WEEKEND WRITING WARRIOR #85

I have not signed into WeWrWa for a very long time and to my fellow warriors... Sorry 'bout that.

So, I cannot promise this will be a regular thing - real life has a nasty way of saying, 'Nuh Uh, you ain't doin' that right now,' and things get pushed back. Suffice it to say, I am here for today.

Here is this week's selection:

Obliged by the scarcity of gentlemen to sit down for two dances, Elizabeth became aware Mr. Darcy had paused in front of her. Would the handsome gentleman notice her and ask her for a set? Mr. Bingley, dancing with Jane, broke from the line to implore his friend to join the set. Elizabeth, with no intention of listening to their conversation, could not avoid them as the two friends paused no more than a few feet from where she sat.

“Come, Darcy,” Bingley said, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about when you could be enjoying the company of a pretty girl.”

“You know I detest dancing unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Besides, your sisters are engaged and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

Elizabeth was surprised at Mr. Darcy’s assertion that dancing with any one of her neighbors and friends was considered a punishment instead of enjoyment.

And a taste for more:

“You are so frustratingly fastidious,” cried the younger man. “These people are my neighbors. Can you not, for my sake, soften your attitude for one dance? Truly Darcy, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life, and several of them are uncommonly pretty.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking toward the dance floor. Elizabeth took note of where he directed his attention and felt a slight thaw in her disgust. Someone who thought Jane beautiful could not be all bad.

“I agree. She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! Regardless, you will not detract me from my mission. I must have you dance.” Bingley cast his gaze around and it fell on Elizabeth, who looked away, embarrassed at having almost been caught listening in on their conversation. “I say, there is a young lady sitting down just behind you who is quite pretty. Miss Bennet will know who she is. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”

Elizabeth worked hard to regulate her breathing, counting to ten while mentally preparing a positive response when he asked her to dance. By the time she reached three, she realized there had been no answer from Mr. Darcy, other than, ‘Which do you mean?’ Without thought, she glanced up and found him staring directly at her. Upon catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me. I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. Return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, you are wasting your time with me.”

Stunned, cheeks burning with mortification, Elizabeth could not even form words in her mind at his brutal observation. All her life she had been found wanting by her mother, forever compared to Jane who was the epitome of beauty and grace, yet she’d always felt she had a small measure of pleasing features. Her eyes were quite fine, and she had a quick smile for everyone. To be dismissed so summarily by someone who had never met her before this evening, cut her to the quick. Mr. Bingley opened his mouth to argue further when a familiar figure stepped in front of both gentlemen.

“Excuse me, sir. I believe you owe my sister an apology.”

“I do not know who your sister is, sir,” Darcy replied, giving the younger man a haughty glare.

“She is the one whom you find barely tolerable, and not handsome enough to dance with.”

Oh dear, this could get messy. Elizabeth hurried to join them. By this time, a second gentleman had come alongside and also glared at Mr. Darcy.

“If you require introductions, sir, you are cordially invited to join us outside. My brother and I will introduce you to our fists. You will find they are not tolerable as well.”

“Michael! Gabriel!” Elizabeth stepped in their midst. “Apologize to Mr. Darcy at once.”

“He insulted you, Elizabeth,” Michael ground out between clenched teeth, his steely gaze never wavering from Mr. Darcy’s.

“He deserves to be horsewhipped for saying such things about a lady to whom he has not been introduced,” Gabriel added, and gently tried to move Elizabeth aside. “It was extremely rude.”

“I agree, Gabriel. Would you like to take the first punch?”

“No, you are the elder Michael, you may go first.”


Weekend Writing Warriors is a fun blog hop where authors share eight to ten lines from a Work in Progress. If you'd like to check out some of the other author's writing, please click on this link: WeWriWa




15 comments:

  1. The introduction of brothers for the Bennet girls is an interesting twist. How is Darcy going to manage this situation, I wonder? It would no doubt be just as rude, if not more so, for Darcy to have said such a thing about a lady to whom he had been introduced. I believe I'm going to like the Bennet brothers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the Bennet brothers as well, and as for Fitzwilliam Darcy... you KNOW he will be rude. My job is to redeem the poor man.

      Delete
    2. Oh, I do like this. I love variations with Bennet brothers

      Delete
  2. Good to "see" you again, Sue! Oh, this Darcy is sure making himself to be quite a challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I truly did laugh out loud at this - “If you require introductions, sir, you are cordially invited to join us outside. My brother and I will introduce you to our fists. You will find they are not tolerable as well.”
    Absolutely perfect.
    Tweeted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you liked, and thanks for the Tweet!

      Delete
  4. This scene is SO visual and fun. Everyone should have brothers like these!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Darcy! Enjoyed the introduction of brothers - nice to see you back. Enjoyed the snippet.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was quite startled to discover the Bennet sisters have brothers now! Interesting twist that relieves some of the issues in the original, but produces others, like this incipient brawl. I hope you can participate more often, Sue. So glad to see you here again!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Okay, I really like her brothers even if they are about to provoke an incident. I like for them to try to protect their sister.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I thoroughly enjoyed your snippet! That Darcy--he needs to meet some intolerable fists! lol It was so good to see you again! I understand about life getting in the way.I hope you find your way back again, soon!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I thoroughly enjoyed this snippet! That Darcy does need to meet some intolerable fists! lol It was so nice to see you again! I understand how life gets in the way. I hope you find your way back again, soon. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. It seems tact is not one of Mr. Darcy's strong qualities.
    I had to start a new blog and leave the previous one as an archive because all I was getting were spam comments. They really are the worst.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am so glad you are back with a new excerpt - it was hilarious!! I have been checking this site at least once or twice a week and was relieved when the FB ones were posted as I had begun to despair that real life had thrown nasty curveballs. I’ll try to be patient even though that is NOT a virtue of mine and I use your books as a way to escape the constant demands on my life at work and home. All the best to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, so much. I am still rebuilding, and a little bit hesitant. I keep thinking TPTB will slam down the hammer again and all will go 'poof'. Still, butt in chair, hands on keyboard, will be my motto going forth.

      Delete

Due to the proliferation of scam artists inundating this blog with their garbage, I am forced to moderate all comments. If you are a real person, thank you. YOU are appreciated.