This one is about Lizzy's walking around Hunsford everyday.
Elizabeth was tiptoeing to get out of the house of her cousin for a walk, a simple walk. It was the third time that her plans of walking alone had been thwarted by her cousin. She never would accept Charlotte's invitation if she knew she would be prisoned in the house or be accompanied by him, ALL. THE. TIME.
"My dear cousin!"
She jumped and cringed when she was caught by Mr. Collins.
"Where are you going alone by yourself?"
"To the nearby park."
"What ever were you thinking of doing such a thing? You don't know what men would presume of such an act. A woman of virtue would never position herself to be in the danger of men's temptations! You, Miss Elizabeth, are an unruly girl with no care for our society."
"Mr Collins! Why don't you come with me?" She wanted to get done with his scolding and walk for a while.
And that was how they were miserably walking the length of the park. Miserably on Collins' part, breathing with difficulty and on Lizzy's part, bearing the presence of him.
Seeing his discomfort, she accelerated her speed and changed her direction to a path, vacant of any person to be free of him.
"Miss Bennet! Happy to see you here, alone, finally," said Colonel, a very amused smile on his face.
She was overjoyed by being in the presence of a man who would not sermonise her every movement. "Colonel, the same as I! To walk in such weather and to be greeted with delightful friends."
He offered his arm to continue their walking. "Indeed, it's a wonderful da–"
Both jumped by hearing the shutting of Mr. Collins.
"Cousiiiiin! Miss Elizabeth! You're ruined!" He was huffing and puffing. "It becomes clear now why you so insisted on walking alone. To come and flirt with a red coat!" He turned abruptly to the Colonel. "Sir, you should marry my cousin, at once."
"I won't do such a thing."
He was open-mouthed like a fish. "What! But.. but she's ruined." And with a glare at Elizabeth he continued, "and with her being ruined, my reputation will be tarnished. I can't let such an unholy manner pass unnoticed."
"Colonel, what do I do that I am ruined," she said through gritted teeth, angry at Mr. Collins for putting her in this situation. If he didn't see her she wouldn't be worried about her reputation.
"What? It's not my problem that you're such a loose girl. I am a man of the regency era and I can do what I like to do!" He looked with disgust at such a bold and improper girl.
"He is right, cousin. It's not a problem for a man of the regency era to do bad things, but it's the responsibility of women to protect their virtue and you, cousin, not only you didn't protect your virtue, also you tempted a man who is protecting our country. You are ruined. Your family is ruined and I'll cut ties with your family."
Colonel nodded his head and left them to their own devices.
She was unprepared for their speech, especially the Colonel's, so she fainted.
Following the behaviour of bold and improper Elizabeth, Mr Collins sent Elizabeth back to her family and all of the Bennet family were ruined by Elizabeth's selfish behaviour of wanting to walk, consequently flirting with a humorous man so no Bennet girl ever got married!
And how this happened, then let me inform you of this report:
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, after being "rightly" beta-ed, sorry, alpha-ed and edited by JAFF police turned to a consistent story about how an improper and bold woman ruined her family by walking alone in a non-familiar environment and talking and laughing with a man who's not related to her and she didn't know him very much!
Inspired by the comments:
-of a very hardworking reviewer who set her/his mind on Gykinga's delightful story to show how men of the regency era didn't love bold and improper girls! "Darcy was a very proper man and now you are saying he was intrigued by a bold and improper woman (worse than Lydia)?"
-and another one:
"Canon Darcy was very inappropriate to write a letter to Elizabeth and it is even worse Jane is doing the same. Because as a women, her reputation is more brittle."
And so many reviews with the same concept and some even with the same words! ;)
Thx for your awesome comments. ️Xoxo
Sorry for not replying to you directly, but I don't have much time for doing that.
Old sports, let me assure you that I like "Dear Sir" and more importantly, I wholeheartedly support Gykinga's resilience. She's doing great by writing her story. So this crack-fic ISN'T because I don't like someone's writing.
Brenda, lolol :D Your guidance is so apt! And useful.
Sorry ldibo, but for now, I don't plan on expanding "it's not love." If you like or are interested, you can give a shot to my WIP "Caroline R. Weyton…" :)
Flan, I'm happy my story helped you find a story to your taste ^_^ Though, I'm not a fan of evil Jane :|
A guest asked, "Too confusing. Is this supposed to be a continuing story or different "what if"s?"
First, I don't know why their review doesn't show up, – I read it as an email. Maybe it's some sort of bug!
Second, sorry, if it's confusing, but I'd written in the summary that it's various one-shots. So no, they aren't related to each other and you can read them as stand-alone one-shots :)
Again thx everyone for your good comments!
See ye soon, old sports!
Vive la liberté!
