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crack_van2012-01-16 01:44 pm
malabud.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2012-01-16 01:44 pm
Entry tags:
Crossing Paths by Cheryl K (PG-ish)
Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth Darcy/Fitzwilliam Darcy
Length: 25,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: The Derbyshire Writers' Guild
Why this must be read:
The premise of this story is intriguing and fantastical. It adds a wonderful bit of the supernatural to the world Jane Austen created. There is a maze at Pemberley. One year into her marriage to Fitzwilliam Darcy, Elizabeth goes walking, as is her wont, through the maze, but she emerges into a world not her own, a world in which Mr. Darcy did not arrive in time to stop Georgiana's elopement with George Wickham, and a world in which she and her husband have never met. Not only is this inconvenient and distressing to her and to her erstwhile husband, but she is obviously pregnant. So, what is a grieving and bitter Darcy to do with a pregnant woman who claims to be his wife but whom he has never met?
I do not want to spoil too much of this wonderful story, but suffice it to say that it is wonderfully written and crafted. The reader comes to care about both worlds, and wants a happy ending for both sets of characters. The original Elizabeth's appearance is the catalyst needed for everything to change for the second sad and lonely Darcy, who desperately needs his own Elizabeth, though he does not know it yet. I dare not say more for fearing of giving too much away. Highly recommended.
* * *
The servants were instructed to leave a certain side door open for Mrs. Darcy in the mornings, and she reached this door in very little time.
It was locked.
She frowned. This was not the first time it had happened; but it was very inconvenient. She'd have to walk around to the front, then.
The red velvet ribbons on the front columns -- which Elizabeth herself had tied two days before -- had apparently blown off in the wind. She pulled the doorbell, but no one arrived for several minutes. Finally, a long-faced gentleman in dark tweeds opened the door.
"Yes, madam?" said the butler. "How may I help you?"
"You can let me in, Wilkins," laughed Elizabeth, pushing past him. "And tell me where my husband is." She took off her hat and muff, but the table in the front hall she wanted to lay them on had disappeared. Well, no matter. "Fitz -- oh, Mr. Darcy!" she called. "The most amazing thing has happened!" She peeked into the dining room, the breakfast room, the library, and his study, ignoring the butler's outraged cries behind her. Her husband was not to be found. "Mr. Darcy!" she called again. "Where are you?"
"Right here, madam."
She spun around. He stood at the top of the main staircase, looking unaccountably severe.
"Mr. Darcy!" She smiled and held out her hands. "Would you mind coming down here to hear your news? I've had quite a walk -- oh, such a walk!"
He advanced slowly down the steps with one eyebrow raised. "Yes, it's several miles from Lambton," he said.
Elizabeth ignored this enigmatic comment and drew him into an alcove off the main hall. "Oh, Fitzwilliam," she said. "The child moved! I felt him move for the first time, and on today of all days! Isn't it a perfect anniversary present?" She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him thoroughly -- but he did not respond as usual, and she pulled back, a shadow over her joy.
"Is something the matter, Fitzwilliam?" she asked.
His other eyebrow quirked up to join the first. "The anniversary of what, madam?" he said smoothly.
"Of our marriage, one year ago today," she replied anxiously.
He stared at her. "Our marriage."
"Yes -- with Jane and Bingley, December 12, 1812. Mr. Darcy, are you all right?" What was this? Did he have some sort of amnesia? Should she call Dr. Chisolm?
"I'm afraid I must ask you that same question."
"Why, Mr. Darcy--"
"Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?"
She took two steps back. "I'm Elizabeth Darcy, your wife!" she cried.
His eyes hardened. "Madam, I assure you, I have never seen you before in my life."
And on those words, Elizabeth fainted.
Crossing Paths
Pairing: Elizabeth Darcy/Fitzwilliam Darcy
Length: 25,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: The Derbyshire Writers' Guild
Why this must be read:
The premise of this story is intriguing and fantastical. It adds a wonderful bit of the supernatural to the world Jane Austen created. There is a maze at Pemberley. One year into her marriage to Fitzwilliam Darcy, Elizabeth goes walking, as is her wont, through the maze, but she emerges into a world not her own, a world in which Mr. Darcy did not arrive in time to stop Georgiana's elopement with George Wickham, and a world in which she and her husband have never met. Not only is this inconvenient and distressing to her and to her erstwhile husband, but she is obviously pregnant. So, what is a grieving and bitter Darcy to do with a pregnant woman who claims to be his wife but whom he has never met?
I do not want to spoil too much of this wonderful story, but suffice it to say that it is wonderfully written and crafted. The reader comes to care about both worlds, and wants a happy ending for both sets of characters. The original Elizabeth's appearance is the catalyst needed for everything to change for the second sad and lonely Darcy, who desperately needs his own Elizabeth, though he does not know it yet. I dare not say more for fearing of giving too much away. Highly recommended.
* * *
The servants were instructed to leave a certain side door open for Mrs. Darcy in the mornings, and she reached this door in very little time.
It was locked.
She frowned. This was not the first time it had happened; but it was very inconvenient. She'd have to walk around to the front, then.
The red velvet ribbons on the front columns -- which Elizabeth herself had tied two days before -- had apparently blown off in the wind. She pulled the doorbell, but no one arrived for several minutes. Finally, a long-faced gentleman in dark tweeds opened the door.
"Yes, madam?" said the butler. "How may I help you?"
"You can let me in, Wilkins," laughed Elizabeth, pushing past him. "And tell me where my husband is." She took off her hat and muff, but the table in the front hall she wanted to lay them on had disappeared. Well, no matter. "Fitz -- oh, Mr. Darcy!" she called. "The most amazing thing has happened!" She peeked into the dining room, the breakfast room, the library, and his study, ignoring the butler's outraged cries behind her. Her husband was not to be found. "Mr. Darcy!" she called again. "Where are you?"
"Right here, madam."
She spun around. He stood at the top of the main staircase, looking unaccountably severe.
"Mr. Darcy!" She smiled and held out her hands. "Would you mind coming down here to hear your news? I've had quite a walk -- oh, such a walk!"
He advanced slowly down the steps with one eyebrow raised. "Yes, it's several miles from Lambton," he said.
Elizabeth ignored this enigmatic comment and drew him into an alcove off the main hall. "Oh, Fitzwilliam," she said. "The child moved! I felt him move for the first time, and on today of all days! Isn't it a perfect anniversary present?" She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him thoroughly -- but he did not respond as usual, and she pulled back, a shadow over her joy.
"Is something the matter, Fitzwilliam?" she asked.
His other eyebrow quirked up to join the first. "The anniversary of what, madam?" he said smoothly.
"Of our marriage, one year ago today," she replied anxiously.
He stared at her. "Our marriage."
"Yes -- with Jane and Bingley, December 12, 1812. Mr. Darcy, are you all right?" What was this? Did he have some sort of amnesia? Should she call Dr. Chisolm?
"I'm afraid I must ask you that same question."
"Why, Mr. Darcy--"
"Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?"
She took two steps back. "I'm Elizabeth Darcy, your wife!" she cried.
His eyes hardened. "Madam, I assure you, I have never seen you before in my life."
And on those words, Elizabeth fainted.
Crossing Paths
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