A Sneak Peek: Entangled, A Short Pride and Prejudice Variation

Hi everyone, I hope the summer is treating you well. Here in London we’ve had a heatwave lasting around ten days followed by torrential rain and flooding yesterday.

At least the plums in our garden are ripe. We picked the first batch this afternoon.  I wonder whether Elizabeth and Darcy liked plums? If they did, they would have eaten some in Kent (though not during their Spring visit to Hunsford when they would have encountered the blossoms, not the fruits).  Kent used to be known as the Garden of England because of its many orchards. Unfortunately, many of the fruit trees have been lost to development, though Kent is still known for its cherries and plums.

But back to the subject at hand. Today I have a surprise for you. It is part of a chapter from a short P&P variation I worked on last year which I hope to release in early October. It’s called ENTANGLED, and since this excerpt fits with the theme of the month here on Austen Variations, I thought this might be a chance to give you a sneak peek of what I’m currently editing.

P.S. Some of you will be wondering about Book Two of Mr. Darcy’s Magic. Fear not. I am working on that as well…  🙂

Meanwhile, I can’t wait to share this sneak peek with you!! It’s set in a fictional maze at Netherfield, and is part of an early chapter. Incidentally, it takes part three days after the Netherfield Ball. Darcy’s and Bingley’s departure from Meryton has been delayed.

As you can tell, Mr. Collins has already proposed, and is waiting for Elizabeth to provide her answer. I don’t want to give away anything more! 🙂

~*~

IN THE MAZE

“I do hope Mr. Collins manages to find Lydia,” said Elizabeth Bennet with a frown, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

“Do you have any idea what Mr. Collins was trying to tell me?” The words popped of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s mouth of their own volition. He would have retracted the question if he could.

Elizabeth’s lips twitched. “Mr. Collins has asked me to marry him.”

The words were a punch in the jaw, coming from nowhere.

“May I inquire what your answer was?”

He waited, frozen in place, terrified at what she would say next. His whole world hung in the balance.

“I gave none.” Her cheeks dimpled.

Darcy had no idea what that meant. Did it mean she was considering marrying Mr. Collins? The suspense – not knowing what she would decide — made him wretched, but he could not very well continue with that line of questioning. He had already probed enough, and to continue would be uncivil.

“I see,” he replied.

“I wonder what it is you see, Mr. Darcy?” she said, her tone teasing. “Do you think it is a good match for me? There are those who believe I would be lucky to marry such a man.”

Darcy did not know how to respond. On the one hand, his rational mind told him he should encourage her to marry Mr. Collins so she would be forever beyond his reach. But to do so would mean that Darcy would encounter her on every visit he made to Lady Catherine.

On the other hand, his heart screamed that Elizabeth was his, that he could never allow Mr. Collins – or anyone– to claim her as his wife. The very concept was unthinkable. He did not think he could bear it.

Since neither response was acceptable, Darcy remained tongue-tied, battling himself.

They walked forward, surrounded by walls of green, separated from everyone else. They might have been the only people in the world. As they turned a corner, they passed a bench. He wondered how many lovers had sat on this bench, pretending to be lost, but seeking privacy. His imagination invoked images of being there with Elizabeth, his arm wrapped around her, feeling her soft body against his.

He looked away quickly and cleared his throat, trying to purge his unruly thoughts.

“Well, Mr. Darcy? What would you advise me to do?”

It occurred to him that she might be sounding him out, that this was a test to discover whether he cared about her. What would happen if he gave her an indication of his interest? How would she react?

It was out of the question. He would be leaving in a day or two at the most. Dreaming of the impossible would only make increase his torment.

Besides, he had no intention of raising expectations he could not and would not fulfil.

“I do not believe for a moment that you are seriously asking me for advice, Miss Bennet,” he said, striving for a lighter tone. “Nor do I flatter myself that you will follow any advice I give you, either.”

Those delightful dimples made an appearance. “I thought it might be an opportunity to know you better, sir.”

How those words struck a chord in his heart! He would give anything to get to know her better! Would she really like to know him? He would bare his soul to her if she wished it.

Compelled by a pressing need to tell her the truth — that nothing would please him more — Darcy started to speak, but a loud shriek followed by high-pitched giggles interrupted.

It was Lydia Bennet. Naturally.

“I am lost!” cried Lydia. “Someone come and find me!”

Her unseemly behaviour poured cold water on his fervour. He was reminded now of the myriad reasons he could not allow himself to be attached to Elizabeth. He could not choose to know her better.

A sideways glance at Elizabeth revealed a blush on her cheek. She was embarrassed at her sister’s behavior. Of course she was. Whatever tendency her younger sisters had towards vulgarity, Elizabeth did not share them.

“Pardon me if I am overstepping,” he queried, “but I wonder why your parents did not engage a governess for your younger sisters?”

If anything, Elizabeth’s blush grew deeper.

Darcy cursed himself for being such a fool. There was only one answer, of course. Financial considerations. Longbourn’s coffers did not extend far enough.

“I am sorry,” he said quickly, to cover the awkwardness of raising such an issue. “It is none of my concern.”

If he were to marry Elizabeth, he could engage a governess for her sisters. He could help with the running of the estate, he could—

He could never marry Elizabeth Bennet.

“You are merely voicing what many people have wondered,” she said, with a shrug. “The fact is, none of us had a governess. There has not been much of an attempt to have us learn the accomplishments we spoke about that night in Netherfield when I was staying here. I do not know if you recall our discussion about accomplished ladies.”

Recall it? Darcy remembered the conversation only too well. It was the day he had fallen in love with her. She had challenged his certainties and turned his world upside down.

“I do not have a clear answer,” she continued. “I suppose Mama thinks Lydia is pretty enough to marry quickly – in which case a governess would be a waste — and Papa believes Lydia too silly to be improved upon. Kitty is generally an afterthought.”

He spotted the flaw in the argument at once.

“That does not explain why they did not hire a governess for you,” he said emphatically, feeling indignant on her behalf at such neglect. Surely a young lady with so much natural aptitude deserved to have her abilities developed.

“True,” she replied breezily, with no hint of resentment. “But I did not need a governess. I would have hated being told what to do. She would have tried to teach me useless things like painting tables, covering screens, and using the Globes. I would have escaped to the library whenever I had a chance so I could read Papa’s books instead. I am quite as ungovernable as Lydia, you know.”

How could Elizabeth compare herself to the empty-headed young miss whose shrill laughter could be heard across the maze?

Other than that, Darcy agreed with her completely.

“I can fully understand that a young lady such as yourself — prompted by a curious and searching mind to read and discover more about the world — would not wish to be hindered by a governess. I am not surprised you would chaff at the bit and avoid such restrictions.”

He hesitated. Then, because he could not help himself, he added, “It would have been a great pity if a governess had dampened your independent spirit.”

She looked at him in surprise, her beautiful dark eyes widening. For once she was at a loss for words. Pleased that he had managed to fluster her, Darcy smiled.

Elizabeth smiled back. For once, her smile did not hold a challenge. It was warm and open and sincere, and he felt his walls crumble.

Now it was his turn to be flustered. His mouth dried up and his heart began to drum forcefully.

“Why, Mr. Darcy!” she said, “I did not know you approved of my uncivilized ways.”

Her voice was teasing, openly flirtatious.

“I—of course I approve of you, Miss Bennet.”

At this moment, he approved of everything about her. He could not recall a single reason for not asking her to marry him then and there. She was perfection itself.

It would be such a relief to stop struggling and simply let it all out. He wanted desperately to tell her how ardently he admired her and be done with it.

A wild impulse seized him. He would do it. He would propose.

“We have taken a wrong turn,” she remarked.

Darcy was so engrossed in his own thoughts, he did not understand what she was saying. Had she read his mind and was warning him not to proceed?

He felt bewildered and horribly, wretchedly disappointed.

“A wrong turn?” he repeated, his voice coming out hoarsely.

“Yes, Mr. Darcy. We will have to retrace our steps. We have reached a dead end in the maze.”

He stared at the tall hedge blocking their way and began to laugh, weakly at first, then from his belly, a deep grumbling laugh that he would never have expected from himself. Meanwhile, Elizabeth stood watching him with puzzled amusement.

Elizabeth had just saved him from making the biggest mistake in his life, but he did not know whether he was laughing from relief or despair.

“So we have, Miss Elizabeth. So we have. Let us see if we can make our way back.”

~*~

I do hope you’ve enjoyed this excerpt. I would love to hear your comments. 🙂