ooooh, the plot thickens. And with the Colonel coming too!! Post soon!! My thanks. And I am such a sucker for Elizabeth riding with Darcy scenes. So intimate!!

This is one of the cleverest stories I've ever read in fanfiction. I love your use of the "pleasing plague," which comes from the first stanza of "Je Ne Sais Quoi."

Yes, I'm in love, I feel it now,
And Celia has undone me;
And yet I'll swear I can't tell how
The pleasing plague stole on me.

I am such a sucker for Elizabeth riding with Darcy scenes.

So am I. To my thinking the best one I have ever read was written by Tanya, in A Singular Proposition. They ride away from Pemberley house to a hiden place where they make love languorously in front of a shimmering lake. *sigh*(or was it in the lake? *shiver*!

I love your use of the "pleasing plague," which comes from the first stanza of "Je Ne Sais Quoi."

Thank you for reminding me of this! I should have acknowledged it. .

As to the rest, there will be quotations from Austen, Bronte,Shakespeare and many others all along the story. Forgive me if I do not acknowledge every one of these right away. I am sure the intelligent reader will discover them, anyway. I will write a complete acknowledgement at the end of the story, but feel free to comment on them every time you spot them.

Col Fitzwilliams is certainly missing a few rungs to get to the top of the latter! What a idiot.

I was so glad to see that Elizabeth is starting to like him. I almost wish she'd tell him of their first meeting but that would hardly be proper fo her to discuss.

I've read MP and I'm ashamed to say I didn't even notice the part borrowed. :(

Please post again soon and need I say I love your story.
Geri

Oh no, Malena, you mistake me. There's no need to acknowledge the quote. I thought others would welcome the context. (plus a little bit of showing off I guess.) And I think the whole poem is charming, so I was delighted to see you use the phrase.
As for ASP, they rode to the lake, made languorous love both beside the lake and then inside the lake. What a night!

I loved the baptism scene. That was very touching! I love how E & D are starting to think more about each other, too. Very nice!

Col Fitzwilliams is certainly missing a few rungs to get to the top of the latter!
Poor man! I have this prejudice against most military men!

I thought others would welcome the context.
Am sure they did, Ophelia. It is not everyday that a reader discovers these pearls. Thank you.
By the way, what a beautiful name you have!

I loved the baptism scene. That was very touching!
I had thought of a scene in the cementry in keeping with the gotic/Romantic notions of Austen's times. We will see. Perhaps later. I think that the situation helped Elizabeth warm to him better.

I see and sympathise with Geri's point about Colonel Fitzwilliam having a duh-moment by not realizing something is wrong when he gets the strange letter from Darcy.

But I don't think the colonel is stupid and in fact, perhaps rather, the colonel was thinking too much--coming up with the involved explanation that Darcy had sent the letter as a ruse, Darcy knowing his cousin the colonel is familiar with his handwriting. I could see the colonel starting to have some second thoughts? At least, now he knows that Darcy is in Hertforshire and seems to be well, so this is not the end of this plot development, eh?

so this is not the end of this plot development, eh?

No, it isn't. You're right. More on Colonel Fitzwilliam next chapter. Though I can't promise he will be less...

Malena,
Great Job!! Keep up the good work.

Thank you Maria! I'm trying to do so! Happy u r enjoying the story.A new chapter's on its way!

Here you go, ladies and gents, two new chapters as a special Valentine's treat from Malena to you. Enjoy!

Oooooh, Malena! Thank you for the two new lovely chapters! I loved having Lizzy choose a wife for William. She will choose herself, I hope, or she is a fool! These chapters were just wonderful...so full of spark & electricity!

Malena, Thank you for the beautiful Valentine treats. What will happen when the Col. finds Collins or Darcy Getting anxious!

Just catching up with your very witty & clever story! You have my poor Darcy in quite a soup; I'm wondering after this last chapter if reality will be coming soon by way of Colonel Fitz or if Darcy will be clueless until he hits Rosings....Glad to see Lizzy opening her heart to Darcy and can't wait to see how he'll feel about Lizzy when he realizes who he really is...the baptism scene was very sweet...looking forward to reading more of this wonderful story. Btw, how many chapters do we have left?? Inquiring minds want to know!!

Thank you ladies,
Reality is at the door, so you can expect a little angst. There are twenty four chapters so far, Frances. But that is never definite. Many times I merge two or more or write a new one because I have thought of a funny scene and must add it somehow...
The baptism scene is an example of it.Originally, Elizabeth was lost in a storm, but that sort of thing is so over used, I am glad I thought of the baptism.

This was a lovely Valentine gift, Malena. Thank you for two rich chapters. I loved watching fall in love.

The only thing I would have liked but did not get was a proposal! It seemed he came awfully close. When he returns from Kent, will Elizabeth have found him a bride, and will that bride be herself--or, yikes!!--someone else? Or, will he not return from Kent because once there, he will be disabused of the notion that he is Reverend Collins? Will his love for Lizzy dissipate once he knows he is Darcy--nevah! Ah, please?

As you can see, you have worked me into a fine frenzy. Not only do I love the way you are plotting this re-telling, I love your writing, so witty. More, please, as quickly as you possibly can but don't stint on your excellent quality. This has been getting better, as impossible as that might seem, with every chapter.

lovely, this story is really original.
thank you Malena

Cathy

Thank you cath and Laz
Reviews like these have the power to send an author straight back to write!

NOOOOO he can't go to Hunsford before he preposes
Because Lady Catherine will see this as her chance to convince him that he has in fact preposed to Anne and they are to be married.
Come on Col please please come to the rescue.
Geri

PS most important I love the story more soon please.

I have really been enjoying this story and I was delighted to read two chapters today. Sadly they finished too quickly. Malena please write more....soon

Come on Col please please come to the rescue.
Geri

Dear Madam,
Indeed I find myself quite overpowered by the latest news regarding my cousin. Has any other fellow been involved, I daresay this comportment would have been quite natural. I am anxious to part with my present business which detain me in Bath and attend to your request. Rest asure I shall be on my way to Hertfordshire before the next se'nnight,
Your's and &c
Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam

Sadly they finished too quickly

I daresay madam, I am of the same mind. I should have particularly liked the last one to have finished with a kiss.
FD

I am hooked on this original story and check back frequently for updates.

Always welcome to check and be hooked. There is nothing in the world that can give me greatest pleasure!
You can depend on a weekly posting.

I'm very much looking forward to the next post. You keep me guessing and laughing with this story.

Thank you for telling me, Amy.
You can expect the next post at any moment now.

Your wish is my command, fair ladies... and gents. Enjoy!

Chapter 11

With Chapter 11, you again combine the marvelous inventiveness of your own plot (including Mrs. B's deciding to instruct her daughters in the ways of birds, bees and apparently, pigs--I'm glad Darcy realized this was NOT a good opportunity for an impromptu proposal), with a skilful blending of words from the original to make magic happen.

And now it seems Wickham is firmly in the mix?
I am eagerly awaiting your next post!

I love how you turned the proposal scene a second Dance. lol

Well at least Wickham is still in the area and hasn't yet run off to abuse Georgiana in any way.

Need I say MORE Please
Geri

Elizabeth is so clever, of course! I am glad she feels favorably about her "cousin." Wickham is a pain and I wish he would make some trouble so someone could hit him! Thanks for another great chapter, Malena. Fascinating story!

I really like your story Malena! It's funny and well written. I long to read if Colonel Fitzwilliam will arrive before Darcy will depart. And what kind of mishief Wickham will be up to.

And now it seems Wickham is firmly in the mix?

Well at least Wickham is still in the area...

Wickham is a pain and I wish he would make some trouble...

And what kind of mischief Wickham will be up to...

Well, I am all astonishment! It seems Mr Wickhams has a whole readership claiming for his misdeeds!

But not just yet. There is some tenderness awaiting the more romantic ones... Chapter 12 will be on its way sooner than what you expect! So be on the alert!

Rush over to Malena's pages, my dears. Chapter 12 has just been posted!

Oooh I am so worried about what will happen next. The Colonel and Lady Catherine are gonna ruin everything!

I heard echoes here of Mansfield Park: ""So soon knocked up?. . ." as the hardy and robust Elizabeth displays the kind of fatigue on the dance floor that I would expect more readily from the frail and delicate Fanny.

So Elizabeth was not quite up to dancing the night away, but she and William found the energy to sneak away and read scripture in the library--and what scripture it was! No wonder the activity seemed to awaken a sleeping snake--or, at least, something tubular and hard. Well, maybe they will get a chance to look into that matter further when William returns?

Thank you for the update. I am hooked on the story and always eager to see what will happen next.

Will he still have great affection for all his cousins when he realizes who he is. I hope so. I am thoroughly enjoying this story with all your wonderful details. I hope he is still deeply madly in love with E when he gets his memory back.

Your discription of the almost kiss in the semi-darkness of the library was tantalizing.

The almost-kiss was very sensual. I loved their time together. Will he regain his memory or will Wickham spoil everything? I hope not! Thank you for this lovely chapter. I am sad to see him go!

Please let the Col inform Darcy he is not engaged to Anne before Lady C convience him that he is.

Their almost kiss. So I take it Darcy is an all or nothing kind of guy? If he kissed her he would be able to stop it from going further?

Malena PLEASE post again soon. Tomorrow would work for me.
Geri

When are we having a new chapter? I swore I'd never read a WIP again, and here I am, hooked to this story. Please, please, please, I'm dying of impatience!

I am sorry to have neglected you. I promise I double render of chapters for Sunday, ok?

In case you have not noticed, I was a bit busy with the new wip I have just posted at Mrs Darcy.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time and letting me know you are hooked with PP.
Kiss
Male

And... Malena has kept her promise! Chapter 13 is up. Enjoy!

Malena,
you do like to keep us in suspense. I hope that the Darce isn't sitting there being told by LadyC that he's already proposed and has to get married to Anne. That would be dreadful. What angst! Please post again soon.

teb

The cat's partially out of the bag,but where, oh where is Darcy? Hurry Malena with the next chapter.

YAY! You posted a new chapter!
I love the suspense. I can't wait to go to Kent.

Thank you thank you thank you I was so afraid that your muse might have skipped town on the Parson. Not that I won't enjoy the new story as well!

I can't help wondering where our dear Darcy is? Did he and Fitzwilliam meet on the path? Or is his arrival in Kent what caused them to go looking and find Collins?

I am happy that Mr Bennet will accompany Lizzy and Jane but why not Mary too.

Please don't make us wait so long to hear what Mr Darcy thinks of all this.

Geri

PS Did I say how much I love your writting and stories? Well I do.

"Should you find it impossible to spare your amiable daughters to nurse me back to health, be so kind as to send someone else in their stead."

Wow, the "real" William Collins certainly does sound eager to get his hands on a woman "to nurse" him "back to health." Heh,heh, heh.

I was glad to see that Mr. Bennet figured it out and knew that the Collins who wrote to them could not possibly be the same man who had just spent weeks in their home. Now, of course, the question is, where is the "other" Collins? What greeted him when he arrived in Kent to find not his esteemed patroness but his aunt, probably steamed?

And what will happen to Lizzy when she arrives with Mary and Lydia in tow? Dear Authoress, you're killing us here--please post and put us out of our misery.

I love the turn of events! The family & the cows missing William was very sweet. I hope that Darcy will write soon. Keep up the good work, Malena!

Just a fabulous story! However, if LADY CAT has found a way to marry Darcy to Anne . . . GAH!

On the edge of my seat. Please provide us the relief of knowing what is what soon.

Stevie

Chapter 24 has just been posted. Enjoy!

"The attentive reader must remember she was a woman of mean understanding and little information. "...

Priceless!