When you read the first two books in this series, you realize how utterly delicious these 3 chapters are to read! I LOVED writing Georgiana and Caroline’s comeuppance….
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 13 - The Blessing of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
Long rolls of parchment lay extended across the desk of Fitzwilliam Darcy in the study of his London town home. A timid knock on the door interrupted his careful examination of the final settlements for his soon-to-be bride, Elizabeth Bennet.
“Enter,” Darcy replied with more annoyance than usual in his voice.
The door handle clicked and the dainty Georgiana Wickham pushed the door to her brother’s study full open, but she did not enter. Instead, the impeccably dressed young woman waited with her gloved hands clasped in front of her until her brother turned his head to give her his full attention.
“Georgiana? How may I be of service?” In a previous time, Darcy would find his sister of sixteen to be highly amusing when she played the part of a grand lady. But finding his town home in a state of utter emptiness two weeks ago had ceased all recollections of the girl he used to lift and twirl upon every arrival home. The girl he knew became lost just a year ago during her summer in Ramsgate when she chose to run off with the son of their father’s steward.
“If you are to leave once again so soon, I should like to discuss a few matters of the household with you.”
Darcy absently ruffled the careful grooming at the nape of his neck. He now held a new appreciation for the idiom of tearing one’s hair out.
With her carefully gloved hands, she began to tick the items off her fingers, one by one. “And the kitchen staff has become a true bother in lack of respect for my needs. Routinely my requests for prepared trays go unfilled or purposely misapplied. I order tea and they bring me drinking chocolate. It is appalling and unbearable. Miss Bingley was made to wait over an hour for a repast just yesterday in my sitting room!” Sucking in her breath to move on to the availability of the carriage, her brother began to speak.
“And I believe I have told you the matters of the household should be discussed with Elizabeth. It is her role to play as Mistress.”
“Oh there is little to no doubt she is your mistress,” Georgiana retorted with the superiority of a hundred society mavens, “but she is not yet Mistress of this household. If the staff shall not listen to me, your sister, there is no hope for a small country lass. Really, Fitzwilliam.”
“She is the Mistress of this household if I say it is so!” Darcy’s anger began to rise as a duo of maids passed in the hall just behind his sister. It was no secret the discord in Darcy house ran deep among its inhabitants. And yes, the staff had become disrespectful to all in the house aside from himself, but he had no desire to correct the issue at the moment. His needs were met and after he and Elizabeth were married, there would be no room for disrespect for anyone with the last name of Darcy.
“Forgive my intrusion. I suppose I shall just continue to do my best in your absence, Brother.” Georgiana attempted a smile, but the look of superiority on her face registered no kindness to her once guardian and closest living relative.
Agitated, Darcy dramatically rolled up the lengthy settlement papers and strolled confidently towards his younger sister. Brash to the brim, she kept her position blocking the doorway. Standing nearly nose-to-nose with the fair-haired, slightly shorter version of his stubborn self, Darcy’s voice could barely be heard by a passerby.
“You hold precious little opportunities, Sister, to recommend any sort of kindness in your quarter.”
“What kindness? Shall you toss me with George out on the street? Imagine what the papers would say!”
“I remember the bedraggled, hollow young woman your cousin and I rescued from those London streets. If that is where you would choose to live out your days, I believe you hold intelligence as to the location of the back door.” Darcy barely nudged and pushed his way through the obstacle of his sister, closing his study door tightly behind him and locking it with a key. The action was unusual and piqued Georgiana’s interest, providing more than enough incentive for her to remain for her brother’s continued abuse.
“The back door? I suppose you mean to say the society outside the front door is too good for me?”
Darcy took a few steps down the hall and felt a physical satisfaction release in his tense shoulders from verbally sparring with his spoiled sister.
“On the contrary, the back door is merely where all the rubbish leaves this house.”
Georgiana scoffed and play-acted in taking a great offense as her brother chuckled and dashed off toward the stairs. There was little doubt in Georgiana’s mind that he was on his way for an audience with that baggage, Elizabeth Bennet. After a few moments of listening, she felt secure that he would be occupied for more than a short spell.
Quickly looking around for any more signs of staff and seeing none as the household prepared for the Master’s departure, Georgiana Wickham withdrew the carefully sculpted key she had copied from the housekeeper’s ring at her friend Caroline’s suggestion. The key slipped into the lock with little trouble, and swiftly Georgiana found herself alone with her brother’s business laid out in particular vulnerability before her.
Being careful to hide any signs of her disturbance of the papers haphazardly arranged on her brother’s desk, Georgiana’s eyes flitted furtively over the information concerning his holdings in Scotland, the steward’s report for Pemberley, and even found reference to the tea plantations she did not know that they owned in India. Feeling flustered, she clenched her jaw as she did not entirely know what her husband wanted her to find, only that he asked for her to learn all that she could about the family’s holdings when her maid delivered his brief letter.
George Wickham promised her if he held enough knowledge against Fitzwilliam, he would have the leverage to convince her brother into allowing them their own residence. And her own residence is what her wise friend Miss Caroline Bingley declared paramount to finding her own footing in London society.
Moving a letter from their uncle, the Earl of Matlock, to the side so that she might more carefully inspect the information of the India properties, the mentioning of her surname stood out among the carefully penned lines. Curious as to the dastardly vitriol her relatives had to say about her husband even now, months since their marriage, the contents of the letter severely disappointed her. Instead of criticizing and denigrating her husband George, Georgiana Wickham found herself mesmerized by a single line in the letter.
The marriage documentation is satisfactory and we are still working on preventing claims against Rosings by the Wickhams.
The sound of another door slamming on the same hallway startled Georgiana from her puzzled thoughts. On what grounds could her husband have ever made a claim against her aunt’s estate? And why had her brother aided in trying to remove his claim as the letter implied?
The last ounce of respect and admiration for her brother rushed out of Georgiana’s heart — left behind stood no greater cause than to abet her husband in orchestrating Fitzwilliam’s downfall. Taking the letter with her as it was already open and presumably read by her brother, Georgiana carefully creaked the door and peeked into the hallway around her. Finding it again deserted, she felt a surge of anticipation that tomorrow when she met her husband before his nightly gaming and gentlemanly pursuits, he would reward her diligent work with a showering of affection.
As she closed her brother’s study behind her, Georgiana Wickham forgot to turn the lock as she walked away with her prized possession. The letter lay carefully concealed in the very same pocket as the key that granted her entrance.
Chapter 14 - The Blessing of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
Above stairs, Darcy knocked on the door jamb of the mistress’ suite in use by his intended.
“Fitzwilliam, come in! I wonder if you might take this down for the post?” Elizabeth’s eyes lit up as her champion stood gallantly just inside her bedroom. He awaited her clear invitation to enter further. She held up a letter with directions to Kent.
Darcy cleared his throat as merely the direction increased his burden of shame. “You write to Mrs. Collins?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I invited her to visit Pemberley this summer when her sister Maria comes with Kitty. I hope you were genuine in that invitation?” Gingerly, Elizabeth stood up from the small desk and used what would be a very fashionable walking stick if she were old and infirm to maneuver to the sofa. Doctor Matthews hypothesized the head injury she suffered in her accident with Fitzwilliam’s horse last autumn compounded with the injuries she endured in Kent were to blame for the lingering dizziness and feeling faint when she stood too quickly. But her hope relied upon the more she willed her body to heal and subsequently move, the sooner she would indeed be well again. Even if it meant sacrificing her dignity with the continued use of a walking stick she resented.
“Here, allow me to assist.” Fitzwilliam shook out of his stupor over the letter and attempted just a few seconds too late to catch Elizabeth’s elbow. Still, she shook her free arm in his general direction to resist the aid and flashed him a smile.
“We have discussed this, sir. How am I to become well if you play nursemaid all the time? I am quite capable of shuffling my slippers a few feet between furniture.” Elizabeth turned and devilishly considered collapsing for the delight of being in his arms, but she ignored the temptation. Her personal effects were all packed and she did not wish to delay their journey another day with needless worrying from her soon-to-be husband.
Darcy sniffed. “I do not recall you arguing against my assistances yesterday afternoon.”
Elizabeth blushed and looked down at the impeccably spun wool carpeting the room. On a handful of occasions she and Fitzwilliam had flouted propriety, and yesterday she had enjoyed a number of his kisses when her sister Jane had left them alone.
“You do not play fair. If I am to be responsible for our reputations, then I must summon my Brother Bingley at once and demand removal to the Hurst town home. Or perchance the loaded carriage might take me to Cheapside? My aunt and uncle should be in earnest to receive me!” Elizabeth grinned until her merriment faltered at Fitzwilliam’s knitted brows that relaxed too suddenly into his mask for social occasions.
“What is it? What are you keeping from me?” Elizabeth asked guardedly, shirking back from his tall form as he placed the roll of parchment and letter on the small table situated before the sofa.
“Nothing dearest, I merely run through the list of preparations in my mind.” Darcy tapped his forehead to emphasize his point, but he overplayed his hand.
“You speak a falsehood, Fitzwilliam. Your left nostril made a movement and I demand to know what you conceal.”
“My nostril, madam? You stake your claim of blackening my honor upon my nose?”
“Do not aim to distract me, I shall know all.” Elizabeth bit back a smile as her Fitzwilliam began to make dramatic faces of shock at her accusations. He was never like this in the company of others. Only her.
When his theatrics did not please her, Darcy sighed. Grasping the hand that had just moments before pointed most forcefully at his nose, he looked up at the ceiling and wished that silly game of cards he had played all those months ago had not armed his intended with his tell. Gently, he squeezed her hand before releasing.
“You are not welcome to return to your aunt and uncle’s home, Elizabeth. And neither Charles nor I wished to be the one to tell you.”
Elizabeth held her breath and stared intently at the papers on the table, refusing to meet his eye.
“I’m dreadfully sorry, my dear. Your father wrote, the gossip, I fear it lost your uncle an account with one of Lady Catherine’s connections.” Darcy did not continue when Elizabeth surprised him with her own intelligence about the situation.
“The papers ran a bit about your family every week while I was away. First, mostly about your sister. But by the end of March, it was about us and how I had run away to Kent to warm your bed as you wedded another.” Tears began to form at the corners of Elizabeth’s eyes and she clenched her fists to keep from crying. Unfortunately, this upset the deep sprain in her wrist and physical and emotional pain became one. Her tears began to pour.
“Oh, my darling, my darling!” Darcy waited for no approval to embrace Elizabeth to his chest, holding her as sobs wracked her small frame. “I had no idea you knew and carried this burden.”
“Jane apprised me . . . and Caroline,” Elizabeth sniffed and suddenly remembered her bedroom door was open for all of the staff to see and jolted away from Fitzwilliam. Quickly, she wiped her eyes and lacking a handkerchief, used her sleeve as ladylike as she could to restore her visage. “Miss Bingley elected to share with me the clipping of my infamy shortly before she was removed from your home.”
“That woman will never cross this threshold again. Howdare she upset you in your condition.” Darcy’s threat did not bellow out in a lion’s rage, but in the cold, calculating tongue of a dragon. A threat utterly without backbone as Miss Bingley was to install herself in the house once more to keep an eye on his sister while they eloped to Scotland.
“Peace, I do not blame her. She is jealous and nearly friendless.” Elizabeth touched Fitzwilliam’s arm as he tugged the misbehaving sleeve of his coat in aggravation. The sudden bosom friendship between Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy’s only sister coupled with the fact that Elizabeth’s own sister married Miss Bingley’s brother left no hope of excising the harpy from their lives.
“What parchment do you bring, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth attempted to relieve the dark cloud surrounding the late morning visit. Any moment the Bingleys were to arrive to begin their trek to Scotland.
“It is your marriage settlement. That is . . . the terms of all that I have to bestow should we wed since you may not legally consent,” An uncomfortable lump settled in Darcy’s throat as he attempted to speak nonchalantly of their union. “I’m afraid the terms are not set until after the wedding.”
Elizabeth motioned if she might read the document and Darcy nodded earnestly. Gently unrolling the lengthy document, her eyes began to blur once more at the utter care and protection Fitzwilliam had instructed penned into each line. Reaching the end of a brief perusal, as a lengthy inspection felt crass and rude, she looked up to her host as he now stood slightly away from the sofa to give her privacy.
“Fitzwilliam?” she asked in a smaller voice than he was used to hearing.
Alarmed, Darcy took a step towards his beloved and accepted the papers from her.
“I need to request a rather large favor.”
Confident there was nothing she could ask that was outside of his power to grant, Darcy happily agreed to anything she wanted.
“I should like for us to visit my father at Longbourn before we travel north.”
Darcy stumbled on his next step but quickly recovered by taking a seat in the place he was before. “To Hertfordshire?”
Elizabeth nodded as commotion from downstairs drifted up, sounds of an arrival that was likely the Bingleys. “I am so terribly sorry, but truly, I must see my father. If we can have his blessing, I would surely hate to spurn it with a hasty retreat. Please?” Her eyes opened wide with fear that he would actually deny her request.
Darcy did not wish to tell her the situation was hopeless. He did not wish to explain to her that Mr. Bennet despised the very name of Darcy, even though it mostly stemmed by his estimation from the accident last autumn. And so he did not.
“I will inform the Bingleys of our change in plans and I expect we will leave on the morrow to give his staff an opportunity to reopen Netherfield.” Darcy stood and bowed, ignoring the small, but sharp, pain in his chest that Elizabeth indirectly asked to delay their marriage. His intelligence ruled all, and he refused to entertain fanciful notions that perhaps she no longer wished to become Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy. As he reached the door, she again called out to him.
“You forgot the letter . . . to Charlotte? And might you ask Jane to come up?”
Darcy gave a small smile and fetched the letter. He held his breath as Elizabeth rose from the sofa, taking deliberate steps gingerly to her bed. The woman might say she felt healed until the next full moon, but even he could spy she concealed a great deal of her misery.
A strong pull of the bell cord allowed Darcy to summon the maid from the adjoining dressing room. The pale, wisp of a girl nodded to her master and began quietly fussing over her future mistress. Satisfied she was in good care, Darcy worried too much on pushing the lovely image of his Lizzie reclined in a bed to reflect on passing his sister, Georgiana, on the stairs. With his manners in place, Darcy greeted the happy couple standing in the entryway and placed the letter to Kent on the silver tray for outgoing post.
NEW RELEASE
For the Love of a Bennet
What if Elizabeth Bennet traveled with Lydia to Brighton?
A reimagining of Jane Austen’s most beloved tale, Pride & Prejudice, join author Elizabeth Ann West as she writes the romantic adventure story she always wanted! When Lizzy and Lydia arrive in Brighton, it’s very clear that the younger Bennet sister came with very serious plans towards Mr. Wickham. Thankfully, an old ally is also in town, with problems of his own to solve. After Mr. Darcy, himself, is summoned to Brighton to hopefully solve two dilemmas with one wealthy member of the gentry, the whole militia is thrown into an uproar by Wickham’s most dastardly deed, yet. Together, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy have to save Lydia from her own undoing, or it will mean more than just mere reputations are ruined.
For the Love of a Bennet is a novel length story, currently being posted chapter by chapter on Elizabeth’s author site. This story was originally conceptualized in 2019 as a part of the All Go to Brighton challenge.
Chapter 15 - The Blessing of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
The ever affable Bingleys accepted the change of plans as they were escorted to the drawing room, but the delay of his wedding ran over and over again in Darcy’s mind. Jane Bingley watched carefully as her sister’s intended began to hunch his shoulders and respond to her husband’s queries in shorter snipes. She had no doubt that Fitzwilliam Darcy loved her sister Elizabeth, body and soul. Perhaps if Lizzie knew the torture she was putting the man through she would have to relent her request to delay their marriage further?
“Forgive me, gentlemen?”
Both Darcy and Bingley ceased their plans for the opening of Netherfield Park and looked up at the radiant Jane Bingley.
“With your permission, Mr. Darcy, I believe I should like to speak to my sister. Before you send the summons to open the great house?”
“Janie? It is no trouble if our sister Elizabeth should like to see her family before absconding with this rogue.” Bingley looked up at his friend only to see a darkened mask of indifference, his friend’s ever companion of protection in awkward situations. Bingley’s jovial manner waned as he began to see the effects of Elizabeth’s request on his oldest friend, sensitivity his dear wife picked up on well before himself.
“What I mean to say is, though it is no trouble, perhaps a meeting of the minds between the ladies is wise before we utterly change our travel plans. But it must be quick, for Caroline is packing as we speak to install herself here and if we are not to leave until tomorrow, I fear there shall not be any room.”
“To be truthful, Elizabeth asked for you. It slipped my mind in relaying the change of plans.” Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and looked intently at his future sister by marriage with a gaze of pleading. Jane offered him a small smile and shake of her head in sympathy.
“Let me speak to her. I am not certain she considered the ramifications making a stop in Hertfordshire would naturally incur.” Jane nodded and rose from the sofa to begin walking out of the door just as a footman entered carrying a message on a silver platter for Mr. Darcy.
Jane disappeared out of the room while Darcy carefully read the missive and groaned. “Write those letters, Bingley. I must go out.”
“Out? But, but, Jane is to speak sense to her!”
“I cannot leave today. I shall explain in a moment.” Darcy gave instructions to the footman to tell his valet to prepare for him to go above stairs.”It was a long shot, but I’ve been afforded an audience with His Grace, the Duke of Northumberland. If I’m to put my family’s business behind me once and for all, I must take this meeting. With any luck, I’ll be able to save the Darcy, Fitzwilliam, and Wickham names.”
“That is bold …” Bingley’s mouth remained open in shock, but he soon recovered. “I fail to see how the man might assist you. He’s quite dangerous, I should not like to deal with him.”
Darcy rubbed his temple and debated how many details to give his friend. While Charles Bingley knew most of the scandals involving his family, Darcy had been keen to keep the darker particulars close to his own chest. “My uncle is already entangled in the Perry’s family’s tentacles. It may indeed be a fool’s errand, but an errand I must make before we leave. Please inform the ladies I shall be home in time for dinner.”
“Indeed, Bingley do this, Bingley tell the ladies that. I’m beginning to feel more of a Darcy House servant than a guest!” Bingley grumbled as Darcy pulled out the ink and parchment in the small writing desk usually reserved for a lady of the house to address invitations and correspondence.
“Chin up, we shall be rid of London soon, though I am surprised to hear you so eager to leave.” Darcy left his friend who cursed under his breath as his pen dripped a fat glob of ink to his first letter. “And you’d never cut it as a Darcy House servant, I would require any clerk of mine to have perfect penmanship.”
Darcy’s dry humor left Bingley with a laugh, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Master of Pemberley, Darcy, and Carver House felt a bounce in his soles as he took the stairs with a quickness of youth. Loud, shrill voices stopped his jaunt in the hall just outside Elizabeth’s rooms and he listened to gather the gist.
“And how have you come to this information, Mrs. Wickham?” Jane Bingley attempted to divert the screaming from Georgiana to her sister, Elizabeth.
“This is my home! The staff is very loyal to the daughter of their former Master. How should I not know what this upstart whore has done to the menus?”
Jane flinched at the vulgar language but calmed as her sister’s tinkling laughter provided a stark contrast to the hateful words of the youngest woman in the room.
“I warned that your comforts entirely rested in my hands. Your ally is Miss Bingley, and the two of you have had plenty of fun at my expense all over town with your dinners of gossip mongering. With so many invitations to dine out, why I saw no need for there to be high cuts of meat and lavish meals while we are away.”
“But Cook tells me there is nothing for the larders but bones to make stock and salted pork!” Georgiana stomped her foot as Darcy stifled a laugh. Finding the time ripe, he made another step to enter the doorway and knocked on the jamb. All of the ladies turned towards him and Georgiana scowled. “Brother, I told you she was unfit to manage this house. She has utterly ruined the meat orders and has lied to say she had your approval to refuse any deliveries for two fortnights!”
“Your tongue deserves scalding for the hellfire you spew forth. Miss Bennet has not spread any falsehoods. When she explained her plans to me, I heartily endorsed the removal of extravagance for a misbehaving, poor relation.”
Georgiana’s face darkened away from her customary pale, porcelain complexion. She opened her mouth to speak, but Elizabeth spoke first.
“You are an insipid, spoiled child who cannot think one moment beyond herself. Do you know the worry your brother had while you were missing last year? Or the personal sacrifices he has made to keep you safe? No, you care not, you wish to play the grown woman,” Elizabeth was standing and approaching Georgiana with her arms up in disgust, without the aid of a cane, “all without the burden of being a lady. Now, kindly remove yourself from my room, I have no desire to discuss this matter further.”
“Fitz-Fitz-Fitzwilliam!” Georgiana stuttered her brother’s name in a high pitch, but the man narrowly missed knocking her over as he swept Elizabeth up into his arms.
Embraced by her beloved, Elizabeth’s breath became increasing ragged in his crush, over and above it’s preexisting labor of releasing her pique at Georgiana.
“You were superb. No one has spoken to her thus.”
“Well, it was long overdue.” Elizabeth straightened her gown’s right shoulder after Fitzwilliam released her as Jane coughed. Georgiana had stormed out of the room when it was clear her brother would not take her side.
Fitzwilliam looked his Elizabeth up and down, admiring her stronger form and loss of shaky gait. His Elizabeth was truly healed, in spirit at least.
“Mr. Darcy, I have not yet had an audience with my sister.”
Darcy ignored Jane’s voice as it reached his ears as if muffled. His eyes were locked with Elizabeth’s and the two exchanged a resoundingly silent vote of confidence in each other. He had not thought Lizzie’s plans to disrupt the household would bother Georgiana so much, but his clever lady was correct. She needed to establish dominance before they left for Scotland to set a precedence. He was only glad he held his temper when that worthless sibling of his spoke that vile word within his hearing.
“Mr. Darcy?” A light touch of his arm startled the great man from his distractions.
“Oh, yes, quite right. No, that is, I am afraid I must agree with Elizabeth’s request to delay for entirely other reasons. I must away to Syon House this evening for some last bits of business before we depart.”
Elizabeth gasped, but Darcy did not allow her to needle him.
“It’s a necessary evil, I promise you. All shall be well, His Grace was a great admirer of my father.”
Elizabeth arched her eyebrow, “Is the man dangerous?”
Darcy paused, puzzled. “I thought you were concerned I was meeting with the Duke of Northumberland.”
Elizabeth looked at Jane, who looked back at her with a shrug. Elizabeth pinched her lips together and shook her head, feeling lightheaded from the ludicrous misapprehension so quickly after the drama with Georgiana. “No, I only know Syon House to be a wondrous home, said to rival the King’s own.”
Darcy laughed openly, leaning forward to press his forehead against Elizabeth’s before he took a deep, calming breath. Pulling away, he touched the side of his nose. “I forget how refreshing it is to begin a life with a country miss.”
“You insult me, sir?” Elizabeth’s hands found a natural place at her hips to punctuate her accusation.
“Nay, never!” This time, Darcy pecked his beloved’s cheek. “I thank the Lord every day that you’ve accepted me. Now I must away to make my meeting.” He bowed and left the ladies to their own council, wisely closing the door behind him.
“Oh, Lizzie, once you are married, I’m afraid you will never have peace!” Jane announced shortly after Mr. Darcy’s departure, waving her hands as her face warmed in an uncomfortable manner. “He was stricken I tell you, earlier, over your request for a delay. I was planning to beg you to reconsider though now it appears there is little choice in the matter. We must wait for tomorrow.”
“Are you feeling ill again?” Elizabeth pulled a cord next to her bed to summon a staff member for refreshments. Her sister looked quite pale and Elizabeth worried for Jane’s health. Surely the common ailment for women in her condition must be waning.
“I’m afraid everything upsets my constitution. I have seen Aunt—“ Jane paused and rethought her words, “I have faith the worst should pass before too long.”
Elizabeth twisted her mouth into an expression of sympathy for her sister’s plight, not allowing her mind to fret if she would find herself in a similar predicament not long after her nuptials to Mr. Darcy. Jane had apprised her of the particulars of the marriage bed, and so far none of the stolen kisses or glances of bed clothes put her in any immediate danger.
Long after the refreshments were ordered and arrived, Elizabeth realized that rascal of hers had ultimately thwarted her question about his sudden need to rush to one of the grandest houses in the city. And now she faced another evening of worry with the Bingleys as her comfort.
You’ve been reading The Blessing of Marriage
Book 3 of the Moralities of Marriage. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet find nothing but a mess in London after they escape Kent. The town home bare and the Wickhams caught up in Lord Strange’s illegal business venture, Darcy has little choice but to make unsavory friends as Elizabeth heals from her cousin’s attack. With the support of the Bingleys, Darcy and Elizabeth are finally ready to secure their future at the anvil in Gretna Green when Elizabeth has one small request.
A novel of 55,000 words, The Blessing of Marriage continues the rewriting of Jane Austen’s amazing story of Pride and Prejudice, wondering what might have happened if Darcy never saved Georgiana from the clutches of Mr. Wickham.
The Blessing of Marriage, Book 3 of the Moralities of Marriage
a Pride and Prejudice novel variation series
Release Date: March 14, 2016
310 pages in print.
+ 23 additional Pride & Prejudice variations are available at these fine retailers . . .
Keep reading more by clicking below!
A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 8 novels and 11 novellas, 18 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.