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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.
What a chapter!
Stolen gun is best used to kill the thief.
I hope that Darcy will be brave enough for very open conversation with E.
Rhetorical question: where is Fan?
Waiting for my Sunday evening.
Thank you Jan.
We all know trouble is coming soon. If Fan is missing, Lizzy and Darcy will get closer. But then afterwards, when and if Lizzy finds out about Darcy's original duplicity of trying to get Fan aways from the Bennets, I don't think Lizzy will be to forgive him. I do not see how they would be able to get past such deception. The only way I see this happening is if Darcy risks his life to save Fan, like being shot and nearly dying. That is the only way I see Elizabeth softening towards Darcy for all the damage he has caused. Many times, good intentions gets you into more trouble than helping.
I cannot wait till next post.
Maggie's man is Wickham isn't he? If so--good twist! Fan must seem awful to Darcy but if he had raised her from birth he would appreciate her more. The "terrible twos" are called that for a good reason."
Elizabeth is really starting very small trying to get used to her husband's affections. I hope they will make a little progress!
Thanks for the wonderful chapter, Jan. Love Wickham at large and armed!
Thank you, everyone, for your interesting comments! I can't believe the weekend is already here. Sorry to be so late in replying. I've had one of those yucky weeks in RL, as we all experience from time to time.
Also sorry for the cliffhanger. I'm afraid they're inevitable for awhile, but I'm trying to keep them at a minimum.
Argh! I fear that that response means that we will have to wait longer than expected for the next chapter
Chapter 13 is up, my dears. Enjoy!
Oh! I know that dastardly Wickham has kidnapped the child. Like that the Darcy's are warming up to each other very nicely though. Another terrific chapter Jan!!
They are growing closer but will the truth ripe them apart?
Irene
GRC
Oh Jan...there are just so many things that I enjoyed...Loved Darcy’s response to Lizzy about what married people do to begin their day
Yes, it looks as if Wickham in cahoots with the maid Maggie snatched Fan. Will the increasingly friendly relationship between William and Elizabeth face a sudden freeze when she realizes the role William played -- he paid Wickie to come back into their lives, after all. Now the Wickster probably feels entitled because he did not get all the money he expected -- I'm pretty sure that if he took his daughter, it was not that he was driven by filial love.
I am still willing to get Darcy a pass because he was really trying -- and he's still pretty fogged in with his obsession with Elizabeth, so he's not at full mental capacity. He should have realized by now that this is all W's doings. (I'm assuming so although this has not been absolutely determined in the story yet.) I still blame Elizabeth more. How did she hire Maggie in the first place? Perhaps, though, in the end, William and Elizabeth will agree they are equals in this fiasco.
Jan, thanks for the new chapter. I truly love the story and I can't wait for the next chaper. Love the way how Elisabeth and Darcy grow towards each other. But I fear the moment when Elisabeth will discover the truth about Darcy's role in bringin back Wickham into their lives.
Oh my, when Elizabeth finds that Darcy brought Wickham to the country she is going to be furious.
I do hope that Fan is ok and she is being at least fed and kept warm. I think Wickham would not care a bit if she wasn't.
I cannot believe that Elizabeth would be so naive as to not know what goes on in the marital be at times, especially after Lydia's downfall and the babe.
Waiting a whole week to read more I hope it goes by quick.
Another chapter executed with great writing!
This story has been superb thus far! I am exceedingly anxious for Fan to return, or at least for a ransom note to be delivered. That blasted Wickham! I'm glad to see the evolution of Darcy's character, as far as Fan is concerned. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work with us! It's lovely.
Jump to say thank you.
Thank you, KayakChick, Lucy, Helene, and Vesna for your lovely comments! These chapters are hard to post just one at a time because they end in such anxious moments. Sorry about that.
It will be interesting when/if a ransom note turned up. Darcy will most certainly have to reveal the truth to Elizabeth, and that is not going to be pretty. Argh! Oh Darcy, what have you done?!!
Thanks for the chapter, Jan! We are so hooked! Look forward to more
Today IS Sunday, is it not? Where is my share of Jan's story? Mondays are not the same without it!
Wickham, Wickham, Wickham!
Darcy is also in big trouble, yes he told about the ransom but not how he is involved.
Lizzy will widdle it out and then what?
Irene
GRC
This story will be fun to re-read for many reasons -- watching the budding relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth one of them and Darcy's slow dawning of care for Fan another. But reading it the first time is a singular pleasure, as one tries to figure out what is happening.
For example, since Maggie asked her employers not to look in on the child on their return from the Lucases' gathering, does that mean she was taking the child that night? But if that is so, then why was Wickham looking in the window at the Lucases, as if trying to make sure Darcy was not at Netherfield? Did Wickham arrive at Netherfield to find Maggie and the child already gone, but did he decide to hit Darcy up for a ransom anyway? Has Maggie taken Fan to Cutter's Wood to hide? But if she was going to do that, then why not just disclose her conspiracy with Wickham and say she now thought better of it --she did not want to go along with him? Or, did Maggie and Fan somehow leave for London ahead of Wickham, since he was seen leaving alone? I think the theft of a jug of milk, bread and ham suggests that Maggie is somewhere still in the vicinity and she may have her own reasons for trying to avoid Wickham. I just don't get, if I am right about that part, why she felt unwilling to confess it to Elizabeth? Is Maggie afraid of losing her job but thinks that if she brings Fan back unharmed, no ransom needed, she will earn Darcy's regard finally -- after all, it was he who hired someone to work over her.
None of this wild speculation may be anywhere close to the target, but you inspired it in me and I thought I would offer it for your amusement. It's the least I can do since your story provides so much entertainment!
I myself was thinking along the same lines as Lacy. The ham, bread, and milk were stole my Maggie so the child would not go hungry, the till money on the other hand is all Wickahm. And if Wickham didn't have the woman and child with him when he left it would be good to check Cutter's Wood anyway - I hope he does if nothing else to rule it out.
And sheesh, why did not Darcy come forward with the truth again. He should have told Elizabeth the full truth this time.
Such a great chapter. I hope the Bingley women do not start any rumours on their own.
trez
Wickham left alone, food was stolen, somebody really needs to check Cutter's Wood.
Darcy, you have an open door so admit the truth. Yes, she will be angry, probably she will kill you with tongue-lashing but remember her little smile when she found out that you are not married and closeness you two have now. Telling the truth is your last train to happiness.
Jan you are wonderful.
I so much want to run to that Wood.
Maybe with google maps?
Great story! Thank you
Jan-as with all your stories-this one is excellent-you are one of my fav authors-wish I was more eloquent in my praise! Mary
What have I brought to pass?
Indeed!!! Darcy made his bed, now he has to lay in it. Unfortunately, he is not the only one that has to pay for his f@ck up; Fan, Elizabeth, the Bennets, just to name a few. But I also blame Elizabeth; she trusted Maggie blindly even thou she was not competent or responsible w/ Fan, Darcy had reservations about her and for once, he was right. And Darcy..he needs to man up and come clean, not only w/ Elizabeth but w/ everyone around him. He has a tendency to avoid speaking of certain subjects thinking they will go away. Sweeping the dirt under the rug so you can't see it does not mean it is not there. When will he ever learn? It will be a mess once this is over.
So many posibilities...of what really happened.
Oh I want to shake your darcy get it over with confess the whole truth now.
Oh dear more soon please