P&P 200 – Darcy Appears at Church on Good Friday by Mary Simonsen

D and E in Church“Darcy, you are grinding your teeth,” Colonel Fitzwilliam muttered to his pew mate.

“You are mistaken, Fitzwilliam. I was attempting to swallow what the parson is serving.”

“You have a tendency to grind your teeth when you are displeased. I take it that Mr. Collins’s sermon is not resonating with you.”

“Or you or we would not be having this conversation.”

Before the colonel could respond, Lady Catherine gave both a cold stare, and the whispering ended. Darcy’s thoughts now returned to the true reason for his displeasure: Elizabeth Bennet.

I thought I had left all thoughts of Elizabeth behind in London. If I had known that she would be here exactly at this time, I would have postponed my visit until after Easter.

After returning to London following the Netherfield ball, Darcy had made a determined effort to put Elizabeth Bennet out of his mind. The behavior of Mrs. Bennet and her three youngest daughters at the ball had served to illuminate how impossible it was for him to form any serious designs on the lady. If Mrs. Bennet were not talking too loudly, it was Kitty and Lydia Bennet, literally, chasing after officers, begging for a partner. And Mary! Her performance had proved the middle Bennet daughter incapable of embarrassment.

These inappropriate displays were followed by Sir William Lucas’s proclamation that there were expectatRegency Era Churchions in the neighborhood that the engagement of Miss Jane Bennet and Bingley would shortly be announced. From that moment, Darcy was determined to do everything in his power to remove his friend from Hertfordshire and the grasp of the Bennet family.

As Bingley relied heavily on Darcy’s opinion, convincing him that Miss Jane Bennet had no particular interest in him was easily done. With the support of Caroline and Louisa, it was the work of a moment. He, on the other hand, was finding it difficult to erase Elizabeth Bennet from his memory.

It is her smile that makes it so difficult. No. It is her laugh. Yes, her laugh. It floats in the air before disappearing into the ether. And then there is her handsome figure and her beautiful face framed by an avalanche of curls. Oh blast! She is in my head again!

“Darcy, seriously,” the colonel mumbled under his breath so as not to invite a rebuke from his aunt, “you are grinding your teeth so loudly that I am sure Miss Elizabeth, sitting over there,” he said, nodding with his chin in her direction, “can hear you. She must be wondering what on earth you are thinking.”

I am thinking of her—again. Darcy shook his head. I do not understand it. Yes, Elizabeth is lovely, but so are a dozen women of my acquaintance. It is true that she dances divinely and has the voice of an angel, but there are many others who are so accomplished. Why is it that I am preoccupied with her?

“Darcy, excuse me for interrupting your thoughts, but you are staring at Miss Elizabeth, and she is looking at you with a very odd expression.”

Darcy looked across the aisle, and when he did, Elizabeth looked right at him with a quizzical look and a tilt of her head that was very nearly adorable. It was at that moment that he understood that the reason he could not dismiss her from his mind was because he was in love with her. As he held her gaze, he imagined he looked like a doddering dolt—a lamb in search of its mother—because he was lost—lost in a love that could never be.

After the service, the congregants gathered outside the church, complimenting the Reverend Collins on the excellence of his sermon. Darcy could only nod as he had not heard one word of it. Instead, he made his way over to Elizabeth Bennet who was standing alone.

“Miss Elizabeth, how very good it is to see you again.”

Lizzy doubted the sincerity of Mr. Darcy’s statement. When the gentleman had paid a courtesy call at the Parsonage, he had barely said a word to her—or anyone else for that matter.

“Mr. Darcy, you seemed lost in thought during the service. I imagine you were thinking of the solemnity of the commemoration of Our Savior’s sacrifice. After all, it is Good Friday.”

“I wish it were so, Miss Elizabeth. The truth of the matter is that when in church, I have a tendency to let my mind wander.”

“And where does your mind take you?”

“To a forbidden land.”

Lizzy laughed at the notion that a “forbidden land” existed for a man of his station and position in life. “Be honest, Mr. Darcy, for a man such as yourself, is there any place where you cannot go or anything you cannot do if you have a mind to do it?”

“Even for a man such as I, there are prohibitions, societal restraints.”

“In that case, I imagine you must decide if this forbidden land that beckons you is more important than the possible censure of your peers for visiting it.”

Darcy had no ready response, and the sound of his aunt’s voice saved him from an awkward silence. “I am summoned, Miss Elizabeth. Perhaps, we may continue this conversation at another time.”

“As you wish, sir,” she said with a slight bow of her head.

“You make it sound as if my wish is your command. It is not. Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.”

“Sir?” a confused Elizabeth asked.

Darcy was as confused as she. He had not anticipated a quote from Plato welling up inside him. Embarrassed, he repeated that he must go. “My aunt will be displeased if I tarry. I wish you a joyous Easter, Miss Bennet.”

Lizzy’s gaze followed Mr. Darcy as he joined Lady Catherine de Bourgh in her carriage and continued to do so until the conveyance disappeared from sight.

“What on earth did Mr. Darcy mean by a ‘heart that whispers back?’ He speaks in riddles.”

“And you are talking to yourself,” Charlotte said, teasing her friend.

Lizzy nodded, realizing that was often the case after a conversation with Mr. Darcy.

Your comments are always appreciated. Have a joyous Easter!

39 comments

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    • Glynis on March 25, 2016 at 4:37 am
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    Well Mary it’s a shame that he didn’t propose then while he was under the influence of romantic quotes. Who knows, she might even have accepted him 😉 although I suppose the original P&P would have been a little shorter in that case unless the last half dealt with married bliss? 😃😊

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:47 am
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      That’s why I like to write stories. You get to the chase and the resolution quickly 🙂 Thanks for comnenting.

    • Sophia on March 25, 2016 at 4:41 am
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    That was interesting… That Plato quote was definitely a clue to Darcy’s feelings even if he tries to forget Elizabeth – that his heart whispers or maybe even yearns after Elizabeth’s heart?
    Joyous Easter

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:49 am
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      I think Darcy was already under the influence at the Meryton assembly. He just didn’t know it. Thanks for commenting.

    • Michelle on March 25, 2016 at 4:55 am
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    What a lovely story for Good Friday. How do you think of all the new stories/excerpts etc. Very clever

    1. Loved this scene, Mary! It’s great to see Darcy in such a poetic mode!

        • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:59 am
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        Thanks, Monica. I appreciate all the advance posting you do for me.

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:50 am
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      Hi Michelle. I ususally thing of these things in the car when I can’t write them down. Thank you for commenting.

    • Anji on March 25, 2016 at 5:12 am
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    If Elizabeth is always talking to herself after conversing with Darcy, she must have feelings for him. Whether thise feelings are favourable or not, is another question. I’ve often thought that the reasons why Elizabeth reacted so strongly towards Darcy in canon were that she was always attracted to him but that the initial insult at the Meryton Assembly diverted that favourable opinion in the opposite direction.

    Of course, Darcy himself is totally *gone* by this time!

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:52 am
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      At a minimum, she must have been flattered by his attention at Rosings Park. Thank you for commenting.

        • somandyjo on March 25, 2016 at 11:37 am
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        I’ve always thought she had a definite initial attraction to him, but when he snubbed her and she was insulted, she was angry at him and felt it was a righteous anger. Every interaction after that, when seen from an outsider’s point of view is clearly him making bumbling attempts to get to know her better (he can’t help himself) while hiding his own feelings (though he hides them a little too well behind a mask that makes him look annoyed). She would have seen it, except she had decided that he could only be condescending, prideful, and rude, and refused to assign any other motive to his conversation or looks.

        1. I agree–well-said!!

          ~Susanne 🙂

    1. I agree with your comments about Elizabeth too. I think Darcy was whirling around in her head more than she let on!

    • Agnes on March 25, 2016 at 8:26 am
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    Lovely! Thank you!

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:53 am
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      Thank you, Agnes. I appreciate the comment.

    • Regina C McCaughey-Silvia on March 25, 2016 at 9:01 am
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    Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.” What a perfect quote for the two of them. If only Elizabeth realized it is she he wants to “whisper back” sigh…. Ah well, sooner or later they’ll both get it! Thank you for such an enjoyable piece at the start of Easter weekend!

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:55 am
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      I love that quote! It’s perfect for D&E. I appreciate your comments. Happy Easter!

    • Carole in Canada on March 25, 2016 at 10:11 am
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    That was beautiful Mary. Yes, that quote says it all…’forbidden land’ indeed. Have a lovely Easter.

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:56 am
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      Thank you, Carole, and a Happy Easter to you as well!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on March 25, 2016 at 10:28 am
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    Aw that was sweet. If she only knew what he was really thinking. Loved you Plato.

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 10:57 am
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      Thanks, Jen. I love that quote as well. It’s perfect for our couple. Happy Easter!

  1. Great piece Mary! The quotes and the looks adds such a bittersweet feeling to this scene.

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 1:40 pm
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      Thank you, Claudine. I appreciate the comment.

  2. Perfect job on Darcy’s state of mind, Mary!

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 1:41 pm
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      Thanks, Abigail. Congratulations on having 2 of your books in Meredith’s Top Ten. Not surprised.

  3. Loved this. A poetic Darcy is simply amazing!! 😀

    And Elizabeth’s reaction is nearly as intriguing….

    Thank you for writing for us!!

    Warmly,
    ~Susanne 🙂

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 6:18 pm
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      Thanks, Susanne. I always look forward to your comments.

    • Faith Wine on March 25, 2016 at 4:11 pm
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    What do I think…. I want this to be another book from you. 😊 Thank u for sharing.

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 6:18 pm
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      Thanks, Faith. At the moment, I’m tapped out, but, hopefully, it will pass. Happy Easter.

    • JanisB on March 25, 2016 at 4:55 pm
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    This put a smile on my face … but also left me wanting the story to continue. Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates.

      • Mary Simonsen on March 25, 2016 at 6:19 pm
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      Thanks, Janis, and Happy Easter to you as well.

    • Carol on March 25, 2016 at 9:11 pm
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    What a wonderful story for this Easter Season. Why is it that these two smart people continue to misunderstand one another each walking away, shaking their heads and mumbling under their breath? Love his poetic Plato’s quote, “Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.” If Elizabeth would just stop ‘hating’ him long enough to think about the statement, she would figure the riddle out. But her prejudice against him when hurting her pride, she can’t see the forest through the trees. If she tells Charlotte what he said, bet Charlotte would figure it out. Elizabeth really doesn’t hate him at all, just cannot let go of that first impression. He was lost at Netherfield, and now is even more lost to reason. She’s clueless!

      • Mary Simonsen on March 26, 2016 at 9:54 am
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      Isn’t it amazing how much tension JA created in her story. On the surface, it’s all civility, but underneath, a fire biurns. Thank you for your comments.

    • Sheila L. M. on March 26, 2016 at 6:45 pm
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    “You make it sound as if my wish is your command. It is not. Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.”
    Like the song: If you’re not the one then why does your heart return my call?
    ….If you’re not the one, then why does my heart tell me that I am?”….can’t get that out of my head.

    Lovely excerpt to fit into our favorite story. Have a Blessed Holy Day with family and friends, my beloved JAFF community.

    • Deborah on March 28, 2016 at 5:24 am
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    A poetic Darcy. Too bad when he proposed he didn’t do it in prose. He is besotted…..and Lizzy, well, she is confused. Thanks for a teeth grinding post. 🙂

      • Mary Simonsen on March 28, 2016 at 9:15 am
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      Thanks, Deborah. I appreciate the comment. 🙂

    • Walter Krause on February 26, 2017 at 12:39 pm
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    Pardon for putting my oar in so very late and from far away (Austria)- due to limited time I am not a systematical consumer of the much appreciated AUSTEN VARIATIONS: Your short story is based on a really charming idea and extremely well executed. I would like to join all those readers who wish it developed into a complete novel. An immodest hope, true, but a mere novella mostly means a nice flirt whilst a long novel could turn out as a lifelong love. Let us imagine, for instance, that Elizabeth, being not unexperienced in ancient authors and curious enough, cannot get Darcy’s quote out of her head (him too, of course). Having suspicions of the source she might try to get some hints from him – and that might cause not only further conversations and mutual heart throbbings but for both our heroes also some insights into each other’s feelings.

    1. Hi Walter (my husband’s middle name). Thank you for your kind words, and I am glad you enjoyed the vignette. I actually used that scene in a novella, Convincing Mr. Darcy. It’s available on Amazon. Sometimes, I do my best work when I am assigned tasks. That was the case with that vignette. Abigail Reynolds suggested it and was included in Jane Austen: Behind the Scenes. At the moment, I’m working on a non-fiction book about County Galway, Ireland in the 1880s, and that takes my full concentration. But I am so pleased to know that you like my writing. It’s always good to hear from a reader.

        • Walter Krause on March 4, 2017 at 4:06 am
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        Thank you so much! “Convincing” – until now only listed among my wishes – will be on my Kindle within the next hours. Preferring printed editions I am forced to digital acquisitions, though, because my book shelves are rather stuffed. “Behind the Scenes” I downloaded a few days ago and am looking forward to reading. It’s predecessor is buried somewhere in a heap on top of a book case behind me. My orderly wife is giving me Lady-Catherine-looks…

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