Jane in January and You– Let’s Play Matchmaker!

Who’s up for a round of The Dating Game? Today we have a list of eligible ladies and gents, who may or may not bear a slight resemblance to Jane Austen’s characters. Take a moment to read the descriptions, then answer at least one (but hopefully all) of the three questions to be entered in the drawing.

The drawing, by the way, is for three prizes. Each winner will receive a signed paperback copy of The Courtship of Edward Gardiner, as well as one of Janet Taylor’s beautiful 2018 Besotted calendars. The giveaway is international, so good luck, everyone!

 


We’ll start with our three questions:

  1. Who would you match up, with an eye toward domestic felicity?
  2. Who would you put together just to watch the fireworks?
  3. Who would be like oil and water?

 

Let’s meet the gents:

See the source imageBachelor Number One: A genial fellow, always ready for a dance or a round of cards. Raised among elite gentility, but his collar is a little blue around the edges. Nevertheless, he is a perennial favourite among the ladies, and has even served in uniform (alas, without distinction). His idea of a perfect date is drinks and dancing with his preferred lady and all her friends (to make sure no one feels neglected). When the party is over, fear not, for he will have everyone over for a little informal entertainment. Shirts and shoes not required.

 

Bachelor Number Two: The younger son of a wealthy family; old money meets a little illicit trading, but don’t let that put you off! This guy is straight as an arrow (maybe a little too straight). He may be a little shy and prude, but he is quick to stand up for his family and any ladies within his circle of influence, unless they be immoral. Sadly, not only will he not inherit, but his elder brother has a tendency to go into debt. Don’t worry, our bachelor is not one to hold a grudge. His perfect date is a gentle ride on horseback with quiet conversation, and he is not opposed to racing off in the night to pick you up if you need a ride. He does not enjoy going to the theater.

 

See the source imageBachelor Number Three: This young gent was raised by his aunt rather than his father, which is a terrific boon because she is loaded. Ladies, take notice! He is also handsome and deliciously charming, with a teasing sense of humour that is sure to enliven even the dullest crowd. Forced to spend the day with your boring neighbors? Bring this fellow along and your day’s entertainment is assured. His aunt is a bit touchy about whom he brings home, however, so if he fancies you, he might pretend to hate you, just to mix things up. His idea of a romantic evening is standing across the room with your rival and snickering at you.

 

 

See the source imageBachelor Number Four: Don’t let those gray hairs turn you off! This guy has the goods. Not only is he wealthy, but he is a retired soldier, forced to join the army when he had his heart broken by a woman. If that’s not enough to melt your butter, he secretly supports someone else’s illegitimate daughter, just because he’s such a nice guy. He might scowl at your date if he thinks you could do better, and he will probably wear extra thick socks because he’s no spring chicken anymore, but if you get stranded in the rain and give yourself a fever, he will pop some Advil and drag your dramatic self back to safety. His ideal date is staring open-mouthed at a woman while she plays the piano or reads poetry.

 

Image result for Men Regency Fashion PlatesBachelor Number Five: This dude is quite a catch. One of his favourite hobbies is making ladies fall in love with him, a thing he does with regularity. No one seems to know much of his family, other than he is your neighbour’s brother (or something like that– who cares, really?) and has a sister who is equally charming. He must be wealthy, because he is always dressed to the nines and seems to know quite a bit about high culture. He is a witty conversationalist and very persuasive when he finds a woman he admires. Marriage has only begun to occur to him lately, but it didn’t work out. His perfect date is crying in his drink, then finding a married lady to comfort him, because no one else seems to care, and her life stinks anyway.


And now for the ladies!

 

Image result for Men Regency Fashion PlatesBachelorette Number One: Gentlemen, this girl has some coin! Not that that matters, nor does her attractive figure, because it’s her mind a man loves, right? She might be a little opinionated for the taste of some gentlemen, but she always knows the right answer. She has been a hotly pursued catch in her little neighbourhood, but she prefers hanging out with her dad and filling his hot water bottle while she helps her friends write (and decode) love notes. Her idea of a romantic date is not a carriage ride home alone with an inebriated would-be suitor.

 

See the source imageBachelorette Number Two: Often called an “angel” for her beauty, this lady is the eldest of five sisters, and perhaps the only one with any sense (although she vehemently defends her next-younger sister). She is as gentle and good as she is lovely to look at, but watch out! She hasn’t got two pennies to rub together, and her father is a sarcastic old geezer. You’ll probably have to support her mother and sisters, unless you can hook one of them up with your rich friend. She doesn’t believe in anything so immodest as declaring what her favourite date would be, but she does recommend catching a fever as an excellent way to procure time with a gentleman she admires.

 

See the source imageBachelorette Number Three: This young lady has a green eye toward romance, and she is certain to make anyone’s life interesting. She has no trouble with commitment–just ask her first love, to whom she was engaged at an exceedingly young age and without her family’s knowledge. She was quite content to wait without even a date set, until the jerk went and lost his inheritance. If you make this enchanting young lady your wife, be assured that she has no difficulty keeping secrets, but her friends will know everything there is to know about you. Her dream date would be… nevermind, she jumps right from acquaintance to marriage, with little need for actual affection.

 

See the source imageBachelorette Number Four: Now this is a woman of taste and refinement! She has been preparing her entire life for just the right man, and she will know who he is as soon as she sees his pedigree and income. Sailors need not apply. She has no patience for the sort of attachment which might be seen as degrading. Short on income? No matter, she still knows how to make a smashing appearance (as long as you get her to the altar before she knows you’re broke). Her ideal date would be a day being admired at the pump rooms, and then an evening among the most fashionable company Bath has to offer. Make sure you give her a big engagement ring to impress her father.

 

See the source imageBachelorette Number Five: She may be naive, but she is not short on imagination! Don’t be fooled by her cute little face, because she has a whip for a tongue and she’s not too shy to pull it out on a total stranger. Some skeletons in the family closet? Don’t worry, because she will spin them into a fantasy that will make the reality look like a spin in Hyde Park by the time she learns the whole truth. She may be trusting to a fault, but she learns quickly and never gets into a runaway carriage twice. Her ideal date is a verbal sparring match while walking around the mall, followed by a haunted house tour. Better bone up on your lace, gentlemen.


Well, what do you think? Who would you match up? I can’t wait to read your comments!

 

Nicole

 

33 comments

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    • Melissa Cooke on January 12, 2018 at 1:09 am
    • Reply

    1. Edmund Betram and Jane Bingley: Jane is an angel who would never complain and would probably be very malleable if Edmund directed her behavior (suggested reading, opinions, etc.)
    2. George Wickham and Elizabeth Elliot. Can you imagine the look on her face when she discovers his true connection to the Darcy’s and to Pemberley. Poor girl.
    3. Colonel Brandon and Lucy Steele. He is a tender hearted, classy gent and she is a conniving, insincere wench. No substance. Relentless fawning. Definitely oil and water.

    1. Excellent choices! I love your thoughts about Wickham and Elizabeth E. Poor Colonel Brandon!

        • Melissa Cooke on January 12, 2018 at 10:30 am
        • Reply

        Sorry! I forgot to point out which bachelor and bachelorette each name belongs to! So Edmund Bertram and Jane Bingley: Bachelor 2 and Bachelorette 2. Wickham and Elizabeth Elliot: Bachelor 1 and Bachelorette 4. And Brandon and Lucy: Bachelor 4 and Bachelorette 3.

          • Melissa Cooke on January 12, 2018 at 10:33 am
          • Reply

          Jane Bingley. I meant Jane Bennet. Both true!😋

          1. I suppose here we have to call her Bennet, eh?

    • Stephanie on January 12, 2018 at 3:21 am
    • Reply

    1. Bachelor #2 and Bachelorette #2 (Edmund Bertram and Jane Bennet) – They are both very kind and careful to observe the rules of propriety. A marriage between them might not be passionate, but I would call it felicitous.

    2. Bachelor #1 and Bachelorette #1 (George Wickham and Emma Woodhouse) – I would *love* to see Emma put Wickham in his place!

    3. Bachelor #4 and Bachelorette #4 (Colonel Brandon and Elizabeth Elliot) – I’m sure Miss Elliot would consider the Colonel to be too old and stodgy for her (though he *does* own an estate), and, quite aside from being materialistic and snobbish, Elizabeth might not be young enough for a man of the Colonel’s predilections…

    1. Bahaha! Now Emma and Wickham would be something to see! Hmm, Elizabeth and the colonel? Interesting!

    • DarcyBennett on January 12, 2018 at 9:24 am
    • Reply

    1. Who would you match up, with an eye toward domestic felicity?
    Bachelor 2 and Bachelorette 2
    2. Who would you put together just to watch the fireworks?
    Bachelor 1 and Bachelorette 4
    3. Who would be like oil and water?
    Bachelor 4 and Bachelorette 3

    Loved reading the descriptions of the bachelors and bachelorettes.

    1. Those are some fun choices! Thanks for playing!

    • Linda A. on January 12, 2018 at 11:48 am
    • Reply

    For domestic felicity — Bachelor 4 and Bachelorette 2 – aka Colonel Brandon and Jane Bennet. They are both just too nice.

    For fireworks — Bachelor 1 and Bachelorette 3 – aka George Wickham and Lucy Steele. Similar to Melissa’s comment about Wickham and Eliz E — Lucy would NOT be happy when she found out the truth.

    Mixing oil and water — Bachelor 4 and Bachelorette 5 – aka Colonel Brandon (again) and Catherine Morland. I just can’t quite picture it…

    1. Hah! I was hoping someone would put Catherine with a stately fellow. And Lucy with Wickham? What a hoot! Thanks for playing!

    • Meg on January 12, 2018 at 12:15 pm
    • Reply

    For felicity I believe several gentlemen would find happiness with lady 2 but I paired her with gentleman 4 because they are bith gentle caring individuals and she needs a steady wealthy gentleman.

    For fireworks, I could see both ladies 4 and 5 causing sparks, but I paired lady 4 with gentleman 3, as she’d hate to have him snicker about her in the pump rooms no less!

    For oil and water, again ladies 4and 5 could be paired with several, but I chose to pair lady 5 with gentleman 2 for a visit to a haunted house must trump the theatre any day and sparring in the mall is definitely not quiet conversation.

    1. Hilarious choices! I agree, Jane could be happy with anyone, but EE being laughed at? Insupportable!

    • Cheryl Kepler on January 12, 2018 at 12:15 pm
    • Reply

    I ended up with a slightly different interpretation of the Bachelors & Bachelorettes, but here are my matches
    1. George Wickham from Pride & Prejudice
    2. Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park
    3. Frank Churchill from Emma
    4. Colonel Brandon from Sense & Sensibility
    5. Henry Crawford from Mansfield Park

    1. Emma Woodhouse from Emma
    2. Jane Bennet from Pride & Prejudice
    3. Lucy Steele from Sense & Sensibility
    4. Elizabeth Elliot from Persuasion
    5. Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey

    1. Who would you match up, with an eye toward domestic felicity? Colonel Brandon (4) & Jane Bennet (2)
    Both sweet, loving, caring and pleasant individuals.

    2. Who would you put together just to watch the fireworks? George Wickham (1) & Lucy Steele (3)Both with an eye on the main chance, but both a little “sexy” for their day and age.

    3. Who would be like oil and water? Edmund Bertram (2) & Elizabeth Elliot (4)
    These two hold completely opposite opinions of personal worthiness.

    1. Bingo on all the names! Edmund Bertram and Elizabeth Elliot, now that is fun! I agree, it would be entertaining to see Wickham matched with Lucy.

    • Kathy Sader on January 12, 2018 at 3:10 pm
    • Reply

    For domestic felicity, I think Bachelor #4 and Bachlorette #2 would be wonderful together. He is so strong and caring and would take such good care of her.

    For Fireworks, I would pair Bachelor #3 with Bachlorette #4. She would not be able to keep her mouth shut!

    For Oil and Water, I would pair Bachelor #5 with Bachlorette #2. They are so opposite but she would never say a word.

    1. Ooh, I was hoping someone would match Jane with Henry Crawford. She would hate his guts!

      • Nicole Clarkston on January 12, 2018 at 4:09 pm
      • Reply

      Frank Churchill and Elizabeth Elliot? What a riot! Oh, you can’t put poor Jane with Henry Crawford. You are a cruel woman! Thanks for playing 🙂

  1. 1. George Wickham (Pride & Prejudice)
    2. Edmund Bertram (Mansfield Park)
    3. Frank Churchill (Emma, although I first though he might be Willoughby)
    4. Colonel Brandon (Sense & Sensibility)
    5. Henry Crawford (Mansfield Park)

    1. Emma Woodhouse (Emma)
    2. Jane Bennet (Pride & Prejudice)
    3. Lucy Steele (Sense & Sensibility)
    4. Elizabeth Elliot (Persuasion)
    5. Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey)

    Domestic felicity? Colonel Brandon and Jane Bennet: she deserves a kind, rich man to dote upon her.
    Fireworks? Wickham and Emma or Wickham and Elizabeth Eliot
    Oil and water? Frank Churchill and Catherine Morland

    What a fun quiz!!! Thank you, Nicole!!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Ooh, Frank and Catherine? Haha! They would probably like each other for about a week.

    • Carole in Canada on January 12, 2018 at 6:43 pm
    • Reply

    For Domestic felicity:
    Bach#4 Colonel Brandon & Bachlet#2 Jane Bennet (though she may need to learn to play the pianoforte and the Colonel has much practice for tolerance to handle her mother – just send her to visit Mrs. Jenkins)
    To Watch fireworks:
    Bach#1 George Wickham & Bachlet#3 Lucy Steele(I can well imagine the plotting they will do together)
    Oil & Water:
    Bach#2 Edmund Bertram & Bachlet#4 Elizabeth Elliot (He would take exception to her vanity and treatment of others and she would take exception to his lack of fortune and having to deal with the poor!)

    That was fun! Thank you for the wonderful giveaways to go along with this post!

    1. What great answers! I agree that the colonel deserves someone as lovely as Jane but he has a thing for the artistic type. Lucy and Wickham would be hilarious! Oh, poor Edmund with EE 🤭

    • Amanda on January 14, 2018 at 1:48 am
    • Reply

    Alright (hands rubbed together and ready to begin)….

    1. Domestic bliss would be easily had by Edmund Bertram (Bachelor 2) and Jane Bennet (Bachelorette 2). Both are so good, so kind, and so handsome. Theirs would be a union of less joviality, but definitely one full of respect and mutual approbation.

    2. Fireworks explode with Henry Crawford (Bachelor 5) and Emma Woodhouse (Bachelorette 1). She’d have that lothario begging on his knees and not even realize he was just under her feet. The fireworks would burst when she mercilessly shoots him down. Tact has never been her strong suit.

    3. Oil and water would be Colonel Brandon (Bachelor 4) and Elizabeth Elliott (Bachelorette 4). He’d admire her beauty, but quickly see through her artifice, vanity, and vapidity. She too would be irritated by his staid sincerity, much as Anne’s genuine goodness rankled Elizabeth all her single life.

    1. What lovely detailed responses! I heartily agree with each of them. I also tend to think that Edmund Bertram and Jane Bennett would have made a nice match. Poor Colonel Brandon and Emma though, what pains in the rear to saddle them with!

        • Amanda on January 14, 2018 at 10:53 am
        • Reply

        Totally! Thanks for putting this together. It was fun!

        By the way, I loved These Dreams. It was such a clever concept and I always love a story where Darcy and Elizabeth share a bond throughout.

        1. Thank you so much! I had fun writing it, and I am glad it was enjoyable for you.

    • Anji on January 14, 2018 at 2:13 pm
    • Reply

    Hmm. Took me a while to figure out who was who (without looking at the other comments first!) but then it became obvious!

    Gentlemen (using the term loosely with at least a couple of them)
    1. George Wickham
    2. Edmund Bertram
    3. Frank Churchill
    4. Colonel Brandon
    5. Henry Crawford

    Ladies (again, a somewhat loose definition)
    1. Emma Woodhouse
    2. Jane Bennet
    3. Lucy Steele
    4. Elizabeth Elliot
    5. Catherine Morland

    And then the pairings:
    1. Domestic felicity – Edmund and Jane: the problem is, would they ever agree in anything or woukd they both continually defer to the other?
    2. Fireworks – Frank and Elizabeth: I can’t see her putting up with his continual attentions to her nearest rival, not for one instant!
    3. Oil and water – Henry and Emma: this was the least likely pairing I could imagine from the choices available.

    Thanks for a fun post Nicole. Don’t enter me in the giveaway, though as I already have a paperback copy of your book. If you could split the prizes, though, I’d love one of Janet’s calendars.

    1. I think you are right about all those couples! I am sure I could find something else for you if you win to go with the calendar 😊. Thanks for playing!

    • Deborah on January 17, 2018 at 2:48 pm
    • Reply

    This is so much fun. I think Edmund Betram and Jane Bennet for domestic felicity.

    For firewoks I think Emma Woodhouse and Henry Crawford. She would not put up with his sister or conniving.

    For oil and water Colonel Brandon and Lucy Steele. They have such different ways to look at things. As I already have the calendar and all your ebooks there is no need to enter me in the drawing.

    1. Thanks for playing, Deborah! Those are some great choices. I think I would love to see Jane and Edmund together

    • Ria on January 18, 2018 at 1:08 pm
    • Reply

    1. #4 & #2 Brandon & Jane Both are kind and gentle souls
    2. #1 & #1 Wickham & Emma Emma would not put up with Wickham’s behavior
    3. #5 & #2 Crawford & Jane Their morality scale would be on total opposite ends.

  2. Thank you everyone for playing! This was so much fun. The names just popped out of my randomizer, so without further ado….

    Congratulations to Meg, Susanne, and Carole! I will be in touch with each of you for mailing addresses.

  3. Meg, I don’t seem to have your email address. Would you mind sending me a message? nclarkston35@gmail.com 🙂

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