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Jan, thank you for the new chapter. I loved it.
I was proud of Darcy when he took the time to help ease Elisabeths' feelings after the harsh words of Lady C.
I was so glad to see Darcy and Elisabeth acting as a front towards Caroline and Louisa. And I thank Bingley for putting them in the same rooms.
But I'm afraid that trouble is waiting round the corner. I hope it won't be Caroline who will find out the news of the encounter between Darcy and Wickham. She would really enjoy telling that to Elisabeth.
Oh I can't wait for the next chapter to arrive. I hope Darcy has delicious dreams in the meantime.
I love how Darcy & Elizabeth played along with each other in front of Caroline. That was nice!
I think the nurse is a good idea. She can teach Fan to behave with being mean to her.
Thanks for he up-date Jan, and thanks for making Lady C go away!
Love that they are to share a bed. Poor Darcy. LOLOL
I do like that they are at least behaving better towards one another-- and that he defends her.
Looking fwd to the next posting!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the last chapters. Your writing in 1st person is very good. It really gives readers the opportunity to read this enigmatic man's mind.Also, you have approached the subject of the marriage in name only, which is otherwise quite repetitive, in a brand new way. Very refreshing. But then again, you have always given perfectly lovely stories. Cant wait for next chapter. Thanks
Caroline being so quiet and benign after Elizabeth left the room is quite out of character for her.
I'm hoping we'll find out what's wrong with Mr. Bennet soon, especially as he's pulled D&E back to Meryton. I was looking forward to them settling into Pemberley, finding a routine, and getting more comfortable with each other.
Toss the pillow, Darcy!
I can't wait to see how they awake in the morning?
Geri
Thank you, everyone! Some of your comments made me laugh out loud. Several of you mentioned a Hunsford scene in Darcy's future, and I certainly wouldn't rule that out. Right now, though, he's happy, so I'll let him enjoy it.
My dears, I'm a bit late. Switched to iMac recently and didn't have Office yet. Now I do, and the first thing I did was posting Jan's new installment. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
Jan H- what a great story I love it!! Can't wait for the next chapter!
Another great chapter Jan, the barriers are starting to break down.
Jan! You make monday a happy day. Thank you very very much!
I like the way Darcy is softening to the girl.
Yes, yes, a softening Darcy. I'm glad he thought thru
his idea about being in the bedroom with Lizzy and she took the matter in hand.
Darcy and Fan, she wanted to be conforted and Lizzy scent does it for her and Darcy too.
Irene
GRC
A most satisfying chapter
I certainly hope that Lizzy will show more appreciation to Darcy now he's beginning to warm up to her family. So glad to see ODC are doing their best to put up a perfect marriage, and enjoying themselves in the process
The little scene betw Fan and Darcy was quite endearing. If only Elizabeth has witnessed it.
Thanks for the story, Jan! Look forward to the next weekend
It seems that both Elizabeth and Darcy are trying to get along; whether subconciously or not, it's a moot point. At least it is a beginning. They do work well; hopefully they'll realize it sooner rather than later.
For some reason, and some might not agree w/ me, I feel Darcy is right. Fan should call Elizabeth "Aunt", though I do understand Fan only knows one mother and that is Elizabeth. Nevertheless, I think Fan should be aware that Lydia was her mother thus honoring L's memory, honoring the woman that gave her birth. It was very amusing how Darcy and Fan were going back a forth w/ "Mamma" and "Aunt Elizabeth".
Darcy's scene w/ Fan was sweet. Maybe Elizabeth should go away more often and give them time to know each other. If E is not there to distract Fan, perhaps she will start feeling more comfortable w/ Darcy. Fan just needs/wants love and guidance. Darcy should start calling her Fan instead of "the child" and maybe Fan will start calling "Uncle Fitz" or something similar. They have something in common: their love for Elizabeth...and that might be the catalyst that helps the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
As always Jan, wonderful chapter but...I have a feeling this the calm before the storm.
Another excellent chapter. Thank you. Glad things are getting warmer everywhere, but I cannot help bracing myself for more angst in the near future, am I wrong?
The trip to Meryton seems to be doing both Elizabeth and Darcy some good.
Elizabeth's interactions with Darcy in the bedroom surprised me, she was relaxed and teasing in what Darcy thought would be an tense situation. Good for her!
Darcy with Fan surprised me, too. Even if he's a bit awkward, he's still gentle. Fan doesn't have a name for him ... yet. Let's see what she comes up with. I know what I'd like her to call him.
Can't help but hope that they get to a point where some their feelings can be openly expressed. So far, they're mainly going on impressions. Love how this is developing, Jan! Thanks for a great chapter.
Very lovely chapter.
thank you
Have just discovered your website from a hint on DWG, and look forward to reading lots more. Loved this last chapter of The Child - yes, hope Elizabeth does soften from Darcy's appreciation of the Gardiners.
Is it curmudgeonly of me to say I see Darcy's point of view about what Fan calls Elizabeth. There's no reason Darcy and Elizabeth can't act parental, but Fan is neither their adopted nor biological daughter, so wouldn't it be even odder if she did call them Mama and Papa? Won't they be telling her about her mother? Nothing wrong with being brought up by an aunt and uncle. Plus it gets complicated if she calls Elizabeth mama and doesn't call Darcy papa. Do you see what I mean? Why not transparency and honesty from the beginning?
Thank you, everyone, for all your comments! I'm glad you are enjoying a bit of fun as a break from all the angst. As to what Fan calls Darcy and Elizabeth, the child will probably make that decision. Never fear that Darcy's problems are over. Just like in real life, they always seem to be hovering around the corner.
Thank you for this wonderful story. I can't say I'm pleased with Darcy's behavior at the moment. He is being very insensitive towards Lizzy's and Fan's feelings. And he doesn't even notice it. I absolutely understand our dear girl's insecurity and hesitancy. He told her he loves another woman - a woman he can't have. What is she supposed to think? That her husband is in love with a married lady? Or a woman of even lesser social status than herself? This Darcy really has no emotional intelligence. Typical male. And so very annoying. Lol.
I'm so happy because we will get a new chapter very soon. Just like all your stories, this is so much fun. By the way, congratulations on publishing An Arranged Marriage and The Journey. Very exciting news. I will definitely order my copies. Love those two stories.
Oh please, please, please let something happen between E and D while Fan is with the rest of the family. Even if it is something small. Thank you for this wonderful story.
Chapter eleven is up, my dears. Enjoy!
Well, I certainly feel sorry for Darcy, he is trying and it is taking a toll on him. But hopefully Lizzy will appreciate all his hard work, at least he got a kiss!
Even Maggie got a man!
Irene
GRC
Hi Jan,
Well, there is no way Wickham is going to be out of the picture. He thinks Darcy has cheated him out of money again. I hope his intentions are not to steal Fran (his own daughter) and put her up for ransom. But I have a bad feeling that he was the 'mean man' that Fran was refering to.
It is good to see Darcy and Elizabeth becoming closer yet it's rather ashame that their non-communication of their feelings puts them in an awkward situation. They both desire the same thing, yet neither knows.
I do feel for Darcy having to put up with Mrs. Bennet. It must be really embarrasing for Elizabeth to have her husband subject to such mascinations.
Wonderful chapter.
Hi Jan!
Good chapter. I was scared the nurse could be a man. That would have been really frightening!
And why the child does not want to pray? I am intrigued!
Thank you
China
Darcy seems to have a way with Fan now I'm also wondering if Maggie's man is Wickham. That will be most unfortunate indeed!
As for ODC, I'm so glad that Lizzy is taking the initiative to talk to Darcy. The poor guy, all the self-control is certainly doing him in. But the good night kiss is a good start hope as each night pass, they will be more comfortable to do a bit more
Thank you for this lovely chapter. You know Jan, I'm beginning to get quite jumpy now. All these blissful chapters are making me feel that some ominous event is lurking around the corner Still, I look forward to more
This may be putting a modern construct on a Regency story, but Lizzy -- unwittingly or not-- is being a bit of a tease. She does say that she knows "men have needs," but if so, shouldn't she be more aware of his distress?. Also, if she loves him as she implies, wouldn't she want more? Or, at least, try harder to assuage his pain. It doesn't seem that her reluctance is because she thinks he doesn't love her. She just seems "missish"!
I don't usually take the side of the man when it comes to consensual sex, and it may be that I see Darcy as more sympathetic because the story is told from his point of view. But this Elizabeth is either very naive, less sensitive than I thought, or ambivalent about what she wants.[I vote for-- and hope it's-- the last, ambivalence]. She pats the bed for him to sit down, she messes his hair, she wears a transparent lawn gown to bed, and she's sometimes flirtatious. Yet she's embarrassed and uncomfortable about a small kiss, showing relief when it's over. I'm confused.
Good story, Jan! I rarely write comments.
In this chapter and the last one, too, I've been getting the vibe that Elizabeth would like to jump Darcy's bones. I mean, the minute she walked in on him and little Fan after the incident in the closet, with him holding the kid -- well. Note that Elizabeth tells Fan Darcy is not a mean man.
And before that, Darcy gave his wife a very nice trinket which must inspire the warmth of gratitude -- and maybe something more? I would speculate that the reason Elizabeth is hanging back is because she is feeling too much rather than too little, and she is afraid of being head over heels about a man who says he is in love with another woman. Even when Elizabeth says she knows a man has needs, it sounds as if she may be discounting his attraction to her --because she has to see it -- as just a physical thing. Remember, she had thought he had a mistress, so she has some understanding of a man's physical needs.
Eventually, she knows the two of them will have to jump into the sack but she probably wants to protect her heart from loving him too much -- and perhaps even being a wild woman once she gets her hands on him. She probably thinks he wouldn't like that or would be repulsed by her ardor, as if she is behaving like some common girl who might his mistress. Naa, he wouldn't like that. So, she's trying to be cool.
Maggie man - Wickham? Darcy I want to ...I don't know what to do with you. Probably E would find a proper way to deal with you.
Jan, we are totally under your spell of writing.
Thank you.
It seems most of us are speculating that..
Maggie's Man = Wickham = Mean Man...
and if that is so, we are in for big trouble coming soon.
It did surprise me Darcy calling Fan by her name. That is a good beginning even thou he still sees her as "Wickham's child". Hopefully, Fan will win Darcy's heart soon thus winning Elizabeth's (tho I think he already has it). However, as long as E thinks Darcy loves another woman, I do not think she will open up/give herself completely to him.
Both have a lot to learn about COMMUNICATION.
But at least Darcy got a goodnight kiss.
Is Wickham the man? ? Will Lizzy give way and kisssssssssssss Darcy back soon? Poor man.
Thanks Jan for the story,
"Maggie man" I thought about Wickham as the man. Maggie would have had to seen him at Longbourn? I doubt W. had access to both Fan and Maggie anywhere else. Hope Elizabeth checks this out.
Darcy and Elizabeth are still circling each other, neither one knowing that they share the same feelings. However, the circle is getting smaller in circumference. They're sharing some small intimacies, including putting Fan to sleep. Very nice!
Oh my, speculation abounds! Thank you, Renee, Marina, Cindy, Irene, Sandy, Teb, China, Gio, Ophelia, Lacy, Vesna, Lili, Geri, and Lucy for your kind comments and allowing me to see what thoughts this chapter produced on your part. I won't answer all your questions, but I will clarify a little.
Sandy, Mr. Bennet is ill. Mrs. B just conveniently dismissed it so that she could spend Christmas day at Netherfield and push Jane and Bingles together.
China, your imagination is greater than mine to suspect that Maggie might be a man! Little Fan didn't want to pray because she wanted to talk about Maggie and the man, as much as a child that age can talk.
Ophelia, I can see how it looks like Elizabeth is teasing Darcy according to today's customs. In my mind, she doesn't realize what she's doing because she is quite innocent. Lacy is right in saying Elizabeth is protecting her heart. She's not sure about Darcy's feelings at all, and as someone said, why would she after he professed love for another woman?
Okay, that's enough. Back to filling the blank page!
I am glad Elizabeth is ready to start slowly becoming Darcy's wife. Thanks for the new chapters. It was lovely to see Fan warm up to Darcy until he raised his voice to her. I look forward to all three of the them forging a true family unit. Grand story, Jan!
And yet another lovely chapter of Jan's great story is awaiting you! Enjoy chapter 12 of The Child.
All the clues are there for Elizabeth and Darcy, but not expecting anything bad, they're missing them. Oh, sometimes it's frustrating to be the reader with a better perspective than the characters!
I hope this is a short week, waiting for next Sunday. Thanks, Jan!
OMG Jan! You are becoming the queen of cliffes! What a place to leave us! Lots going on and lots of emotions.
Perhaps it is unfair of me, but I find myself increasingly irritated with Lizzy. It reminds of P&P when Elizabeth is at first charmed by Wickham and misses the holes in his story. So, I realize there is precedent. Here she so trusting of Maggie, despite the hints in the chapter before this one that based upon what Fan said, Maggie has a man who she has not mentioned to her employer. Now all those incidents in earlier chapters when Fan would turn up in the wrong place because Maggie was not watching her take on a different and less random hue -- has Wickham been tracking Darcy all this time and using Maggie as his eyes into the Darcy household?
And, in this chapter, Maggie almost comes right and announces she is going to kidnap Fan -- Don't look in on her in the evening and don't check her out in the morning -- come on, as the child's mother for all intents and purposes, Lizzy -- why are you not seeing red flags and hearing warning bells?
Is Maggie's last name Younge, by any chance?
You might wonder why I am not similarly irritated with Darcy for missing the same signs -- in fact, given that he is a more suspicious and critical type, shouldn't he have put two and two together by now? Maybe, but I am willing to give him a pass because his mind is so wrapped in one thing at the moment. Until he finally beds his wife, he may be not be operating at full capacity.
Wickham, a gun, Maggie and do not disturb Fan. A bad combination.
Irene
GRC
Is Maggie making the head Nurse sick? She is going to steal the child isn't she and Wicky has a gun oh dear Darcy is in danger.
come on Sunday
Geri
I am guessing that poor Mr Wickham is just trying to fulfill what the infatuated Mr Darcy asked him at the beginning: to get rid of the child- in the hope of getting some funds from Mr Darcy which is all his intention in Austen's classic story. If this is so, then Mr Darcy is to blame for Elizabeth's misfortunes...again.