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Leaving Nothing to Chance
Darcy makes plans to propose at Rosings, but things don't go quite the way he expects.
- GenresRomance
29 pages, ebook
First published September 12, 2012
56 people want to read
About the author
Lara S. Ormiston
5 books130 followersI am the daughter of Christian missionaries, and was born on the beautiful island of Java, Indonesia. I spent most of my first eleven years in that tropical country, with only occasional furloughs in the States. I consider myself to have had a high privileged childhood, rich not in money but experiences. When I was eleven we moved to Zimbabwe, where I lived until I was sixteen, followed by a year in Marin County, California, and a year in Penang, Malaysia (of the two places, Marin County was by far the most foreign to me).
After that I attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas, and I still reside less than a hour away, in the city of Round Rock, where I am currently homeschooling my three children.
Growing up overseas meant very little television and lots of free time, which I eventually came to spend in reading. I was greatly influenced by my mother's taste in books, and it was through her that I was introduced to Regency romance in the form of Georgette Heyer, whose works our local library in Gweru, Zimbabwe, had in abundance. I also read a great deal of fantasy when I was younger, but of the two genres, historical fiction has remained my enduring favorite.
I remember reading one or two of Jane Austen's works when I was teenager, and being mainly disappointed that there was no kissing. It really wasn't until I was in my early thirties and the mother of small children that I began to read through her works and was thoroughly captivated with their wit and humor, as well as the good sense and strong morality that fills them. Eventually I stumbled across the world of Jane Austen fan fiction on the web, and was hooked. After many hours spent reader other writer's stories I could not resist the urge to write my own, and here we are now.
Unequal Affections is my own novel so far, but it is far from the only Pride and Prejudice-based story I have written. I tend to specialize in comedic short stories and novella-length chapter stories. My other writings can be found posted on my personal blog, or at the Derbyshire Writer's Guild, where I post under my middle name, Suzanne O, and at fanfiction.net, where I use the pseudonym OnlyaNovel.
After that I attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas, and I still reside less than a hour away, in the city of Round Rock, where I am currently homeschooling my three children.
Growing up overseas meant very little television and lots of free time, which I eventually came to spend in reading. I was greatly influenced by my mother's taste in books, and it was through her that I was introduced to Regency romance in the form of Georgette Heyer, whose works our local library in Gweru, Zimbabwe, had in abundance. I also read a great deal of fantasy when I was younger, but of the two genres, historical fiction has remained my enduring favorite.
I remember reading one or two of Jane Austen's works when I was teenager, and being mainly disappointed that there was no kissing. It really wasn't until I was in my early thirties and the mother of small children that I began to read through her works and was thoroughly captivated with their wit and humor, as well as the good sense and strong morality that fills them. Eventually I stumbled across the world of Jane Austen fan fiction on the web, and was hooked. After many hours spent reader other writer's stories I could not resist the urge to write my own, and here we are now.
Unequal Affections is my own novel so far, but it is far from the only Pride and Prejudice-based story I have written. I tend to specialize in comedic short stories and novella-length chapter stories. My other writings can be found posted on my personal blog, or at the Derbyshire Writer's Guild, where I post under my middle name, Suzanne O, and at fanfiction.net, where I use the pseudonym OnlyaNovel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 16, 2016
I loved this one-shot. Absolutely loved it. It's the fic that made me buy Unequal Affections without a second glance just because Lara S. Ormiston wrote it.
As you can see from the story's blurb, "Darcy makes plans to propose at Rosings, but things don't go quite the way he expects." If you thought the Hunsford proposal was a disaster, then I don't even know what to call what happened here.
Darcy's attempts to propose and Colonel Fitzwilliam's effort to help him were so hilarious, I swear I was crying by the end of it. I almost felt bad for everyone in this story; Colonel Fitzwilliam especially.
I think this is my favorite P&P one-shot favorite to date. I love it!
(I read this at FFN. This story was published under the pen name OnlyANovel)
As you can see from the story's blurb, "Darcy makes plans to propose at Rosings, but things don't go quite the way he expects." If you thought the Hunsford proposal was a disaster, then I don't even know what to call what happened here.
Darcy's attempts to propose and Colonel Fitzwilliam's effort to help him were so hilarious, I swear I was crying by the end of it. I almost felt bad for everyone in this story; Colonel Fitzwilliam especially.
I think this is my favorite P&P one-shot favorite to date. I love it!
(I read this at FFN. This story was published under the pen name OnlyANovel)
April 10, 2017
I read this last year but for some reason no review is showing up so I copied the review I saved:
This was, as all have said, a very short read and a variation on the Hunsford proposal. A pure application of Murphy's Law: If Anything Can Go Wrong, It Will. This also reminded me of Katy Perry's song "Hot N Cold": "You're yes then you're no, You're in then you're out, You're up then you're down, You're wrong when it's right, It's black and it's white" This seemed a song and dance by not only Darcy and Elizabeth but also the whole ensemble: Anne, Richard, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, Maria Lucas and Lady Catherine.
All Darcy's plans for the night are for naught and he rues the fact that she didn't stay away that night at Rosings.
This was, as all have said, a very short read and a variation on the Hunsford proposal. A pure application of Murphy's Law: If Anything Can Go Wrong, It Will. This also reminded me of Katy Perry's song "Hot N Cold": "You're yes then you're no, You're in then you're out, You're up then you're down, You're wrong when it's right, It's black and it's white" This seemed a song and dance by not only Darcy and Elizabeth but also the whole ensemble: Anne, Richard, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, Maria Lucas and Lady Catherine.
All Darcy's plans for the night are for naught and he rues the fact that she didn't stay away that night at Rosings.
May 16, 2016
What a riot! This Pride and Prejudice tale takes only about 20 minutes to read, at most. It relates a glorious succession of errors and miscalculations on the part of Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam at Rosings as they desperately attempt to get Elizabeth alone in order to provide Darcy an opportunity to propose. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong. The participants- Lady Catherine, Anne, Mr. and Mrs. Collins, Maria Lucas, as well as the faithful colonel, Darcy and Elizabeth- all behave in ways true to the original characters. It's a perfectly constructed short story that will leave you chuckling long after you finish reading, especially with its ironic final sentence.
August 18, 2018
This was, as all have said, a very short read and a variation on the Hunsford proposal. A pure application of Murphy's Law: If Anything Can Go Wrong, It Will.
This also reminded me of Katy Perry's song "Hot N Cold": "You're yes then you're no, You're in then you're out, You're up then you're down, You're wrong when it's right, It's black and it's white"
This seemed a song and dance by not only Darcy and Elizabeth but also the whole ensemble: Anne, Richard, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, Maria Lucas and Lady Catherine...then to be continued.
8/18/18:Is this a duplicate title and/or a different story? Leaving Nothing to Chance
This also reminded me of Katy Perry's song "Hot N Cold": "You're yes then you're no, You're in then you're out, You're up then you're down, You're wrong when it's right, It's black and it's white"
This seemed a song and dance by not only Darcy and Elizabeth but also the whole ensemble: Anne, Richard, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, Maria Lucas and Lady Catherine...then to be continued.
8/18/18:Is this a duplicate title and/or a different story? Leaving Nothing to Chance
May 22, 2016
It has been awhile since I had read this short story and had forgotten how numerous it was with all the misunderstanding, changing of walking partners, wild diversions made by Colonel Fitzwilliam, asinine comments by Mr Collins, Elizabeth's decided was with not being near Darcy, Lady Catherine's demands, and Anne's willful misunderstanding of a certain topic!!! Poor Darcy, poor Colonel Fitzwilliam!!!!!
The only thing I'd say in the negative is that I wish it would have been continued!!! Otherwise a great story with true humor!!! All JAFFers will love it!!!
The only thing I'd say in the negative is that I wish it would have been continued!!! Otherwise a great story with true humor!!! All JAFFers will love it!!!
September 1, 2021
“Being brave means to know something is scary, difficult, and dangerous, and doing it anyway, because the possibility of winning the fight is worth the chance of losing it.” Emilie Autumn
http://larasormiston.blogspot.com/sea...
“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” Mary Tyler Moore
Poor Darcy… all he wanted was a moment alone with Elizabeth so he could propose. Everything that could go wrong did and no matter how he tried to single her out… it didn’t happen. Elizabeth didn’t stay at the parsonage with her headache so Darcy engaged the help of his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam to run interference so he could propose. It was a comedy of errors and he crashed and burned big time. Poor Colonel Fitzwilliam did all he could to help his cousin which included withstanding the wrath of their aunt. Oh Darcy, you certainly owe your cousin/brother for this one. It wasn’t as bad as the DHP but still, he made a mess. D&E finally agreed to meet again at Longbourn when he stayed with Bingley. [3.5 stars]
1st read 10-5-17
2nd read 8-21-21
http://larasormiston.blogspot.com/sea...
“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” Mary Tyler Moore
Poor Darcy… all he wanted was a moment alone with Elizabeth so he could propose. Everything that could go wrong did and no matter how he tried to single her out… it didn’t happen. Elizabeth didn’t stay at the parsonage with her headache so Darcy engaged the help of his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam to run interference so he could propose. It was a comedy of errors and he crashed and burned big time. Poor Colonel Fitzwilliam did all he could to help his cousin which included withstanding the wrath of their aunt. Oh Darcy, you certainly owe your cousin/brother for this one. It wasn’t as bad as the DHP but still, he made a mess. D&E finally agreed to meet again at Longbourn when he stayed with Bingley. [3.5 stars]
1st read 10-5-17
2nd read 8-21-21
August 22, 2021
This is a short story covering a mere evening at Rosings. What if Lizzy's 'headache' didn't keep her from Rosings and a Marx brothers esque farce ensued.
There are sections of this story that will leave you laughing out loud. And sadly for the reader the resolution leaves one wanting more.
The story needs a bit less dialogue and the passing reference to vampires is out of place for Regency England.
This is an online only story available at http://www.dwiggie.com/derby/suzo11.htm
There are sections of this story that will leave you laughing out loud. And sadly for the reader the resolution leaves one wanting more.
The story needs a bit less dialogue and the passing reference to vampires is out of place for Regency England.
This is an online only story available at http://www.dwiggie.com/derby/suzo11.htm
May 19, 2016
Adorable short story involving Darcy's proposal if Lizzy had gone to Rosings; despite her headache, and still everything went wrong.
October 5, 2017
Funny short alternative proposal story.
May 30, 2016
A truly amazing short story!! Just loved every minute and couldn't help chuckling out loud several times.
In this novella the story starts out at Elizabeth's visit in Kent. And instead of her staying at the parsonage with a headache she does go to Rosings with the Collins'. Darcy has decided to propose to Elizabeth and has elicited Col Fitzwilliams help in trying to get him alone with her and what proceeds to happen is such a comedy of errors that Shakespeare would definitely be very entertained! This story should be published, though I would love the author to continue this story to the end. Just loved her humor. Truly delightful story and not to be missed! I recommend to one and all!!!
In this novella the story starts out at Elizabeth's visit in Kent. And instead of her staying at the parsonage with a headache she does go to Rosings with the Collins'. Darcy has decided to propose to Elizabeth and has elicited Col Fitzwilliams help in trying to get him alone with her and what proceeds to happen is such a comedy of errors that Shakespeare would definitely be very entertained! This story should be published, though I would love the author to continue this story to the end. Just loved her humor. Truly delightful story and not to be missed! I recommend to one and all!!!
June 5, 2016
In this short story Darcy is determined to proposed to Elizabeth while he is staying at Rosings and persuades the Colonel to help.
Laughed out loud several times. Utterly enchanting
Laughed out loud several times. Utterly enchanting
May 23, 2016
A very fun and well written alternative P&P proposal story!
September 20, 2012
What a wonderful alternative to what happenened at Hunsford. In this short story of what could of happened if Lizzy went to Rosings instead of staying at the parsonage is very diverting. Lady Catherine was well very Lady Catherine and I couldn't stop chuckling. The Col was the best. Anyway this is such a short read that there is no excuse not to. Definitely worth reading and not to be missed. This lovely story is over on Darbyshire writers guild.
July 21, 2023
I loved this unpublished short on Dwiggie. Darcy has decided to propose at Rosings and things don't go according to his plans.
The last line crowns it... Oh you sweet summer child, it could have gone SO much worse!
https://www.dwiggie.com/derby/suzo11.htm
The last line crowns it... Oh you sweet summer child, it could have gone SO much worse!
https://www.dwiggie.com/derby/suzo11.htm
March 11, 2023
Clever and funny.
November 25, 2023
This piece was brilliant! I enjoyed every word of it and laughed out loud and I’m sure Jane would have, too. Now I can see where the humour in Unequal Affections comes from :)
September 24, 2012
What a humorous short story! What if Elizabeth hadn't stay back at Hunstford- not as disastrous but quite comical and probably unlikely but I did like how it ended.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews