Feather in the Wind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Madeline Kennet

Mr. Darcy has an inclination to marry, but cannot find the right lady. True love eludes him until the moment when he catches a feather fluttering in the air. But then the lady eludes him. A novella of 31,000 words.

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2017

Reviews

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short novella length book that is atypical especially for a short story. It has three distinct sections and while each is interesting they don't seem to blend well and make the ending seems false and forced.

When the book begins we are months prior to Darcy's visit to Hertfordshire. So we are given slices of life for Darcy & Lizzy - what they are doing, where they are going, who they court. First Darcy is disappointed in love, then Georgiana nearly elopes with Wickham.

At last Darcy arrives in Meryton and the morning of the assembly he encounters a young lady in the hedgerows they are both chasing a feather. Since they haven't been formally introduced he asks her for a dance and she agrees. That evening at the assembly Darcy can't find his mystery lady. Then he learns that Miss Lizzy Bennet And Miss Charlotte Lucas are absent due to Miss Lucas falling ill. Darcy attempts to determine which lady he met but both sisters relate a tale of her elder sister finding a missing feather.

This is a clever bit of business that gets dragged out too long as Darcy keeps missing the ladies and when they finally attend an entertainment they learn Mr. Darcy has gone to London on Business.

Lizzy doesn't meet Darcy until Jane falls ill at Netherfield and Lizzy walks 3 muddy miles to care for her. Of course by this time Darcy is more than 1/2 way to being in love with his angel. During her stay at Netherfield he is quick to her defense and happy to spend time with her.

When the ladies return to Longbourn Collins and Wickham make an appearance but both are non interrupters of our plot. Soon both Bingley and Darcy are asking for their ladies hands, in marriage of course.

[Kasia Burlakoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first part of this book. Darcy and Elizabeth were shown in parallel scenes, as they were going about their lives, facing their disappointments and hoping to ease their loneliness. it had a touch of melancholy. Their first meeting was very romantic, neither of them knew the other's name ;. It was funny at the beginning that they couldn't have met for a while, but it dragged on for too long. The solution came out too quickly and there were some elements of the plot that were only touched, not developed.

3.5 stars

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I enjoyed most about Feather in the Wind was the author's take on the months leading up to Darcy and Elizabeth meeting in Meryton. The story of the almost desperate need to find a husband for the unmarried women of the community really set the stage for Mrs. Bennet's actions and the views taken by Kitty and Lydia for chasing after the men. The story lost a star in the rating from me for the frustration of seeing Darcy and Elizabeth missing each other at various events and not formally meeting until she arrives muddy at Netherfield to stay with Jane. This just got a bit much. However, I enjoyed the denouement and completion of the story.

[colleen churm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feather in the Wind.

Cute and very clever story by Madeline Kennet. It started, out by showing how Mr. Darcy was spending his days, and simultaneously, what Elizabeth was going through in Meryton. I found it interesting, how Lizzie felt about marriage prospects in her hometown, which was, seemingly hopeless, since Meryton didn't boast many single men. Meanwhile, Darcy also couldn't relate to anyone he met. The drawing rooms and balls of The Ton seemed to be producing uninteresting partners. Eventually, Bingley leases Netherfield, and Mr Darcy joins him, and meets Lizzie, yes, due to a Feather in the Wind! Pleasant read, all and all. Would have liked to have seen it a bit longer, but it did wrap up everything nicely.

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Pride and Prejudice variation has a bit more of Darcy contemplating marriage to other women before visiting Netherfield. He and Elizabeth meet before being introduced and minor illness keeps them from meeting formally. They do finally meet went Elizabeth comes to care for Jane through the mud. The rest is a fast and only slightly altered version of events since the Bennet's already have a good opinion of Darcy.

[Carol Perrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feather in the Wind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

A very happy story from start to finish. Darcy's feeling for the unknown lady with the twinkling eyes started with a wayward feather. Having decided to look for a wife in London, Darcy almost fell for two rather insipid young ladies that on closer inspection where not what he wanted. Since Georgiana's near disgrace, Darcy felt compelled to find a wife for her sake. Colonel Fitzwilliam told him to look with his heart not his duty. Traveling to Netherfield was a break that he needed except for being with Bingley's sisters, especially Caroline. Her desires were well noted and here wasn't interested. Enter the feather. Elizabeth trying to catch the illusive feather as it drifted towards the ground, barrels into Darcy. Apologizing for her clumsiness, she and Darcy have a wonderful discussion. Neither exchanged names but both would meet that night at the Meryton Assembly for a proper introduction. However, Elizabeth stayed to nurse sick Charlotte, so when Darcy sees the two identical white feather in young Lydia and Maria, he doesn't know whether he is looking for a Bennet or a Lucas. Days later hoping to meet his elusive bright eyed young lady, both are absent because Elizabeth is sick and Charlotte is taking care of her. Poor man in such a quandary. When Jane arrives for dinner at Netherfield soaking well and falls ill, Darcy will get the chance to discover the answer to his quandary. Bennet or Lucas? Looking at those in-laws to determine whether Sir William or Mrs. Bennet is worse. When Elizabeth appears, his question is answered and he is happy, well for Darcy in front of Caroline that is. Elizabeth wonders about his change in ease of talking, but when they walk out he explains. When they return home, they are told about the imminent arrival of Collins. When he finds out Jane and Elizabeth's recent illness, he passes them up as potential wives. Lydia and Kitty feign illness so that they too will be passed over (not to foolish for two of the silliest girls in England). Wickham is met and the scoundrel is set down immediately by Elizabeth and Lydia. Days before the Netherfield Ball, Bingley and Darcy appear at Longbourn and request for private audience with Jane and Elizabeth respectively. Both ladies are pleasantly surprised and accept the marriage proposal from their gentleman. Collins, blithering and sputtering, is shut down by Darcy. ODC have their HEA and Darcy is grateful to his cousin for making him choose from his heart.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. But, at a certain point i was frustrated because the angst just seemed contrived. I mean, how many times could they miss meeting each other! Ugh, but this was well written and a sweet short cute story. I would have liked to have more scenes with both D and E in them and together. But, I can't always get what I want. I highly recommend a a quick short sweet read.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little D/E story. I'd consider it a nice pick-me-up book for when one is feeling down. So why only 3 stars then? Because while I can say I liked this book, and would probably re-read it again when feeling down, I cannot say I adored it or was amazed by any one aspect of it. But then, does every book need to be a masterpiece? Certainly not! This book is fine as it is. It's the story of D/E without pride *or* prejudice in the way, without any misunderstandings, without any evil masterminds with improbable plots out to destroy the couple's happiness. Just a nice feel-good story.


Even the Collins wanting to marry a Bennet girl issue is dealt with swiftly: He is put off by Jane and Elizabeth's recent illnesses, and the other girls promptly fake being sick as well at the first opportunity. Problem solved. Wickham? He doesn't even get the opportunity to slander Darcy's name before Elizabeth and Lydia shut him down. Lady Catherine? Well, if there has been a Lady Catherine confrontation for Elizabeth, this book does not mention it, since it basically ends after the Netherfield ball, where the J/B and D/E engagements are announced. I have to admit though, that this ending was a bit too abrupt and lacking.

It starts off several months (a year?) before the start of the novel's events. It goes back and forth between Darcy and Elizabeth's POV. Elizabeth is starting to become unhappy that there are so little prospects in their neighbourhood and maybe slowly a bit bitter. Darcy is searching for a wife and keeps getting disappointed for one reason or another, until he takes a look at his requirements and amends them due to a comment from Col Fitzwilliam. Even more so after an accidental meeting with a mystery woman facilitated by an errant feather pre-assembly.

However, their meeting is not to be until Elizabeth goes to Netherfield to nurse Jane, since for one reason or another they keep missing each other. (If it's not Elizabeth nursing a sick Charlotte, it's she herself being sick and nursed by Charlotte, and if not that, then that Darcy had to go to London for a short while.) A nice side effect of this constant missed meetings situation is that Darcy, who has no idea if his mystery lady is Charlotte Lucas or Elizabeth Bennet (and it's driving him bonkers, not knowing!), but not wanting to negatively effect his chances with her, has to mind his manners and tongue a bit. So while at first he does come off as prideful etc., it's not for long, and they merely see him as reserved soon enough.

By the time Elizabeth is at Netherfield nursing Jane, Darcy knows he wants to marry Elizabeth, and behaves accordingly. He is not overt, but it's enough. I especially liked how he subverted Caroline and Louisa's comments.

On the day the invitations for the Netherfield ball are delivered, Bingley and Darcy go to Longbourn to propose and are accepted. The engagement is announced at the ball.



The only thing I would actually criticise about this book:

The abrupt ending. It ends after the ball: Happily ever after, with an abrupt short view into ten years in the future that is not even labelled as epilogue. That part simply left something to be desired, but it was not bad enough to influence my opinion on the whole.


Basically:
* the first part of the book: description of the year before the P&P's beginnings (which I admittedly don't care much for)
* the second part of the book: the (in my opinion cute) accidentally missed meeting of Darcy and Elizabeth
* third part of the book: courtship and getting together (again, cute)

[Camille Fiore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love at First Fright

No use in reading this. It is very frustrating! This variation should be called 'Let's give all the details of the year's happenings'. The looking for a wife, the hiring of Mrs Younge, the interrupted attempt at an elopement. All given in slow boring detail. Then ODC meet as Elizabeth chases a feather caught by the wind to the other side of a hedge and runs into Mr Darcy. Then the next few chapters see that they don't get a true introduction until Jane's illness and stay at Netherfield. Then they fall in love in a moment and no one believes Wickham's lies and the end. Skip it!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet romance where Lizzie meets Darcy before the assembly and they recognise their chemistry, making much better first impressions.
It's a charming divergence, but ends rather abruptly and Darcy does seem slightly out if character, though it may be more to do with events prior to Hertfordshire, and his realisation that he is not nobility and not necessarily as eligible as he felt he was.
Nice quick read though.

[Lady Jl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fluffy

Another story with a lot of fluff about what might have happened if Darcy had met Elizabeth under different circumstance. Darcy was open to marriage, while Elizabeth recognized her attraction sooner. I felt there was no depth and no strife, and if a story is not going to have strife there should be some hilarity but none was found. This was just a "nice" story.

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is mostly about Elizabeth and Darcy not interacting. First he's looking for a wife in London (spoiler: unsuccessfully). Then they have a brief encounter without being properly introduced, and he is rather smitten. But then there are many further occasions for them to avoid meeting for a second time. It was nicely written but I didn't care a great deal.

[Sandrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet

I loved how this showcased the depth of the friendship between Elizabeth and Charlotte. I wished there had been more about Mary. She was portrayed as more isolated then ever and sometimes I forgot whether or not she was kept as a character in this variation.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. The early part was cute and clever, but then it bogged down for a while. The romance between Elizabeth and Darcy is not really that romantic, even though there was no unpleasantness. Even Wickham was a slight mention, and we never know how he was dealt with. We also don't know what happened to Mr. Collins - not that it really matters, but I always wonder about these kinds of loose ends.

Zero angst, which I do like in some short books to read to cheer me up, but this was a bit flat and probably could have used a little bit of angst.