Author's Notes: Just a note to let everyone following this story that I have actually given into the temptation and written a combined/expanded version of Luck is Not Always a Lady and Luck Sometimes Stacks the Deck called Luck Changes the Game that I will start posting here sometime next week, possibly Wednesday; I'm just waiting for the final beta reading to be completed. With eleven chapters and an epilogue and at over 50,000 words, it is about two and a half times as long as the original two stories, so there is a lot of fresh as well as expanded/revised material in the new version, so it is more than just a combination of the two. And in order to conform to site rules, I have a little excerpt of one of the new scenes here, and oh, there is also an excerpt of a different scene added to Luck is not Always a Lady as well.
Excerpt from Chapter 5: Fortune Favors the Bold
The day after the Netherfield Ball found Mr. Collins solidly determined to come to the point of proposing after what he saw as a very successful evening, though he did feel some concern about Mrs. Bennet's indisposition, but considering that it had not kept her from attending the ball the previous evening felt that it should be no impediment to his cause. He felt it most fortunate to find Mr. Bennet along with Mary and Elizabeth together shortly after breakfast.
"May I hope, sir, for your interest with your fair daughter Mary, when I solicit for the honor of a private audience with her in the course of this morning?" Then thinking that that might not be the proper way to go about this added. "Or perhaps I should speak with you first, sir, in order to reassure you as to my honorable intentions and reasons for requesting such an interview."
Mr. Bennet quirked an eyebrow at the man. "I think I can safely infer the topic and reserve the option of a private interview only after you have obtained the consent of my daughter for both the privacy and the ensuing question which you seem eager to ask." He looked over at Mary. "What say you, daughter? Is this agreeable to you or no? I do not press you either way."
Mary did not seem to know where to look as her cheeks flushed, but finally she said, "I believe I am agreeable, father."
"Then there is nothing more to be said." Mr. Bennet rose from his seat. "Elizabeth, if you will be willing to sit outside the door, I will be in my book room pending the successful conclusion of your inquiry." He then left the room followed by Elizabeth who gave Mary an encouraging smile as she left to sit on the chair just to the right of the half opened door, too far to hear but close enough to provide the comfort of propriety.
And that's all for the moment; see you with the rest soon