Mr Darcy's runaway

After the Netherfield Ball Elizabeth Bennet receives an offer of marriage from her cousin Mr Collins. She is not inclined to accept but her parents intend to force her. Elizabeth is determined to escape this situation by fleeing to her relatives in London. To get the mail coach she sets out in the middle of the night but things go not as planned and she finds herself injured and trapped in a snowstorm - together with Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy, secretly bewitched by her, is willing to do the honourable thing to save their reputations and offers for her. But what will he do when he learns that Elizabeth has yet received another offer of marriage? Will he marry her nevertheless? And will they be able to overcome the other obstacles in their path?

The story is rather short and well written by Martine Jane Roberts. It is therefore a quick read.

I don't like Elizabeth very much in this story. She annoys me a little because she is not herself and quite irrational sometimes. In this story she reminds me sometimes of a spoiled child. She accuses Darcy of the separation of Jane and Bingley but they are only apart for two or three days by this time. She can't know if Bingley, like he said to the Bennet family, intends to come back in a few days. And Elizabeth all the time interrupts Darcy and doesn't let him tell his tale. But on the other hand she is annoyed when he interrupts her. I often wanted to shake her and tell her to be herself again. Another situation in which she annoys me greatly was the encounter with Miss Bingley after arriving in town. First she prides herself to know that Miss Bingley only wants to cause trouble and then, in the other instant, she believes every obvious falsehood the lady tells and becomes totally irrational. I don't want to spoil it but it was obvious that Caroline was scheming and a "normal" Elizabeth would have teased her for that and Caroline wouldn't even have noticed.

Darcy on the other hand is determined to marry Elizabeth. Because they are trapped together he is somewhat forced to marry her, a perfect excuse for him to follow his heart. I am a bit sorry that he often wants to explain something and the others, like Elizabeth, don't let him speak. But I really like how he handled the matter with Collins pending proposal 😁

But there are also some parts in the book that I do not thoroughly enjoy because I find it hard to believe. I doubt that it is possible that Elizabeth stays in the same house as her intended, least of all has her chambers next to this man. If I were her father I would object and send her to live with her relations in Gracechurch street. But I credit that, due to developments in the story, it is necessary that she stays where she is. But I find this, as well as Miss Bingley's "moving in" hard to believe and a bit far-fetched. But that's my opinion on the matter, maybe I see things here a bit too strict. In my opinion, when you are able to look past this, the story is very enjoyable and hard to put out of hand.

The audiobook is narrated by Harry Frost. As always his performance was excellent. I like his way of narrating a story, I'm at every point of the story able to find out who is speaking. I like that very much. Listening to a story narrated by him is like coming to visit old friends. It always leaves me with a warm feeling.

If you like Darcy and Collins as direct opponents for Elizabeth's affection and want to follow Elizabeth who is trying to adjust to her new situation you should definitely read this book.

I recommend it.

I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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