Holy Writing Goals, Batman!
We left off with:
More than once, during the night, her gaze flew to the chair
the citizens of Meryton left empty in honor of their dearly departed friend.
And now for today's selection:
“Are you and your sisters anxious to meet Mr. Bingley and his party, Eliza?”
Miss Charlotte Lucas, one of Elizabeth’s dearest friends, had come alongside and handed her a welcomed glass of punch.
“Not anxious, per se; more curious, I think.” She took a sip of her punch. “You have met the gentleman, what is your opinion?”
“He’s amiable and quite young. Well, younger than me, although, these days, most gentlemen of marriageable age are.”
Elizabeth looped her arm through Charlotte’s and gave it a squeeze.
“You are too hard on yourself. My aunt Gardiner was about your age when she met and married my uncle, and look how happy they are.”
“Eliza, next to such beauties as you and your ethereal sister, Jane, no woman stands a chance of capturing the eye of any eligible gentleman.”
A sweet snippet, yet kind of sad for Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteIt IS sad. During this time period, women were 'on the shelf' if not married by eighteen or nineteen. Most marriage still occurred while the girl was between the ages of fifteen and seventeen. Considering that, Charlotte is about the age of some grandmother's. Doesn't that make your hair turn grey??
DeleteDon't you love it when the muse is talking so fast, you can hardly keep up on the keyboard?
ReplyDeleteGood snippet, Sue!
I do love it and will ride that rocketing train until it pulls into the station of WTH did I just write and how do I get out of this?
DeleteThis captures Charlotte Lucas quite well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. Let Effing Feline know Charlotte is a cat lover. That will soothe the savage beast.
DeleteDelightful scene! Captures the characters beautifully without weighty description.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSo happy that the words are flowing for you, my friend! Send some of that mojo my way, eh? :D Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteSending mojo on the Polar Express!!
DeleteMy heart bleeds for Charlotte, and it really does convey the mores of the times. Great scene.
ReplyDeleteThank you. How the times have changed. Much like a pendulum.
DeleteLoved the dialogue! Very period. I never thought Charlotte was that much older than Lizzie, but I can see where she could be. Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteMissed the deadline to sign up this week, but here's my link if you'd like to visit. https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/2021/02/14/weekend-writing-warriors-02-14-21-only-a-mistress-will-do-let-me-help-you/
From P&P canon we know that Charlotte is 27 seven and Lizzy is 20. Miss Lucas would have been 'out' a little over ten years at the time of this scene. She is on the shelf gathering dust.
DeleteWell, we're always comparing ourselves, aren't we LOL? Enjoyed the snippet and it was fun to know what gave you the original plot bunny.
ReplyDeleteThose darn plot bunnies... Mary has been shelved because every scene I come up with is for this story. *sigh*
DeleteGreat depiction of Charlotte and her unwed status.
ReplyDeleteNo need to beat everyone about their head and shoulders to get the idea across.
DeleteEveryone probably would think she was an old maid during those times. Good scene. it showed a lot.
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteI hope Charlotte doesn't give up hope!
ReplyDeleteWith the war happening with France, there was a dearth of gentlemen in ALL of England. Her hopes of any kind of marriage was almost nil, as were Elizabeth and Jane's as Meryton was such a small village. 'Tis what it is.
DeleteVery nice portrayal of their friendship. And now I'm curious about the gentleman in question.
ReplyDelete