Unproductive Behavior

By this time, I have left Hertfordshire, Lizzie and the Gardiners are at Longbourn once again, and I am in London where I have nether heard word about or seen a glimpse of Wickham or Lydia. When I left my wife was in a tizzy and useless to assist anyone, Mary was going off about statistics of Lydia’s returning back untainted (or some similar nonsense that is also unhelpful), Kitty was reclusive, and Jane was proving to be the most productive member of the family in our state of crisis. I’m so frustrated that I swear once I get a hold of the pair of them I will wring some sense into Lydia once and for all, and I’ll beat Wickham bloody till he agrees to marry my idiotic, absurd, juvenile daughter. At least this is what I tell myself I’ll do as if that will be a solution to my problems, instead of a deterrent. I truly wish Lizzie were here, for I’m sure she could calm me done sufficiently and talk some sense into me rapidly, but I suppose I will have to settle with my brother-in-law.

Lydia's Blunder

I must say I was just beginning to enjoy the silence in my house now that Lydia is gone (aside from Kitty’s constant sobbing, or at least whimpering). However, now I’m to discover that she has run off with a soldier! Nonetheless, a soldier (Wickham) I was beginning to trust. I can’t believe the trouble that dim-witted girl has gotten herself into, and I must now run in pursuit of her, in an attempt to save her and, hopefully, her reputation as well. Lizzy was right and I should have listened to her when she warned me!

Which is the Real Darcy?

Elizabeth told me that she had met Mr. Darcy at Pemberly whilst touring the grounds and that he had been kind and welcoming. She even revealed that he had invited her and the Gardiners to Pemberly to meet his sister in a few days time. However, Miss Darcy had apparently been so eager to meet my Lizzie that they just showed up at their lodgings at the Inn for a visit with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Lizzie revealed to me that Mr. Darcy’s entire character seemed different and even admitted that she believed they had been wrong about Darcy. I’m not sure what is stranger my daughter admitting she was wrong or Darcy behaving kindly to others. Now I begin to wonder which Darcy is the real Darcy; the one we knew here in Hertfordshire, or the one now prevailing in Derbyshire?

Unwilling Compliance

Since my last post, Lizzie has gone off on vacation with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Lizzie told me this morning, over the phone, that their original plans had to be cancelled because Mr. Gardiner had work to do, but now they are headed to Pemberly for a tour of the house and specifically the wondrous grounds. Lizzie said she is excited to see the gardens since they are apparently in high esteem, but she also sounded rather nervous. I don’t blame her in the slightest. That Mr. Darcy is certainly a very peevish and creepy character always staring at my Lizzie, though the manner of his gaze always varies, sometimes it is cold yet curious and others it is warm and calculating. He is most peculiar.

Glad To Have You Back

I must have told Lizzie at least four times that it was glad to have her home. Lizzie didn’t really seem to mind, but the rest of my family seemed rather annoyed with it, but they never said anything, afraid to ruin my mood, I assumed since I had not criticized anyone in a couple days. Lizzie, though happy to be home, seemed anxious to go up stairs to bed because she yawned a couple times and kept looking at the door to the dining room. As soon as dinner was over, Lizzie looked to Jane and said, “I’m rather tired from travel, and I assume you are as well. So let’s head upstairs to get ready for bed.” Jane looked at Lizzie quizzically but agreed to go with her. I was puzzled but I didn’t say anything; instead, I got up and followed my daughters’ example and went to bed.

Glad To Have You Back

I must have told Lizzie at least four times that it was glad to have her home. Lizzie didn’t really seem to mind, but the rest of my family seemed rather annoyed with it, but they never said anything, afraid to ruin my mood, I assumed since I had not criticized anyone in a couple days. Lizzie, though happy to be home, seemed anxious to go up stairs to bed because she yawned a couple times and kept looking at the door to the dining room. As soon as dinner was over, Lizzie looked to Jane and said, “I’m rather tired from travel, and I assume you are as well. So let’s head upstairs to get ready for bed.” Jane looked at Lizzie quizzically but agreed to go with her. I was puzzled but I didn’t say anything; instead, I got up and followed my daughters’ example and went to bed.

In A Good Mood

I got a call from Lizzie this afternoon, and she told me that she had safely arrived at Gracechurch Street with Maria Lucas and was now reunited with Jane. Lydia and Kitty left promptly at noon to arrive in Hertfordshire in time to ‘get settled’ (really they meant to go shopping), and they asked for some money for dinner and then asked for more because, as Lydia so slyly said, “things can turn out to be more expensive than you think.”  I knew I was in a good mood then because I didn’t say anything about their ridiculous reasoning or their annoying persistence; I just smiled and gave the money to them silently. My family noted this rare occurrence, but they made no comments. Longbourn was utterly silent after Kitty and Lydia’s departure, and I hate to admit it, but I found myself wishing for some noise.

On Their Way

Lizzie leaves for home today, and I am so excited that my wife even said to me “you’d think the girl was getting married, not coming home from visiting a friend, by the way you’re acting.” I wish Lizzie and Jane were flying home, instead of driving, but they wanted to travel together. Lydia and Kitty plan to drive to meet them at Hertfordshire; I suspect that they just want to go shopping and meet officers, but I agreed nonetheless to let them go since they would be with Lizzie and Jane most of the time. Soon everything will be back to normal with the whole of my family once again. The only down side is that my wife will be able to go on and on about marriage again to our most eligible daughters.

Give Me a Heartattack

Lizzie called today, and she informed me, on an aside, that Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had recently left the company at Rosings. However, the one thing Lizzie told me that had me as nervous as a Chihuahua was when she mentioned that Lady Catherine insisted she extend her visit a few more weeks. After she mentioned this, my heart flew to my throat, and I practically shouted “no way!” in utter horror, interrupting Lizzie mid sentence. Silence followed my outburst for just a moment, but Lizzie soon started laughing and assured me that she had politely turned down Lady Catherine’s invitation. Our conversation ended with a laugh of my own at the ridiculousness of my reaction, and my hesitant admittance that I had truly missed my daughter’s presence while saying goodbye with a “see you soon.”

My Proud Daughter Humbled?

Today I called Lizzie to get her opinions on Jane’s situation. When I mentioned it, she said “I have no idea.” However, she hesitated, and I get the feeling she knows more than she says she does. In fact, Lizzie said very little of anything throughout our entire conversation; a peculiar instance for her since my daughter is very opinionated. I even mentioned that I suspected our dear friend, Mr. Darcy, for Mr. Bingley’s inattention to Jane in an attempt to instigate a response from her since I know she was previously very passionate in her dislike of Mr. Darcy. She gave me a completely different reaction to it than what I had expected though. Instead of agreeing fervently and sounding angry when she referenced to him; she said that I was right, but that I should not be so quick to judge and sounded angry with me. Her words on this point were the most she spoke during our entire conversation. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that, by some miracle, my proud daughter has been humbled.

The Rage of the Missus

My wife is utterly distressed for Jane reported that she has made no progress in her efforts to charm Mr. Bingley. In fact, she said over the phone that she has yet to see Bingley at all in the entire time she has been at Gracechurch Street. Mrs. Bennet raves that her daughters are useless if they can’t even keep a good man when they find one and further states that Jane should have told her sooner. I, however, cannot blame my daughter for hiding her loose after seeing her mother’s reaction first hand. I know, had I been in her shoes, I would have done the same as her. I truly feel for my daughter and her distress at being on the receiving end of my wife’s wrath. On a final note, I can’t help but wonder why Mr. Bingley hasn’t come to see Jane, for I knew him to be quite fond of her last summer.

A Truly Missed Loved One

Today Lizzie called; however, she seemed rather refined, quite different from her usual style. I worry that something is the matter with her and that she is keeping a consequential occurrences from me. I will not dwell on this though, for Lizzie will tell me when she is ready, I’m sure. Lizzie assured me she is fine in Hunsford and informed me of her humorous encounters with Mr. Collins. She explained that he often flaunted his house, life and connections to her as if to say, “see what you missed out on.” However, Lizzie does not seem  to care since those things are insignificant, at least in her eyes, which Collins would know if he possessed an ounce of intelligence. This is severely different her mother’s point of view. I know Lizzie takes after me, especially in personality, that’s most likely the reason for my preference towards her. There is still a significant amount of time until either of my eldest daughters return, and all I can think about my extended time in solitude is “Oh Lord!!!”

Being Without Sense is Unbearable

My dearest Elizabeth has been gone nearly a week, and yet the remaining members of my family have already begun to drive me up the wall. My wife’s woeful cries about her tattered nerves and rather empty and irritating assurances that Jane is right now renewing the interests of Mr. Bingley in London are nothing except bothersome. Mary amazes me for such a bright seemingly sensible girl, she is utterly ridiculous. Mary is the type of person that poses no social skill whatsoever, and her presence, which should be a comfort among the idiocy of the remainder of my family, is of no significance since she has no presence. Lydia and Kitty are incessantly obsessing over the officers in Meryton, as usual. In an attempt to keep my sanity, I have taken to mostly ignoring my family until the return of either Lizzie or Jane. I impatiently await Lizzie’s first phone call.