|
CHAPTER 30 Alright, so Elizabeth is still at Hunsford (Charlotte's house) with Charlotte and new hubby, Mr. Collins (suppress gag reflex here). After the Musical Chairs evening with Lady Catherine (see previous post!), they visit with Lady Catherine a few more times. Lady Catherine can't officially hold the title of "Justice of the Peace" (which basically gave wealthy men permission to be nosy, control-freak managers of the local population), because she's a woman...but basically she does it anyway. Elizabeth finds a nice, quiet path and finds LOTS of excuses for "fresh air." Enter into this peaceful scene, Good News and Bad News. Bad News first: Mr. Darcy comes to visit his Aunt (supposedly) and shows up at Rosings. BUT he brings Good News with him, in the form Colonel Fitzwilliam, another nephew of Lady Catherine. He's not that good-looking, but he's SUPER nice. Elizabeth takes note....I could hit that. Meanwhile, Darcy is being his usual gloomy self. He manages a (gasp!) polite question to Liz, "How's your family?" "Good," Liz replies. "Maybe you've seen my sister, Jane, in town? She's been there the last three months," she asks, pointedly. Liz wants to see if Darcy might reveal anything about WTF happened between Bingley and Jane... He doesn't know anything. Hm.  CHAPTER 31 The group at Hunsford heads over to Rosings for their first official "evening" with Darcy & the Colonel, since their arrival. Liz usually dreads the Rosings visits...but this time, she enters the room, and is immediately pulled aside by the Colonel. They start chatting... ...and he's FUNNY... ...and he's CHARMING... ...and he's SMART... Their laughter draws the attention of Darcy. He stares at them from across the room. #cockblocked Their laughter also draws the attention of Lady Catherine. She's a little less subtle about it. #divablocked "What did you say, Fitzwilliam?? What was that?? What did you tell Miss Bennet?? Let me hear." (legit guys, this is pretty much what it says in the book) "Uh...music?" replies the Colonel, and he and Liz giggle. "MUSIC IS MY DELIGHT," says Lady Catherine, thrilled to have a subject she can continue to be the center of attention of. "I love it. Music is awesome. Georgiana* plays, does she not, Darcy?" "Yup." "I am so glad to hear her so well spoken of. Tell her, from me, that she should practice all the time. Practice, practice, practice!" "Okay." "Miss Bennet!! YOU should practice more, you are welcome to come any time and practice on the piano here. You will not get better without CONSTANT practice. Yes, DO come over, and then you will be as skilled as Georgiana." Awk...ward... The Colonel, bless his sweet heart, attempts to smooth this over by asking Liz to play piano for everyone...and with a reluctant heart, she does. For the record, Elizabeth's piano repertoire consists of "Chopsticks", half of "Heart and Soul" and those two notes from the "Jaws" theme... The Colonel sits on one side of Liz...and Darcy comes and sits on the other. Ooh, juicy. Here we go: LIZ: Are you trying to frighten me, Mr. Darcy? DARCY: I don't think I could if I tried. LIZ: Don't listen to him, Colonel. I could tell you such stories about him... COLONEL: Ooh!! Like what?? LIZ: The first time I met Mr. Darcy, it was at a dance, and he danced with NO ONE. Even though there were plenty of "alright" girls to dance with...#buuuuuurrrrrnnnnnn DARCY: I didn't know anyone... LIZ: Right, and no one can be introduced in a ballroom. Colonel, what should I play next? Darcy: I'm not good at talking to people I don't know. LIZ: Maybe you should, as your Aunt says, "Practice, practice, practice." #CHECKMATE LADY CATHERINE: HELLO!! Ahem!! What are you all talking about???!! Liz goes back to playing Chopsticks. The Colonel does a little mental fist pump. Darcy is pensive. *Georgiana is Darcy's younger sister. CHAPTER 32 I'm pretty sure* that the following is the first awkward rom-com scene ever written. *and by pretty sure, I mean that I have no idea and have done absolutely zero research on the matter. But I really hope that it is, because this scene is bloody brilliant. The morning after the "Practice, practice, practice!" evening at Rosings, Elizabeth is alone at Hunsford, writing a letter to Jane. All of the sudden, Darcy bursts through the door. And this happens.... He leaves, Charlotte enters. Liz relays what happened.
And Charlotte declares, "He must be in love with you, Lizzie." WHAAAATTTT????? No way. I mean, NO. WAY. Darcy??? He's probably just bored. Elizabeth dismisses the idea. In the meantime, Darcy and the Colonel start to show up at Hunsford...a LOT. Lizzie starts to lean toward the Colonel...and Charlotte watches Darcy with Liz.... He does stare at her an AWFUL lot....could it be...? TO BE CONTINUED! NEXT WEEK: The Colonel spills the beans about Jangley, and THE PROPOSAL. Yup. It's happening. Don't miss it! "Like Us" on Facebook to receive notifications of new posts!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |