I've always wondered at what point Darcy actually decided he was going to find Wickham to save Elizabeth and her family's reputation. Did he know he needed to take that step immediately after Elizabeth told him of Lydia's elopement, or was it something he had to sleep on? He tells Elizabeth, “Would to heaven that anything could be either said or done on my part, that might offer consolation to such distress!” suggesting he had not yet decided and would have spoken up if only to ease her mind. Before leaving he “wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present reason to hope,” which has always suggested to me that he was considering taking action to enable that happier conclusion.
Of everything he does, the secrecy around his help strikes me as the most noble of his actions. By that point, he wants Elizabeth to want him. He doesn't want her to feel indebted to him or even be aware that he undertook such extraordinary measures on her behalf. Perhaps he doesn't want to commit himself yet either. In any case, the secrecy of his assistance shows the depth of change in his character. This is his perfect opportunity to help her and let her see just how much he has taken her reproofs to heart.
In this variation, Darcy cannot leave Elizabeth alone to worry and fear for her sister and instead immediately offers his assistance. Elizabeth is in that delightful early stage of infatuation where she can start considering the possibility of a future, but she is in no way ready when he proposes too soon.
How does Elizabeth move forward when her head tells her Mr. Darcy is the perfect man for her but her heart is not yet convinced?
Today’s excerpt comes from Chapter One as Elizabeth and the Gardiners have just finished dinner at Pemberley after running into Darcy the day before.
Excerpt:
As she played, the gentlemen joined them. Although she kept her eyes fixed on her music, Elizabeth felt his presence as he approached her.
He turned the page without cue and she felt her cheeks warm. Never before had she blushed so much as she had since coming to Derbyshire. Perhaps she had taken too much sun and her cheeks were now susceptible?
He did have a powerful manner. He may as well be the sun, causing her cheeks to burn by his mere presence.
“What amuses you so, Miss Elizabeth?”
She glanced to see Mr. Darcy smiling upon her then hastily returned her attention to the sheet music in front of her. She knew the piece well enough that she did not need the music but felt safer not meeting his gaze.
“I was thinking perhaps you are Ra, the sun-god, come to bring your light to the darkness. My skin seems to color whenever you are near and I could come up with no better explanation.”
Chuckling, he leaned closer as he turned a page. “I believe you have that backwards, Miss Elizabeth. You are the light illuminating how dark and empty a place was before your arrival,” he said in hushed tones. His hot breath tickled her ear and her heart raced before he retreated to his full height.
“Why Mr. Darcy, I believe you are flirting with me.”
“Simply stating a fact. And I find your glow to be quite delightful. I confess I wish to see how often I might make you blush.”
“Whomever would have guessed that the staid Mr. Darcy has such a wicked streak?” she wondered aloud. She looked up to see his attention fully upon her with an intensity that made her fingers falter. Elizabeth quickly returned her attention to the music, finishing the piece with neither of them saying anything more.
“Georgiana, dear, will you play for us?” Miss Bingley asked. “You have such skill that it would be a crime to hide it away.” Elizabeth caught her indignant expression before Miss Bingley turned a cloying smile on Miss Darcy.
Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and then led her to a settee by the Gardiners. The only other open seat was now next to that lady, and she preened at what must have been a planned situation in her favor.
“If you have left your post, then I shall assist Miss Darcy turning pages,” Mrs. Gardiner said to Mr. Darcy as she rose from the settee. Elizabeth did not dare look in Miss Bingley’s direction for fear of laughing at whatever her expression might be.
As Miss Darcy began a complicated sonata, Elizabeth said, “Your sister plays very well. She has a great talent.”
“Music is her first love, though she does not care to exhibit.”
“She does not perform for strangers either?” Elizabeth teased.
Mr. Darcy replied with a grin. “You find yourself at the mercy of hosts quite ill-at-ease with new people.”
“I cannot say that is true. You have spoken with my aunt and uncle at great length.”
“Your aunt’s connection to the area makes her very easy to converse with. And your uncle…. We found many topics of mutual interest. I have invited him to join me, along with Bingley and Hurst, to go fishing tomorrow morning.”
Elizabeth beamed, pleased that Mr. Darcy had been delighted with some of her relations for whom she had no reason to blush.
“My aunt and I had planned to call upon Miss Darcy tomorrow. We shall time our call to coincide with your fishing plans.”
“I know Georgiana would be pleased to have you come.”
“Pray, Miss Eliza,” Miss Bingley called from across the room. “Are the militia still quartered in Meryton?”
“No, Miss Bingley, they are in Brighton for the summer.”
“What a loss for your family. I know you had some particular friends among their number. But did you not say Miss Lydia was in Brighton? How fortunate for her. She will be entertained by officers to her heart’s content.”
“She is visiting her friend, Mrs. Forster. You may remember the colonel’s wife?”
“Oh yes, she was Miss Lydia’s age, was she not? Hardly a suitable chaperone for one with your sister’s high spirits. Why, if you are not careful, Miss Lydia will beat you to the altar.”
“I had not considered marriage a race to be won,” Elizabeth said.
“No, of course not, but then you have such limited options. Why ’tis no wonder you encouraged the attentions of Mr. Wickham.”
Miss Darcy faltered at the piano, but Elizabeth did not dare look in her direction. Mrs. Gardiner apologized for failing to turn the page and placed her hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“You are mistaken, Miss Bingley. Speaking to others at a gathering is simply my habit and need not indicate an interest in matrimony—though I now understand your reluctance to converse in Hertfordshire. I have nothing against officers, but I would prefer a more settled life.” Elizabeth rose and walked to the pianoforte.
“Miss Darcy, are you ready for our duet?” she asked. The girl mumbled something unintelligible as Elizabeth changed the music sheets and sat next to her, shielding her from the rest of the room.
“Hold your head up and compose yourself while I sing,” Elizabeth said quietly, squeezing her knee. Georgiana spared Elizabeth a miserable glance. “Do not concern yourself so. I do not allow Miss Bingley to bother me, no matter what track her spite takes. I am sorry she has upset you in her desire to wound me.” Georgiana looked back nervously as she considered this, blinking a few times to clear her eyes and sitting straighter.
Elizabeth could still feel the strain radiating from the younger girl, but Miss Darcy managed to compose herself well enough. Elizabeth wished there was more she could offer her, but as her new acquaintance, the girl was unaware her brother had told Elizabeth how Wickham had tried to run off with her for her fortune, and Elizabeth hesitated to say anything more. Hopefully, exhibiting thus would allow Miss Darcy to avoid speaking to anyone as she composed herself.
As she sang, Elizabeth watched Mr. Darcy walk to the sideboard for a drink. His jaw twitched when he noticed the Bingley sisters snickering behind their fans, and then turned his attention to Elizabeth. He mouthed a silent, “Thank you.” Elizabeth gave a slight nod before returning her attention to the others.
Recognizing Love
by Lizzy Brandon
Secrets will surface...
Accepting Mr. Darcy’s proposal and allowing him to assume a love she does not yet feel pains Miss Elizabeth Bennet but she is certain she can love him…in time. After all of the miseries he endured to salvage her youngest sister’s reputation, how could she not come to love such a man?
Unfortunately, Lady Catherine arrives, bringing even thornier complications. With the many objections Darcy’s family will have regarding his marriage to the daughter of an unremarkable country squire, what more trouble can Lady Catherine stir up should she learn Elizabeth’s secret?
In this Pride and Prejudice romance variation, what will Mr. Darcy do when he learns his beloved has accepted him although her heart is not engaged?
by Lizzy Brandon
Secrets will surface...
Accepting Mr. Darcy’s proposal and allowing him to assume a love she does not yet feel pains Miss Elizabeth Bennet but she is certain she can love him…in time. After all of the miseries he endured to salvage her youngest sister’s reputation, how could she not come to love such a man?
Unfortunately, Lady Catherine arrives, bringing even thornier complications. With the many objections Darcy’s family will have regarding his marriage to the daughter of an unremarkable country squire, what more trouble can Lady Catherine stir up should she learn Elizabeth’s secret?
In this Pride and Prejudice romance variation, what will Mr. Darcy do when he learns his beloved has accepted him although her heart is not engaged?
Buy: Amazon US • Amazon UK
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About the Author
Lizzy Brandon once attempted to switch sections of a Brit Lit course after seeing Pride and Prejudice on the reading list. How could a book with such a boring title possibly compete with Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, or Frankenstein? Luckily, her request was denied and she was introduced to Jane Austen’s amazing world of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Years later, Lizzy was thrilled to discover the world of Pride and Prejudice sequels and variations where her favorite characters could live on with countless adventures. After enjoying reading variations for years, she decided to try writing her own.
Connect with Lizzy Brandon
Blog Tour Schedule
From Pemberley to Milton: September 13
Jane Austen Book Club: September 15
Babblings of a Bookworm: September 17
Just Jane 1813: September 18
So Little Time: September 20
My Love for Jane Austen: September 22
Diary of an Eccentric: September 24
Austenesque Reviews: September 26
More Agreeably Engaged: September 28
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It's giveaway time! For this blog tour, Lizzy is generously giving away 3 paperback copies of Recognizing Love and 3 $10 Amazon eGift Cards! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!
- One prize per winner.
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A big THANK YOU to Lizzy for visiting with us today, her very generous giveaway, and including me on her blog tour!!
What did you think? I like the starting point of this variation! I am looking forward to reading it! How about you?
Please, leave a comment for Lizzy!
I'm a big variation fan, too, Candy. I love seeing the clever 'what if's people ask and answer when they come up with their stories. Darcy coming to the aid of the Bennets is a good one and I love seeing it unfold in this excerpt because seeing Lizzy come to Georgie's help is one of my favorite parts of P&P.
ReplyDeleteHey, Sophia Rose! Yes, I love the "What if?" questions, for sure! :) I also love in this scene how Darcy notices how coolly Lizzy handles the situation and thanks her for it!
DeleteParticularly in P & P, there are so many points at which the story can take a different turn and one of the things I love about Austenesque fiction is the inventive way in which our lovely authors come up with them, branching off from canon at a very specific place in the story.
ReplyDeleteThis excerpt is so lovely and you can feel Elizabeth's wanting/not wanting Darcy to repeat his proposal right now. I remember ao well the similar scene in the 1995 dramatisation and they way Elizabeth rescues Georgiana from the effects Miss Bingley's cattiness towards herself. Indeed, I had all of the performers in mind as I read it.
Many thanks!
Hello Anji! Yes! I agree with you! It's amazing to see all the different and creative ways authors change the course of the story.
DeleteThis is a lovely scene!
Thank you for stopping by! :)
I agree with Anji's assessment. There are so many jumping points from P&P that authors can choose to focus on compared to sequels which limits an author's directions. That could be one of the reasons why there are more variations published on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteI think I've read the excerpt before somewhere on one of the other blogs. But thanks for sharing it anyway, Candy. It refreshes my memory and make me eager to read this book.