Fanfiction for the book "Austenland" written by Shannon Hale
And of the film "Austenland" (2013) directed by Jerusha Hess
An almost parody of Pride and Prejudice
Read as new characters are introduced to the wonderful land of Jane Austen role...
Soon it is lunch time and they all leave their small areas to gather in the dining hall.
Once she sees how everyone else is doing she notices considerable differences in behavior. Ella and Bradford sit across from each other as awkward as a first date, Amelia and George look completely content, and Andrews and Charming look the same as they always do of course.
Mr. Nobley returns to his Mr. Darcy self when sitting next to his aggravating aunt. There is a point, however when she says something rude to him and is not looking, he sneaks an expression of 'can you believe her?' to Jess in front of him and tries not to smile at all after that. She holds back the same grin and continues to eat.
After this meal they gather in the drawing room but then decide to go for a ride before dinner. All of them head to the stables and Jess gets nervous. Because she walks there with Mr. Nobley at her side. 'Martin is in there,' she thinks and swallows.
And she is right. When they enter she spots him putting up a hay bail and he smiles at her smugly with a wink.
She smiles in his direction, careful not to let the others see.
When she glances at the gentleman by her side he is scowling in disgust a little. She has a hold of his arm already from being escorted but he directs her into the stall to their left quickly. There are a couple other servants that help with saddling the horses and Nobley also helps to get the process along until her horse is ready to ride.
Martin walks by, intending to help her up but he gets a disapproved glare from her Mr. Darcy that looks like he is ashamed of the stable boy before he turns his back to him and places his own hands on Jess's waist. "Here. One, two, three," he says and lifts her on three, stronger than Martin had ever been able to muster. Henry was always able to lift her like a child.
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She gets situated on the horse as Martin looks from Nobley to Jess with suspicion. Nobley of course returns his gaze with one that says, 'do you have a problem here?'
Jess wants to tell them to both calm down and leave it be, but only rolls her eyes.
Martin looks offended but leaves the towering figure that is Mr. Nobley, looking even taller now that he is in his top hat and long coat.
Henry looks at her once before leaving to retrieve his own horse. As they walk their beasts from the stables she is at the back but Nobley walks up to her side and grins. "Try not to fall off this time."
"I'll try my best, Mr. Nobley."
He smiles a little before touching the front tip of his hat in a bow that says, 'After you miss.'
She nudges her horse forward and they are on their way, with Henry and his horse to her left.
