Hi Readers! We are so happy to be reading Mr. Darcy’s Noble Connections together with you!
Today is a discussion of CHAPTERS 1-5, so if you know anything that happens beyond those chapters, we ask that you don’t mention it here! NO spoilers, please!
Participating in today’s discussion earns you an entry towards our Group Read Giveaway (you can earn 7 entries in all!)
Without further ado, here are some questions Team Austenesuqe and Abigail Reynolds would like to ask you.
You can answer any or all of them if you like, please just be sure to specify, with numbers, which question(s) you are answering in the comment section.
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Question 1: What is your initial impression of this novel so far? What do you think of the setting? What do you think of the new characters: Lady Eleanor, Lord Charles, and Geoffery Paxton?
Question 2: Let’s talk a little about Darcy and Elizabeth meeting in this new setting. When they are away from Meryton, which character traits do you see change? What do you think would have happen if they met first at Bentham Park instead of Meryton?
Question 3: In this novel, so far, we’ve seen a lot of talk about ton manners and manipulations, especially the deceptive and desperate practice of “entrapping” a husband or wife. Have you ever heard of or read about entrapment in another novel?
Question 4: How interesting to learn that Elizabeth spent a lot of her formative years at Bentham Park. How do you think Elizabeth’s invitations and education affected the rest of the Bennet family? What do suppose the Bennets thought when Elizabeth stopped receiving invitations to Bentham Park?
Question 5: Darcy and Elizabeth share another dance – this time it is a waltz! What are some similarities and differences between this dance and their first dance at the Netherfield Ball.
Question 6: In this variation we that Darcy experiences migraines. Can you see that as a possibility in Pride and Prejudice? During which scenes in Jane Austen’s novel do you think Darcy could have been suffering from a migrane?
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We look forward to continuing this discussion with you tomorrow with CHAPTERS 6-9.
*Reminder: Vote on a time for our LIVE CHAT with Abigail Reynolds to take place (if you haven’t already), we will be closing the poll tomorrow night.
1) I like the new characters! But I tend to enjoy it when authors create original characters! I like the friendship Elizabeth and Eleanor share. I am still curious and intrigued by Lord Charles. Now that he knows the truth of his actions surrounding Mary Lynley, will he change his ways some? I am also diverted by his Henry Crawfordish ways. Oh, and Lady Bentham is something else. I am looking forward to seeing more of her. I hope she gets something coming to her. (evil, I know).
2) I think if they would have met in Bentham Park instead of Meryton Darcy would have still been as aloof and haughty…trying not to fall prey to any lady’s entrapment or raise expectations. However, I think once he got to know Lizzy in that setting, he would still have been in as much danger of falling for her as ever.
4) It doesn’t sound like Lizzy’s exposure to a more sophisticated family and the ton have had much affect upon her family. It still sounds as if Lydia and Kitty are just as silly and flirtatious as ever. We are told, however, that her father was glad for her education she received. He can now appreciate her and have lively conversations with at least one of his children.
5) I enjoyed that Lizzy even thought the dance was more intimate than her dance with him at Netherfield. I hope, after her feelings for him change and they are both in love, they are given another chance to dance the waltz and really enjoy the pleasures of being held so close in each other’s arms.
6) Ha! Darcy would surely suffer migraines in any scene which would place him in a crowded room having to bear Caroline Bingley or Mrs. Bennet’s incessant chatter. No, seriously tough, the Meryton assembly, his dealings with Wickham and his sister, and after Lizzy’s refusal of his proposal.
I’m enjoying the friendship between Eleanor and Elizabeth too!
Chapters #1-5 Jen Red Hey Abigail, Great book & Thanks to Meredith!
1. First Impression: I love how you start off with the JA Quote, “”You cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been always at Longbourn.” As I read through the first 5 chapters, I found myself going back to that phrase several times. When I first read P&P I just supposed that Darcy meant Lizzy would want something better than what she had been used to. In this story, I am thinking that since Lizzy is so different from her immediate family, she must have been exposed to a finer way of life. And being friends with Lady Eleanor and having been friends of her family when she was younger proves that. My initial reaction to the new characters: Lady Eleanor is lively and adventurous, much like Lizzy so I can see why they have a friendship. Lord Charles is disgusting and somehow reminds me of Wickham with his smooth talk and roving eyes. I thought I would gag when he made the bet. He is very forward in his teaching of the waltz and Lady Eleanor, although she loves her brother, warns Lizzy. He is very different from his father who is really old school and definitely loves his traditions and connections. The fact that Lady Eleanor says her father would rather see her dead than marry beneath her says it all. So far, I think that Geoffery Paxton is a more refined version of Bingley. However, unlike Bingley he does not need Darcy’s opinion for each and every move.
2. So, Darcy & Lizzy’s first meeting. How fun that you had both of them relate some of their inner feelings before they realized that they would be meeting each other in this new setting. Both were private in their words about the other, never revealing names, yet both left the impressions with their friends that there was more to the story. As for the first meeting, don’t forget that Lizzy said to Eleanor, “Can you imagine how humiliating it would be to encounter him again? I would be mortified. He knows what a blind fool I was.” Great foreshadowing, not to mention that Darcy told Paxton, “she detests me.” This is a perfect setup for a comedy of errors with the two lovers wanting to pass D&L off as part of their charade. So the actual meeting: Darcy – “What would Elizabeth Bennet be doing among such elevated company?” He may be lovesick but he is still a snob. Although when he saw her dancing with Lord Charles and put 2+2 together, I’m surprised that he didn’t want to punch him out. As for Lizzy – she was caught off guard & “surprised.” Still I’m glad that they danced and he warned her about Chuck! Fun thinking about how they will pull off their roles of chaperones. Oh yes, now if they had first met at Bentham Park instead of Meryton, he may have been friendlier, but would have still looked down because of her connections.
3. “Entrapment in another novel.” Well, I couldn’t say which stories, but there have certainly been plenty whether on the forums or just published where Caroline tries to compromise Darcy into marriage. I’m always happy when she fails on that one.
4. How could Elizabeth’s education and invitations affect the rest of the family? Well most likely jealousy on the part of the younger sisters and perhaps some loathing on the part of her mother, as she was not “pretty or cleaver enough to keep her invites going and capture a man who could save the family from the hedgerows.”
5. The Dance! Well, both are embarrassed yet feel some attraction to one another. They at least have more conversation and even have an apology. Too bad she didn’t take his word about Lord Charles too seriously. Anyway, it was a great icebreaker in my opinion.
Yes!! I love the quote too! And I love how Abigail can dream up a whole novel based off of one nugget of an idea!
And good comparison of Bingley and Paxton – I didn’t think of that! 🙂
I agree! I love it when Caroline’s attempts to entrap Darcy fail! Ha! 🙂
love that they meet at Bentham — he sees her and is not reminded of her unfortunate mother and younger sisters at every turn. She might even feel a bit more on a level playing field with him there as she is quite at home in such familar surroundings.
4) anytyime given the opportunity to travel or experience something greater than your norm, one can’t help but elevate own behavior and understanding to that of the surrounding world and society. Of course, when the invitations stop coming for Lizzy, MrsBennet would assume Lizzy’s pert comments and manners must have alienated her.
6) surely Darcy was suffering from a migraine when he and Lizzy sat silently together in the Netherfield library. (Christina Boyd)
Sorry you had trouble logging in to comment, Christina! Thank you for trying again!
Great point! Maybe the cessation of invitations to Bentham Park could be a big reason of why Elizabeth is her least favorite daughter. She might blame her for her daughters’ lack of prospects.
Lord Charles is a very interesting character. He shows how little power women had during the regency era.
Or do they?
It is very interesting that the one thing, being seen as ‘compromised’ is the one thing that can also give you power, aka ‘compromising’ yourself to catch a husband. As flighty as Mrs. Bennet may be about getting eligible husbands for her daughters, she seems to have much more integrity than those who are living in Bentham Park. For however she seems to be, she would never have her daughters to anything nefarious to secure their futures.
One thing about the secondary characters – Abigail’s removal from Meryton really puts me in the mind of Downton Abbey. And saying that, as much as I enjoy the show, I really ‘like’ few of the upstairs characters. They cannot let go of their connection to the ‘ton’ enough to be someone that I would root for as an individual character. It’s the interplay that makes it interesting. I find the same thing with the story so far. I really don’t like any of them, but I sure want to see where the story ends up.
Hmmm…all of a sudden I’m in the mood to waltz….I wonder why…
A waltz with Darcy sounds heavenly, right?
This estate and Downton Abbey are both in Yorkshire, right? I wonder if this was intentional… 😉
Good point about Mrs. Bennet, Angie. I really don’t think readers give her enough credit in some cases.
Question 1: I got drawn into the novel from the beginning. I enjoyed it right from the start, when Lizzie arrives and the butler needed to check if Lady Eleanor was at home. I love all the insights into Lizzies (and later Darcies too) heads.
As well as getting acquainted with all the new characters. I love Lady Eleanor. I see her a bit like a mixture between Lizzie and Georgiana. Lord Charles is he perfect rake, but I do believe he has a heart too – wondering how his story continues. And Geoffrey Paxton is just sweet. He seems so devoted to his Lady – lovely.
Question 2: Lizzie must have looked a lot „grander“ than when meeting her at home in Longbourn, since the Lady of the house insists on her wearing all the second-best gowns of Lady Eleanor. So Darcy seeing Lizzie there for the first time might have turned the story, I imagine. Darcy seems not so much different to me. The one difference I noticed is, that, while he can be as reserved as in Meryton, on the other hand he knows the place he is visiting a lot better – and therefore appears a bit less „grand and forlorn“ like in Meryton (I always see the P&P Keira Knightley-version before my eyes, and Darcys look on entering the Meryton assembly 😀 😀 – horror an migraine :D)
Question 3: Miss Elliot!! She, for me, is the perfect example for someone I´d suspect of planning an entrapment. And Caroline Bingley might too, if she were really, really desperate.
And a wounded heart like Capt. Wentworths might be in danger of finding oneself in a situation of entrapment without notice, while I wouldn´t say Capt. Wentworth would be someone naive enough to not, under usual circumstances, see through a planning like that. Good, that Austen decided he and Anne would end happily together in the end .
Question 4: I would say Jane would have been very eager to praise Lizzies achievements and to learn from her, despite being the older of the two. Lydia (and Kitty), I imagine, would not have been so taken by the fact that they didn´t receive the attention as well hehe.
All of Meryton would have known of Lizzies stay at Bentham Park instantly, I suspect, as it would have been a wonderful thing for Mrs. Bennet to chat about.
Question 5: On intensity I´d say they are head-to-head. The waltz seems so much more scandalous, then the dance at Meryton. I loved the fact that it was Darcys first waltz in public too, which is a big difference to Meryton. Darcy might not enjoy dancing a lot on balls, but he certainly couldn´t always deny dancing.
Question 6:
My first thought was: „Aah, that does make sense!“ (also Mr.Bennets retreating to the library so often.) I do like the idea of looking at the Meryton assembly, that Darcy was the way he was because of a migraine. I can see that Caroline Bingleys constant trying to make a perfect-wife-to-be appearance for Mr. Darcy wouldn´t be helpful against migraines too ;).
Great point, Mr. Bennet’s lack of social exertions could be very well explained and forgiven if he suffered from migraines!
Oh, I like your point about Mr. Darcy seeing Lizzy at Bentham park for the first time rather than Meryton. He might have thought she was better off financially and had better connections given her dress and that she was at such an elevated party. Good point, Katrin! 🙂
I too like that it was Darcy’s first waltz in public, even though he knows how to dance it. What a special dance for them. And I like how Lizzy compares her feelings during each dance: the one with Charles and the one with Darcy.
1) Well, so far I am enjoying it very much, although I could have given Lizzy a shake, she has gone straight from misjudging Wickham to misjudging somebody else despite being told and told and told, gaah! I thought it was very sweet when she was imagining herself in a Shakespeare play getting married to Mr Darcy 🙂
I like Lady Eleanor a lot, she seems lively and likeable, like Lizzy, and I feel bad for her that she has been controlled so much. I know that was probably likely for a young lady of the Ton but I still feel bad for her. I liked the way that she has been looking out for her friend. Lord Charles I do not like, the callous indifference to the ladies (and by extension families) that he has ruined makes me feel sick! There were plenty of options for a young man out for flirtation or even more, ruining somebody’s life just for fun is appalling. I also had suspicions about him and his stepmother before he mentioned an attachment between them prior to her getting married to his father. Another thing that makes me suspicious of him is this whole deal with his brother. Darcy believes Edward didn’t cheat, why is Charles so sure he did? Fishy. I wonder how things will go with him now Lizzy is not likely to be so accommodating of his flirtation? I hope he doesn’t set out to take some petty revenge. Geoffrey I like, he seems like a lovely bloke.
2) I think this setting is interesting, because Lizzy will be able to see the difference in their status even more sharply here. Also, many of the ton characters don’t seem that nice, which will always make D look better.
3) I’ve read stories with entrapments in them but I personally wonder how often they happened in reality. Once you were married as a woman you were completely under your husband’s power, would you really want to start it off like this? He could make your life a misery, and there was the option to divorce you later, once he’d taken possession of whatever dowry you had, he could then ruin you with a divorce and although he would be hurt socially he would be hurt less than a woman. You would have thought that a man would get more out of an entrapping a woman.
4) I am not sure it would have changed them all that much, but it makes you wonder how much it would have formed Lizzy’s character. Would she have been more Lydia-esque without this intervention?
5) I felt sorry for them when they were dancing to be honest. Because this was a dance where they couldn’t take a minute to compose themselves it must have been hard to keep it together, uncomfortable for both of them, but good because they were forced to spend a bit of time together.
6) I can totally see the poor fella being subject to migraines, especially as a result of suppressing his temper. I bet you Miss Bingley would bring on his migraines too 🙂
Interesting points you bring up about entrapments! I can’t suppose a husband would be very forgiving if he found out he was a victim of entrapment! And very true about the woman being in his power!
I agree with you, Ceri. I could not believe how Lizzy would not heed Mr. Darcy’s advice about Lord Charles after all the have been through and he has told her, and how he proved wrong her beliefs about Wickham. Ugh is right! 😉
I am quite enjoying Abigail’s allusion to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare here and seeing all the parallels between the two. It is quite fun, especially since it is my favorite Shakespeare play. 🙂
Love the idea of a group read – thanks for organising it Meredith, and Abigail, thanks for yet another great read!
1. Love the setting, and the premise that, unbeknownst to Darcy, Elizabeth has moved in far more elevated circles than he could possibly imagine! The new characters that Abigail creates are beautifully developed, with a life of their own, and it’s great to see new creations interacting seamlessly with Jane Austen’s originals. I find Lady Eleanor absolutely charming, particularly as (like all Jane Austen’s characters worth their salt) she is able to see value where others don’t and is not judging people on the sole basis of their ancestry, and that applies both to Elizabeth and Mr. Paxton. I don’t know whether this was Abigail’s intention, but Eleanor seems to me an Elizabeth with greater chances in life and better prospects yet, unlike Elizabeth, despite all advantages she has acquired by birth, Eleanor has not developed yet the strength of her own opinions – and it’s very reassuring to see how she responds to Elizabeth’s beneficial influence (which of course is anathema to Lady Bentham). I like Mr. Paxton very much as well. Again, not sure if the parallel is intentional, but I see him as a much stronger Bingley. A man whose fortune originates in trade and, like Bingley, he is not ashamed of it. However, very much unlike Bingley, Mr. Paxton is undoubtedly his own person, not readily influenced by others and not at all disposed to give up his chance for happiness just because he is told he ought to. As for Lord Charles, he does bring Henry Crawford to mind, both with his vicious propensities but even more so with the occasional gesture that shows he is not evil (not Wickham-evil, I mean) and, under the beneficial influence of a good woman, there might be shreds of a better nature underneath his selfish desire to satisfy selfish pleasures. So far, there are even hints that he might just be a better man than Crawford, as he seems genuinely affected by the information his sister gave him regarding the fate of one of his discarded conquests.
2. I think an initial meeting at Bentham rather than Meryton would have removed an awful lot of the P&P angst. For starters, no embarrassing relations around, to put Darcy off. No Mrs Bennet and no Lydia to put spanners in the works – that’s a blessing in itself, and the very notion of Darcy having a first encounter with Elizabeth in an environment which sets off her best qualities and removes what he could perceive as drawbacks to a connection might have made him a lot less likely to appear to her as haughty and proud. Also, no Wickham to blacken his character, and no opportunity for Darcy to look like he was working against Jane’s best interests – so all in all, a perfect opportunity for Darcy to fall head over heels in love without giving the impression of ungentlemanly behaviour. I think her lack of dowry and connections would still have given him pause regarding a proposal, but the proposal itself might have been less insensitive, falling on far less inauspicious ground and therefore more acceptable.
6. I absolutely adored the migraine scene in the ruins! It must be part of the old romantic notion that nothing makes a strong man more attractive than the occasional moment of weakness – and I found it particularly adorable when Darcy thought the very opposite: “This was not how he wished to appear to her – weak and in pain.” Silly man, and such a perfect scene! Migraine in the original P&P? The Meryton assembly of course, possibly when Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Lydia come to Netherfield when Jane is ill (never could understand why Jane Austen made Elizabeth think it would be a good idea to ask her mother to come over!!!) and after Hunsford, no doubt!
Once again, thanks for this, and looking forward to tomorrow!
I like your character comparisons, Joana! Very shrewd!
I totally agree with you about the migraines! Great answer!!
Thanks for taking part, Joana! Thrilled to have you!
I like your thoughts about Darcy’s migraines! I always find it so romantic whenever Lizzy is able to help nurse a sick Darcy. And this is one of the many areas Abigail does well (thinking of FD Last Man in the World).
I think the migraines are very plausible. I suspect, as others do, that migraines would come on in any stressful situation, and any situation in which there was a crowd or noise. That Lizzy jumped to give him comfort was so improper and yet, so very like Lizzy and exactly what Darcy would love about her.
It’s what we love about her too! I like that she brought him relief by holding his hands! 😉
Question 1: I am really liking the characters of Lady Eleanor and Geoffery Paxton. Lord Charles is a bit too flirty but still likable to some degree. As he seems to be the Wickham type but with more redeeming qualities, I hope he improves with better acquaintance. I am enjoying everything about the book.
Question 2: One of the things that I think would have changed would have been Darcy’s first impression of Elizabeth. He would not have seen her with her family and would have thought she had a different background. That might have made for a better start but he still would not have enjoyed the social gatherings at first. I would like to think he might be less haughty and arrogant. Lizzy might have enjoyed his attentions.
Question 3: I don’t recall having read about entrapment before. I can’t seem to think of any other times at the moment. It was a despicable practice. The ‘ton’ was so hard on people that they felt were beneath them yet they would stoop to a practice of the worst sort to entrap a marriage partner. Very contradictory indeed.
Question 4: Mrs. Bennet was probably very excited to have her daughter spending time at such a place and bragged sufficiently to all her neighbors. I’m sure Mr. Bennet missed her terribly but felt it in Lizzy’s best interest to have that exposure. When she stopped receiving the invitations, Mr. Bennet was most likely glad to have her around more but felt for her loss of friendship with Lady Eleanor. Mrs. Bennet surely blamed Lizzy for some imagined behavior to keep her from further invitations.
Question 5: The biggest difference is the waltz itself! How romantic for them to share such a dance. Poor Darcy was still so uptight but definitely enjoying it. Lizzy was enjoying it too, I am sure, even if she did feel frustration with the man himself. I loved this dance for them and was glad to see it happen, especially since Lizzy had danced a waltz with Lord Charles. Darcy just couldn’t let that pass! How lovely!
Question 6: Bless his heart! I can see him having many migraines in the original. I feel certain he would have had one at the Meryton Assembly. I am sure Caroline Bingley kept in an almost constant state of migraines when she was around. He probably had one at Netherfield after Sir William’s interruption of the dance with Lizzy, especially after listening to Mrs. Bennet rave on and on. After his disastrous proposal, seeing Wickham in Meryton, being around Lady Catherine at Hunsford,…just to name a few more times in no particular order!
I love that Darcy knew his dance with Elizabeth was to be a waltz and that he couldn’t let her dance another with Lord Charles!
So true about Caroline Bingley probably keeping him a constant state of migraines! 🙂 Poor Darcy!
I like your response to #1, Janet. I think the story would have been just as amusing if D&E didn’t know each other prior to their meeting at Bentham and then began falling in love. Like you said, he would have thought her from a different background.
Ha! I can easily picture Mrs. B making sure everyone knew just whom Lizzy was spending time with! 😉
Sorry to be late, been a long day…
Q1: Love the story being set somewhere completely new that has no association at all with the original story. It’s so refreshing and the perfect canvas for a host of new characters. I love the descriptions of Bentham Park (and thanks to Abigail’s photos, I love picturing Castle Howard as I read).
I like Geoffrey very much. Something feels just very upstanding and decent about him, but then as an old friend of Darcy’s that shouldn’t surprise me! Lord Charles is entertaining to read, very slick. Reminded me very much of Henry Crawford. Despite knowing of the bet, I can’t help but find something likeable in him. Lady Eleanor – couldn’t quite make my mind up in the opening chapters. She is clearly a lot of fun, and I can definitely see how and why she and Lizzy hit it off and became friends.
Q2: Elizabeth’s embarrassment is no longer for her family and their antics or her mother’s indiscreet conversation, it is with herself, mainly due to the circumstances of their last meeting.
Darcy seems unable to maintain his disapproval of her, even though he ‘talked the talk’ at first to Paxton over the woman who had rejected him. It did not take much for him to accept that she had just cause, and this seems to be doing battle within him alongside jealousy, a feeling I am not sure occurred back in Meryton at all.
Bentham Park instead of Meryton? It’s a tough question! On the one hand, without the poor connections noticeably on show, or the inappropriate conduct of her younger sisters, would Elizabeth have stood out as much as she did at home? Dressed in suitable finery and amongst several other well-dressed and well-behaved young women, what might have drawn Darcy to notice her at first? (Though of course, once he began to know her, her personality and wit would shine through as always). Would Darcy have refused to dance at a private country house party in the way he did in Meryton? I doubt it.
Q3: I have not read of entrapment in a novel, but have read of it in online fan fiction, usually on the part of Caroline Bingley!
Q4: As we know, the difference in demeanour and behaviour of the two eldest Miss Bennets is remarked upon in the original novel, and it is reflected in the way their characters react to the circumstances of the story. I love when an author writes a story that ‘explains’ how this could be, and that’s one of the things I really loved in the these opening chapters the slowly unfolding back story of how Lizzy came to be acquainted with Lady Eleanor.
I too could see Lydia in particular being jealous of her sister’s opportunities to dress up in such finery and stay in such a wonderful property. I think her father, though he must have missed her when she made any extended stay, would be pleased for her and the chance to improve her knowledge of the world.
When the invitations stopped, Mrs Bennet would no doubt assume Lizzy had been too impertinent and would berate her for losing her chance of securing a rich husband! Mr Bennet would be glad to have her home! I doubt Lydia has a brain cell large enough to give it much thought!
Q5: The most difficult thing for me to picture during any of the waltzing was that of the ladies in their Regency gowns! I kept imagining Elzabeth in something much more mid-19th century in style, early Victorian with a defined waist and wider skirts.
I think both dances had elements of skirmish about them, but the waltz was much more romantic, despite the turmoil of their feelings at this stage, and at least the conversation flowed a little more easily!
Q6: I suspect Mr Bennet suffered from migraines frequently!
Darcy? Quite possibly at both the Meryton Assembly and the Netherfield Ball. I can’t help but think the poor man would have been blind-sided by a severe one after Lizzy’s rejection of him!
Some very tricky questions, Meredith! Abigail, as you know, loving the story. Beautifully done as always.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Cassandra!
Very true about Elizabeth’s feelings of embarrassment…I’m sure this is heightened even more when she discovers Lord Charles’s bet about her.
I find the new setting refreshing too, Cassie. I have to agree with you and Meredith; Lizzy’s embarrassment is with herself–first from her last meeting with Darcy and second from not heeding Darcy’s warning about Lord Charles. Great points, Cassie! 🙂
Does the author get to play? Actually, I have some info on two of the questions.
#2. I was planning a book about this exact scenario, though I don’t expect to write it because it overlaps too much with this one. In my story, Darcy would assume her birth is as good as everyone else’s, and he’d actually have to do some snooping to find out otherwise. Also, it was her family’s behavior he objected to even more than her low connections, and he wouldn’t know that at all. I see it as being a relatively straightforward courtship… and then after he asks her to marry him, he meets her family and is horrified. Could get ugly! 😉
#4. I wrote more about this in an earlier version of the story where Elizabeth’s exile from Bentham happened a little differently. Here’s the outtake:
~~The hardest part of visiting Eleanor was coming home, going from being cosseted to having to share everything with her sisters, and dealing with resentment from her youngest sisters. Lord Bentham would invariably give orders that she should be dressed as suited his daughter’s companion. It meant little to her, but Lydia and Kitty were jealous of the expensive clothes she brought home. Once they began to receive those same dresses when Elizabeth outgrew them, they were the first to encourage her to visit Eleanor. When the invitations stopped coming when she was fourteen, her mother and younger sisters had blamed her for ruining the connection.
She always spent summers and two months at Christmas at Longbourn, since Eleanor’s brothers were home from school then and her company was felt to be superfluous. There had been no warning that when she left for the summer that it was to be the last visit, and as autumn approached, she had been increasingly worried when no invitation arrived, and Eleanor failed to mention anything about a visit in her letters. When Christmas came and went without word, she knew that she had lost the tentative place she had in Lord Bentham’s household. She had racked her mind, attempting to discern what she had done wrong, or whom she had offended. Eleanor had often talked about their first Season as if it had been a given than Elizabeth would be sharing it with her. It was not that Eleanor had forgotten her; she was a very faithful correspondent. But of the others she had grown fond of – the tutors, the servants, and the occasional visitor – there was not a word.
They finally met again in the spring, owing to Mrs. Bennet’s machinations. Aware of the many advantages of having a daughter with such high connections, especially as she reached a marriageable age, she had sent Elizabeth to stay with her aunt and uncle in London, with specific instructions that she was to call on Eleanor as soon as she arrived. Her aunt had been happy to take her to the Bentham townhouse, but Elizabeth had chewed her fingers with anxiety until they arrived. Then Eleanor had fallen into her arms, laughing and crying at the same time with pleasure at seeing her, and thanking her again and again for calling. After an hour of happy companionship, Elizabeth could no longer restrain herself, and asked what she had done that had led to her exclusion. Eleanor’s tears then became ones of rage rather than pleasure, as she poured out the story of her new stepmother’s decision that it was a degradation for the daughter of a Marquess to keep such inferior company, that Elizabeth’s presence would damage her good name and act to her disadvantage in society. When it was time to depart, Elizabeth left with deep feelings of bitter humiliation. It was not that she had done something wrong, but that her very being was unworthy of her second home. It still stung bitterly six years later when Mr. Darcy had leveled those same accusations against her.~~
It’s fascinating to hear your responses!
Oh poor Lizzy thinking it was her fault and that she did something wrong! And boy, I can only image how different things would be for her if she did share in Lady Eleanor’s first season!
Thank you for sharing this “extra” outtake! 🙂
Thank you so much for the outtake, Abigail! Poor Lizzy, indeed! To think her not being invited back to Bentham was somehow her fault and then to have her mother blame her, adding to Lizzy’s distress, could not have been good.
Oh, and you are right. The premise with Darcy not learning about Lizzy’s family until it would be too late could get ugly! lol! 🙂
What fun! Thank you ladies for putting this together.
Q1 I am loving the book so far. I suspected I would want to rush through without stopping so I waited to start and have tried to pace myself. As typically Abigail, it is a hard one to put down. I am enjoying the new characters so far. Lady Eleanor is a perfect excuse for Elizabeth’s new setting, along with her relationship with Geoffrey to bring in Darcy. They are strong, believable characters without taking over the story. I am curious to see if Lord Charles turns out to be a good guy or if he lives up to his reputation.
Q2 If D&E had first met in this setting, first impressions would have been different. Less family for Elizabeth to be ashamed of and for Darcy to look down on. Darcy might have felt more able to pursue Elizabeth once he saw and admired her. She might have welcomed his attentions.
Q3 I have read other books with the suggestion of entrapment. What a crazy world! I am with Elizabeth in the idea of trying to steer clear of as much manners and manipulation of the ton as possible!
Q5 The waltz! D&E definitely have bickering and dancing down to a science.
Q6 Migraines: The Meryton Assembly for sure! I can imagine them popping up in all Darcy’s stressful times such as Elizabeth’s refusal, time with Caroline, Wickham…So many to choose.
I would not be surprised to see Mr Bennett suffering migraines as well.
Great questions! I’m off to read more!!!
Thank you for joining us, Becky!!! Thrilled to have you!
HAHAH!! Love your answer about the waltz! “D&E definitely have bickering and dancing down to a science.”
I love your response about D&E having dancing and bickering down to a science! Ha! I agree with you, Becky. I think the secondary characters are believable and add to the plot rather than take away from it! So glad you are enjoying the group read and the story! Abigail has given us another wonderful book! 🙂
Here are my answers. Short and sweet. 🙂
Question 1: Love Lady Eleanor and Paxton, but I don’t like Lord Charles! Ha! He is such a charmer! 😉 I’m glad Darcy told Elizabeth about the wager.
Question 2: I think if Darcy met Lizzy at Bentham Park instead of Meryton he would have fallen in love with her and not judged her because of her family. It would have gone much smoother. (I see I was thinking like Abigail! )
Question 3: I think Carolina would have love to entrap Darcy!
Question 4: I think Elizabeth’s visits would have affected the family a great deal. I’m sure Jane wanted to improve herself and learned much from Lizzy. On the flip-side, I think it would have made Lydia wild with jealous and her behavior worse.
I’m sure Mrs. Bennet thought Lizzy did something wrong when the invitations to Bentham Park stopped.
Question 5: I like how Darcy pulls Lizzy a little closer after she apologizes for her incivility. Mmmm…. Nice.
Question 6 Sure I think it is very possible Darcy suffered from migraines. One time I can think of is at the Meryton Assembly.
I like your outtake Abigail! It would make total sense that after all that, Darcy accusations would sting all the more!
I haven’t had time to read everyone’s comments. I will try to do that later.
Oh yes, Darcy pulling Elizabeth closer during the waltz is quite lovely! *sigh*
Candy, i am glad Darcy told Elizabeth about the bet too. I can see Caroline spending hours crafting a plan to entrap Darcy. Ha!
I’m arriving late to the party, and had to force myself not to read anyone else’s replies before imparting my own – especially when I saw one is from Abigail, the ‘expert’ on this, LOL.
1. The setting is wonderful – totally different from P&P and an interesting explanation for how Lizzy’s manners are more refined than her younger sisters (though I also always presumed she and Jane were much in the company of their Aunt Gardiner to influence them in that way.) The original characters are quite likeable – Geoffrey Paxton is Bingley with a bit more smarts and complexity; Lady Eleanor I am reserving judgment on – I like her, but was a little confused in early chapters how old she is in relation to Lizzy (younger, I think?) and so unsure as yet of her maturity and intelligence and development of her opinions. I do see some parallels between Charles and Henry Crawford – what I like about Charles is that he is also complex — some good, some bad; and I can’t wait to see whether he turns out in the end to be a good guy. Certainly Darcy’s opinion sways me one way, as does his behavior towards women. And yet… there is something…
I love the opening of the story, the set up with both Lizzy and Darcy reminiscing to their friends about the other. Very nicely done and draws me in as a reader for the inevitable. Also, I love that Darcy tries to believe he doesn’t still love Elizabeth; all in all, a very plausible and enjoyable-to-read evolution of each (separately) coming to recognize their true feelings for the other.
2. I think there would have been a different relationship develop if Lizzy and Darcy had met for the first time here. For one, Darcy is among his “own element” and less likely to look down upon the company as a whole. Even when meeting Lizzy, he might know that she was of a lesser station, but as a guest of the house he would have been civil to her – and though telling himself she was not someone he should fal for, he still would have done as he got to know her. As for Lizzy, she might feel that he saw her as ‘lesser’ but she already knew that everyone else felt that way as well… and I suspect that Darcy, being more egalitarian in his friends than the Carlisle family, would actually have seemed an improvement on the others. So though she might feel he was haughty, she would be a bit more open to allowing him to prove he was yet worthy, especially as she came to know of his friendship with Paxton. There’s still plenty of room for misunderstandings and tension; but I don’t think it would have started off so explosively bad. And Lizzy was reining herself in a bit in the setting with these people, but I suspect it would not have been long, especially becoming embroiled along with Darcy in the Paxton-Eleanor issue, before her wit and charm would have been loosed on Darcy.
3. I have read entrapment stories, not necessarily P&P-based, but of the era. I have also read a couple where it works to the gentleman’s advantage — where he puts it about that he compromised a woman who spurned him, so that she must accept him or no one.
5. Though both dances represent skirmishes, the waltz one is so heavily overlaid with their physical awareness of each other that seems to have different purpose, certainly different impact. It is also, by the way, delicious! (Thanks, Abigail)
6. I can see where it’s plausible that Darcy might experience migraines. I don’t know that I’d identify specific points in P&P of them, but can imagine one coming on over the Ramsgate debacle, perhaps after negotiating with Wickham to marry Lydia – things like that. It is certainly a lovely insight to bring about physical contact between Elizabeth and Darcy in this story!
Truly enjoying it all, Abigail — kudos to you! Now I’m off to read other people’s responses.
So happy you are taking part in our discussions, Tess!!
I like that Darcy was sort of thinking he wasn’t under Elizabeth’s spell any more! Think again, Darce!
Oh, I have read a novel or two where the gentleman says he has compromised a woman or has barely compromised her (alone in a closed room) and they are forced to get married. He gets his justice for being spurned and then she ends up falling in love with him against all her efforts. They are enjoyable.
Glad you are enjoying Abigail’s book, Tess! Looking forward to Day 2’s conversation.
Abigail, I think that would be a fun scenario (#2) where he thinks she has money/connections even though it overlaps with this one. (you can always put that one in another of your short story collections.) Or you could twist it up a little and have Darcy meet her when she was younger and he visited with his father. He no doubt would have remembered her in his older days and would have been more relaxed in her company, unless her provoked her as a child and she had an opinion about him from early on. I forgot to answer the question about the migrains, but other than reflecting on Georgiana and Wickham, I think he would get one every time he encountered Elizabeth’s family or had to escape Caroline’s clutches. Jen Red
Ditto! 😉
I’m late to the party due to a family reunion but I can’t wait to read everyone’s comments and find a quiet corner to read the next set of chapters!
1. I find myself liking Charming Charlie (a.k.a. Lord Charles), even though I know he’s a player and he made that awful bet on Lizzy. There was some great banter between him and Lizzy. I like Eleanor and Paxton as well. Lady Bentham sounds like a real piece of work and I have a feeling we’ve not seen the worst of her yet.
2. I think Darcy would’ve tried to ignore Lizzy even more had they met at Bentham Park first, thinking she’d be just another ton girl. She’d have found a way to enchant him anyway, of course.
4. I think Mrs Bennet would’ve been excited at first that Lizzy was spending so much time at Bentham, but resentful that none of the other family was invited or benefitted from the connection. I’m sure she was harsh on Lizzy after she was cast off. I feel like Lizzy can’t win with her mom, no matter what she does. It doesn’t seem like any of the other Bennets have changed due to Lizzy’s experience. I did think it was interesting that Lizzy said she was at one time just as wild as Lydia.
5. The waltz! Similar to their dance at Netherfield in that they both have strong emotions between them; this time only the emotions are somewhat changed and the dance more intimate.
6. I think it’s definitely plausible that some of Darcy’s ill tempered moments could be due to migraines. I shudder to think how bad they must be around Lady Catherine and Mrs Bennet, not to mention Wickham. I love that lizzy came to his aid even though things were still so awkward between them.
Hello Monica! So glad you are able to take part even though you are on vacation!
LOL! Lady Bentham does seem like a real piece of work, doesn’t she!
Great point about Mrs. Bennet – she would of course be lamenting that her other daughters and herself were never invited!!
I think you’re right about Charming Charlie. I think he is much deeper too. I said I didn’t like him, I should have said I don’t trust him. And anyone trying to mess with Lizzy, and I immediately get my defenses up! 😉 Ha!
Monica, the nickname and hashtag queen! You brighten my day! 🙂 Like you, I find myself liking Charming Charlie. I enjoyed their flirtatious banter and I think (or am hoping) he has some redeeming qualities. I think a lot of his problem is being second son and not knowing what his place is. He just has a lot of baggage and is dealing with it poorly.
Looking forward to what wit and fun you will bring us on day 2!! 🙂
I’m slightly behind (only through ch 2 right now) but I know I won’t have time to read more this evening so… here’s my answer to question 1.
First impressions of the book? Love it. The opening premise is unique, as far as I know. Elizabeth with tonnish friends makes the story seem more like a Regency novel than an Austenesque, until Darcy comes on the page.
Looking over the rest of the questions, I can see I need to get caught up!
Catch up whenever you can, Nancy! We aren’t going anywhere!
Isn’t the premise awesome! I’m really enjoying all the original characters – some space from Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, and Caroline Bingley is a good thing, right?
Yes! I really like that the fresh setting means fresh faces.
I’m glad you brought that up, Nancy. I was thinking the same thing about this book feeling more like a Regency than Austenesque with all this talk about the ways of the ton and all the high-ranking characters. I am amazed at how Abigail can give her readers such fresh scenarios.
MY turn to answer now! Thank you everyone for stopping by sharing your wonderful thoughts and insights!! I loved reading them!
Question 1: Lady Eleanor – at the moment I’m thinking she has a lot in common with Eleanor Tilney (besides the same name!) both are in love with a man their parent deems unsuitable and both have a parent that is very domineering. Lord Charles – (not including his horrific bet) I kinda like him…Henry Crawford is my favorite of Austen’s bad boys. And well…I’m rooting for him – not rooting him for to win Elizabeth’s heart (totally not happening) but rooting for him to change and become good. I think there is more to him than meets the eye. Maybe the bad boy image is a facade.
Question 5: I loved the waltz! I liked how emotionally charged it is and how Elizabeth is once again assuming Darcy dislikes her. I like how physically aware they are of each other. And perhaps Elizabeth is paying more attention and giving more thought to Darcy because she knows what he previously felt for her. At the Netherfield Ball she was just aiming to provoke him and didn’t much thought to anything else.
I have already finished the book weeks ago, but I still wanted to participate and I will make sure not to spoil anything.
1) At the very first I was afraid the story was going to be too different from the original for my taste (I often don’t like the stories that completely change the setting, circumstances and everything), but I changed my mind rather quickly (probably by chapter 2 or so) and by the end this was my very favorite P&P variation I have ever read (and I have read many)! I liked it that the novel takes inspiration from Darcy’s line: “You cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been always at Longbourn”. It’s a line that has always intrigued me and I could never quite understand how Austen wanted us to interpret it (I guess I still don’t, but this was an interesting take on it). I do really like all the new characters which is really strange for me (I usually get bored when new characters are introduced and long for more Darcy and Elizabeth). In this case, I actually really cared to know what was going to happen with Eleanor and Geoffery. I especially enjoyed Lord Charles. Not only do I always like to see Darcy dealing with a bit of competition, but I specifically found this new character intriguing and I liked the similarities with Henry Crawford. I am actually one of those people who always wished that Mr. Crawford had been the hero of Mansfield Park, and while here I clearly still want Darcy and Elizabeth together in the end, I have to say I do still enjoy the scenes Elizabeth has with Lord Charles.
2)I don’t know if things would have been drastically different if they had met at Bentham park first. I imagine Darcy would have been a bit more polite among people he considered his equals (or even superiors), but he might still have been in a bad mood if attending a ball or forced into society when he was not in the mood. He might have assumed that Elizabeth were of better social standing if he had met her there, and this might have changed things a bit, I guess. Most importantly, I think he would not have been prejudiced by the sight of her family. Not knowing how vulgar or annoying Mrs Bennet was, he might have been better disposed to propose to Elizabeth even from the beginning. I always thought that the absence of her family in Kent contributed to his sudden decision to propose in spite of everything. Still, I think the characters’ personalities would have still been the same and so things between them might not have gone too differently.
3)I have actually often heard of “entrappings” in other novels, but I am afraid I can’t name the specific instances. Still, I think this might be the first time I read a story where the entrapping actually “worked” for one of the characters. Usually, I only read about the men’s fears of entrapment or close calls they previously experienced.
Silvia, I just wanted to say that I was really touched by your comment that you hadn’t expected to like it but it ended up your favorite. Thanks for giving the book a try even though it was different from what you usually prefer.
So glad you took part in our event, Silvia!! I agree with you about the Austen quote – I’m not sure how we are supposed to interpret that either!
And I completely agree with you about Lord Charles and liking hos scenes with Elizabeth!
5)Obviously, many things are different between the two dances. Not only is there much more physical contact in this instance, but both characters have changed considerably since the Netherfield dance and view each other in a different light. Elizabeth no longer despises Darcy and might already be developing feelings for him. Plus, she must be feeling rather embarrassed to be dancing with a man she previously refused. His feelings must also be quite different now that he knows (or thinks he knows) how she really feels about him. What has not changed are all the misunderstandings between the two and a bit of jealousy on his part (he must have felt at least a tinge of jealousy for Wickham during the first dance and he is clearly jealous of Lord Charles this time.
6)I wasn’t crazy about Darcy’s migraines but I think they make sense in some ways. I could imagine him suffering from them at many points during the original story: during the dance at the assembly when Bingley wanted to make him dance, when he first sees Wickham in Meryton, when Elizabeth refuses him, maybe even when Caroline is annoying him with all her compliments while he tries to write a letter to his sister.
I just wanted to add that I really, really enjoyed this story and was terribly sad when it ended!
Question 1: I am loving this new setting. Lady Eleanor and Mr Paxton are wonderful and I’m enjoying to get to know them better. I’m a little unsure of how I feel about Lord Charles.
Question 2: If Darcy and Elizabeth had meet here first, I’m not sure if it would have been any better, we can’t forget that this meeting was after Hunsford and thusly he was in the middle of his self examination and Elizabeth was at her’s too.
Question 4: We know Elizabeth was different from her sisters and having spent time with friends like Lady Eleanor would explain these differences. I like the idea that she learned certain aspects of her character from the “ton”.
Question 5: Awe the waltz! I loved it! Their dance this time around was better. At Netherfield, Darcy was already falling for Elizabeth but she didn’t know it; this time she knows of his feelings and she herself feels something do him even if she doesn’t want to admit it. You can tell it by how she feels while dancing with Lord Charles compared to dancing with Darcy.
Question 6: Other than the fact that Darcy is still getting over Wickham’s plot against him, I can totally see that Darcy could be suffering from migraines. Knowing how they feel myself, I could see how being alone and quite while trying to fend off the ailment would seem to others.
Hello Liz! I liked how aware of Darcy Elizabeth is during the waltz! She is one lucky girl!
I have just now read the post from the author
(I wanted to write my answers before reading any one else’s), and I just wanted to add that the idea of actually having Darcy and Elizabeth originally meet at Bentham park without him knowing her social standing and especially without her family is fantastic! I really hope you are able to write that story even if there is some overlap with this one! Even if they were to meet in a less sophisticated environment but simply far away from her parents and younger sisters, it would still a very intriguing premise. Like I said before, I really think the Bennets’ absence was key in Darcy’s first proposal (he never could have brought himself to propose that first time with Mrs Bennet’s chattering still ringing in his ears…), so I think this scenario would be fascinating! I would even settle for a short story!
I second this statement! 🙂
I had a very long day and am too tired for all the questions but I will take a crack at #1: I like the premise and the setting. I think all the characters are well drawn so far. I need to see how the develop. Charles is my favorite. I think lots of women, including Elizabeth, are fascinated by the bad boys. Elizabeth resents everyone who warns her off. She believes that she can meet whatever he says with her witty tongue and so far she has done so. She enjoys the repartee with Charles. It is good entertainment and she doesn’t know about the bet.
Oh, the waltzes! Great to have two of them.
Yes we had double the fun with two waltzes!! What a treat!
Good gracious, there’s no way I can complete all 6 questions. I’m going to take my ‘incomplete’ grade and hand in what little I have.
1. I know she’s not exactly an original character, but I got a kick about seeing Miss Elliot at Bentham Park. I was amused when she and Elizabeth were talking about what kind of a wife Darcy would be looking for. Elizabeth Elliot is desperate to be (or at least appear to be) wealthy and to stay off the shelf. No matter what book I find her in, she’s still the same selfish gold digger. She and Caroline Bingley would be great frenemies. Can you just picture the two of them and poor Darcy stuck in a room together?
2. I find this question very interesting. I think the dynamics of their interactions would be different had they first met at Bentham Park, but I still think it would have ended up in Elizabeth rejecting Darcy after his first proposal. At Bentham Park I think Darcy might have been less reserved, perhaps less hauty than at, say, the Meryton Assembly. The greatest drawback for Darcy was the poor conduct of Elizabeth’s family, not her lack of connections or fortune. So Darcy would have been more easily bewitched and in some danger of asking Elizabeth to marry him had he never been forced to overlook the Bennet’s lack of propriety. But our dear girl would probably still have said no. Darcy may have been less reserved, but he still needed his pride taken down a notch, he still needed to learn to treat others with more kindess and respect. He’s not the man for Elizabeth until he learns that. And Elizabeth needs to learn to let go of some of her own pride and quick judgements. So, a more amicable relationship at Bentham, and a Darcy more ready to fall in love, but not a happy ever after.
LOL! No incompletes here! You can answer as many questions as you like! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Heather!
Very true, while Darcy and Elizabeth may have not had some obstacles like Wickham or the Bennets, they still wouldn’t have had a smooth courtship.
I know I’m very late. But as it is not my fault (Kindle App refused to open the book until yesterday, when I tried it with a borrowed more “up to date”-pc), I hope to be forgiven.
Q1: I like the premise and the setting very much. It is a nice change from the usual P&P – fan-fiction and allows for unusual and exciting possibilities. It is fascinating that it developed from just one P&P quote. So far it seems to be very well constructed and reasoned, but I expected no less of Abigail Reynolds. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and the pictures AR posted have enhanced my reading pleasure at lot. Thanks for that treat.
As Lady Eleanor is very much like Elizabeth in many ways, I have to like her. Geoffrey Paxton seems to be a nice fellow, but that makes him not as interesting as other characters (plot device to get E & D together). Now, Lord Charles is much more interesting. He is a rake, but can be charming and likeable at the same time. He is very unpredictable, so I think he will be good for some surprises.
Q2: I don’t think their character traits change much. One might think that D could be more relaxed at Bentham, because he knows more people and is among his peers. But because of D’s loyalty toward Edward and being refused by E, he can’t relax. The changes in D’s behavior (e.g. being more cautious) are caused by E’s refusal of his proposal – not by the setting. If they had met first at Bentham Park, I guess D would not have needed so much time to propose. At Bentham there would have been fewer obstacles than in Meryton. No scheming Wickham, no embarrassing sisters/mother, no Darcy-hunting Miss Bingley, no friends/neighbors to offend.
Q3: Apart from P&P – fan-fiction I’ve never read about an entrapment like this. I can only think of other kinds of entrapment like blackmailing or tricking a potential partner into a relationship/marriage (e.g. Marnie, Hoffman, The Taming of the Shrew …).
Q4: I guess the family dynamics would have changed with E most of the time away. Jane would have been very lonely without E and would probably have a closer relationship with Mary. Mr. B (missing E’s company) would probably spend more time with Jane and/or Mary. There would be more money to spend on the remaining sisters. Kitty and Lydia would certainly be glad about that. E would turn into Mrs. B’s favorite daughter and topic of conversation. When the invitations stopped I guess Mrs. B fretted and blamed E. Mr. B and Jane would be happy to have more time with her, but sad for E’s loss. Considering E’s close relationship with Lady E, I think she would have written to E about the reasons or at least about her new stepmother. E would have been clever enough to discern the reason for her abandonment. Her family apart from her mother would believe her and not badger her about it.
Q5: They try to converse during both dances (E teasing him on occasion) and end up quarreling (Wickham/Lord C) – although I think the dance at Netherfield is much more suited for a conversation than a waltz. The waltz is much more intimate and their situation is very different. They know more about each other. E knows about D’s admiration/feelings for her, yet she is both times uncertain about his motives to dance with her. The apology after baiting him is a notable difference; at least she cares enough about him to want to make amends.
Q6: The migraines are a great way to explain some of D’s and Mr. B’s behavior. But I can’t imagine Jane having migraines. It is also a wonderful opportunity for E and D to get closer – both physically and in their understanding of each other. D likes E’s caring nature (nursing Jane at Netherfield). That she is willing to help him in his weakness/pain, must be fulfilling one of his dreams. And that D lets E see his weakness and lets her care for him should tell E a lot. I think there are a lot of scenes D could have been suffering from a migraine (conflicts with E, Wickham, Miss Bingley …). Lady Catherine could certainly cause a nasty migraine any day. 😉
No worries about being late! We are so happy to have you take part, Elli!
Wasn’t it so so sweet to see Elizabeth caring for Darcy. Between the megrims and seeing the pain she can inflicts with her words – I think Elizabeth is seeing Darcy in a whole new light!
Question 1: I really like the novel. I think it is a new and interesting setting. It reminds me of Mansfield Park with Elizabeth being the poor relation. Paxton seems to be a lot like Bingley. Lord Charles reminds me of Wickham. Smooth and a flatterer but definitely up to no good! Elizabeth and Lady Eleanor seem to be similar on the surface but I think Elizabeth has a stronger mind.
Question 2: If Darcy and Elizabeth met here first I think things would be a little different. I still think Elizabeth would have refused him because Darcy needed to learn things about himself despite everything that happened in Meryton but I don’t think he would be the last man in the world she could ever be prevailed upon to marry 😉 I see him as being less haughty and not fighting his feelings as much as he would not know about her family. She wouldn’t overhear his nasty comment at the assembly and wouldn’t have been poisoned by Wickham’s lies so she would have a more accurate idea as to his true character. I don’t think he truly appreciated her though until her refusal and therefore still wouldn’t treat her in a way that would touch her heart until after a failed proposal.
Question 3: I *just* read another book that was good and well written but very difficult to read as it was not the natural order of things!! It is called Mr Darcy’s Pursuit. Entrapment definitely plays a pretty big role. On another note I found it interesting that entrapment could mean very different things for different people. Specifically how it could both work out as an advantage and disadvantage for both sexes depending on how honorable the people involved were. Abigail demonstrated this very clearly by showcasing how Lord Charles could fool around with women without consequences while his own father was not even guilty of anything and was entrapped by Lady B.
Question 4: I can just hear Mrs. Bennet now “Oh foolish child!! My poor nerves!!” I thought it was interesting that Jane was not also apart of the visits to the park as Jane is also not “silly” like her younger sisters and mother. Perhaps Lizzy’s knowledge and experiences rubbed off on her as she would be more receptive. I don’t really see it impacting the family otherwise. I think for the most part they would be just as silly as they were in the actual P&P.
Question 5: I loved the waltz scene! Much of it was similar in that they still misunderstand each other but there were also fantastic new elements. Specifically that they are clearly more physically aware of each other due to the intimacy of the dance. Elizabeth also treats Darcy differently in the end which I thought was the start of their new beginning.
Question 6: I could definitely see this is a good reason for Darcy’s poor socializing habits. I myself suffer from migraines and I could imagine a noisy assembly with loud music and dancing being quite a miserable situation and leading to the voicing of opinions that are not well thought out or accurate 😛 I think Darcy would easily suffer a migraine anytime he saw Caroline.
Shannon
Lumee23 at gmail dot com
So happy you are taking part Shannon! Ohh! Great comparison about Mansfield Park!
Good point… if they met at Bentham Park, I don’t think Lizzy would use any of her upbraiding remarks in a refusal to Darcy!
patkf2007 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Question 1: I really like Geoffrery Paxton! I like his personality. Eleanor I can see similarities to Lizzie and can see why/how they can be friends since they are so much alike though Elizabeth seems to be able to speak her mind more than Eleanor. Charles seems to look out for his sister but something tells me to not trust him. I like the plotline of this story so far. It reminds me alot of Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending and Pride and Prejudice when it comes to the new characters Eleanor and Paxton. There when it comes to marrying between different classes and how family would react.
Question 2: Darcy seems to be more comfortable here and I think he would be attracted to Elizabeth sooner. I think he would need to go through some character development before the two of them could get together. He would not have met her family so I think he would want to marry her regardless of knowing what her family is like since he would not have met them until they got married or later on under different circumstances. If they had met at Bentham Park it would depend on when they met. If they had met after she met Mr. Wickham then things would have been very interesting for she probabl;y would have heard about Pemberley and the Darcys accounts through Wickham. She probably would not have given him the chance to get to know her at all if this had happened.
Question 3: I have read about blackmailing but do not recall reading anything about entrapping.
Question 4: When Elizabeth stopped receiveing invitations to visit I believe Mrs. Bennet felt she was not acting proper and did something to offend them. Mr. Bennet and Jane probably felt there was more to it and sometimes friends do change as you grow older. She would have had a better education and known more how those in upper classes acted so she would have tried to persuade her younger sisters to act better in public.
Question 5: Similarities I am seeing is the teasing they do with each other like at Netherfield Ball.
Differences I am seeing there is a bit of tension between them which is no surprise since it is surprising to see each other there and way things had left off with the proposal. Darcy seems to be the one who is more tense than Elizabeth unlike last time where it seemed he was not himself like at the previous ball. And as the dance went on Elizabeth is not talkative as much like she was at the beginning of the waltz. Also last time it was Darcy who was finding her more attractive and now Elizabeth is the one who is taking notice of Darcy.
Question 6: I can see this as a possibility happening throughout Pride and Prejudice! I think definitely at Netherfield Ball, with all the people and Elizabeth’s younger sisters acting a bit wild. Mrs. Bennet I am sure would have given him headaches due to her constant chatter etc. ( I wouldnt be surprised if Mr Bennet gets a headache from time to time 🙂 ) Mr. Collins another possibility and he seems to get a lot when he is by family so Lady Catherine too. I get headaches from being in loud places for long period of time so I can see Mr. Darcy having this too (I also am not good when socializing so maybe this is contributing to his own socializing experiences?)