From Land and Legacy … To Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Shana Jefferis-Zimmerman
Requirements: .MOBI reader, 552 KB
Overview: What if Mr. Darcy’s cold manner and taciturn disposition were not the consequence of abominable pride but instead a painful reluctance to place his trust in those deserving of it, as a result of his own disappointments? Bestowing trust in those who are worthy is a theme woven throughout this Pride and Prejudice variation.
The fortunes of the Bennet family are raised with the receipt of an inheritance, a small estate by the name of Fairhurst in Derbyshire near the market town of Lambton, which is left to Elizabeth due to her father’s preference and influence. After being so singled out, Elizabeth must travel there with her friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas, as her companion, so that the land and legacy of the estate can be used to benefit her sisters. Mr. Bennet warns his daughter that, as a woman of property, she will be an object of prey to unworthy gentlemen and to be on her guard against compromise or any thoughts of matrimony. While contending with her new responsibilities as well as an uncooperative trustee, Elizabeth finds herself in need of the assistance of the local magistrate, whom she mistakenly assumes is Mr. Darcy of Pemberley. Mr. Darcy, we quickly come to learn, is a man who has been disappointed by his misplaced trust in others; both mistakenly bestowing and withholding it to disastrous effect. Elizabeth makes the acquaintance of Mr. and Miss Darcy, whose positions in society, though as superior to the Bennets’ as ever, do not appear to make them happy. At Mr. Darcy’s request, Elizabeth intervenes with Miss Darcy and discovers that the Darcys lack trust in others as well as in one another after being betrayed by a family friend. In bringing about a reconciliation between Mr. Darcy and his sister, Elizabeth finds the gentleman quite different than he appears, and a tender but unacknowledged attachment begins to form between them. But Mr. Darcy repeats the mistakes he made with his sister and never corrects Elizabeth’s misapprehensions as to who is the magistrate of her parish or the name of the Darcy family’s former friend.
Suspecting Mr. Darcy is in love with Elizabeth, Charlotte portrays her friend in a favourable light, but Elizabeth counteracts her efforts. At first in denial of Mr. Darcy’s attentions and her growing admiration for him, Elizabeth discloses that her family is eccentric, improper, and without fashionable connections. Now Mr. Darcy must decide on his intentions towards the spirited young heiress. His pursuit of her is awkwardly done; he wishes to spend time with her but without raising her expectations or compromising his honour and he sometimes does precisely that when he oversteps the bounds of propriety. Having finally found a tenant for Fairhurst Hall and discovered her true feelings for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth returns home to Hertfordshire with disappointed hopes while Mr. Darcy contrives how to see her again and at last meet her family.
Upon reuniting with her family, Elizabeth makes the acquaintance of the inscrutable Captain Wickham, a favourite of her sister, Jane’s. It is through the captain’s information that Elizabeth soon learns the heartbreaking news that Mr. Darcy is said to be intended in marriage for his cousin Miss Anne de Bourgh. Can she uncover Captain Wickham’s true identity before he causes as much trouble in the Bennet family as he did in the Darcy family? Can Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy learn to trust one another before they miss their chance at love?
Genre: Fiction > Romance
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