There are, of course, no “right”answers, because we all imagine these fine characters differently. This, however, is my who’s who….
IMAGE 1:
Reader, meet Lydia Wickham. In The Elizabeth Papers, Lydia has an important role so imagining what she looks like is something I did a lot while I was writing it. This portrait may be slightly too poised for her, but something about the face, about to break into a laugh shouts her name to me.
IMAGE 2:
This, I imagine to be Elizabeth, towards the end of the Regency narrative in The Elizabeth Papers, when she is in her 30s. One reader guessed Aunt Gardiner and I can well understand why. I think this is a lovely depiction of a confident, contented, interested lady.
IMAGE 3:
A Bennet sister who appears briefly in The Elizabeth Papers, as a very happy married woman, this is Mary, or Mrs. Lander as she is in the story.
IMAGE 4:
Ladies of the parish, meet Colonel Fitzwilliam! Readers are right to say that the portrait is slightly out of proportion. However, it is the man’s face that really caught my eye. Although a more jovial character than Darcy, the Colonel knows what is going on about him and can fix a steady stare with the best of them! Here he is, doing just that…
IMAGE 5:
Miss Caroline Bingley presents here, looking slightly glum but beautifully dressed in her striking red dress. Many people associate Caroline with orange because of her clothing in the 1995 mini series. I certainly imagine her being very brightly dressed. She appears, slightly older and unmarried but still enjoying her social life in The Elizabeth Papers. Here she is…
IMAGE 6:
Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, enjoying some music, of course!
IMAGE 7:
This lady is my imagining of Kitty. A grown up, married lady in The Elizabeth Papers, Kitty is another important character. I do no think that a lady in Kitty’s position would have been likely to pose for a portrait like this, and the dress is maybe a bit rich and revealing. However, there is something in the watchful face and the mildly self-conscious pose that brought her to mind.
IMAGE 8:
And of course, for the hero of the story. Here we have a depiction of Mr. Darcy with one of his infant daughters. The love between Darcy and Elizabeth and the iron loyalty between them and to their children is the heart of the story of The Elizabeth Papers, so it seemed right to end on an image which spoke of exactly that…
Jenetta James
Can Evie and Charlie unearth the truth in the letters of Fitzwilliam Darcy or within the walls of present-day Pemberley? What are the elusive Elizabeth papers and why did Elizabeth herself want them destroyed? Buy the book on Amazon Kindle