Hi Readers! We are so happy to be reading this Mr. Darcy’s Noble Connections together with you!
Today is a discussion of CHAPTERS 6-9, 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.
Question 1: What is your first impression of the Dowager Machioness? Why do you suppose the Dowager agrees to give Paxton a chance? Do you think she will be successful in helping Lady Eleanor?
Question 2: Do you think Darcy’s behavior on the moor would be different if Lord Charles Carlisle didn’t exist? What do you think of Elizabeth’s response?
Question 3: In these chapters Lord Charles disappears to some unknown location, where do you think he went? What do you think of his relationship with Elizabeth? Is he in earnest? Do you think he would have had a chance of winning Elizabeth’s heart if she hadn’t been forewarned about his bet?
Question 4: This section is loaded with symbolism, some obvious and some very obscure – i.e. hairpins. Did you notice any symbols? What do they represent?
Question 5: Is there anything from these chapters that you’d like to bring into our discussion?
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We look forward to continuing this discussion with you tomorrow with CHAPTERS 10-14.
*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 tonight!
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1) Oh, I like the Dowager Marchioness! I think she will end up being a real champion for Eleanor and, hopefully, deliver Lady Bentham a proper set-down!
2) I am not sure what I think of these questions. I really have not formed an opinion on them. I will have to think about this longer. Maybe see what others have to say. 🙂
3) I think Lord Charles went to discover the truth of Eleanor’s words about Mary Lynley. And maybe—giving him the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to redeem himself—give his condolences to the family. But I guess only time will tell.
I think his whole relationship with Lizzy started out as a bet with the goal of compromising her, but as he learned the truth about that Mary girl and spends time with Lizzy learning her character, he ends up falling for her for honorable reasons. But maybe that is his plan: make her feel safe and comfortable then go in for the kill! 😉
I’m sorry to say that I forgot all about Mary Lynley! That sounds very plausible, Jakki!
Chapters 6-9 Jen Red
1. My impression of the Dowager. At first I thought she might prove to be a Lady Cat type, but even though she is a grand lady, she is caring and respectful. She definitely has a discerning eye and seems to be aware of everything and everyone. Nice exchange with Paxton, but will she be able to help? I’m not sure at this point. Certainly her mind is not closed, which is more than we can say for Lady Eleanor’s parents.
2. Would Darcy’s behavior on the moor would be any different if Lord Charles did not exist. NO! He probably would still be feeling some amount of guilt after the first kiss, not knowing how she truly felt and then somewhat hesitant to insult her. But the second kiss would have definitely been the same. He is too far gone to do less. Lizzy’s response . . . well, who wouldn’t like to kiss Darcy? I think all of the barriers she has been trying to keep in place are crumbling very fast. The two will we be uncertain until they verbally come to an understanding, but hey this is a great start!
3. Not sure what’s up with Lord Charles. He did go to speak with grandmamma, but that doesn’t mean he is any less of a rake at this point. Is he in earnest with Lizzy? Well if he is, he should eat crow, cancel the bet and pay up. I’m not sure how Lizzy would be if she hadn’t heard about the bet. She did say that she was beginning to like him until she heard about it. (Gag!) Lizzy can be very trusting but I would hope that her own morals & logic would have kept her in check with that guy once he put the moves on her. If Lord Bentham wouldn’t allow Eleanor marry out of her sphere, I doubt if he would let Charles marry Lizzy and that would make her no better off than Paxton. In fact, it would be far worse since she is a woman and the scandel would ruin her family if she became his mistress.
4. I am pretty dense with symbolism like the hair pins or the knife, so I guess I am a “no comment” here.
5. I was just wondering about Eleanor’s character in this part. So she has always been able to do what she wants by putting on a good face in the past. Yet here we see her pouting like a little child because she could not get her own way with Paxton, whose morals happen to outshine hers at this point. I cannot believe that she would demean herself to marry “the dandy” in order to please her father and keep her status, while destroy the man she loves. She is acting very selfishly, thinking they could be secret lovers with no regard to spouses or potential children. No wonder he was mad.
Oh, yes, doremijen, who would not enjoy kissing Darcy! I was so caught up in the passion each felt for the other too. And you make some very valid points about Eleanor. She does act like a spoilt child a bit, doesn’t she?
I agree with you about Eleanor acting selfishly, perhaps she’s not thinking straight. Hers is a very sad and desperate situation!
Question 1: I really like the Dowager Machioness! She doesn’t take anyone’s crap. She is direct – I like that! I think she is willing to give Paxton a chance because she loves Lady Eleanor and DESPISES Lady Bentham. And, Yes, I think she will be successful in helping Lady Eleanor.
Question 2: No, I don’t think Darcy’s behavior on the Moor would be different if Lord Charles didn’t exist. He is too into Elizabeth. I think Elizabeth loves him too, she just doesn’t know it yet.
Question 3: Lord Charles disappears right after he finds out about Mary Lynley taking her life. I think he went to find out if there was any truth to the story. As far as his relationship with Elizabeth, it makes me nervous, but I think the truth about Mary will change him, and as he gets to know Elizabeth he will come to respect her. I don’t think he ever would have a chance to win Elizabeth’s heart, because she is destined for Darcy! Haha! Sorry, I can’t give that up! 🙂
Q1: I definitely like the Dowager Marchioness. Of course, it helped (given my feelings towards him) that you know off the bat that Darcy likes her too, so I was disposed to go in that direction. But despite her station and history, she is disposed (perhaps also based on Darcy’s opinion of Paxton) to give Paxton a chance. She is much more open to sizing up the man, and his current consequence, than her son or horrid daughter-in-law are; whether she likes or not the fact that the now-rich middle class are moving into the upper classes, she recognizes it as happening. And takes into account both Paxton’s demeanour, Darcy’s opinion of him and – importantly – her granddaughter’s feelings as well. And who could dislike someone who left to reside in a different estate so that she could keep her dogs?!? LOL (I can picture a few grand-old English actresses playing this part, LOL)
Q2: Perhaps the timing might have been a little different (if Lord Charles did not exist) in that I believe the green-eyed monster heightened Darcy’s motivation — perhaps it might have taken one more meeting to get there? (or not!) But at this point, Darcy knows what he wants, and he wants… Elizabeth. As for her response, now that her understanding of him has shifted, first from his letter after the first proposal and now from learning more about him – his vulnerabilities (with the migraines) for example – her reactions seem quite reasonable to me. (Heck, I would have… well, perhaps a lady should not divulge such things as I would have contemplated with him.)
Q3: Undoubtedly to find out if the news his sister slapped on him is true. I do think Lord Charles has some redeeming qualities in him — truly caring about Eleanor for one — and was shaken by his sister’s accusation. And perhaps this will be the catalyst to him making a change as well. I think it started out as a lark with him as far as Elizabeth is concerned; but when she met him head on, he became truly interested. I don’t know that the interest would have raised all the way to wanting to marry her, or flying in the face of any resistance that would have brought if it did. I’m not certain he has that much potential to turn around at this point. But I think that, like Darcy, he has never encountered anyone to treat him as she does and his tricks don’t (for the most part) work on her. He would see her as a challenge apart from the bet and might even think he wants to change for her on that score. I’m just still not sure enough about his capacity to do so. I think also, Lizzy might have been drawn in to a certain extent (had she not found out about the bet) by his apparent change in behavior towards her; but I don’t think it would have been sustained. I think she’d have become wise to him at some point when the leopard showed his spots again.
Ran out of time… will have to try to get back here later to contemplate answers to the remaining questions.
Did you read my answers before answering your questions, Candy? 😉 I have to agree with everything you said! 🙂
Hi Jakki! No, I didn’t have time until now. And if you noticed I put my answers on the wrong day! I quickly copied and pasted them and posted them over here! Oops! I had printed out the questions earlier, so I did need to refer to them from above. Yep! We were thinking alike on this one! 😉
Katrin, I also liked how you picked out the symbolism of the heather! …I had nothing.
Great minds think alike! 🙂 I like the discordant relationship between Lady Bentham and The Dowager – its entertaining!
Question 1: The Dowager Machioness reminds me a bit of Downton Abbeys Dowager Countess. Very old-fashioned and strict, but then also loyal at the right moment. Going to be interesting to see if she can help them. I doubt it´s going to be easy.
Question 2: I think Darcy would not have behaved differently. At least not much. For Lizzie I hope so :D. And then, isn´t there always a Lord Charles somewhere ;).
Question 4: I´m not very good with symbols, especially with locating them in a foreign language setting, as well. I was thinking that maybe the plants did symbolize something. This one plant, that is usually not cultivated in a garden, but growing wildly (if I recall correctly). Like Lizzy not belonging to the ton, to the people of Bentham Park, but looking extremely well in the setting and on closer look fitting in properly (maybe because of being to different usually). If that makes any sense now :D.
And I loved the hairpins!! Such a wonderful scene – my favorite up to now!
I loved this section of the book and am looking forward to discussing further tomorrow. Off to read more now (let´s see if I can restrain myself from reading till the ending today. I doubt it!)
Great job, Katrin! I like the symbolism of the heather you picked up. I have to say, the more I read of this book, the more I am enjoying it. I have a feeling it is going to be one I read time and again! 🙂
(Sorry, not sure what happened, that my comment appended to Candy M’s — it was meant to be discrete!)
No worries! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
LOL! Who would stop Darcy from kissing them?!?
Love…love love the Dowager. She’s kind of like an old dog when the new puppy comes in. The new puppy wants to mark its territory, but you do not mess with an alpha. Lady Bentham is the puppy.
Personally, I do not think the Dowager would have anything to do with Paxton at all if he wasn’t a key that would enable her to regain her status as the alpha of Bentham Park.
Truthfully – no one is acting with any amount of honesty at this point. The only time that we see any reflection of who the real characters represent are when they happen to be alone with Elizabeth. Eleanor, Charles, Paxton and Darcy only reveal their true selves when alone with Elizabeth. I find this fascinating.
Is this because none of the characters see her as a threat because she’s technically beneath them?
Even Darcy is guilty of this, with evidence of his actions in the moor, and with…gulp…hairpins (long, sharp, phallic…has to be taken in and out…but removed when alone…). Why is everyone worried about Elizabeth’s reputation alone with Charles, while no one is worried about the possibility of Elizabeth ‘entrapping’ Darcy? Do they think that Darcy can take care of himself, or is the Bentham party that trustworthy of Elizabeth? It is my opinion that the Bentham party would not think of Elizabeth’s ruination as being of any consequence, as long as it happens by someone outside of Bentham Park.
Elizabeth may be attracted to Darcy, but give Lord Charles and his dancing credit for Elizabeth’s sexual awakening. He may be the Johnny Castle of waltzing. Of course, no one puts Elizabeth in a corner…
Great points, Angie! I like that you give Charming Charlie the credit for Lizzy’s sexual awakening! Kate Chopin would be proud. 😉 All this talk about dancing and your reference to Dirty Dancing makes me want to watch it. 😉
That is fascinating, Angie! I didn’t realize that all the characters are honest only with Elizabeth. Maybe because she is a good listener? Or sympathetic? Great point!
Do you know Angie, I haven’t read the other comments yet, but just saw the bottom bit of yours, with the Dirty Dancing reference and I knew it was you!
Ok, so here are my comments:
1) The Dowager seems very typical of her class to me, class-conscious etc. But I am glad that she is willing to give Paxton a chance, I am guessing partly for the sake of her granddaughter, but mostly to give one in the eye to her daughter in law. I should imagine that if the Dowager is that determined she would be able to sway things.
2) Mercy me! Very exciting times on the moor (fans self). I think Darcy’s behaviour would have been different, and the reason I think this is that due to Lord C he wasn’t able to keep his distance from Lizzy; he had to warn her, hence the waltz, and his realisation that he still loves her. I think if Lord C hadn’t have been around he would have had the same realisation but it may not have happened yet. As for Lizzy, her behaviour is a bit disappointing really (although I can’t blame her!) if she’s not sure where she wants it to go. It’s like the power she has over him has gone to her head. She is in far deeper than she realises.
3) I have no idea where he went! It seemed very odd to me. He may be in earnest, he may not, but I would definitely not trust him as far as I could throw him, especially given his track record and the bet. I think if Lizzy hadn’t have known about the bet she still would have been safe from him because he was a second son and she would have known that he wouldn’t have been serious about her (like her feelings about Colonel Fitz in P&P – she thinks something along the lines of his intentions weren’t serious, and nice as he was, she wasn’t going to be made unhappy by it)
4) Symbolism – I am appalling at noticing symbolism, and themes etc. Once it’s pointed out to me I get it but I never notice it myself 🙁 This is just one reason that it’s nice to have a group read!
5) Something I thought was interesting is the difference in the attitudes towards adultery. I could see why Lady E had the view that she did, and it explains why she was willing to go ahead with the marriage, although shows disregard for the feelings of P’s future wife, but I was surprised with Paxton. Not that he was unwilling to be her lover, it made sense that his attitude was more middle class than hers, but why he was so angry and disgusted with Lady E. I would have thought her view was quite commonplace for the nobility really, although I guess not usually so clearly stated 🙂
I like the points you bring up about adultery and how different classes view it, Ceri. This is one of the aspects that lends it to having a Regency romance feel more so than an Austenesque one. I like it; it makes it original.
As you’ll see in the next chapter, it’s definitely a class issue. Darcy and Paxton aren’t on the same page about it either. It’s one of those things Austen’s contemporaries would have known, but we miss it when we read JA because she doesn’t say it directly.
Great answers, Ceri! That’s a very good poing about Darcy’s behavior on the moors. If he didn’t know about Lord Charles bet he may have been much more aloof when he realized Elizabeth was at Bentham Park!
Hee Hee!
1. Love the Marchioness! I think it’s perfectly understandable for someone in her position to balk at the idea of her only granddaughter marrying ‘new money’, but I think she would like to help simply because she loves her – though probably putting the spanner in Lady Bentham’s works makes for good icing on the cake 🙂
2. I agree with doremijen – the first kiss might not have ended so abruptly, but in Darcy’s case I still think it would have triggered a certain amount of guilt and some concern that he would look like he was taking advantage of her trusting nature. Not in Lord Charles’ power to influence ‘kiss part deux’ and Elizabeth’s response, IMO
3. Impossible to answer that without sounding fake or putting in spoilers, of course I couldn’t put it down after Chapter 9 :)!!
4. I love symbols – just hope I won’t start droning on about stuff that Abigail never intended 🙂
4.1. Travelling there – Eleanor and Paxton with the freedom of the curricle, fresh air, speaking freely, as opposed to Darcy and Elizabeth in the constraints of the closed carriage plus chaperone to boot – as a symbol of the stage in their respective relationships: Eleanor is free to manifest her interest in Paxton and vice versa, at least in that setting, while D&E are in every way subject to constraint.
I won’t list this among symbols, but I liked Elizabeth’s musings about the distant hills looking so peaceful at a distance, even if upon closer inspection things and people are not as peaceful as they seem (a bit far-fetched to put it down as a symbol for there being a great deal more to the calm and collected Darcy than meets the eye?)
Again, not sure if it was intended as a symbol, but I loved the short and sharp lesson Darcy got when the aunt he suspected was related to his tenants was shown to be the granddaughter of a Marquess.
4.2. The butterfly – a symbol for Elizabeth? Free to flutter by and sample all the delights with the Carlisles, but pinned up as a delightful specimen in her father’s collection at Longbourn?
4.3. There’s something in the rues, more than the obvious implication of regret, but I’m not sure what. Find blessings where least expected? What’s good for some is not good for others (see butterfly, blisters and remedy for pestilence…)
4.4. The aisle of flowers leading to a happy world where she loves him as symbolism for getting married and living the happy ever after? (can’t claim any detective powers here, Abigail spelled it all out :))
4.5. The moors vs the verdant valley: the freedom albeit tinged with danger of Elizabeth spending time, possibly a lifetime with Darcy vs the constrained luxury of Bentham Park?
4.6. The stone circle – there must be something there, I just can’t see it!
And then there’s the hairpins of course 🙂
Thanks for this! Looking forward to tomorrow / xx
Excellent job with the symbolism, Joana!! I don’t know if those were all intended for symbols, but they make excellent sense!! I really enjoyed your analysis!
Joana, you were so good with the symbols. I esp. liked the butterfly for Lizzy, the aisle of flowers and the moors. Nice. Angie, I like what you said about nobody really caring about Lizzy’s reputation, yet everyone is free to open up to her, because she is really beneath them, or maybe just has a good heart. Kind of reminds me of Fanny Price. Jen Red
You’re right about them opening up to Lizzy. Part of it is that she doesn’t play the social games of the ton, or babble nonsensical compliments all the time – she talks about real things, and everyone has to do the same with her. It’s rare for them to be able to be frank.
My first thought about it was that it wasn’t realistic, until you realize Elizabeth’s position. Elizabeth, according to the residents of Bentham Park, is no more of a companion. She’s lucky she isn’t getting paid.
1. the Dowager has reached the age where she doesn’t worry about what people think. She can call the admiral an old buzzard and she is more open to Paxton than she could have been when she was younger. She is more open to Paxton because she looks forward to a battle with her daughter in law. She is still a snob but she can use Paxton to get at Lady B.
2. Darcy on the moor. I don’t see a connection between Charles’ behavior and Darcy’s. Darcy had decided that this was the day for making E aware of his feelings. I doubt he expected to get such a response from her. I hope Abigail tells us what she was thinking. Elizabeth knows there is such a thing as desire. You can read about it in Shakespeare, John Dunne, and other authors. She had not experience it before. I was amused when she thinks something like, “Oh, that’s what desire feels like.
3. Well, we did learn that Charles went to see the Dowager and suggest that marrying as her father wanted wasn’t good. I have no idea where else he could have gone.
4. The word that came to mind was METAPHOR. Not that I can remember the definition of metaphor. I think Heather, a plant of the wild moor, growing well in a well cared-for garden is a metaphor for Paxton and Elizabeth having grown up in places scorned by the ton but able to by healthy and happy with Eleanor and Darcy. Elizabeth displaying her hair to Darcy is more than a symbol of or a metaphor for seduction. It is seduction!
Once again, great thoughtful responses everyone! I’m really enjoying hearing the different opinons, conjectures, and insights!!
Question 1: Now that Angie mentioned a Downton Abbey comparison, I keep envisioning Lady Violet Crawley as the Dowager Marhcioness! I think even though the Dowager Marchioness believes in tradition and societal class, she has lived in the world long enough to know that times do change, happiness is important, and marriage is better with love. Knowing how her granddaughter feels about Paxton, I think she will do whatever she can to help.
Question 3: I’d like to believe that Lord Charles is in earnest – like Henry Crawford, I think he ended up falling for his attempted conquest. I don’t know where he went off to, everyone seems to have a good guess though! I think we will find out and I think it might be something important…
I think Lizzy would never lose her heart to Lord C, but she may have enjoyed a friendship with him if she didn’t know about the bet. Which would have driven Darcy even more insane since he would, of couse, view Lord C as competition!
Question 4: Joana did such an excellent job with her symbols, I’m so inspired! I’ll try elaborating a little on the hairpins (I know, easiest one!) To Darcy, I think the hairpins symbolize protection (he in fact tells Elizabeth to use them against him!) and a sort of barrier (seeing her hair unbound is something so intimate that only her husband should be able to see). Darcy knows this and I think when he sees her without him he feels there isn’t any obstructions between them being together…
1) I love the Dowager Marchioness. I can picture Maggie Smith playing her on TV! I think she wants to give Paxton a chance because even though she cares for tradition and social class, she does also really care for her granddaughter and wants to see her happy. Also, she does hate her new daughter in law enough that she might enjoy going against her will as much as possible (and might have reservations about any match she came up with).
2) To be honest , I don’t think Lord Charles made any difference in Darcy’s behavior at this point. I sure was not thinking of Lord Charles when I was reading this part of the book (even though I liked him a great deal)! I think Darcy simply can’t restrain himself any longer around Elizabeth.
3) Since I have finished the book already, I know where Lord Charles went, but when I was reading this section of the book, I had no idea (although I figured he was going through some kind of transformation for the good). I do think his feelings towards Elizabeth are starting to be sincere, although when he started he was probably just trying to amuse himself (again he is just like Henry Crawford with Fanny). I don’t think he is truly a bad guy at all (his sister must know he is a good person underneath or she would not be so close to him after all). Before she found out about the bet, Elizabeth was clearly starting to like Lord Charles better and probably starting to think of him more as a friend, even if I don’t think she was falling in love with him. However, I think she could I fallen for him a lot more (bet situation aside) if Darcy were not in the picture.
I can picture her as Maggie Smith too!
I agree with you about Lord Charles and Lizzy – if Darcy was out of the picture and there was no bet, they had some good potential to fall in love with each other! 🙂
Q1 I love the Dowager Machioness! I think she cares for her family and only wants them to be happy. Will she be successful? I am not going to answer that! I was trying to pace myself, but I couldn’t help it. I read the whole rest of the book last night. I couldn’t put it down.
Q2 I think Darcy is being more caution with Elizabeth because of Lord Charles. He doesn’t want to scare her away by appearing like him. I believe Elizabeth sees the difference in the two men and knows Darcy is sincere.
Love the chat!
LOL! If I didn’t have so much going on this week I think I would have done the same thing, Becky! I was forced to stay at the pace we set! 🙂 Thanks for taking part!
Question 1: I am looking forward to seeing what the Dowager Machioness does for Lady Eleanor as the story progresses. She makes me of Elizabeth and how she will be in the future.
Question 2: I don’t think it matters if Lord Charles was around or not, by the time Darcy arrived and found Elizabeth there he would not stop perusing her. Finding her there just made him love her more. I loved the scene at the moors and Elizabeth allows him because she is starting to sort out her feelings. Awe, hairpins!!
Interesting….I could see Elizabeth being a spry, quick witted matriarch some day! 🙂
Oh the scenes on the moor and the ride back are my favorite! I think I reread them three times already! *sigh*
Sorry, never managed to get to Day 2’s discussions in time, had visitors last night so lost my chance. Will move on to Day 3!!! Great comments, by the way!
It isn’t too late! We don’t mind if you are a day or two behind! 🙂
Q1: I like the Dowager very much. She reminds me a little of Aunt Augusta in “The Bounds of Decorum”. I’m looking forward to what she will come up with to sabotage Lady E’s marriage to Lord D. She may not think Paxton to be good enough for Lady E, but as she knows Lady E and P love each other, she will try to help them – and succeed.
Q2: I don’t think D would have behaved much differently, if Lord C didn’t exist. He would have felt guilty about proceeding too fast anyway. But he should have known that his anger at himself could be misinterpreted by E. If not thinking of Lord C, he might have thought of Wickham or any other rake. Considering E’s welcoming reaction he should not have felt so guilty in the first place. E’s reaction is perfectly understandable. Who could resist him? Not me. 😉
Q3: As Lord C was so shocked about his sister’s revelations about Mary, he went probably to find out the truth about her. I think Lord C first toyed with E for fun, but then discovered that he actually liked her. Now he wants to redeem himself (flowers). He likes and trusts her, but I don’t think that he really loves her. I don’t think E would have fallen for Lord C in any case, because without knowing it she already loves D. But she was definitely softening toward Lord C (friendship).
Q4: I’m usually bad with symbols, but I‘ll give it a try. The hairpins represent IMO desire, because the removal of them is the beginning of all the other things he desires. The butterfly might be a metaphor for E. D handing her the knife could mean “I trust you not to hurt me”.
Q5: Lady E’s willingness to please her father seems unnatural to me. How did D know E was packing her trunks? I don’t understand why someone would wear expensive and borrowed hairpins on an outing where they could easily get lost. Where was the maid during the garden scene?
The romantic scenes and calling card idea were sheer brilliance. I can’t wait to read more of that.
I thought that too about the Dowager and Aunt Augusta – I love these matriarchs!
Yes, who could refuse Darcy???
Great job with the symbols!!
Question 1: I really liked the Dowager. It was nice to see another strong female character as I am not a fan of Lady Eleanor. I think the Dowager is willing to help because she can see E&P are in love and I am sure she would delight in doing anything that would upset Lady B as well.
Question 2: I do not think Darcy’s behavior would be very different as he is an honorable man and respects Elizabeth and women in general. Elizabeth’s reaction is as expected. Can’t blame her haha!
Question 3: I thought Lord Charles went to London to get away after learning about what happened to one of his dalliances. I also think that Elizabeth was just a game to him at first. Though I do not think he actually loves her I do think that he is drawn to her now and it is no longer a game to him. I do not think that Elizabeth would have actually fallen for him if things were different. He isn’t her type 😛
Question 4: >< I suck at symbolism. I loved reading Joana's interpretation though. I never think of those things. Shannon
Lumee23 at gmail dot com
Reading Joana’s response was an eyeopener, wasn’t it? I learned so much! 🙂
Question 1: My first impression is that I wish my relatives are a bit more like the Dowager Marchioness. SHee seems to be fun and stern and looks out for well being of her family. I hope she will be successful in helping out Lady Eleanor I have a feeling Lady Bentham will try to do everything in her powers to keep them seperate. I think she agreed to give Paxton a chance since there are those in higher classes who end not being good human beings. I believe she also is more interested in the well being and happiness of Lady Eleanor more so than Eleanors other relations.
(I hope she will appear in a future book even if it is a small cameo!)
Question 2: I do not think there would have been any changes if Charles Carlisle was there.
Question 3:
At first I do not believe him to be in earnest but as the story progressed I believe he wanted tochange for the better and was in earnest eventually. If Elizabeth had not been forewarned of his bet I believe she would have given him the opportunity and a chance .
Question 4: The hairpins I can definitely tell is a symbol. I think It could be a symbol for the future of Elizabeth and Darcy that her hairpins came loose and fell to the ground in front of Darcy. As Meredith mentioned earlier, women hair should not be seen in this way unless they were with their husbands. It is seen as a form of intimacy at the time.