Frantically posting chapters to get to the first “hot” scene for you all before the preorder hits at 5 PM 🙂Â
XOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 14- If Mr. Darcy Dared
The first Sunday of December 1811 foretold great promise in the new year for two young couples. Parson Nichols finished his sermon on charity for the impoverished and held a piece of parchment in his old, shaky hands. It was rare for the village of Meryton to have two weddings so close to each other, though on occasion this occurred when one of the matches included a local soldier. Uncertain times of war hurried many a young man to select a bonny wife to keep waiting for him at home.
“I have this morning the distinct pleasure of reading the banns in regards to two couples,” Parson Nichols bellowed. Despite the cold weather, the packed pews listened to every word and expectation hung in the air. A collective murmur with nodding rippled through the parishioners.
“I publish the banns of Jane Bennet of Hertfordshire and Charles Bingley, originally of Scarborough. This is the first time of asking. If any of you know cause of just impediment why these two people should not be joined in Holy Matrimony, you are to declare it!”
Parson Nichols licked his lips and studied the paper again in his hands.
“I publish the banns of Charlotte Lucas of Hertfordshire and Parson William Collins of Kent…”
A shared gasp escaped the small contingency of matchmaking mothers that frequented the Bennet parlor. Many had expected the announcement of Jane and Mr. Bingley, but where was the announcement for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy?
As Elizabeth Bennet sat in the pew next to Mr. Darcy, she felt as though all eyes turned to look at them, whispering their judgments to their nearest relative. Ever so carefully, Mr. Darcy’s gloved hand lightly brushed against Elizabeth’s side, and she exhaled the breath she had not realized she had been holding.
The only distraction Elizabeth could find was the surprising announcement of her friend, Charlotte Lucas, accepting the suit of her blackguard cousin, Mr. Collins. She had not seen much of Mr. Collins in the days after the ball, but her thoughts and concerns had also been elsewhere. She supposed he must have pursued Charlotte after she left the ballroom, or perhaps even the following day. She couldn’t be sure and thought it would be a safe discussion to have with her dearest friend after services concluded.
Chapter 14 - If Mr. Darcy Dared (cont'd)
Once excused to the churchyard, Elizabeth walked a reasonable distance away from the doors so as not to be waylaid by any inquisitive neighbors as to the nature of her engagement with Mr. Darcy. She relied on her mother to share loudly and clearly as was her typical behavior that Jane was to marry first. Her second daughter would marry in the spring from London, with the exalted respect of a special license, perhaps from the Archbishop himself!
Although she should not feel so, Elizabeth felt utterly humiliated. A lump of emotion settled in her throat as part of her heart wished that her name had been announced in the church where she was baptized. The wave of jealousy she felt towards Jane and Charlotte aggravated her as much as it affected her. She had not realized that she had walked perhaps too far a distance from where the carriages and congregation milled until Mr. Darcy called her name.
“Elizabeth!” he said into the wind, causing her to turn around. “Do you intend to walk all the way back to Longbourn?” he asked.
Elizabeth looked between the sanctuary and then over the horizon where she knew her father’s house lay. In warmer weather, she and her sisters had not hesitated to walk the half mile back to Longbourn, but she was expected to ride in the carriage with her family.
And walking alone with Mr. Darcy back home would serve little purpose but increase the wagging tongues. It would doubly settle him with nothing but the difficulty of borrowing a Bennet carriage back to Netherfield.
“I believe my feet have carried me without my regard.” She accepted his arm, and he began to lead her back toward the groupings of families that had just shared a Sunday morning together. They had only reached the fringes of the churchyard when Charlotte Lucas approached her friend.
“Please do not be cross with me, Lizzy. I had so wished to tell you, but there was no time, you see,” Charlotte blurted out her confession to Elizabeth’s bewilderment. She looked up at Mr. Darcy and then back to her friend.
“I can feel nothing but happiness for you if you are indeed happy with the match.”
Charlotte gave a quick look to Mr. Darcy then back to her friend. What they might have shared in private could not be so with a gentleman present. “We are not all so lucky as to be romantic. But I do hope you and Mr. Darcy will come to the wedding? Unfortunately, it will not be as soon as Jane’s because Mr. Collins must return to his parsonage for a time. But come the middle of January I shall have to sign my name differently, I suppose,” Charlotte said.
Elizabeth frowned but pulled her arm free of Mr. Darcy to grasp her friend’s hands to convey sadness as well. “I’m afraid I might be in London. Will you remain here in Hertfordshire after your wedding?” Elizabeth asked, not entirely sure how such an arrangement could be made. Mr. Collins only inherited Longbourn if Elizabeth’s father should unexpectedly die. And as there were to be hopefully many years before that unfortunate event, she could not see room for them at the cramped Lucas Lodge.
Charlotte shook her head.
“No, we are to settle in Kent. My husband will continue his work in the church. But oh!” Charlotte realized, covering her hand with her mouth in surprise. “His patroness is none other than your aunt. After you and Mr. Darcy are married, I am sure to see you when you come to visit her!”
Mr. Darcy stood stoically as the two young women shared a squeal of delight and realized that their friendship might not have to be severed upon marriage as was common for young women who married outside of their home county. He did not have the heart to explain to Elizabeth he only visited Rosings at Easter, and this year he would be inordinately busy with the duties that befall a new husband. He did not see a visit to Aunt Catherine’s imposing abode as a suitable wedding trip for his bride. But perhaps at the end of summer, after they were more settled. He would dearly love to introduce Elizabeth to his cousin Anne, who would find it highly amusing that a misunderstanding regarding her led the steadfast Fitzwilliam Darcy to kiss a maiden in the middle of a ballroom.
Just as Charlotte was called after by Mr. Collins and her family, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth began to walk towards the Bennet family. Elizabeth sighed and gently leaned her head against Mr. Darcy’s bicep, finding herself inherently vexed by this engagement business when it had only been but a few days.
Chapter 14 - If Mr. Darcy Dared (cont'd)
Some of Colonel Forster’s regiment had elected to attend services in the village church rather than those offered by the chaplain in camp. Lieutenant Denny, who was a standard fixture in or around Kitty’s person, regaled both Mary and Kitty with some tale of bravery. To Elizabeth’s dismay, Lydia stood solely engaged in speaking to Lieutenant Wickham.
As they approached, she felt Fitzwilliam’s arm tense.
“Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy,” Wickham addressed them directly with a bow. “Miss Lydia here was just sharing with me your happy news. For a time I wondered where the beguiling charms of Miss Elizabeth Bennet might befall if a poor soldier were not so, but alas, we cannot dwell on what was not to be. Though, I did not hear your names spoken with the banns.”
Neither Elizabeth nor Mr. Darcy wished to speak to Mr. Wickham. Saving them from giving him the cut direct, Lydia spoke up in a parroting fashion of her mother’s exuberance.
“La! Lizzy is to get married in London with a special license. First Jane,” Lydia enumerated on a pointed finger, then moved to the next finger, “then Lizzy,” and then she pointed to a third finger and batted her eyelashes. “And then, who knows which one of us will be next?” She finished with a giggle and Elizabeth, feeling her stomach begin to churn most violently at her sister’s wanton flirting, was the first to step away, leading Mr. Darcy to follow her.
Less than a step later, Mr. Darcy regained his role of escort and
led Elizabeth to the Bennet carriage, giving a nod to her father.
“Say goodbye Elizabeth. And no caterwauling, I have it under good authority that your mother has invited Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy to no less than three dinners this week, and Jane has mentioned something of an invitation to lunch with Miss Bingley on Wednesday,” Mr. Bennet said dryly. Mr. Bennet scrunched up his nose in the direction of Jane and Mr. Bingley. The invitation had to have come from Mr. Bingley as Miss Bingley had not attended services that morning, nor her sister Mrs. Hurst or her husband.
Elizabeth’s heart began to lighten at the news that she would not be so long without her intended, and as Mr. Darcy assisted her into the carriage, very few words passed between them. He was still angry about Mr. Wickham, and Elizabeth began to feel that she enjoyed Fitzwilliam’s company much more when they were alone than when they both had to perform their expected parts in a crowd.
You’ve been reading . . . If Mr. Darcy Dared, a work in progress by Elizabeth Ann West.
Available for Preorder now!
If Mr. Darcy Dared
a Pride and Prejudice variation novel
Direct Preorder Release Date: March 23, 2018
Wide preorder: March 30, 2018
As Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy prepare for the Netherfield Ball, a gentlemen’s challenge develops between them to secure their future happiness . . . with the two eldest Bennet sisters! But when things do not go as expected for Mr. Darcy, Hertfordshire society is in an uproar over the pursuit of one of their favorite daughters by such a wealthy gentleman.Â
Despite being claimed by Mr. Darcy as his future bride, Elizabeth Bennet has no plans to wed the proud and disdainful Mr. Darcy, no matter what her father says! At her sister’s urging, she agrees to give him a chance, if only for Jane’s sake. But there are others with an interest in breaking a match between Fitzwilliam Darcy and some country miss. . .
The stakes are high and romance strong as two of Jane Austen’s most beloved characters dare to declare their feelings, dare to defy family, and dare to trust each other!
If Mr. Darcy Dared is a steamy romance for fans of Elizabeth Ann West’s other works, especially those readers who love their drama cranked to a ten!Â
Available March 30th on these fine vendors (more added as links become available)
+ 23 additional Pride & Prejudice variations are available at these fine retailers . . .
A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 8 novels and 11 novellas, 18 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
Oh Wickham, butt out!!! No one wants you there, well except for Lydia and she shouldn’t count, she’s just a foolish little girl!!!
Hope Wickham leaves Meryton and away from Lydia Maybe Mr, Bennet can ask Col . Foster to have him transferred and remove Lydia from his presence
Oh, Lydia. She likes to talk to anyone that will listen.
Hard to believe a father who had been warned about Wickham’s misdeeds wouldn’t have forbidden his daughters from having anything to do with him.