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A Quest for Mr Darcy – Chapter Fifteen
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I'm Cass, and I write the sort of stories I love to read - heart-warming, character driven and strong on location. I lean heavily towards the upbeat in both my reading and my writing. 
Cass Grafton - Writer 
Uhhhhhh what a lovely chapter!!! That moment between Darcy and Elizabeth at the very end made my insides melt! It was sooooo obvious they are both SO in love with each other! Someone push them into a linen cupboard and lock the door until they will admit to their feelings for each other!
I think Jane knows that Bingley will be in the neighbourhood soon, but I do wonder at her feelings as she only smiles..?
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You will find out Jane’s feelings!
Yes, they are both in way too deep, but Darcy is still trying to valiantly hold on to his belief he is over Elizabeth (yes, I know!), and Elizabeth is fighting her liking for him because of the resentment she bears.
Perhaps they need to spend a bit more time around Alice!! 😉
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I do start to like the methods that Alice applies since I’m sure she can see the attraction between them! I do want to give both Elizabeth and Darcy a kick in the behind and tell them to stop being so foolish! But they will come around soon I hope!
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It would be a very short story if they immediately got over their fixations (and more than a bit unrealistic, I feel) 😀
Yes, I didn’t realise Alice was going to come into her own at first (a bit like writing Jane in TPCoMJA)! Love it when a character asserts their presence unexpectedly!
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Alice is my new favorite character!
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Mine too, Carol. That was my exact thought as I read those lines! Yay! Alice! She’s not blind!
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LOL! I was hoping someone would like her actions!
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Oh, Elizabeth is so darn crusty! I dislike it when she takes on a shrewish attitude. I do hope she softens soon. She is easily her own worst enemy.
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I hope so, too, Peggy. We want her to wake up to her feelings and soon! So happy that Georgiana is gently helping things along. Lizzy surely did avoid answering her question.
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It would be unrealistic for Elizabeth to be completely in favour of Darcy yet. They have only just met for the first time since he handed her his letter and don’t forget, in this particular story, Wickham has caused far more damage with wider repercussions than in the original story.
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Sly Alice – obviously she has the instinct to interpret looks and longings. Good girl!…or lady as the case may be. Yes, ODC is fooling only themselves. I am now waiting to hear what Jane has to say. She may be over Bingley but is there any doubt about him NOT being over her as Darcy worries about telling Bingley about the Bennets presence in the neighborhood?
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With Bungley due to arrive the next day, I think there are answers-a-plenty coming soon, Sheila!
Thank you for continuing to read along!
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Oh, no. Your one reply states that Wickham has done far more damage – I dread to think what that may be…biting nails!
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Don’t worry, Sheila! Look after those nails!
You know a lot already i.e. his causing a stream of events that caused more damage than in the original, with what happened to Lydia and the knock on effect on her mother, leading to the Bennets uprooting… that may be enough… possibly… 😉
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Excellent chapter. I felt nervous for ODC. Too funny that Lizzy convinced herself that her irritation was due to wanting him gone. Ha! I’m anxious to hear what Jane has to say about the conversation. Will that soften Lizzy’s attitude toward Darcy. What does Mr. Bennet suspect. Methinks something! 🙂 Eagerly waiting for Tuesday! Thanks, Cass!
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I’m so glad you spotted that, Janet, re Lizzy’s irritation. She is, of course, starting to feel a bit miffed by Darcy’s lack of interest even as she complains about his frequent visits! Oh how contrary we are when we are falling in love! 😀
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So the wi-fi at home is playing up and my carefully crafted comment has fluttered away to who know where so please forgive me if eventually it re-appears from whatever black hole it got sucked into!
“Suddenly, it felt incredibly intimate to feel the smooth fabric beneath her fingers, to know it had been against his throat, his skin, and she felt unbidden heat steal into her cheeks.” You’re fooling no-one with your shows of irritation young lady, especially the wonderful Alice. Now all you have to do is realise why these feelings surfaced after such a short time. Were they there all the time, just buried underneath resentment?
“Elizabeth slowly raised her eyes to his, surprising such a look upon his countenance as made her catch her breath. It was gone in an instant but, her insides swirling with inexplicable sensations.” He’s fooling no-one either, especially Alice again, but at least he’d acknowledged his feelings before and just needs to realise he’s NOT over her and never will be. Such a delicious turn of phrase in those two paragraphs eapecially, Cass.
Now, is Jane over Bungley or not? After all, this IS a master of hiding feelings who we’re talking about here. Guess we’ll have to wait till Tuesday to find out. Tuesday is a lifetime away!
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Ah, Anji! I’m so sorry your response disappeared into the ether!
Yes, lots of deceiving themselves going on. Something needs to trigger a change – I wonder who it will affect first? Oh, wait! I know! 😉
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Oh, Lizzy, Lizzy, Lizzy! The poor girl just can’t decide what she wants when it comes to Mr. Darcy — he visits too often, yet he doesn’t pay enough attention to her when he does. I enjoyed her insides swirling and her face flaming with embarrassment! Before she knows what hit her she should be in full-blown smitten — just in time for the arrival of Miss Latimer. (bwahaha)
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LOL Jan!
Yep, this girl has no clue what’s going on inside yet! Such fun! Tempted to do a bwahaha too! 😀
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Poor Lizzy…she’s completely confuzzled. It’s almost amusing…if so much did not depend upon her seeing Darcy for who he really is.
Of course, Darcy himself is nearly as confuzzled as she is.
And next comes “Bungley”–I’ve started thinking of him in this way, no matter which variation of P&P I happen to be reading, ever since seeing it here. There can be such truth in a typo. 😉
Thank you, Cass, for yet another brilliant chapter!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
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Loving ‘confuzzled’, Susanne! 😀
Thank YOU, Susanne, for continuing to read along! And Bungley approaches! lol
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Awww….I am sorry for Lizzy. Her situation is not an easy one. I think it will take time for her to realize her feelings and now her position in life is much more decidedly beneath his. So I can understand her confusion.
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She’s very confused, isn’t she, Daniela? However, I think she might also be fighting against her instincts… we’ll have to see which one of them sees the light first! 😉
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Hi
I was working till late today and only just now I have finished the chapter. This one was delicious. I love it when there is interaction between Darcy and Lizzy. I wonder what drama will happen to bring them together.
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Well, definitely plenty of Darcy and Lizzy time to come, and a bit of drama too! Hope you continue to enjoy, Cristina, and that you have a restful weekend to make up for the long day!
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I am really enjoying the story so far. The only thing I have an issue with is the reference to a “door bell.” I didn’t think that they were in existence at this point in time.
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Glad you are enjoying, Kristine. You make a very valid point re the door bell, as I believe it was around 1830 they first came into general use. I have used a bit of poetic licence for now, as I am particularly fond of the bell by the front door at my parents’ home which is the old-fashioned ‘give the brass knob a tug’ type. It’s attached to a wire which rings the old bell in the hallway! (More Victorian than anything, I know).
I appreciate your commenting on the detail, however, because if this ever becomes a published book, those are the aspects that will need tightening up! I am aware I’ve also referred to ‘pulling the bell for hot water’ scenario both in this and previous works, which again I think is more of a Victorian thing. 😀
All pick-ups such as these much appreciated, and I hope you continue to enjoy the read!
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I raised the question about a door bell years ago in one of my reviews and the author (I forget who) said that they did exist plus quoted from one or another of JA’s books as to the ringing of a doorbell.
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That’s interesting, Sheila! Makes me feel a bit better about having it in there. 😀 I do know I’m still learning though when it comes to historical accuracy!
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This is from chapter 30 of Pride and Prejudice:
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire—paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins, and whatever might be his feelings toward her friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him without saying a word.
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Wow, thank you, Jan for the quote! Good to know The Grange shares a door bell with Hunsford Parsonage! 😉
Seriously, though, thank you to all of you for raising things like this and then sharing what you know! I really helps a great deal!
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I’m quite looking forward to hearing about that conversation between Darcy and Jane. I wonder, since he confronted her about her feelings if she will feel comfortable enough in the future to do the same to him. I’ve always felt Darcy and Jane have some of the same personalities, due to different circumstances of course. In today’s world I could see them becoming good friends.
And really isn’t that partly why Elizabeth is subconsciously attracted to him?
I have a feeling the ugly green monster might come out when Miss Latimer arrives. Maybe for Bingley too – you could do us a favour and throw those two together 😉
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I’ve felt that about Darcy and Jane too, Trez. I always felt during Pride & Prejudice (the novel) that Jane didn’t feel as negatively about Darcy as everyone else seemed to, but then again, it could just be down to Jane and her approach to life of not thinking badly of anyone! 😀
Oh dear, lol! Are you someone else who’s not over enamoured of Bungley? lol Hmm, Bungley and Miss L…
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I imagine that when they talked about door bells in the early 1800’s they were talking about a pull bell of some sort, either hooked to a chain or a cord.
I found this on wiki history of door bells but 1817 was after the first version of P&P if my memory serves me correctly. I suppose it could have popped up in the editing before the publishing date of said novel.
“William Murdoch, a Scottish inventor, installed a number of his own innovations in his house, built in Birmingham in 1817; one of these was a loud doorbell, that worked using a piped system of compressed air.[1] A precursor to the electric doorbell, specifically a bell that could be rung at a distance via an electric wire, was invented by Joseph Henry around 1831.[2] By the early 1900s, electric doorbells had become commonplace.”
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I agree, Trez. Whenever I’ve mentioned ‘pulling the bell’ for hot water or such like, or referred to a front door bell, I meant the pull bell system (as mentioned above, like the one at my family home).
However, I had not noticed it in P&P until Sheila and Jen posted about it above!
Loving when readers are so informative so thank you to everyone and to Kristine for raising the point!
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Finally!!! A D&E moment that leaves me weak in the… fingers, for typing. Lol!
So many precious moments in this chapter and two of it belonging to Georgiana: the beginning, and her persistence in interviewing Lizzy.
Alice, who from now on will be called fairy godmother.
And Lizzy discovering her irritability at Darcy’s constant visits… or the frequency of them with him paying her little attention?! I love how her innocence about love in general, or actually finding herself attracted to someone for what seems the first time, makes her blind. Reminds me of the Lizzy in AFP. 😃
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LOL re weak at the fingers, Mel!
There is someone who sees right through Lizzy’s ‘irritability’, as you’ll find out in today’s chapter! 😉
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