While her sister Jane is ill at Netherfield, Elizabeth Bennet overhears Miss Bingley and the proud Mr Darcy discussing his admiration of Elizabeth and her fine eyes. Not sure what to think of his praise after all of their previous disagreements, and more flattered than she wants to admit, Elizabeth teases him for the disparaging remark he made about her at the Meryton Assembly. Darcy is then … forced to reconsider his opinion of a woman who has truly bewitched him more than any other. The result of this unintended eavesdropping leads to confrontations and apologies on both sides and, eventually, the beginnings of a friendship between Darcy and Elizabeth. Their warming acquaintance impacts the courtship of Darcy’s friend and Elizabeth’s sister, the jealous temper of Miss Bingley, and even the behavior of Mr. Wickham after he arrives in Meryton. How are the events of the winter drastically affected by the Bennet sisters choosing to spend two more days at Netherfield?
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If there is a day to act on the Love in your soul it is today, it is this moment. ~ Mike Dolan
“Two More Days at Netherfield” gives our favorite couple just that – two more days to find the love in their souls and two more days to act on it.
In canon Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth and Jane arrange a ride back to Longbourn in Mr. Bingley’s carriage when their Mother claims the Bennet carriage will not be available until Tuesday. In contrast, Elizabeth realizes in the beginning of this book that Jane would benefit from extra time in Mr. Bingley’s company and does nothing to cause her removal sooner. The acknowledged couple draws closer and a friendship develops in another couple where distrust existed before.
Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open. ~ John Barrymore
By chance, Elizabeth overhears the teasing conversation between Miss Bingley and Darcy where he acknowledges admiring her eyes. It is a small beginning but it is a beginning of a different understanding. Apologies are offered and accepted, friendship blooms.
Elizabeth also learns a bit about Georgiana when she discovers part of a letter Darcy has written to his sister. She protects the letter from the prying eyes of Miss Bingley but he knows she has read his words herself. It takes a word game to convey apologies and acceptance in front of the assembled party.
By the time the Bennet sisters leave Netherfield, a solid admiration has developed between two couples. Then, just when you believe the happy ending music will play early in the story …
A half-truth is a whole lie. ~ Yiddish Proverb
All the best lies contain a little truth and accomplished liars can convey a lie without uttering an untrue statement (just ask any politician). Wickham learns that Elizabeth knows about part of his actions against the Darcys and adjusts his canon lie accordingly.
A more cunning lie comes from Caroline Bingley who omits one sentence in an account of her visit to Longbourn.
Romance, angst, villainy plus an unhappy ending for Wickham (loved Mama Bennet’s part in that) and the perfect setdown for Miss Bingley (Darcy leaves no stone unturned) … what more could a reader of JAFF want?
Finally, to reach their Happily Ever After … our couple must spend “Two More Days at Netherfield” … complete with another word game!
I received an early copy of this book with no promise of a review, good or bad.
“It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy; –it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others.” –Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
Everything that we expect in a Pride and Prejudice variation was present in this story. Our author started with the question ‘What-if’ Jane and Lizzy stayed two more days at Netherfield when Jane was sick. Would our story change that much? I was rather surprised to see the difference a couple of days made in this story arc.
Villains: Oh, yes, we had our villains. If you gathered up the usual suspects there would be many familiar faces. We had our Caroline Bingley, the conniving, grasping, b-witch from the north. We also had the SBRB [scum-bag-rat-bastard], Wickham. The way our author used him was such a surprise and in a different way than we are accustomed to. I was confused for a short time as he wove his web of deceit. Oh, he was smooth, charming, glib-tongued, as he slithering around any receptive ear that would hear him blather his lies through gold-studded teeth. Well, ok, I made up that last part. I’m sure, when he smiled, there was at least a sparkle from a diamond embedded in his tooth. This was cruelty in the nth degree. He was horrid to one of the Bennet daughters and Momma Bear didn’t take kindly to it. You don’t mess with a bear cub without momma bear showing you just what fury is all about.
Papa Bear, on the other hand, infuriated me like never before. This man was something else. He got on my last nerve. He had Zero respect for his family and every single time he opened his mouth, whether at home or if they had company, he ticked me off. This was a surprise. I really felt for Elizabeth.
Our villains created such a gulf between ODC that I wasn’t sure they would or could bridge the gap. She was here and he was there with no way to communicate and dang that Bingley and his horrid handwriting messed with Darcy big time. Bingley needs to hire a secretary and never write another letter of importance or anything for that matter. Don’t even get me started on Darcy’s relations and that blasted house party. I nearly had apoplexy. Whew! Talk about your close call. Where are my salts?
This was a story that made you think long after you have read it. I’m still processing it. The introspection of ODC was amazing as they reasoned out their feelings and their place in society and life. To finally realize what was important to them and to come to grips with their place with or without the other. How would they go on? That got me. Then, for them to discover the treachery that kept them apart was heartbreaking.
“One day spent with someone you love can change everything.” –Mitch Albom, For One More Day
What I liked: Watching Darcy and Elizabeth come to grips with their feelings. This was not a fast story. It evolved slowly over time allowing ODC to come to grips with their feelings for each other. They also had to deal with insurmountable odds and the interference of others. I loved discovering little nuggets of dialogue from other Austen stories interspersed throughout this story. What fun.
What I didn’t like: It was too long. I thought parts of it could have been trimmed a bit to take out the duplication and repetition of the same scene or dialogue that was told several times from different perspectives. We would have the let me tell you what happened and then another person had to be told what I had already read or knew. That part was a bit tedious.
I volunteered to read an ARC from Quills & Quartos Publishing with no expectations of a review favorable or otherwise. The views and opinions expressed are my own. I loved this story and recommend it to those who love a good D&E HEA. Update: I have since purchased a copy for my personal library.
In this skillfully crafted Pride and Prejudice variation, our beloved characters’ personalities are on full display as readers discover the difference just a couple extra days can make for more effective communication. I appreciated the inner dialogue that gave me more insight into Mr Darcy’s opinion of Jane Bennet’s behavior toward Mr Bingley. It makes it far clearer why he felt his interference was justified in the original story. I so enjoy stories such as this one that further my understanding of my favorite characters’ idiosyncrasies. The brilliant addition of amusing and unique parlor games moved the story along while giving readers the opportunity to witness our esteemed hero and heroine working through their misunderstandings in a clever battle of wits. The evolution of their relationship is delightfully satisfying. I loved the way the pieces of the puzzle were revealed to clear up the unfortunate conflict between them. The story started to take a concerning turn midway through, and I was not pleased with this version of Colonel Fitzwilliam for a bit, but eventually all is righted. The dialogue was enjoyable, and there were confrontations between our heroine and a nemesis or two that were so fantastic, they made me wish I was present to cheer her on. Although the story was longer than expected, it gave such a depth to the canon that I didn’t at all mind living in their world for a while.