#thoroughly invested in darcy and lizzie getting together

[frozenwolftemplar]

One of my favorite fun facts about Pride and Prejudice is that it was originally published in three volumes and volume two ends right when Elizabeth agrees to go with the Gardiners to visit Pemberly. Because imagine (longish thing below the break):

You’re a young regency-era lady going to the local circulating library and you see a new book by the author of ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ You liked ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ so you decide to borrow Volume 1. You get home, read it, and enjoy it. You like Lizzie’s sharp wit, are intrigued by Mr. Darcy’s interest in her, and cannot help but agree that, yes, Mr. Collins would be a bear to be married to. 

You finish it, chuckle at the final page containing Mr. Bennet consoling his wife over the matter of the entail by reminding her that he may be the survivor, and when it becomes convenient head to town to borrow Volume 2 (you decide to be polite and only take out one book at a time). You take it home and read. 

After a few days of leisurely visiting Rosings and being more peeved than awed by Lady Catherine’s condescension (to say nothing of Darcy piquing your interest more and more), you hit the first proposal scene. Suddenly you cannot read fast enough. He asks for her hand in the most offensive manner possible, she refuses him with fire leaping from her tongue, and when the storm calms you don’t know what to make of it. 

Then the letter. 

You didn’t realize how hard you were pulling for these two to get together until now. You hardly care about going to Brighton but instead feel a thrill when the Gardiners’ travel plans are altered to include Derbyshire because of course you remember who lives there. Then the idea of going to Pemberly is proposed, you hold your breath as Lizzie dithers over the matter, and you internally cheer when she agrees because you just know she will meet-

The book ends.

And by now it’s evening and too late to walk to town. 

dkdfjkdsfsjfsdfdsfjdsfjdsf

You resolve to head out the second breakfast is over.

It rains.

Tomorrow too, and your sister consoling you about the merits to be had in bearing trials is not helping (because she doesn’t read novels and cannot sympathize).

Then, finally, sun; cloudy sun, but you’ll take it. Dragging your sister (who you’ve decided must have been the inspiration for Mary) along since it wouldn’t do to go alone, you walk as fast as propriety allows to the library, head to the shelf, and-

Someone. Else. Has. Taken. It.

FSKJF;JFSDJF;KJDSFKJS

You curse your manners.

Then you spend the rest of the day calling on every single one of your acquaintances, even the Millers who you can hardly stand, with your moralizing sister in tow, trying to figure out who has Volume Three.

Because being driven to distraction by a cliffhanger is a universal human experience.

#pride and prejudice #pride & prejudice #elizabeth bennet #mr darcy #writing #power of cliffhangers #jane austen #regency #so this is where my head is at apparently #seriously though #you can't tell me there wasn't some regency-era reader who wasn't racing for volume three #thoroughly invested in darcy and lizzie getting together