To my dearest Darcy,

Your absence stretches on, my love. I hope it is only business that is keeping you away, for I can think of no other excuse. On the matter of which you spoke in your last letter, I believe it can be arranged, Fitzwilliam. Georgiana continues as before, prompting the invitation I extended to dear Jane and Bingley to join us. With the Collins' also arriving, what a party we shall be! – though hopefully Mr Collins will find reason to leave. I feel wretched to Bingley for forcing him to endure such a man while we ladies are about.

I knew you would react as you did upon news of my being less than well, but the physician has since assured me of my predicament. I will not which in this letter, but tell you upon your speedy return.

The weather has been unpleasant of late, with many showers and grey skies. Not once have I been able to walk about the grounds, but am confined indoors. With dear Georgiana for company it is less dreary as I have given in to her pleading and am learning to play more on the piano forte, though I continue to insist that I have no talent for it, though you may persist otherwise. Maybe it is a family trait, as Georgiana can also be commended on her persistence.

I have found an unlikely occupation in exploring the halls of Pemberley, the shades of which I have apparently polluted. Why, just yesterday I came across your old nursery. You may not remember it but one certainly finds it a sunlit, cheery room that still retains such childhood charm! It is untouched but for a layer of dust so many inches thick that I was unable to stop sneezing all morning. Perhaps you may look upon it too, for years of happy memories seem to have accumulated.

I have set about clearing it myself. It is oddly satisfying though Mrs Reynolds insists upon constantly offering to help. However, I prefer to work in solitude, setting things to rights and allowing the beautiful room to see the light of day, - hopefully I will be graced by you presence to also admire it.

Of Lydia, I have paid a little of what she and Wickham owe, to relieve the poor shopkeeper and lodgers despite your protestations. No matter how disgraceful her behaviour, we are sisters by the bonding ties of family that not every marriage can break. Could you every abandon dear Georgiana? No, I shall not ask you that, as she would never do such a thing, passing aside that previous incident.

I have the most amusing account from Jane, though much of it can scarcely be thought of as less than mortifying. My mother has taken it upon herself to visit her and Bingley, though they have been married for so little. He was so kind to suggest to myself that – upon our interest at all – they could even take up residence closer to Pemberley, so as to give them some distance and well deserved privacy. I must ask Mama to refrain from visiting them, though I am sure Kitty, Mary and Papa are most welcome. They are both so kind – and Bingley so good to stand his in laws - yet one can only take so much scrutiny. I assured him that it would be resolved soon and he became much more at ease, so noticeably so that Jane asked me what could have passed between us to make him. Having been sworn to secrecy, I replied that we merely talked of the literature I had taken the time to pursue. Thank goodness Jane is not one for suspicion.

To be sure, I can think of little else to repeat in this letter that I do not wish to say upon your return. In your next letter, do write to the day upon which you shall be at last home, for it displeases me to have your indefinite absence. As I write this, Georgiana calls so I must hastily conclude my ramble. I miss you and eagerly await your presence once again.

Yours always,

Elizabeth Darcy

A/N: Sorry this took so long everybody, but I had more school work than I care to think about. Hopefully the next chapter will be up sooner. Which reminds me, in your reviews, please say if you think I should put in some interludes of Lizzy and Darcy's actual lives (rather than letters) because I think this might add to the story. Anyway, thank you to those who reviewed and put this on story alert! It made my day! Here are the review responses, so keep on reviewing!!!

jenki-des-hoshii: Good point, but I feel that she is really so in love with him that they share everything so either that or she simply let it slip. Thanks anyway!

KoRnChildG: Glad you liked it.

Michaela90: I have already replied to you personally but thankyou once again. It's only me checking this so things are bound to slip through.

Lia06: Thankyou!!

aserene: Thankyou for the compliments and I was hoping I'd done it right.

ilovemcliffe: Very astute of you! I love writing letters so there will obviously be more. Glad you liked it.

the Mouse in the Opera House: Thankyou, once again!

Wow, that was one long author's note! (Well, for me anyway.) Thankyou to everybody once again, and keep reading!

Elizabeth