Lovers' Meeting

A Pride & Prejudice Variation

By: Catherine Lodge

Narrated by: David Pickering

"Journeys end in lovers’ meetings, every wise man’s son doth know." (William Shakespeare)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the disastrous first meeting of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton Assembly provided each with a ready-made set of prejudices to apply to the other. But when a horrific rural accident reveals Darcy to be a man of active, intelligent benevolence, and Elizabeth, in the absence of her appalling family, to be an extraordinary lady of courage and decision - then, surely, the course of true love will run smoothly.

But alas, the lovers' meeting is not the end, but a new beginning. For though they have found each other, a seeming multitude of complications - a catastrophic flood, the last wishes of a dying friend, Lydia’s misfortunes, a dastardly member of parliament, and even their own fears - contrives to come between them and their journey’s end.

©2021 Catherine Lodge (P)2021 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Darcy is the Epitome of Duty

For his entire life Darcy hears the voice of his father in his mind exhorting him to do his duty. He does his best to become the same kind of man his father was. But was his father worthy of such devotion?

Elizabeth comes to deeply love and admire the dutiful man. She does her best to support him in every way. Will his duty and a scandal borne of the same prevent a life together?

Romance w humor, barriers, insight

Insight into familiar characters. Some humor. Early proposals and ongoing barriers to weddings. Rather abrupt ending

Ending very abrupt

Very angst well written story with many ups and downs. I really enjoyed it until the abrupt ending. Everything is FINALLY resolved and they’re going to get married - the end. There’s no wedding no wedding breakfast and just a single sentence epilogue. David Pickering did a wonderful job narrating.

Really nice story

I enjoyed this story very much. The narrator did a great job. I highly recommend this book to a Jane Austen fan fiction lover.

Good Story

”Trip no further, pretty sweeting
Journey’s end in Lovers’ meeting
Every wise man’s son doth know.”
—Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

A different beginning for Darcy and Elizabeth when they meet at the scene of an accident near Longbourn, and they both render aid. Darcy takes charge and displays leadership, kindness, and compassion towards the injured, as does Elizabeth. Consequently, they both come away with favourable impressions of one another, and Darcy earns the respect of neighbours.

With every subsequent meeting with Elizabeth, Darcy is more and more enthralled. From his youth, inculcated with a sense of duty and pride for his family name by his father, he feels he cannot marry beneath him, especially after meeting her family.

There is a momentous twist given to the usual encounter between Darcy and Wickham in Meryton. That was quite epic in my opinion! Well done! Darcy is ashamed however.

Of course there’s Lydia, poor stupid Lydia, although she seemed more innocent in this story and I rather felt sorry for the uneducated child she really is.

I enjoyed the subtle humour in places.

Mr. B. —“Perhaps he might prefer my Lizzy. He was quite taken with her intrepidity.”
Mrs. B.—“Well, she ought to have kept it better covered.”

This is such a good story. I truly loved the portrayals of ODC in this variation. David Pickering’s performance is always excellent.