Now, that I've read the chapter, what a delight. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Tanya's writing style. Even though the chapter was not about the beloved characters Elizabeth and Darcy, it was just as enjoyable, and a pleasure to be back in their world. Hearing them referenced was like a promise that we will soon "see" these old friends again. The waiting can be sweet when you know it will be short.

Tanya, thank you for having mercy on us and ending our "suffering" -- so worth the wait. I hope that this means that things are well in your life (RL). What a gift you are! Thank you!

I could not believe my eyes when I saw that there was a new chapter of this story on Renee's "What's New" page!! eeeeeee! SO exciting! I had forgotten how much I love Tanya's writing style and I can't wait for more!

Hope that things are all good in RL as hopefully they must be for you to have posted

Wickham is a rapist. He's into control of someone weaker. The homosexuality may not have been with darcy, although I think Wickham would LOVE lording that over him. Darcy could have caught Wickham attacking a younger schoolboy or servant and the secrecy could be to protect the victim. I see that as a very Darcy-like thing to do.

All will be revealed if Tanya will continue to post (pleading for more).

Oh Happy Happy Day... I think Tanya just made my year. Thank you so much for posting again. I don't know if you realize how much your story means to us!

I had to blink twice when I saw this posting! I was afraid it was a mirage!!

Beautiful written chapter-- love the relationship building between Bennet and Malvina. I do hope Bennet writes his sister with the opinion he has of Wickham -- should help the situation back in England, don't you think?! Anyway, I do hope that you, Tanya, are finding some time to write and relieve us of our anxiety regarding D&E. Thanks so much for this lovely surprise!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Tanya, it's so good to see you back. Hopefully RL is settled down enough that you'll be able to stay a while and finish this fantastic story. In celebration, I think I'm going to go reread it! Thanks again, and thanks, Renee, for posting it.

Oh my God! That was a major surprise! I have noticed it first on HG, but could not belive my eyes - so I checked it on this site - and was relieved: there was truly a new, wonderful chapter!
I never stopped hoping that Tanya will post a new installment some day...
I am glad that Malvina sees behind the curtains about Whickam... there's a hint of what happened between him and Darcy.
I hope Tanya's wonderful muse is back and we can have more of this fantastic story soon!
Renee, the site is fantastic! Thank you!!!

OMG!! I open up the site last night and I could not believe my eyes, an update!!! Strange Bedfellows was one of the first D&E stories that I read and has always been one of my very favorite ff. I had thought that an update would never come and had resined myself to not knowing, how Elizabeth will see the error in her ideas and how D&E will find happiness after so much suffering. I love the chapter, seeing James and Mal find happiness in each other in India and the thought of a Bi Wickham is so unique (in a good way).
Thank you so much!!!!
Kathryn

Thaaaank you Tanya!-my screen name is Hopeless because I was hopeless to ever see the remainder of this story, You have made my year, I guess I will have to change my name now, This is one of my favorite stories thank you so much for working on it again, can't wait until the next chapter!

Renee, the site is fantastic! Thank you!!!

Thank you, Sheila!

And Sammy, you're quite welcome.

I am just as excited as everyone when i saw a new chapter!! It's been a loonnggg time but better late than never
Love the blooming relationship betw Melvina and Jamie...and how you dropped the bit about Wickham's preference. We'll see how you weave it into his history with Darcy and look forward to the next update. Thanks for not forgeting this story!

Tanya, have yet to read the chapter. Before that, wanted to say thank you. Really wondered if you will write another chapter for this beautiful story. I am sure all fans will want you to publish it.
Thank you
again

being my first post

A very warm welcome to you, Eliza.

Tanya, thank you sooooooooo much! That was incredible!! Well written, great dialog, marvelous J-M reunion at the end, and on and on. I hope Wickham will accidently get mauled by a tiger. I hope E & D can actually get in the same room and be kind to each other. I am so glad that Alex & Will are back to being friends. This was a wonderful treat this evening. Thank you again.

Welcome Back Tanya, What a wonderful suprise. I really enjoyed hearing more about James Benett & Mel. I sure hope that James has writen to his sister to tell her about the type of man Wickham really is. I just knew Wickham was guilty of something as malicious as rape. Hope to hear more from you soon. I just love this story.

My jaw literally dropped!! I couldn't believe it!! I was so happy. It was cool to read the follow-up with Jamie and Malvina and to finally know the story of Wickham (disgusted!!) and to know why Darcy found him so repugnant.
Jamie--we need your help to open Elizabeth's eyes!!! That's your job as her big bro.
Anyway I can't wait to read about E and D--I miss their storyline so much!!! Hopefully we won't have to wait to long. PLEASE!!
But with much love and gratefulness!!!

Just so ya know, Tanya posted on HG that she is "busy working on another chapter" but she doesn't know when she will post it.
So there's hope!! I can't wait to read about E and D.

Hopefully she is motivated to close this story once and for all. Let's continue to encourage her!

Oh wow. As always when coming to the updates page I long for an update to this story and could hardly believe my eyes when I saw Renee's posting!

Tanya, it was so lovely to be able to submerge myself in your wonderful writing again. You have a unique style that is a joy to read. This added dimension to the story that you introduced not so many chapters ago is both beautifully drawn (the contrast in the atmosphere, scenery, settings to Regency England are both refreshing and yet somehow blend perfectly - all credit to your writing ability) and intriguing. I really like Malvina and Captain Bennet very much - you have created really believable original characters that fit seamlessly into this world.

Like others, I long for more of Darcy and Lizzy - I am hoping news of Wickham's true character will get to Lizzy and she will hot-foot it to Derbyshire to see Darcy... well, I can live in hope, can't I? ;) Of course, you do like to torture your readers a bit more than that, so I shall not be surprised if the journey is a little more complex; I do hope that you are able to continue with the updates, but however long it takes you, I shall be here waiting for the journey to continue!

Thanks so much for the new chapter, and thank you dear Renee for making my weekend by hosting it!

and thank you dear Renee for making my weekend by hosting it!

YW, dearest Sandra. Always such a pleasure to see you! I haven't been around much myself lately, too much work. Hope to pay a visit to Pen and Ink soon again.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

This is so amazing! Like an early birthday present, and just this morning i was watching a re-run of an old ER episode and the title of the ep was 'Strange Bedfellows' and I just couldn't help but think about the story and wonder if there where other things out there titled that, and whether I should spend my day looking them up on google. So glad that i could just instead spend the morning reading the new chapter.

This is so amazing! Thank you, Tanya!

Oh, I was so excited to see a new chapter of SB! Thank you, Tanya and Mrs Darcy! I only hope that this is a sign that the lovely authoress has gotten her muse straightened out and we will have more of this wonderful story soon! PLEASE!

Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU!!!!

Hi! I'm so glad you have post another chapter. Thank you so much. I love your story an I hope to see more of it.
Is a great story!
Thanks!

Oh, I am soooo happy!!! I have waited so long!!! How amazing, I do hope tanya will continue to update, and this story will get better and better!!!

Hi^_^ I've started to read Strange Bedfellows and, even if it's not yet completed, I had my curiosity sparked by the many happy reviews this story recieves. But I have a problem: I don't know why, but, of all the story this site has, this one is the only I can't open fully. When (for example) I tried to open the 27 chapter, the page stopped at the start of chapter 26..and so on in every other page: I can't open it fully...it always stop before it reaches the 'to the next chapter click here'. What sould I do?My pc is not the problem...as I have no difficulties in reading other sotries...can one of you counsel me?thanks

Hi Alexis,

I checked but all pages work fine as well as the direct links to the chapters from Tanya's main page. Perhaps refreshing the pages will help. Good luck!

oh............my............god

lol well that's all I could say when I saw that Tanya had posted. Love the chapter but still anxiously looking forward to more Darcy and Elizabeth. And I'm firmly of the belief that Wickham sexually compromised Darcy when they were boys, whether forcing Darcy, or just cajoling him, it would definitely explain why Darcy refused to talk about it, even to Elizabeth. He would be so ashamed and very very scared about how Elizabeth would react to the knowledge.
anyway, hope to see even more soon. beautiful writing

sparky

Totally agree with you sparky48 - I have just read the whole story again, opening all the old wounds and emotions that one can attripute to this fantastic story, I also think Darcy was compromised by Wickham at Harrow. Darcy talks of 'his sordid past'and 'that Elizabeth had wandered into an area that was private and painful, shameful and delicate-and his alone. Darcy remembered, in the aftermath of the occurrence, the horror that it would become public.'

How could he possibly explain all that to Elizabeth, remember she is only sixteen ' nigh on seventeen'?

I eagerly await the next chapter where hopefully Elizabeth might remain at Pemberley a little longer while she visitis Mr Darcy and Georgina, and that Darcy might return to Pemberley a little sooner! At least they would see each other! And who knows what might happen then.
Good luck with the next chapter Tanya -
like everyone else I will waitfor as long as it takes for you to finish this wonderfully written, heart wrenching story.

I decided to read this story two days ago, based on a recommendation posted on A Happier Alternative, and it is by far my favorite story. It is beautifully written, and the characters are all so perfectly and humanly flawed...I am in love with each and every one of your characters, who all seem to have both a good and bad side to them. Thank you so much (truly)...are you working on the next chapter, or has it been put on hold? By the way, I read your first story, "A Singular Proposition" as well, and it is obvious how much you have transgressed as a writer in both content and character development from your first story to Strange Bedfellows. Bravo to you. I only wish I could write so well.:) Great story plot. I kinda wish that Darcy and Elizabeth do not get together again until they are both older though...she seems so young still...

I spent all yesterday reading this fic, and loved it... while it took me a while to get used to the AU setting etc, once I did it was very gripping and quite emotional at times. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next - thanks for writing!

Having discovered this story only recently,I'm amazed at the time required to write such an intriging tale. I hope everything in Tanya's life is running smoothly and she can continue. Just also want to say that the fan forum is very insightful.

I can hardly believed when I saw the latest chapter ,so happy and excited although I was dying to know whatever happen to D & E, I must say the story of Malvina and Capt. Bennett is just as exciting and full of adventure.I like Malvina's character strong, wise and seems like she's a good judge of character.It's scary to think of Wickham he's a pedophile and I think similar thing happen to darcy in his hand that Darcy is so mortified to tell a soul not even to his beloved wife.
Tanya, I hope RL is doing so well on you part and your muse is back. Your story, very compelling and so intrigiung, is one of my favorite.Thanks a million.
annj

Dear Renée,
have you got any news about the next chapter?

No, dear Sheila, I have not. I'm sorry.

I think Wickham raped Darcy, and it's Darcy's shame as well as Wickham's. As someone pointed out, Wickham likes power over others.

I also think the separation allows Elizabeth to grow up a little more, so when they do come together, she is more of a woman.

A lovely story that I hope gets finished.

You definitely aren't the only one!

i have just read this story for the 3rd time and i like it better each time. i never would have thought that wickham raped darcy unless someone suggested it. and i still think it is far-fetched. i will just be secretly pining away, willing a new chapter to appear.

Ok, maybe "raped" is too strong. But in some way humiliated him, maybe waking him in the middle of the night while doing "something" to him. Darcy has mentioned earlier his"sordid past" and his "shame" and his waking for many nights bathed in sweat thinking about it. It had to have been to him, not to someone else.

Also, I notice that some comments talk about Darcy's "resisting" Valerie. He didn't resist her. He was impotent with her. I would have rathered he "resisted" her too.

oh dear! what a wonderful chapter this last one...
I have to confess that I feel a little guilty because I like this Jamie as much as I like Darcy! and I even like Malvina better than lizzy XD
but that is just because this lizzy is so very young and naive... but she's growing up really fast in these last chapters, I like it! both her and darcy need some growing up before they can become the couple we sooooo love!
but, back to my dear jamie ( ) he's sexy don't you think? and smart... I so hope he will write to lizzy to tell her that wickham is an ass! she will believe her brother, will she?
and about this wickham harassing darcy thing... you know, I hadn't thought about it, but now that I read this theory, well it could be true. not that he has been raped, but probably found himself in a very compromising situation, like being touched, or even witnessed - and almost took part - to an orgy
well, with wickham you never know

so, tanya, as always, I beg you to please post really soon your next chapter!

Tanya I dearly wish for another chapter and soon. I hope that Lizzy brother enlightens her to all of Wicky's faults

I think it's interesting how many hints about homosexuality there are, suggesting that the peccadillo earlier with Darcy involved same. First. Horatio's brother, Lord? seems to be involved with the young actor, Wickham seems to be bisexual, Darcy declares his love to Elizabeth when she's dressed as a boy, and Lord Gregory tells them to get out of the street before they're accused of "unnatural vices." The story is replete with these allusions. And I sure would like some resolution!

Plus one more: Mr. Bennet bet his own body to the man who held (Sr.) 6KDarcy's debt. The man was a homosexual who wanted Bennet's body. Bennet had no intention of honoring that debt. Funny then that he expected Darcy to honor his!

Ok Ophelia you got me thinking with these latest comments of your I never noticed the Mr Bennet and the body thing. I can't help wondering if we will ever have the anwsers to all of our hypotis "sp".

Tanya I'm begging for more. Mean while I guess I'll start from the begining see if I missed any other clues.
Geri

Wow! I've just finished reading the story (for the sixth time!) and I cant help but cry towards the end. The heartache they both are suffering by being apart breaks my heart. Who could have written the letter? At first I thought it might have been Valerie wanting to get a reaction from Lizzy, that way Lizzy would have to confront Darcy. Sadly only our dear author knows all the answers to our guesses.

Renee have you heard from Tanya?

Good news girls, I'm going to post the next chapter today!

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