Yay! I'm so glad that Mr. Bennet accepted Darcy more easily than I expected. I also loved Caroline's reaction to the news of Darcy's engagement. Thanks for such a wonderful chapter, Ellen! Thanks, Renee, for posting it!
I have been waiting avidly for another chapter of this story. I just love the toughness and passion of this Elizabeth, and how this D&E just ignite when they are together. Might we hope for the gift of another chapter before Christmas
You'll be happy to know that Mrs. Darcy has Chapter 20 in her hot little hands. My holiday gift to everyone! (Although after reading it, perhaps some might disagree....)
Oh no!!!!! Why Lizzy why did you follow Wickham? I hope she did pack the colt somewhere under her dress! Caroline is some sour grapes indeed, but at least she's not venom ;) Can't wait for the next chapter, Ellen!
Ellen G, I am one of your biggest fans--but why would Lizzy ever trust Wickham to go off riding alone with him? I know she loves her sister, but this is a boneheaded move that even a concerned sister would see as leading to more trouble for both of them. Isn't she going to tell someone of her plans--even that awful Miss Bingley maybe? That's probably not a good choice, but someone??? Or, not go, but wait and watch and track him surrepticiously. I mean, she does not even have a gun with her--my nerves are all aflutter!
Eeeekkk...you have no compassion on my poor nerves. Here's to hoping Darcy finds her before Wickham even gets to try anything at all. Please don't keep us long in suspense. I love this story to bits - I love westerns!
Oh my! At first I thought Wickham might trade Lydia for Lizzy but if he thinks she's pregnant what will he do? and I'm surprised at Lizzy for being so easily fooled by Wickham!
Ellen I kept saying Don't go with him Lizzy Don't go with him Lizzy Don't go with him. I tapped the ruby slippers together three times AND SHE STILL WENT WITH HIM. I am so taking these slippers back to the Judy Garland Museum
I'm thinking she is unaware that Darcy has Lydia and is back and Wicky just happened to run in to her and convince her to do the wrong thing. I pray she has her gun under her Dress.
A gun under her dress so sound like a good idea! I expect she doesn't have one and will have to rely on her wits to escape from Wickham! Caroline is so snarky. I hope she gets the slap she deserves. Thanks for another excellent, exciting chapter, Ellen!
Don't forget, Lizzy is a gal who firmly believes that she "can take care of herself." She doesn't trust Wickham, of course, but she does trust her own wits.
So don't worry...I'm the ultimate angst wimp, and I won't keep you dangling for long.
Happy Chanukah! Merry Christmas! and a Joyful and Prosperous New Year to All!
OY!!!!! Ok, I know that Lizzy thinks she can take care of herself, but now she's being set up by the master manipulator (thanks to Horace) and Darcy, being the stubborn male macho he is will probably blow a gasket when he sees her in whatever gown she's gonna get poured into....oy, my nerves.....Ellen, please relieve my suffering....
This has taken an exciting and unexpected --and very angsty!!--turn. Which way will Will go, and what will he do if finds Elizabeth all dressed up like a harlot? But that may well be not what happens at all, especially since I would not have predicted what happened when Wickham introduced Lizzy to Mrs. Y and then so easily released Lydia. Is Wickham's real goal humiliating Darcy--with Lydia a disposable pawn?
You have me on the edge of the seat, Miss Ellen--and hanging over a cliff. This is one of those rare times when I am totally uncertain of what may happen next--good job!
The last chapters have been superb! And now we're left with Elizabeth in a very precarious and alarming situation (with foolish and oblivious Lydia). I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter and hoping our heroine is able to handle whatever challenges she meets.
I still can't believe Lizzy was so stupid as to go off with Wicky.
Now is it a lie? Did he take Lizzy to the Lone Wolf or is it a trap? Separate the two Darcy and Bingley?
Why didn't they check Mrs Young boarding house sooner? Or is this little house she is in NOT a boarding house? So will Wicky bring Lizzy dress to the Lone Wolf to get Darcy to pay dearly?
ARE YOU really going to make us wait 2 weeks for an update?
Did Lizzy fall off her horse and lose all commonsense. the man purposely rips her dress and she willingly goes off to get another one? She sounds more like Lydia than Lydia does!
My girl has got to have a plan!
Naturally. Remember, this Lizzy is of tough pioneer stock!
And Geri, just because Mrs. Y says she has a boarding house doesn't mean it actually is a boarding house. After all, her dear friend George doesn't have a problem stretching the truth, does he?
Bex, glad you're enjoying the story. The next chapter is in the works, and I hope to have it posted within a week. But please don't hold me to it...sometimes life intervenes!
Thanks for the recent chapter updates, Ellen! I havent had a chance to read the chapters before today because we were over in Europe visiting all of the Christmas Markets. We had a wonderful time, I highly recommend it to all Americans.
But now back to real life, ugh...
At least we have the stories here to get us through!!!
Ellen, that was a mighty good chapter. I think Wickham has the upper hand but I also think your Elizabeth will do something clever. Maybe shoot him? I like that you are not making it too easy E & D. Keeps it exciting!
Thanks for posting another great chapter! You just gotta love that Elizabeth shooting Wickham in the leg too bad it couldn't have been his backside, but I'm sure he wouldn't have turned his back on the dynamic duo for any reson!
Ellen, I am so glad Lizzy did have a gun--had she been hiding it all that time and biding her time because she knew it had only one bullet? How did she hide if from Mrs. Younge when that nasty bit of business was undressing her and hussy-ing her up for Wickham's gambit? Or, did Lydia finally do something decent and slip the gun to her sister in an unguarded moment?
As always, you leave jumping up and down to see what happens next. Let me tell you again how I love the way you write love scenes, HMS or in this case, pre-HMS. You are so good!
Fabulous chapter, Ellen! I loved having Elizabeth shoot her captor. That was a perfect touch. I love having Darcy rescue her but your way was so much better. I can't wait to find out which person from Gold Hill sees her in her current outfit. Thank you so much for posting this treat!
Lacy, Lizzy had the gun under her dress ever since she set out from the ranch. If she couldn't carry her Colt, she'd still be armed! But where the Colt is a six-shooter, the derringer is too small to carry more than one bullet. Still, this makes it ideal for concealing on one's person, hence the term "stocking pistol" or "stocking gun."
Mrs. Younge handed Lizzy the dress and locked the door behind her; there was never any forced contact. I would imagine, in hand-to-hand combat, Lizzy would have won anyway.