{"id":2200,"date":"2018-01-22T19:02:36","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T00:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2200"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:53:44","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:53:44","slug":"chapter-5-if-mr-darcy-dared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-5-if-mr-darcy-dared\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 5 If Mr. Darcy Dared"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\u00a0The day after Christmas, I received terrible news that my grandfather was in ICU. Thankfully, he has pulled through, but I spent 2.5 weeks unplanned just north of Chicago where I was born and then came home to upstate NY to promptly fall sick with that nasty cold\/flu thing that is going around. Today is the first day I am feeling human again, and as a result of the travel and illness, the direct preorder of this book was moved to end of February (all people with orders were notified last week), and as soon as I have a complete draft, I will post links to other vendors’ preorders at $9.99 (Amazon, Kobo, Google, iTunes, Nook. paperback). The direct preorder is still only $7.99 and you will get the book 1 week before anyone else. Thank you so much for all of your support!<\/span><\/h2>

XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chapter 5 - If Mr. Darcy Dared<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With the addition of Mr. Collins to the Bennet household, attending the ball at Netherfield Park required two carriages. Mrs. Bennet proclaimed their older carriage too shabby for service, and she arranged with her sister Phillips for them to call upon Longbourn with their carriage from Meryton on their way to the ball. As Mrs. Bennet, Jane, Lydia, Kitty, and Mr. Collins boarded the first carriage, Elizabeth had hung back to make sure there was no room for her. Sadly, this meant not riding with her favorite sister, but it also spared Elizabeth from riding with her mother and Mr. Collins. Instead, she joined her aunt and uncle\u2019s carriage with her father and Mary.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

“My eyes may yet deceive me, but from your expression I would think you unhappy for this evening’s activities, Lizzy, and I fear that it is only I who plan to be disappointed,” Mr. Bennet gently teased his favorite daughter to hide the fact he felt concerned.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders as Mary tried to engage their father, but Mr. Bennet was not to be dissuaded.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Elizabeth Constance, if you frown any harder I’m afraid you might make your Aunt Phillips cry. What vexes you daughter? Is it this business about dancing with Mr. Collins first?” Mr. Bennet tried again and once more, Elizabeth remained silent as Mary piped up.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

“But I am to dance the first set with him! She engaged Mr. Darcy for the first.” Mary beamed in a rare display of girlish youth compared to her solemn disposition when she was quoting sermons and Scripture.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Sitting between her sister and her father, Elizabeth shrank back against the bench, wishing with all of her mind that she might disappear entirely from the carriage and be excused from the evening\u2019s folly. But no such power rested within her hands.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mr. Bennet rubbed his chin as he pleasantly engaged in discussion with his brother by marriage about the recent encampment of the militia in their small village. Uncle Phillips expressed concern that more than a few merchants had visited his office that afternoon. A number of the soldiers appeared to be spending beyond their means and with the announcement that the regiment would move on come spring, many held worry that they would not be paid their portion when the quarterly pay came in. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cThose who are worried should act by comparing accounts of soldiers in their stores and denying further credit. More than one village has felt the sting of unpaid debts when a unit moves on.\u201d Mr. Bennet gave his counsel remembering the last time Meryton had been selected for such an honor, though Mr. Phillips had yet to come to clerk under old Mr. Timmons, may he rest in peace.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

As Elizabeth listened to her father and uncle, her conversation with Lieutenant Wickham came to mind. She felt cross with herself that she did not bring up the contents of his complaints against Mr. Darcy when she interviewed him that afternoon, but perhaps her father had wise words to share. She was about join the conversation when her Aunt Phillips shared an ominous piece of information.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

“And while Colonel Forster and some of his officers plan to attend, I’m afraid your girls will be upset to learn that their favorite, Mr. Wickham, will not be able to delight us with his presence.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Without helping herself, Elizabeth interjected. “I bet it was Mr. Darcy’s doing. He hates Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth said to the bewildered looks of the three elder patrons in the carriage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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