What if Mr Darcy’s first proposal was interrupted by a bearer of ill tidings? The worst tidings: an elopement!Ah, but whose elopement would allow Elizabeth and Mr Darcy to spend quite so much time together and overcome their prejudices and his stubborn pride?
A Timely Elopement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
By joanastarnes
Anyone who claims to know Austen is all too familiar with the ill-fated ‘Hunsford proposal’ scene in “Pride and Prejudice”. You know the scene? Mr Darcy comes to Miss Elizabeth Bennet when she is alone in the parsonage and professes his love amongst a litany of unromantic and arrogant reasons why he has struggled against his feelings… In Joana Starnes’s new release, “A Timely Elopement”, his ill-worded delivery of a proposal is interrupted when the colonel barges in and declares their cousin Anne has eloped.
When Elizabeth unexpectedly finds herself as a guest at the Darcy townhouse as a companion of sorts to his formidable aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr Darcy soon realizes that he has dodged a bullet by not proposing to Elizabeth, a woman who was misinformed about him and had thought him the last man in the world she might marry—and takes this new found intelligence as an opportunity to show her he is a man worthy of her.
“He would secure his hearts desire—secure her—and if the world at large could not understand that happy men did their duty better, then they could go hang!”
Starnes has long been a household name when it comes to Jane Austen inspired fiction. Her banter between Darcy and Elizabeth is second to none, and their romance is swoon-worthy without the saccharine syrup that so often one finds in this sub-genre. I love how Starnes shows Elizabeth as a woman who does not willfully misunderstand, rather she studies Darcy’s words and deeds to see he very well might be the best man of her acquaintance—even when another admirable suitor is introduced into their circle—all the while bestowing Elizabeth’s charm and wit we love and expect.
In London and later in Hertfordshire, Darcy and Elizabeth cannot but have private conversations, secret looks, and pulse-raising moments:
“She gasped, not so much at the question as at the feel of his thumb brushing over her lower lip, once his hand had curved around her cheek. She saw him swallow hard and unwittingly did likewise, her throat suddenly dry. For all his admirable traits she discovered in him, she was reminded in a flash that he was strong-willed, often domineering, and patently accustomed to having his own way. Everything about this unnerving moment worked to confirm it. His hand on her cheek—an almost propriety gesture, and far too intimate for a proposal that had not been accepted. His demand for an answer—insistent and so very premature. His eyes flicking to her lips time and again, as if any moment now he would forget himself and kiss her.”
In this smart comedy of manners and intrigue, Starnes shows us the folly of judging by first impressions and this, like her previous Austenesque romances, delighted me with the tender, fledging relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth. The inventive twists are a welcome surprise and absolutely believable. “A Timely Elopement” is humorous, with the perfect measure of angst, a gloriously smitten Darcy, a bright and sparkling Elizabeth, gorgeous interaction with Georgiana and the colonel, and features a cousin Anne de Bourgh who I genuinely applauded. I loved this! Loved. Just the timely Austenesque fix I needed to read in a world gone mad.
Wonderful Jane Austen Fan Fiction
While I am not quite sure if I’ve read all Ms. Starnes Jane Austen fan fiction since I started enjoying it in 2015, I have read many of her books over the years. They are always well written, with far more intricate plots and explorations of character than is typically seen in the novella-a-month writing schedule so many authors seem to prefer these days. One of the cool constraints the author put on herself is that we never have Elizabeth as a point-of-view character. What we know of her we learn from Mr. Darcy’s perspective; those of us who know canon can see when he is misreading her, which is always fun. He is the main viewpoint character, though the book is written from Mr. Bingley’s perspective one or two times. (By the way, I loved the Bingley in this book! He is so much stronger and more decisive than in canon or as portrayed in the movies! He’s a Bingley that Jane deserves.)
The story hinges on Darcy’s cousin Anne’s disappearance and supposed elopement. In fact, news that it had happened interrupted that dreadful first proposal at Hunsford. He doesn’t get the most awful out; Elizabeth doesn’t get to speak her piece about her opinion of him. Elizabeth gets caught in the disappearance/elopement as well, so she and Darcy get to spend a lot of time and grow in their knowledge and understanding of each other. What I loved about this book is how we watch Darcy gradually come to see his own character deficiencies with little help from Elizabeth. He understands his own follies and errors, either because of seeing them reflected in others or his own realization. The author actually even has him mentally or verbally parrot some words Elizabeth would have said during the Hunsford proposal in canon/films when he comes to these realizations. I always love the smooth incorporation of Jane Austen’s words—especially when used in different contexts—into JAFF, and this author knows how to do it right. If you love well-written, low-angst JAFF that provides a deep character study of Mr. Darcy, pick up this book… and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Reviewed: June 5, 2020
“Sweet Insanity” (quote from the book)
The ‘Queen of Angst’ has provided us with a lighter touch in her newest creation. But don’t let that fool you into thinking Mr. Darcy has a reprieve. No, I would say Mr. Darcy has his work cut out for him, but he does manage to completely discombobulate Miss Elizabeth Bennet!
“The reversal was uncanny; she, lost for words – he, more communicative than ever.” (quote from the book)
We all know how badly Mr. Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford Cottage went. What if Colonel Fitzwilliam interrupts that ‘badly done, indeed’ proposal. What if he only got as far as his most ardent admiration and love and going against the wishes of his family, friends, when the Colonel is announced? Darcy is needed by Lady Catherine immediately as they believe Anne de Bourgh has eloped with George Wickham! Everyone’s life is thrown into a tailspin. Elizabeth is not only shocked at the news but ashamed of her good opinion of Wickham. It couldn’t have been a more a ‘timely elopement’!
“Mr. Wickham had made a fool of her – and she had suffered him to do so. Nay, she had aided and abetted him!” (quote from the book)
So when Elizabeth is requested to support Lady Catherine as she travels to London to gain the help of her brother, little does she know that she will be spending so much time in Mr. Darcy’s presence. Little does Mr. Darcy know what an uphill battle he will have to be worthy of such a woman.
“You have prevailed upon Lady Catherine to change her mind? He gave a faint chuckle, then shook his head. I have long suspected you of weaving enchantments. Now I have proof of it.” (quote from the book)
And weaving a spell on this reader as well. This book is sublime. I chortled, and chuckled; laughed out loud, said a lot of ‘Oh dears’ and cringed…pillows and half-wits, green-eyed monsters and swoon-worthy looks. So many scenes are worthy of highlight in this book, but I wouldn’t want to take away from your own enjoyment.
But one thing I find that Ms. Starnes does so well is the yearning; the touch of a hand, the looks…it literally pours off the pages as if you, the reader, are feeling, doing and seeing all that is expressed. And the heat rises without even a kiss being shared…until they are on the slope. That scene just sets the page on fire. It is all so palpable and dissolves you in a puddle on the floor!
“He only caught a swift glance filtered through lowered lashes, and then she looked away, leaving him to the sweet agony of drinking in every detail of her appearance, and yearning for so much more than this.” (quote from the book)
Needless to say, I can highly recommend this newest creation from the quill of Ms. Starnes for she never disappoints. Just remember not to leave your bonnet behind!
I received this book as a gift with no expectation for a review.
I love this writer and she absolutely never disappoints! This is yet another great read from Ms. Starnes! Poor Mr. Darcy’s fateful proposal is interrupted by an untimely elopment, or was that timely? There are many changes in the relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth due to this interruption. A great, fun read that I loved!
For a Pride and Prejudice enthusiast, there is nothing quite like an unusually talkative and passionate Mr. Darcy to pique one’s interest. And it becomes particularly intriguing when the story is told almost exclusively from his perspective. Ironically, it is perhaps his most blundering speech that is mercifully interrupted in this variation, A Timely Elopement, from master storyteller Joana Starnes.
The tale begins in the parlor at Hunsford Parsonage near Rosings Park in Kent with the only two occupants; a visibly agitated Mr. Darcy and a startled and wary Elizabeth Bennet. Darcy has been at Rosings with his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam to visit their aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh and their cousin Anne, while Elizabeth visits her friend Charlotte Lucas, newly married to Elizabeth’s cousin and one-time suitor, Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine’s parson.
Darcy’s unexpected and ardent marriage proposal to Elizabeth is fortunately interrupted just before he manages to insult her with his ungentlemanlike manner, although she cannot forget that morning’s revelation from an unwitting Colonel Fitzwilliam that Darcy’s intervention had ruined her sister Jane’s chances for happiness with his friend Charles Bingley. Colonel Fitzwilliam barges in at that fortuitous moment to announce, “We have reason to fear that Anne has eloped. To own the truth, with Wickham.” (Kindle 82) Shock settles over the group as they consider the dire situation of Anne de Bourgh, known only as a sickly but wealthy heiress, possibly eloping with George Wickham. Lady Catherine later exclaims, “All saints preserve us! A steward’s son! What was the girl thinking?” (Kindle 496) Unbeknownst to her, he was the same fiend who had attempted to elope with Darcy’s sister Georgiana, also a wealthy heiress, from Ramsgate the previous summer. Thus, Darcy ceases his proposal just after confessing his love for Elizabeth. He briefly apprises her of the previous situation between his sister and Wickham before hurrying off to search for Anne, unaware that his aunt is about to summon his ladylove to accompany her to London for the same purpose.
Lady Catherine in distraught-mother mode has as acerbic a tongue as one might imagine. Nonetheless, the two ladies have a frank conversation during their travels, and there are surprising hints of a softer heart hidden away beneath Lady Catherine’s sharp exterior. When she discovers her brother’s London home is unexpectedly occupied with revelers, Lady Catherine and Elizabeth find themselves the unannounced houseguests of Mr. Darcy at his London townhome, Darcy House. The circumstances allow Elizabeth to become comfortably acquainted with his sister Georgiana, as well as to have another private conversation with Darcy.
“The reversal was uncanny: she, lost for words – he, more communicative than ever. Uncanny and bordering on the alarming. Finding herself lost for words was a profoundly alien sensation. She did not like it in the slightest. At her continued silence, he said softly, ‘I see I am making you uncomfortable. I should beg your pardon for speaking too freely, both now and a few minutes ago. But I have longed to speak my mind for a fair while. And it is a vast relief to do so.’” (Kindle 730)
Darcy is completely oblivious of her feelings regarding his overbearing manner and his prejudice against those he views as her inferior relations. He is thrilled by her presence in his home and envisions a lovely future together there. Little does he realize that his arrogant pursuit of Elizabeth has rankled her beyond all endurance, and she requests to move to her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner’s house in Cheapside. It will require an epiphany with a “violent surge of self-recriminations” (Kindle 2073) to open Darcy’s eyes, both to the reality of his own romantic hopes as well as the astonishing story behind Anne’s timely elopement.
I thoroughly enjoyed this talkative version of Mr. Darcy. He was done admiring Elizabeth’s fine eyes from across the room, and his words, although often ill-judged, just overflowed. However, it was at times quite aggravating to experience the story from his perspective. He was utterly devoted to Elizabeth throughout, but he was also utterly delusional. “As for the depth of his devotion, what greater proof of it was he to give than his willingness to align himself with indecorous country bumpkins and a number of tradespeople?” (Kindle 901) Darcy was attracted to Elizabeth without initially understanding that much of what made her the person he loved was directly influenced by those she held most dear. His eventual epiphany and contrition were satisfying to witness. “She verily glowed tonight because she was happy. What sort of a selfish beast would take this away from her, and expect her to find ample compensation in what he had to offer?” (Kindle 2076) This was a lovely and thought-provoking story about wholeheartedly committing to understanding the depths and nuances of a loved one on the journey to a beautiful happily-ever-after.
4 out of 5 Regency Stars
https://austenprose.com/2020/07/01/a-timely-elopement-a-pride-and-prejudice-variation-by-joana-starnes-a-review/