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NOT WITHOUT AFFECTION
When Mr Collins visits Longbourn, Elizabeth Bennet is shocked by the sycophantic behaviour of her family toward the Longbourn heir. Mrs Bennet declares that any of her daughters had better accept the man if he offers for them, and Elizabeth quickly comes to suspect that her father will not defend them should they wish to refuse. Despite her protestations, Elizabeth finds herself engaged to her cousin against her will and her sisters turned against her, showing Elizabeth harsh revelations about Jane's true character. She makes plans to escape the untenable situation, with help from Charlotte, and surprisingly, Mr Darcy, but the marriage moves forward despite their efforts and Lizzy is forced to accept her fate.
When Elizabeth is unexpectedly relieved of her unwanted husband, her new friends at Rosings support her as she builds her new life, while Mr Darcy is relieved to have a chance to win her heart but knows he must wait to court her to preserve her reputation. While he suffers the long wait of her mourning until she can be courted, Elizabeth must decide if she is willing to try again, as estate matters and other parties threaten to end the match before it is made in this 68,000-word Pride and Prejudice Variation.
Coming 2024
PRIDE & PRECIPITANCE
In Volume One of our Victorian Vagaries, Lady Elizabeth Astley, three years widowed, has returned to Meryton to enjoy the country with her young daughter. The eldest of Mr Bennet's daughters, Elizabeth is an outcast among her sisters and step-mother, but does her best to help her sisters find themselves – and to help Jane when Miss Bingley and Mrs Bennet's behavior causes catastrophe.
Will Netherfield's impressive guest Mr Darcy recognize Elizabeth's worth, or will he continue in his typical prideful behavior? Follow Elizabeth as she narrowly evades the aggressive pursuit of our favorite wastrel – who is a true villain – assists Rosings Park and her cousin Charlotte Collins when disaster strikes Hunsford, and teaches a proud and foolish man the art of pleasing a woman worthy of being pleased.
This slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary is 120,000 words.
CHIVALRY & CHAUVINISM
In Volume Two of our Victorian Vagaries, when Elizabeth and Darcy travel to Pemberley in all haste to assist Georgiana – who is desperately ill – Elizabeth has high hopes of a warm welcome from the staff and the assistance of a kind and experienced housekeeper. Mrs Reynolds – who has been in the service of the Darcy family for four decades – does not approve of her master's new wife, her child, her family, nor even her little dog – and has no intention of handing over the reins of the household.
As Georgiana's health hangs in the balance, Darcy and Elizabeth struggle to learn the cause of Georgiana's illness, while Mrs Reynolds stubbornly does her utmost to interfere in her new mistress's arrangements. When the family returns to London for the season, Mary must learn to take on society, avoid compromise, and find her heart's desire.
The main characters of Sense & Sensibility join us in this 89,000 word slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary.
RIVALRY & REPARATIONS
In Volume Three of our Victorian Vagaries, when one of Elizabeth's cousins has been caught meeting with a man in secret, misinformation abounds, creating disaster for poor Kitty, who then vanishes. The search for Kitty drags on far longer than it ought, as the Darcys struggle to manage their business and estates, deal with the wagging tongues of society, console their grieving relatives, and find their missing sister. As any story worthy of Jane Austen should, our journey ends with a Bennet wedding.
Our friends from Sense & Sensibility also find their happiness, though not how the reader might expect in this 88,000 word slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary.
AVARICE & AFFECTION
In Volume Four of our Victorian Vagaries, the Darcys support their married sisters, family, and friends through births, deaths, and weddings, as Lydia follows her passions and saves Sanditon from certain failure. Fortune hunters and catty debutantes follow Georgiana through the Ton as she triumphs in love, while Lydia naively misunderstands the intent of her suitors.
Some friends from Mansfield Park and the cast of Sanditon join us, the Duchess of Devonshire visits, though not how you might expect, and all of our friends' stories conclude in this 95,000 word slow burn, sweet and clean Victorian era vagary.
“She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain”