Hats off, dearest. This is one of your hottest chapters ever!You should have warned us so that we could have something(or better someone) to kill the heat after reading...The won't do...
What a laugh! Poor Darcy! But soon Elizabeth will see to his "refreshment", won't she?
Looking forward to the culmination of this delightful tale...

Oooooh, yummy! Over-heated Darcy going for a swim. Nice image. I hope Wickham gets everything he deserves!

Ellen, that's such a fun chapter! Poor Darcy is going nuts over his feelings for Elizabeth, and he doesn't know how to deal with them. The swim was a nice try. Now, how much longer do we have to put up with Collins and Wickham? Thanks both Ellen and Renee for this chapter! I'm loving this story!

Heeheehee! Why is everyone in such a hurry to do away with Wickham? Why, the poor man hasn't even done anything yet!

I'm glad everyone's having fun, but alas, dear readers, I will be away for a week and a half starting on Wednesday, so there will not be any updates till some time after that.

Sorry! Hang in there!

Wow ****ation. Did he really go swiming or did he just douse himself in the through?

He was going to purschase a hmhm? NEVER leave that to the likes of Mr Collins hehehe Or Wickham.

great Chapter. Enjoy your trip Ellen make sure you take your writting utensils with you.
Geri

Ellen,

Love your Darcy! Great chapter.

Roselle

Big Bonanza fan and am really enjoying this story. Caroline as a barmaid? Love it although somehow I doubt she exhibits any of the steely grace or plucky determination of Miss Kitty (Gunsmoke). Charles and Jane, so cute and dear. It'll be tough to get Charles to leave Jane behind though as he's so established in the community-looking forward to seeing how you write that part. Collins is such a toad! No matter the setting I can always count on that-thank you. And the shrill Mrs. Bennet and her 2 youngest-jeesh! Love your feisty Elizabeth-drawing a gun on Darcy of all things-too perfect. And then Wickham enters the fray, perhaps he's the new ranchhand the Bennets need? Good thing Lil was too tacky for Will, I don't even want to picture that! Thank goodness for strategically-placed streams, ****ation indeed! I'm looking forward to more chapters! How about a scene where Elizabeth confronts Darcy while he's sitting in his den admiring "Betsy?" Thanks for another wonderful romp!

Any idea when Ellen is next going to post? This isn't a hurry up or anything but I am looking forward to my next dose of jean-wearing Darcy!

Ellen is enjoying a short well-deserved and - I'm sure - an inspired vacation at the moment.

Good for her! I hope she's having a good time. Now, I'll just sit back and wait patiently for the next chapter...

Whew! OK, I'm back from my whirlwind drive up and down the east coast of the U.S., looking at colleges for my son.

I got absolutely NOTHING done creatively while I was away, but this week I'll be sitting down at my computer to write the next chapter.

I'm so glad people are looking forward to the next post. Thanks for your patience!

That's wonderful news, Ellen! I can't wait to read what else you have in store for us.

I got absolutely NOTHING done creatively

It's utterly hard to imagine you doing nothing creatively at all, dearest.

Happy you're back!

I'm with Renee and am looking forward to the next chapter! Hope your break was nice

Chapter 8 is up, my dears. Enjoy!

I can't believe Caroline found Horace! Will he reveal who posed for the portrait?
Will this cause Darcy to run to San Francisco!
Is Wickham really an infamous gambler?
And should we be worried about the town and a mining bust?

I can't wait!

Horace! Oh dear, this could get fun! Darcy's also a smart man for admiring Elizabeth. Let's hope Charles grows a backbone and comes back to Gold Hill before long! Thanks, Ellen and Renee!

Oh I am so glad you were able to post before our Mrs Darcy went on her holidayto France! Great chapter -- you really seem to be setting us up for some excitement-- can't wait to see how all this pans out!I like how your Elizabeth is at least contemplating Darcy's attraction to her, albeit its only lust at this point.

Oooo this is going to be interesting! I can't wait!

Ellen I'm so glad you are back from your travels and have posted again.

So Carolynn invited Horace. I can't wait to see what happens next. I hope Lizzy gives him a piece of her mind concerning the the painting.

Are we back to weekly posts?
Geri

Looks like Caroline has been extremely busy apart from organising the party! I was wondering why is Darcy addressing Lizzy "Betsy" and he turned out to be Horace! How clever you are, Ellen, to trick us and then stop right there and leave us wanting more

Ellen, that was a perfect place to stop! Now you've got all my attention. Horace is there? Very interesting. Caroline was so clever. Excellent chapter! I am sure when Darcy & Bingley get to San Fransisco, they will not forget the Bennets too easily.

Geri (and everyone else who's following along):

There'll be a new chapter as soon as Renee is back from vacation, and while I can't promise to post weekly, there's always that possibility.

Wow!!! Discovered this story last night and am completely hooked. Ended up having a rather late night reading and not doing any of my assignment!

What a fantastically fresh and original concept and so well written.

I looooved the mental image of Caroline as a barmaid, and was actually starting to like her until Darcy showed up and she morphed into the Caroline we know and love to hate! I was suspicious of her knowing exactly who to invite and I was right...what a brilliant yet evil stroke of genius that was for her. Just have to hope that it will turn around and bite her some how.

I'm definately all for Lizzy giving Horace a piece of her mind...in fact if it wasn't for the fact that she's trying to keep the painting quiet I would have been hoping she had somehow managed to smuggle that pistol in under her Ball gown somehow (though I doubt she'd get away with it given how closely DArcy is scrutinising her!!)or have a particularly nasty right hook

Always wary of Wickham - but glad that Darcy made an effort to warn Lizzy and she seems to be giving it some weight.

Anyway I shall stop gushing, say thank you very much for sharing and start eagerly awaiting your next chapter!!

~Katrina

Welcome, Katrina, and thanks for all your kind words.

I hope to have the next chapter finished and ready for posting soon.

I hope to have the next chapter finished and ready for posting soon

I'm more than ready to go!

R~

Here you go, ladies and gents, chapter 9 is up. Enjoy!

Loved the chapter! I can just imagine Lizzy standing there giving Horace a piece of her mind! YAYAYA! Darcy to the rescue…sorta? Good intentions, anways!

I can't find Chapter 9! Wah!!

Perhaps your page needs refreshing, Kathleen. It's definitely there!

Thanks, Reneé-

I finally got it to come up.

Excellent Chapter, Ellen. This Collins is more scarily creepy than most- poor Elizabeth!

Bleck, Collins! For Collins to be concerned for Lizzy's virtue, ugh! just ain't fittin', just ain't fittin'! How are we to ever to be relieved of him? I do hope the trip to San Fran isn't going to be long and drawn out -- I just can't wait to see how you put all of this in order... how D&E will end up together, what adventures you have in store... This is all very exciting!

Oh dear! Between Caroline Bingley, Collins, and Crabtree, Darcy and Elizabeth are having a rough time of it. I also could throttle her younger sisters. This is a wonderful story, Ellen! I love it. Thanks!

Ellen what a chapter, only Collin could add up 2 + 2 and get 5. What an idiot you have written him so well. Her sisters where in rare form but at least her mother kept silent. As for Caroline well I love to hate her and you my dear made it extremely easy.

As for Darcy he handle Horace so well, and his comment she does tend to get under your skin. This was real insightful into Darcy. I already think that he bought the Betsy portrait is he going to buy these as well. Maybe Darcy will set Horace up and redirected his work away from Lizzy. Now he just has to win Lizzy and that isn't going to be easy she is a stubborn one.

I can't wait for more. I thought seeing as you could post last week because of Mrs Darcy vacation, maybe you could post twice this week. :D Just a thought. I love your story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Geri

Oh, this chapter was wonderfully worth the wait, Ellen. Poor Lizzy! She just can't get a break! Darcy will surely want to buy all the "Betsy" portraits and place them in his own homes. Caroline is sure to think of more mischief, isn't she? I hope so!. As for Rev. Collins---he needs to watch out. Lizzy is not above giving him a black eye if needed. This was a treat to read!

Poor Lizzy! What a disaster! Collins is real thick to think that he is Lizzy's Saviour.
I like how Darcy is so protective towards her hehe...am quite sure he's probably discussing about acquiring all her paintings with Horace during their little walk

I thought seeing as you could post last week because of Mrs Darcy vacation, maybe you could post twice this week.

OMG, Geri, I wish I had the time. I suppose I could let the laundry and the housekeeping go (as I do so often anyway), but the family still has to eat!

I can only promise that it will not be so long between posts. Thanks for your (and everyone else's) support.

Ellen the "fight" between Darcy and Crabtree just made my day I think! Hilarious! I love the fact that she has three guys who are climbing all over each other to get to her...makes for interesting reading anyway!!

And of course the waltz was nice. I'm with Darcy on this one...

Ellen
It has been so long since Darcy escorted Crabtree out of the party. Has he buried him? Has he bought the remainder of his Portraits? Has he decided he perferrs Crabtrees company to that of the fair sex?

Oh dear see what happens when you leave such a gap between chapters. :D I love the story and can't wait for more but I will if I must.
Geri

Indeed, Geri, I'm anxiously awaiting a new installment too. Ellen, my dear, where are you?

I'm in hiding so my fans won't find out that I'm not ready to post yet.

Fear not! I haven't abandoned you, or the story. I just haven't had the time I'd like to finish up Chap 10. Glad someone's keeping tabs on me, though.

Has he buried him? Has he bought the remainder of his Portraits? Has he decided he perferrs Crabtrees company to that of the fair sex?
And Geri, I loved your "ideas"!

We're just so spoiled by you, dearest Ellen.

I just found this gem and I can't get enough. Please post again soon!

-Ruth

Welcome, Ruth, and thank you.

I've been trying for a couple of weeks to find the time to finish my chapter, and something has always popped up to stop me. I will redouble my efforts to try to get more done this week.

Hang in there, y'all!

I too have just read Silver Dust for the first time and must say, I am in love. What a clever and original take on P&P, and beautifully written and paced. Fabulous!

Awwww, thank ye kindly, ma'am .

Glad to have you, Michelle.

For dear Ruth, Michelle and all Ellen's other fans, including yours truly, naturally... chapter 10 of Silver Dust has just been posted. Enjoy!

Lovely chapter Ellen,

Poor Will--couldn't get a moment alone with Elizabeth and then once he had his chance, Caroline comes along and mucks it up for him.

Things are about to get rocky with the Bingleys and Darcy leaving town. Let's see how much havoc Wickham wreaks once Will leaves town and what Lizzy's reaction to it all will be. I hope you can post again soon.

I love this story

Chuckleheads, indeed! Poor Will but he could have tried harder. Can't wait to see where next this story goes! (I have been re-watching the Larry McMurtry movies, Lonesome Dove, etc. and it has made me all in anticipation to read more of D&E et al, in that setting... some of the terminalogy just cracks me up, ie. sporting women, pokes, etc.

Elizabeth's mother & everyone else it seems has ganged up on her and succeeded in ruining her evening. Ellen, I am so please you posted a new chapter and hope you will take all the time you need. Your story is wee worth waiting for. I am hoping Wickham doesn't cause too much trouble. Keep up the good work!

Ellen
I was so glad to read that Darcy returned to the party I was really worried about the buding romance between D & Horace!

Poor Lizzy who has to indure Collin's attentions now.

Poor Darcy to have to travel in a carriage with Caroline for several days I imagine.

Now for Wicky pooh, what damage will he create?

I love your story, nothing like the wild west
Geri