We make excellent progress toward Paris, and we shall have our first glimpses of that famed city in a few more days’ travel. The comfort of the carriage has made the journey a pleasant one. I must not forget to thank you for your kind thoughtfulness in sending along the seasickness remedies for, as you suspected, I succumbed almost immediately, and found great relief by your good medicaments.

I find I do not take to life on the road as readily as Elizabeth, who has, I think, never been happier. I grow less apprehensive by the day, and see and learn much as we journey. I wish you all joy in our absence, and ask that you look after yourselves and my beloved Blanche carefully until our return. I will write again upon our being settled at Paris.

Your grateful friend,

GEORGIANA DARCY

P.S. Pray do not forget the kisses for Mademoiselle. If I seem a little out of spirits, believe it to be only the natural effects of fatigue.

Georgiana then began the second letter, after taking a few turns around the room in an attempt to restore the composure of her mind.

21st March
Beauvais, France

DEAR COLONEL FITZWILLIAM,

I easily confess that we miss the company of our dearest friend a great deal, and you will blush to hear that you have often been the subject of many discussions since our departure. We all begin to despair of ever seeing you hither, but we make the best of travelling as a trio. My brother would claim the largest share of loss as his fate is to remain entirely in the company of women, but I, dearest friend, would dispute, even with my brother, for those doubtful laurels. As my French is but a little better than my brother’s and sister’s, I am required by our situation to speak a great deal, and I think you would be rather surprised to witness my conversations with our fellow travellers at dinner. I should not, however, write to give you false hopes of the success of your lessons, as it is vastly easier to merely translate the interesting speech of others, than to formulate such delights of thought on one’s own.