& Moira Bianchi: Dirty petticoats

Dirty petticoats

a JAFF romance
a PRIDE & PREJUDICE continuation
romantic comedy-mystery novel

Life at Pemberley is perfect!
Days are sunny, nights are romantic...
The only problems come from outside the love kingdom in the form of mail...
One of these nuisances is a missive from Mrs. Bennet imploring the aid of her most perfect daughter - and her magnificent husband - to be free of the troublesome presence of none other than Charlotte Collins! The woman has arrived with no intention of ever leaving, what is to be done? She meddles in the daily affairs of Longbourn, has opinions on most anything, has a petulant air! It is of all sorts horrible!
With Jane round with child counting on the company of Kitty, and Lydia somewhere South with her husband and brood, and Mary busy in denying the new status of Meryton is a fashionable village, only Lizzy and Darcy can solve the mystery of Charlotte sudden arrival and infinite lodging in the Bennets' home.

A good humored novel where the immortal characters of Jane Austen's beloved masterpiece are once more revisited in a mysterious web of events when anything can happen, even what is crystal clear for anyone to see...


I have a few favorite quotes from P&P, one is Caroline Bingley's derisiveness towards Elizabeth when she arrives at Netherfield to visit Jane who is sick after the rain she caught riding instead of using the carriage (the smart plan Mrs. Bennet concoted). Lizzy had crossed the wet fields, her eyes were brightened by the exercize.
P&P, chapter 7
...In Meryton they (Lydia, Kitty and Lizzy) parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers’ wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother’s manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion’s justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast. ...

chapter 8
... When dinner was over, she (Lizzy) returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added:
“She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.
“She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!”
“Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.”
“Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,” said Bingley; “but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.”
“You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley; “and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”
“Certainly not.”
“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.”
“It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,” said Bingley.
“I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,” observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, “that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.”
“Not at all,” he replied; “they were brightened by the exercise.”
tenor

The idea of a new Meryton is something that grew on me.
After 2 outstanding gentlemen chose brides from the sleepy village, wouldn't the place call everyone's attention? Wouldn't the Ton be curious about the place? Mmmm...
So, I imagined a new town, rebuilt and renovated, home of sizzling social events and venues.
city of Bath - Pinterest

Coincidentally, the Bennet family - the ones who started the revolution - is in uproar because of the unexpected visit of Charlotte, also daughter of a prominent Meryton family, inists on keeping secrets what obviously feeds the collective curiosity.

And, for some mysterious reason, both Charlotte Collins and Elizabeth Darcy are childless more than two years after their marriages. Odd and curious situation.

Certainly someone ought to do something about it...


~ read first chapters here ~



Novel rated PG 13
Available in paperback, e-book, Kindle and GooglePlay

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