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A Quest for Mr Darcy – Chapter Thirty Six
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Hello!
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.
As one of my favourite authors, Jane Austen, once wrote, ‘let other pens dwell on guilt and misery’.
Cass Grafton - Writer 
I hate Mr Latimer! The nerve to treat Elizabeth like that. What an arrogant man! I hope Darcy keeps putting him on his place and talk to him very soon. And about Miss Latimer, she seems to care nothing for Darcy, which pleases me. I thought she would cling to his person. At least we don’t have to see that. And Mr Latimer seems to have the impression that Darcy gave his word to his daughter already! The man is delusional! I can’t wait to see his face once he realizes there will be no engagement!! He might create problems. Poor Darcy, what was he thinking when he invited them? Looking forward to Thursday, Cass!! 🙂
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I think your sentiments regarding Mr Latimer are echoed thoroughly in the Comments, Daniela. I must admit, I can’t stand him either! 😉
I’m sure Darcy won’t let us all down! ❤
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They have come at last! The mother seems to be fine, the daughter a cold fish and the father , a grasping fool!
Darcy had better keep on his toes as mr latimer thinks he has him !
But, I do have a smile… after all Darcy KNOWS what wasn’t promised !
Come on Thursday!
Forgot ( how???) the letter. What has wickham done???
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Good Latimer family summary, Carol! 😉
The letter… hmm, someone is going to have to open it soon if Mr B stays absent!
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My, my, Mr. Latimer is as condescending as Lady Catherine! Not only did Darcy handle him brilliantly, but Elizabeth as well! Mrs. Latimer seems lovely as she and Elizabeth were comfortable with each other. Poor Miss Latimer is not interested in Darcy at all…which is a good thing! She is a pawn in her father’s machinations! But with 50,000 pounds, maybe the Colonel’s charm could melt her heart!
As for the letter, I think Wickham is having Mr. Bennet run ragged chasing him! Oh please have him return soon. Now that Elizabeth, Jane, Darcy and the Colonel know he is causing Mr. Bennet problems of some sort, he will be willing to ask for assistance…I don’t want to use the word ‘help’ as I think Mr. Bennet may have a problem asking for it!
I was also quite proud of the twins! They behaved themselves at dinner, but I am sure they were only concocting some way to thwart Mr. Latimer’s plans! They needed to get the lay of the land so to speak!
Thank goodness Thursday is only two days away!
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You are right, Carole, that having several people (trustworthy people, that is) aware Mr Bennet is in some sort of pickle can only be to the good in the long run!
Bless those twins! I think you are right on what they might be planning too! 😉
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Another thing: it was so rude of Mr Latimer to tell Darcy he had a house full of guests. As if it was any of his business!
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You are quite right, Daniela! That man is rude!
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I cannot for the life of me understand why Darcy would invite such unfeeling, cold snobs to his home with the prospect of ???? Miss Latimer. Well, Mrs. Latimer did behave nicely, but Miss L. reminded me of someone sizing up the fortune she was expecting to inherit with absolutely no regard for anything else, not to mention Darcy. Ugh! Well, since she wasn’t very nice, I won’t feel in the least bit sorry for her or her family when Darcy makes his intentions clear to the father. I can’t wait to Thursday. Sorry Darcy, but you really did it to yourself this time. Of course we all know that the man won’t be intimidated or cowed. Did I say I can’t wait for the next post? Hmmm? Jen Red
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PS I got so carried away I almost forgot to comment about Bennet and GW. Sounds like blackmail to me.
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It sounds like blackmail to me too, Jen!
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Yes, he really did put himself in a spot, didn’t he, bless him? I suspect Latimer didn’t show his true colours until now. He would have been ‘courting’ Darcy when they were in Town, but now he thinks he’s home and dry with regard to offloading his daughter…
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Ahhh nutz!! Was working on something after reading this chapter… Hey, I’ll call up this “Quest for Mr Darcy” story and read more chapters. ARGH! Have to wait for more chapters to be released!! Have to WAIT….Wait…wait…& wai…. lol
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LOL No pressure, then, Dave! Sorry about that!
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Oooh — Mr. Latimer — what a condescending, arrogant snob. I quite like the man! He began his visit by being so heavy handed with his insults and demands, that it should not hurt Darcy’s conscience in the least to put the man in his place. And what is the deal with Miss Latimer? Is she shy, or class-conscious like her father, or infatuated with someone else her father disapproves, or simply a woman with the personality of a fish? I hope the twins put frogs in her bed. I do hope Mr. Latimer does not decide to tell Elizabeth that she should relinquish her dance to Miss Latimer, but I would not be surprised if he does exactly that — insufferable man!
I also wish someone would take seriously the “ghost” the twins are seeing. Someone is lurking in the woods and the longer he can move about, the longer he has to cause trouble. And if it’s Wickham doing the lurking, trouble is his middle name.
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Excellent point, Jan, re Darcy fighting back more easily with the man being such a jerk from the outset! 😉
Ah yes, Miss Latimer. What is it with her? Loving the personality of a fish and the frog comment (as do several other commenters!)
Yes, no one is taking the twins seriously, are they? I am glad you are!
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I reckon the lurker in the woods is Wickham, the scoundrel. I only hope he’s not trying to get Elizabeth back now that Lydia is dead!
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A scary thought, Ruth!
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An excellent chapter! I cannot wait to see the confrontation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Lattimer. However, I also feel like Lattimer would not hesitate to investigate the Bennets and ruin them if he thought it would suit their purposes. So much to look forward to! By the way, do you know how many chapters there will be?
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I’m not sure on exact chapters, Lizzybel, but we are in the run up to answers and conclusions. By my estimate, the story should wind up early March, but I’m afraid I tend to wax a bit lyrical and take longer to say things than I should or could, (a good editor will hopefully sort that out when I am done), so that may get extended. 🙂
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Everyone else has already described Mr. Latimer so I won’t get into him. But Miss Latimer reminds me of the female version of Darcy at the Meryton Assembly: condescending, distant and above company. I love the comment about the twins putting frogs in her bed! 🙂 She is quite a cold fish! But I don’t like the idea of the Colonel getting stuck with her – he deserves better.
Darcy did bring this situation on himself so he better get himself out of it. I’m looking forward to the ball scene but I have a sneaky suspicion it won’t live up to our dear couple’s expectations, at least not with Latimer and his manipulations.
Thanks for another great chapter!
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I loved the frog comment too, Carol!
Ah yes, the ball. I will see what I can do to get the balance right! ❤
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To quote another reader, what was Darcy thinking to contemplate marriage to miss latimer? But he is redeeming himself nicely. I just hope mr latimer doesn’t force his daughter to compromise Darcy! I wouldn’t put it past him. Looking foward to Darcy telling him it’s a no go! Lol thanks
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I think the trouble was, Fran, as we all know, Darcy wasn’t thinking straight. He had convinced himself he was doing his duty and selecting a wife based on her credentials and nothing else. After all, at the time, he had forsaken love.
Poor Darcy! Now he reaps the rewards of his obsession with duty at the beginning of the story!
But then again, this is Darcy, and he has us all in his corner – as well as the Colonel! 😉
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I don’t know why this chapter’s posting was not in my mail box this morning but I am glad to have found it…
Yes, Miss Latimer seems to be a female version of Darcy at the Meryton Assembly: silent and looking on others with disdain. Does she think she has the bird in the bag so doesn’t have to make a good impression on anyone, even Darcy?
What could Wickham blackmail Mr. Bennet about?….unless he is threatening to let the community know about how the youngest daughter eloped with “a man” and then died without being married to him. I can’t imagine any other hold he would have over the Bennets. I wish Jane and Elizabeth would open the letter even if it is marked “strictly confidential”. Knowing that it is from Wickham gives them a good excuse.
Yes, Georgiana is not comfortable with Miss Latimer so Darcy now says “what was I thinking” and I do hope he stands up the Latimer’s manipulations about the first set of the dance…can you not just see him walking up to Darcy with his daughter’s hand in his and attempting to hand her off to Darcy for the first set? How embarrassed that would make Darcy, Elizabeth and then Miss Latimer…if Darcy turns away to take Elizabeth’s hand…at least, I hope he would do the honorable thing as well as the best thing for his relationship with Elizabeth.
The twins are quiet at the moment but when they get together in the evening and talk about what they see are they then going to plan not only a frog in Miss Latimer’s bed but other mischief to bring ODC together and/or making sure Miss Latimer is not left alone with Darcy? I wouldn’t put it past the father to arrange something like that. But, how lovely that Mrs. Latimer has a personality similar to Elizabeth and that they can talk comfortably together.
Thanks for this chapter.
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Ah that letter! It seems to be on everyone’s mind, and I’m sure it won’t stay unopened for long! 😀
That’s a good point, Sheila. I could also see Latimer doing that at the ball and he wouldn’t care a jot for embarrassing his own daughter, either. Horrid man! 😉
LOL re the frog. It had crossed my mind…
Sorry you didn’t get a notification – not sure what happened there!
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Yes, I was a bit worried about Darcy in the garden with Miss Latimer. I thought that Mr Latimer would contrive to get Darcy compromised somehow. Miss Latimer is cold because she does not love Darcy. She might not be cold if or when someone catches her eye.
I am worried about Mr Bennett and want him to come back and be more communicative with his daughters and also with Mr Darcy.
I am loving all the conversations between the characters. Looking forward to more.😣
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Mr Latimer is like a bull in a china shop, rough-riding over everyone in sight!
I’m a bit worried about Mr Bennet, too, Cristina. 😦
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I really enjoyed this chapter, Cass!! I love the tension and the mystery behind the letter from Wickham! The story is really heating up now!
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So happy to have you still reading along, Claudine!
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Nice put down of Mr. Latimer, Darcy! Yet, did Mr. L. realise he HAD been put down? Cass, when you sent Miss L. off into the gardens with Darcy, I was holding my breath, thinking “Noooo! Don’t let anything untoward happen!” Thankfully, he dodged that particular bullet. Let’s hope “tomorrow’s” conference doesn’t mean any more.
Is Wickham really in Buxton, or is he even closer? Brrrr! I can feel my thumbs pricking. Jane, Lizzy, open that letter!
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Well, I think someone needs to open that letter, Anji! I wonder who it will be?!
I’m not Miss Latimer has enough energy to try anything with Darcy! She makes me tired just writing about her! 😉
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Oh I worry about Darcy being compromised by Miss Lattimer! So far she has all the personality of a Doric column, nothing with Elizabeth’s intelligence or joie de vivre, and Darcy sees that. I think she must be in love with someone else, someone of whom Papa does not approve. Maybe Darcy can arrange for Mr. Lattimer and Wickham to go fishing together.
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Love the Doric column reference, Katherine! 😀 And LOL at the fishing!
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HOLY SHIT Cass!! Okay sorry to say but I had seriously thrown out the Latimers after that comment about Elizabeth if I had been Darcy or given him a piece of my mind at the least! Darcy really knows when to keep his opinions to himself but by god Mr. Latimer is an absolute ass****!! 😡 Someone kick that insulting man’s backside!
But I do sense danger ahead with a capital D! Wickham and a mysterious letter, Cass… Cass Cass, 😱😧😨 another ending where you leaving your loyal reader sitting on the very edges of their chairs! So not okay even for 2 days!! It’s absolute torture!!
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LOL, Sophia! Great reaction! 😉
I didn’t think this was that much of a cliffie…. I must be becoming immune! 😉
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Oh. My. Word. We just met him and we instantly hate Mr. Latimer.
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Indeed, we do!
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I was wondering, Cass, if Darcy will ever be straightforward to Elizabeth about Miss Latimer. Why she is there and etc. Or if Elizabeth herself will ask sth about his presumed engagement. I would like to see them talking about that and Darcy totally clearing up the misunderstanding and telling her he was a fool to ever consider that lady. 🙂
About the letter, I am also curious to what Wickham might want with the Bennets. Is he so horrible to blackmail them after everything he has already caused them? Might it be sth else?
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There is something coming up on Darcy and what he intends soon, Daniela! 😉
As for the letter, you will find out its content very soon, but the reason for it will not become clear immediately. I’m afraid that’s all I can say at this stage without spoilers! 😀
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I hope Miss Latimer is just being standoffish due to the fact that she doesn’t want to marry Darcy. It is apparent that her father wants the connection in regards to his own interest. I think she needs to have a conversation with the colonel, Mayhap they will get on well.
Yes, the Wickham/Bennet situations sound like blackmail.
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LOL, Trez! You are not the only one suggesting Miss L turn her attention to Col F. Poor man! 😉
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I know. But really she’s a woman who seems to be under her father’s command.
And in that time in history women were under the control of their father an then their husband’s.
I would think if she wanted to garner Darcy’s favor, even if it was not for a ‘love match, she would at least show a little interest in his person. If for nothing else for the sake of public appearance. I don’t know, the way her father is acting maybe she thinks she has this marriage deal in the bag and she doesn’t need to show him interest.
Beside the Colonel could use that 50,000 pounds, eh? 😉
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Oh yes, he sure needs that 50k! 😉
I understand exactly where you’re coming from, Trez. It’s just that I am trying not to say too much now in Comments in case I give away what I have planned for everyone! 😀
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Of course, I know this! 🙂
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Ah! FINALLY…
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😀
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Brrr. Miss Latimer gives me the shivers…such an icy and disinterested young lady.
And Latimer himself is a scheming man whom Elizabeth put in his place without the man even knowing it.
I like Mrs. Latimer, and I hope that she can be a calming influence upon her husband when Darcy finally talks to him.
Wow, even the twins quieted down at the table? The Latimers are killjoys, indeed.
Poor Elizabeth!! And then this whole thing with Wickham is definitely shifty. I think he may still have mailed that letter from Buxton and then returned to continue his spying…and apparently necessary poaching.
Can’t wait to see what happens next!! Thank you, Cassandra!! 😀
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
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Yes, you can tell the atmosphere has changed if the twins are subdued! LOL
Hope you survived the days of rain, Susanne!
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Gah!!! Poor Mrs. Latimer to be shackled to such a cold, calculating husband! And her daughter… she is loathsome beyond words to follow her fathers plans so blithely. Terrific story!!!
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I’m starting to feel for Mrs Latimer too, Jaffer!
Thank you so much for reading along!
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Darcy eavesdropping! That was one of my favorite parts of the chapter, with Lizzy standing up to the horrid Mr. Latimer with grace. Love the line about her home being… Derbyshire.
Other bits I loved:
– The colonel letting slip that Darcy doesn’t really know Miss Latimer as he walks away from Lizzy (indicating he has not really spent time with her previously)!
– Georgiana gaining confidence in her brother and Lizzy’s “relationship” at its current state
– Darcy standing up to Latimer. Of course. Did we ever doubt he would falter? 😉
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Loving that you are loving these things, Mel!
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