In Essentials

by Vangie

When Darcy and Elizabeth meet at Meryton, they have each passed quite different summers than those that preceded the events of the novel. Elizabeth and the Gardiners have recently returned from their tour of the Peak District, and Miss Georgiana Darcy, having been taken ill for much of the summer, failed to make her sojourn to Ramsgate.

* The Pemberley Library requires registration.

**Also available through Derbyshire Writers' Guild at http://www.dwiggie.com/derby/old_2007....

Vangie is a prior pen name of Historical Romance author Tessa Dare. see My FanFic Confessions at http://tessadare.com/2008/03/22/my-fa....

Genres: Fan Fiction

65 pages

Published July 13, 2006

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my! *deep sigh* This is an absolutely exquisite unpublished jewel with elegant, flowing writing, well-developed characters and a storyline that uses many elements from the original Pride and Prejudice but brilliantly flips them to bring about similar yet different results. The ending matches the best of romantic scenes and, again, echoes the original without exactly duplicating it.

The story is not exactly a gender swap, but yet it sort of is. Elizabeth falls in love with Mr. Darcy before he feels the same way about her.

They enter the Meryton assembly having had experiences over the summer that are completely altered from canon. First Georgiana became ill. Then Mrs. Younge died (we don't learn how, but that doesn't matter), so the ill-fated trip to Brighton never happened and Georgiana never tried to elope with Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth, meanwhile, went to Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle and had the opportunity to tour Pemberley. Hearing Mrs. Reynolds' praises for her master and seeing Mr. Darcy's portrait have given Elizabeth a favorable impression before she even has the chance to meet him. At the assembly, she does not hear his rude refusal to be introduced and dance with her but instead recognizes his discomfort with all the unconcealed speculation by her neighbors about him. Knowing that Mr. Darcy is way above her social sphere and trying to avoid being hurt, she works hard to steel her heart against him. She hides her attraction to him but can't help constantly feeling pulled toward him.

Darcy, meanwhile, is aware of Elizabeth and admires her. However, he's suspicious that it's Mrs. Bennet's manipulations that keep throwing Jane in Bingley's way and Elizabeth into his own way but that neither lady is truly interested in the two gentleman. As in canon, he doesn't realize that Jane's reserved nature hides her strong feelings, but he also believes Elizabeth vehemently dislikes him.

See what I mean about the gender switch? It's SO well done in other situations throughout the book, too.

And the writing! Just beautiful, and authentically copies Jane Austen's. There are many lovely little moments- a cup of tea that's undrinkable from too much sugar because Mr. Darcy is lingering in conversation with Elizabeth, who is serving tea to everyone; a tour of Bingley's townhouse where Jane falls in love with one particular sitting room which turns out to be the ONLY room that Caroline hasn't redecorated and is the favorite of Mr. Bingley's.

I will not divulge any info about the Wickham storyline because the crisis he creates and the resolution are just too unique and delicious.

This wonderful story alone is a great reason to join A Happy Assembly at www.meryton.com, although it's not the first I've read that I wish was in publication for a wider audience to enjoy.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is again a story one would wish to have brought to the attention of a much broader audience. As the other reviews state there is much of Jane Austen’s canon here which is twisted around in the author’s own unique way.

We read of Elizabeth recognizing her first respect of and esteem for Mr. Darcy upon a tour of his estate while in the company of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. But when at the Meryton Assembly, he learns of her visit to Pemberley and asks her opinion of such, Elizabeth has the intuition that he has heard gushing single females describe their impressions of his estate in sickeningly sweet detail so she tampers down her reply to a lukewarm response so as not to have him class her with all those other grasping single young ladies. So Elizabeth’s approach to her relationship to Darcy is set. She knows her place and if they are to be in company for even a short time, she will only hope for friendship.

But conversation and talk of accomplishments when she is at Netherfield to nurse Jane, lead Darcy to be drawn to Elizabeth’s intelligence, her taste in reading, etc. Wickham comes to Meryton with the militia but his relationship with Darcy is just a tad different, as Ramsgate has not occurred. (Comments are made about that missed trip on Wickham’s part which come into play later in the story.) While Darcy’s observations about Jane and Bingley are those of canon, he happens to observe from a distance Mrs. Bennet cooing about the expectation of two engagements and he jumps to the conclusion that she views not only Bingley as a soon-to-be-son-in-law but also thinks that his own interactions with Elizabeth are leading to the same by Mrs. Bennet as to them, also.

The Hunsford experience is so well written: with a very different proposal and response. There are at least two times in this story when I had a visceral reaction to events: emotions denied or misrepresented or totally misunderstood. ODC does have that propensity, after all. Hunsford is one of those occasions.

Elizabeth proves herself to be much a woman of action, sometimes even on an impulse. She, more that any of her sisters might do, takes it upon herself to attempt to remedy a possible ruinous event when she pieces together some clues from past and present knowledge which has come her way. But then the repercussions! Has she not only overstepped her boundaries but also now placed herself in a role to be disdained by family, “friends” and society?

Kudos to this author! She did an amazing job handling this story in ways not read of before. Little changes here and there but brought together in a way that is so completely sweet and engrossing. Love this Darcy and Elizabeth as they explore the depths of each other’s character.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/In%2...

First review 1-4-17:

What could I possibly add to the already excellent reviews by: Debbie: 5-stars, Sheila: 5-stars, Claudine: 5-stars, and Mary: 5-stars. They have said it best and I shall leave it at that. Excellent review guys, well done.

Revised 1-24-18: 2nd Read:

“The first essentials, of course, is to know what you want.” Robert Collier

And what do our characters want? Darcy wants Elizabeth, Elizabeth wants Darcy, Bingley wants Jane, Jane wants Bingley, Georgiana wants Wickham, Wickham wants her thirty-thousand pounds, and Caroline wants Pemberley… em… Darcy. Yeah, same old same old.

“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” –Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

I loved this story. It was actually hard for me to review. Many of my GR friends did such a marvelous job… I really couldn’t add anything new… other than to say that I really enjoyed it. The language was exquisite, the creativity most excellent and the dialogue between our dear couple was swoon worthy… when they weren’t arguing… that is.

Yeah, although this followed canon… it was tweaked a bit to add a new flavor to our dear P&P story. There was always something new added to the story that took it off the canon road a bit. The juxtaposition of scenes and dialogue kept the reader’s attention as someone different delivered a line or a scene was reversed.

[Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author brilliantly restyled Austen's phrases and storylines to create a story that's so new and yet, utterly so comfortingly familiar at the same time. This has to be one of my top ten favorite online JAFF reads. The balance between her mesmerizing dialogues, her detailed and captivating descriptive language and her inventive way of turning Austen's storylines into her own well-written story, makes this an online story that demands to be published so it can be read and celebrated by a larger audience.

Thank you, Debbie Brown, for hitting the Want to Read button on this story and bringing it to my attention!!

[Ｓｈｉｆｒａ ♕ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare JAFF gem, that has everything to recommend itself; witty discourse, poignant chemistry with the characters, an exciting succinct plot, economical and restrained Austenesque writing and of course a Darcy who will make you swoon!

“…in acquainting myself with the contents of your father’s collection, I felt I could trace the genealogy of your remarkable intellect, and the discovery of our many shared ancestors was bittersweet.”

Let us not forget a Lizzy worthy of the name and bearing the implicit virtues; wit, charm, wisdom, vivacity, and a great heart;

“How astute you are, to recollect my every impertinent remark!” she teased, straightening his cravat with a smart tug. “You will puff my pride excessively, you know, if you continue to quote me with all the authority of Plato. I shall become quite insufferable with my opinions, and then you will regret such encouragement.”

There is no good excuse to beg off reading this! The author is very accomplished! I should like to mend her pen!


Synopsis:
Lizzy is fresh from a trip to the lakes where she saw Pemberley and met Mrs. Reynolds whom spoke of the master, Mr. Darcy (whom Lizzy has not yet met), song his praises and explained his reservedness is not pride.
Thus Lizzy is well inclined to think well of the man himself when she first meets him at the Meryton Assembly.

"To the contrary, Mr. Darcy, I hear such unvarying reports of you as to satisfy me entirely. Your own cousin has just related such a tale of intrepidity – wrangling serpents in a house of God, no less! Why, children must sing your exploits in the lanes of Derbyshire.”

Lizzy:


However at the Meryton Assembly misunderstanding in form from the reproachful and flagrant behavior of Mrs Bennet and Sir William Lucas, leads Mr Darcy to believe his person and his friend, Mr Bingley have been targeted as suitors for Lizzy and Jane Bennet!

Darcy is on guard, this is not his first rodeo with match making mamas;


Lizzy is painfully aware of how her neighbors and family well meant, though admittedly unpolished ministrations appeared to Mr Darcy, and mortified knowing him to likely be subject to such as a wealthy gentlemen, tries to respectfully keep her distance and assure him by it that she has no insidious designs on him.

However Lizzy is already predisposed to admire him, and cant help the fascination the handsome gentlemen elicits in her, though she is aware she is well below his notice.


Darcy although on guard is as in canon, is intrigued by her eyes and figure

Jane falls ill at Netherfield and Lizzy is again desirous to not get in the gentlemen way, but she cant help the witty banter that is provoked by the conversation of Miss Bingley, and Darcy cant help addressing her as well,

“Indeed, I do not dare." He smiled at her then – a flash of humor so fleeting, it barely gave her opportunity to confirm that Mr. Darcy did in fact possess teeth. He attempted to regain his stern composure, but an egg once cracked cannot be mended, and Elizabeth suddenly understood his strange behavior in a different light. A single man in possession of a large fortune, universally the object of reverence from his inferiors, respect from his peers and obsequious fawning from ladies, must be in want of teasing, and desperately so.”

Lizzy decides to tease Darcy, since no else will.

"I shall not envy him his perfect character, however. A man so complete in his own right can have little use for the society of others. For what service are our faults, if not to draw us into one another’s confidence and encourage affection? Mr. Darcy may hug himself, but I will take delight in the comfort of family and friends.”

They become friends, but an ill comment eavesdropped from Mrs Bennet will leave Darcy justifiably assuming Lizzy is mercenary, though unwilling in participation to her credit.
However, he finds her witty charms to be effective.

“If only the Crown would appoint her mother as emissary to France, Elizabeth thought, Napoleon might be persuaded to forfeit his interest in England altogether.”

Lizzy meanwhile is feeling her heart in danger of Darcy and vice versa, though neither dare believe it's mutual.

Lizzy developed a tender towards him but knows he could never offer for a pour country girl


Darcy proposes and it is a disaster but it a new unique & delicious fashion! Indeed one of my favorite Hunsford proposal remixes!
“No doubt you refused him in the hopes of holding out for better.” He was daring her to contradict him, and Elizabeth could not back down from the challenge.

“Yes, indeed I did, sir. I refused Mr. Collins because I had hopes of something infinitely better. Not a fortune of 10,000 a year, or a grand estate in Derbyshire, Mr. Darcy, but the hope of mutual esteem and love.” She attempted to maintain a dispassionate tone, but a slight catch in her voice betrayed her disappointment.”

Ramsgate also has not taken place as Ms Young died from an illness and Georgiana was ill for a year

"I have observed," she continued slowly, "that great depth of feeling is often belied by a placid demeanor. There are some individuals so pure of spirit that their emotions cannot be alloyed with the cheaper element of public display. It is a virtue, not a failing. Perhaps it is to Miss Darcy’s credit, then, that she does not perform to strangers.”

But don't count Wickham out! He will still manage to reaquaint himself with Georgiana when she comes to Hertforshire and Lizzy will be entrusted by Darcy to watch her:
Lizzy:


Me to Lizzy :


What Pickled my Fancy:
-The Hunsford proposal is the best I’ve ever read! I loved that Lizzy set Darcy is his place about his assumptions on her, and as a reader so satisfying to have everything set straight right then, where they are both in equal grounds emotionally, but Darcy has still pride and some prejudice to work on.

“Miss Bennet,” he began gently. “My feelings may have been ill-expressed, but I assure you they are sincere. My heart is yours –completely and irretrievably. Such force of affection will not be denied; it compels me to offer you a share of my life, my home, and all my worldly possessions. If but one of these inducements would persuade you to accept me, I tell myself I should be satisfied.” He stepped toward her boldly, his voice distilled to a whisper resonant with yearning. “But Elizabeth, dare I ask – is it possible that you do love me?”

-Lizzy has no prejudice and actually harbors tender feelings towards Darcy, and Darcy assumes Lizzy is indifferent so the tables are turned!

-Lizzy figuring out Wickhams plan and ensuing rat race! the Gardiners indulging to her to help

-Eloquent descriptor of emotions and feelings made every emotion keenly felt

“Elizabeth rose on unsteady legs. It was a queer sensation indeed, to walk away from this scene so whole of body, free of any visible injury or scar. She was in every physical way unaltered, and yet utterly torn apart within. It felt as if her soul claimed no acquaintance with her mind, and her conscience was a stranger to her heart.”

What Ruffled my Feathers :
Too short! Teasing, teasing author! She write beautifully, shows keen understanding of characters and motives, restrained and quotable dialogue that will have your heart cartwheeling, and she only gives us this! Write more please!



Conclusion:
One of the best JAFFs I've read, unfortunately its short but I can forgive that, its better to be left wanting more than with disappointed hopes, and other than length this will not disappoint any Austen fan!

If you are a first time reader, I envy you!! This is such a great variation twist and handled so aptly, and I saved a ridiculous amount of quotes and the entire Hunsford proposal because it was exquisite and I fancy myself a huge fan of author! Brava!

I measure the quality of a JAFF by three factors, as follows;

1. Did I feel the characters acted true to Austen's character framework (allowing for changed circumstance and scenario to offer some leeway)? YES
2. Was I engaged during the reading and not bored? YES
3. Was the writing compelling/ intelligent and was there sufficient interaction/dialogue between the main characters? YES

[Sam H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exceptionally written fanfic, following P&P and yet not.
We do not have Elizabeth's cynical dislike of Darcy from her own insult and that of Wickham's lies. She slowly and secretly falls in love with Darcy as much as he does her. In fact, in a way their roles are reversed, in as much as E knows she shouldn't like him and D thinks he has every reason to despise her.
Some of the story line is classic, but our author also changes up enough to keep the reader surprised and guessing. There are jumps between the chapters from relevant scenes, without all the little transitional bridges.
The only complaint I might have is not enough verbal interactions between ODC. While we do get to hear their thoughts a lot, some verbal play would have added even more enjoyment to this story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever,romantic,humorous,enthralling and utterly 'unputdownable' story!!

I loved it! It was simply fantastic!

Recommended to all Austen lovers!

[Elin Eriksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and exquisite retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

Georgiana falls ill the summer of '11 so Ramsgate never happened. Elizabeth's trip to the north with the Gardiner's also came to pass a year earlier affording her the tour of Pemberley with Mrs Reynolds championing mr Darcy before the Meryton assembly.

These premises changed little in the timeline until after Hunsford but the roles was somewhat reversed.

Beautifully written, deep and thoughtful variation that pulled on my heart-strings in a quiet but emotional way.

Heartily recommend this book!

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Web only P&P what if offers a twist on P&P where Georgiana and Mrs. Younge never made it to Ramsgate due to illness thus Wickham never tried to elope with her. Further Lizzy's trip to the Peak district was moved forward a year so she has seen Pemberley before meeting Darcy.

[Sisi_k · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, loved the switch in opinions and dynamics. This author is very talented and her voice is wonderfully Austenesque.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully done twist on the classic. Other reviewers have already described so i will not here. But it was highly enjoyable. My only complaint is that I wanted to see more into the future at the end.

[Aspen 111 · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.dwiggie.com/derby/old_200...

[Faustine]

DNF
I wanted to like it but somehow I didn’t manage to get into it. Perhaps because it follows P&P plot so closely (at least at the beginning as I didn’t read the whole story) that the comparison with the original is a bit cruel.

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this well written Austen fan fiction by an author who went on to write romance as Tessa Dare. Just wished that it was longer...

Reread February 2022: Still swoony and funny.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best P&P AUs I have ever read! Now I'm definitely going to to pick up some of the author's original work!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice unpublished work.

[readundancies · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Adorably predictable.