassign W to the peninsula, where perhaps he might do some good and cause no harm.
Due to the vagaries of the weather and the post, your home situation may have improved from the time that you sent your last letter. You were right to reject such a ridiculous proposal from an even more ridiculous man. Your mother should have known that you were unsuited and your father should have intervened before it ever reached that point.
If matters have not improved, then you may choose to hand the enclosed second letter to your father. It is from my husband to your father, asking that he send you to us post-haste to remove you from the current tension at Longbourn and afford us the great pleasure of your company. Jonathan and I would dearly love it if you would join us for the Christmas holidays and for as long thereafter as you deem necessary to quell your mother's ire.
Please consider our request seriously, as we would wish for Albert to begin to become acquainted with his god-mother.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte
Chapter Eight - Congratulations
Dearest Jane,
Please accept Jonathan and my most sincere congratulations on your engagement to Mr. Bingley! Elizabeth has had nothing but good to say concerning your betrothed and he sounds like a perfect match for you. I know that your sister would dearly love to be home with you to share your joy, but my husband and I feel that your mother's continued anger towards her would only cause an unwelcome tension at Longbourn.
I was pleased to read that you have adopted a more cautious attitude towards your Mr. Bingley's sisters. As we have spoken about several times in the past, it is good to wish to believe the best of everyone, but even in the Bible we are told that there is good and evil. There are no people all good or all evil, but we cannot believe the former and close our eyes to the latter. Setting aside the extremes, many or most people as first self-motivated and self-justifying. If they want something to go a certain way, they may be perfectly willing to ignore propriety and honesty to achieve that point.
In time I hope that you will have a peaceful relationship with your betrothed's sisters for his sake, but it would be wise to always approach them with your eyes wide open.
I do not know what your sister has written you concerning her interactions with Mr. Darcy since his return to Pemberley, but I now subscribe to your own interpretation of his feelings for Elizabeth. She remains skeptical, but I do not think that she is as immune to his person as her earlier letters to me suggested.
Let us continue to watch and pray with hope for God's best for the both of them.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Whyte
Chapter Nine – In Support
Dear Thomas,
I am sending this letter ahead of a Mr. Darcy to warn you that he shall soon present himself at your door. Due to the somewhat tumultuous beginnings that took place between him and your daughter Elizabeth, you might be inclined to look with disfavor upon his request for her hand. I want to discourage you from that course.
Lest you think that my support is wholly due to my loyalty to Mr. Darcy as the holder of my living at Kympton, I have spoken with quite a few people to gain the clearest understanding of his true nature. Here is what I learned.
From his youth, Fitzwilliam Darcy has always earned a favorable report from his neighbors, his tenants, and his servants. His mother passed long ago and his father passed when he was only three and twenty. Pemberley is a vast estate earning much more than the rumored ten-thousand per annum and he has at least two other properties as well. Despite his youth, he immediately took over the running of all his properties with a dedication and energy that is very commendable.
He pays his bills on time. He pays his wages on time. He is generous in the charities he supports and has been known to step in and help a beleaguered family in need on more than one occasion.
Unlike the other man from Derbyshire whom I felt called to write and warn you about, there is not one report against Mr. Darcy of profligate or debauched behavior. He can be haughty and arrogant at times, but Marjorie and I have concluded that he uses that as a shield when he feels uncomfortable or put-upon.
Most importantly for your daughter's sake, when he becomes aware of having committed a wrong, he has been diligent in correcting it.
I wrote 'most importantly' in my last sentence, but that is not correct. The most important matter is that Fitzwilliam Darcy clearly loves your Elizabeth. It is evident in his every look and action. I do not think that you could give her hand to a better man.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Whyte.
Epilogue
After Elizabeth removed to her new home at Pemberley, Mary Bennet became an almost permanent resident at the Kympton parsonage. Due to their close relationship with the Darcys, they often dined at the great house. During one of those dinners Mary met Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, who returned from Waterloo wounded and somewhat shell-shocked. Theirs was a quite courtship with lasted more than a year, but the peaceful, gentle manner she had absorbed from years of a close relationship with Marjorie Whyte helped him to heal.
When the Bingleys also relocated to Derbyshire, it put the three eldest sisters in close proximity to each other and the Whytes, a situation which pleased everyone except for Mrs. Bennet. There was never a pastoral couple more honored and respected by their neighbors and the great-and-mighty of the area than Jonathan and Marjorie Whyte. And when their children came of age, there was never a family from a lower circle who could boast such loving support from their "betters" than they.
With such support and connections, it was no surprise when the Church wished to promote Jonathan to a higher position. After speaking to his beloved wife, they chose instead to remain in place where they felt that they could do the most good.