The Dignity of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: a Pride and Prejudice variation

by Valerie Lennox

If Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy hadn’t seen Miss Elizabeth Bennet by chance at a theater in London on the eve before she was about to embark to Kent to visit Hunsford, he never would have offered to convey her in his own carriage. Then the carriage would never have overturned, and they would never have sought help, and they would never have ended up set upon by bandits, huddling together in the cold, Mr. Darcy with a gunshot wound from protecting Elizabeth.

But since that did happen, and since Mr. Darcy’s aunt Lady Matlock set tongues wagging about Elizabeth’s reputation, it’s only honorable that he marry her.

Elizabeth accepts. It’s a choice between marriage to wealthy, respected man and ruin. She is not a particularly stupid woman, after all.

However, she knows, deep down, that marrying her is a mark against his dignity. She knows men like Mr. Darcy don’t fall in love with women like her.

And that’s all right with her. There are worse things than a companionable marriage with a man who is cordial to her, after all. True, he has never visited her bed, but perhaps she’s rather relieved about that. There are many, many worse things than her life as Mrs. Darcy. She refuses to be displeased with it.

Dear reader, though this version starts out with violence and fear and bandits, I believe it’s actually one of my lighter offerings. I wanted to write about a very honorable Mr. Darcy, who holds back his passion for his wife because he feels she’s been through too much already. But eventually, yes, they succumb, of course. Anyway, this is as low-angst as I get. There are puppies. Enjoy!

Genres: Romance

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2024

Reviews

[Madenna U · Rating 3 out of 5]

A terrible accident and brush with death create a compromise situation for Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. They are each very insecure in their feelings and struggle to see they have worth for the other person. They must learn to communicate to find their happiness.

I liked the story but it felt like a lot of repetitive whining at times. I would also give it a mature rating for the post wedding activities.

[Allison Ripley-Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

Warning: This book isn’t the least bit clean. Contains scenes meant for a mature audience. Be advised.

It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. If Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy hadn’t seen Miss Elizabeth Bennet by chance at a theater in London on the eve before she was about to embark to Kent to visit Hunsford, he never would have offered to convey her in his own carriage. Then the carriage would never have overturned, and they would never have sought help, and they would never have ended up set upon by bandits, huddling together in the cold, Mr Darcy with a gunshot wound from protecting Elizabeth, but since that did happen, and since Mr Darcy’s aunt Lady Matlock set tongues wagging about Elizabeth’s reputation, it’s only honorable that he marry her. Elizabeth accepts, for it’s a choice between marriage to a wealthy, respected man and ruin, and she is not a particularly stupid woman, after all. However, she knows, deep down, that marrying her is a mark against his dignity, she knows men like Mr Darcy don’t fall in love with women like her, and that’s all right with her. There are worse things than a companionable marriage with a man who is cordial to her, after all. True, he has never visited her bed, but perhaps she’s rather relieved about that. There are many, many worse things than her life as Mrs Darcy, and she refuses to be displeased with it. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a forced marriage of sorts.
Darcy accompanies Sir William, Maria and Elizabeth to Hunsford. There is a carriage accident, Elizabeth and Darcy wander into a murder scene afterwards, and end up compromised in a cabin scenario. Elizabeth gets blamed for the accident rather irrationally but Darcy is not entirely unwilling to marry her to save her reputation. However, he is a smart guy and has figured out by now that Elizabeth didn't like him. So this makes the early months of the marriage somewhat awkward. By the time Wickham crops up again, Elizabeth has wised up about him.

I finished this in an afternoon so it was a quick and engaging story and there is something about the author's writing style that always entertains me. But if you are a reader who wants all your plot threads neatly knotted up you may end up wishing for a sequel because the story leaves things hanging. Darcy's relatives were quite vile to Elizabeth while he was unconscious and this was just let go with no follow-up or resolution. And if there was an investigation about the murders we hear nothing about it. Darcy was in a bad way for a while but Elizabeth could have given a description of the criminals. If anyone asked her. Back then they had fewer opportunities to investigate crimes and it was probably realistic that some criminals would be free to roam another day but I think if there were multiple corpses somebody ought to have at least made a nominal effort.

I received an ARC and this is a voluntary review.
Steam level: Delayed consummation. She liked it and wonders if there's something wrong with her.

[Elisa Di · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILER. Questa variazione sembra scritta da persone differenti che hanno messo insieme delle parti che fra loro non c'entrano molto. Interessante l'inizio in cui avviene un incidente in carrozza e Darcy viene anche colpito da un colpo di pistola . Mi piacciono sempre molto le variazioni in cui i nostri protagonisti si ritrovano in situazioni complicate e devono fare affidamento solo su se stessi, imparando a confidare l'uno nell'altra. Quindi, buon inizio e giustissimo conseguente matrimonio secondo le usanze del tempo. L'unica cosa di questa parte che non comprendo é la descrizione della paralisi mentale di Darcy che subito ai ritrova senza sapere cosa fare. Beh, non è un comportamento tipico di Darcy. E infatti in tutto il romanzo non lo troviamo più. Bella tutta la descrizione del matrimonio fino a quando loro si scoprono innamorati. Il romanzo avrebbe potuto chiudersi qui. E invece compare la parte di Wickham con Lydia e la buffonata dell'uomo con il cappello che chiaramente è Darcy! Come avrá fatto Wickham a non riconoscerlo? Inutile la parte finale relativa ai sogni e terribile il carattere petulante di Georgiana.
Ah! Scordavo. La copertina!!! Per favore?!?!?! Un uomo con i capelli castani e i vestiti marrone chiaro? Questo non è Darcy!

[Rosanne M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of Graphic reading

I liked this story because it was raw. It showed how men are the owners and it also showed how life changes in a moment.
I was sorry for how the author portrayed Darcy’s relatives. However it was realistic.
The accident of the carriage was a terrible shock and conveyed it, the robbers were horrible men, Wickham was bad, and sex was explicit.
The reason for 5 stars is because it pulled me in and like in real life changes occur swiftly or slowly and sometimes not because of anything you have done wrong. I Loved the author showed and not told of loneliness, confusion, misunderstandings, and emotional changes.
This is a story for young readers or people who are ultra sensitive to violence or sex. There was no rape more fights and gun shots.

[D M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A carriage accident, bandits, his being shot, and her being accused of causing it all.

How do Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet go from grudging acquaintances to being so much more? After refusing Mr. Collins' proposal Elizabeth Bennet is considered persona non- grata in her own home. Still friends with the former Charlotte Lucas, now Mrs. Collins, Elizabeth is to travel to Kent with Charlotte's father and sister Maria. Mr. Darcy, secretly in love with Elizabeth, has insisted upon providing their transportation. On the return trip to Town, everything seems to fall apart . Hence, after a horrible proposal, a subsequent and equally horrible rejection, and the aforementioned incidents. Things do look so good for our favorite couple. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this story.

[Alena (Ally) Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Not fond of an insecure Elizabeth with an anxiety ridden personality more like Mrs Bennet. For someone known for extensive reading, Elizabeth was not well informed on much and played the part of a stupid wife. She then was confiding and confessing secrets to a servant she didn't even know as trustworthy and went on and willingly indulging interacting with Wickham when she knew her husband hated the man. Elizabeth was a complete disaster, immature, stupid, and insecure. I have to agree with Mr Knightly -- badly done Valerie!!

The style of the writing was rather raw and most unpleasant. Not to my preference. I read it all, hoping it would get better. It did not.

[James S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairy tale about Lizzy is being forced to marry Darcy

SPOILERS FOLLOW



When married the marriage causes way too many problems for both Darcy and Lizzy. On top of that Wickham is a constant cockroach that keeps popping up.

The feel of the story is everything is unbelievable. In the end the story seems to want me to feel sorry for Wickham. The ending seems to think Wickham may quit bothering the Darcys. Since this is a bad fairy tale I guess he won’t come back and not kidnap the Darcy children. He’s not so bad, right?

Darcy gets shot somewhere in his torso and the bullet goes through him.lots of blood loss and no killing infection.

I can’t recommend the book.

[Wendy Wasiunec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different

I've read this author's books before, this one was a different writing style. More of a new writers that needs more polish. The premise of the story was good, I think if there was more interaction with Darcy's family... the Matlocks or Lady Catherine to show the readers how devoted Darcy was with Elizabeth, with his love, would of added more spice to the story. I didn't like Elizabeth being tongue tied when Lady Matlock said those things to her. I also felt that Jane and Elizabeth were not best of sister's at all through this story... that was missing. I did enjoy the comedy towards the end when ODC decided to be honest and open with each other!!

[Denise Colson · Rating 4 out of 5]

not exactly likeable

I did not like Elizabeth’s personality in this book. She was very timid. The way Lady Matlock treated her in the beginning, I was so disappointed that E didn’t stand up for herself. The book wasn’t terribly interesting. I found myself skipping pages. I mainly wanted to keep reading to see if E would actually end up with more confidence. It didn’t happen. D was different but I’m not sure I liked it. HEA.

[Ladyhawke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stay away!!!! Please save your eyes and move on!!!

It reads like a 15 year old wrote it. I have nothing against kids writers. It seems the author neither knows the time period or the characters.
Darcy is an idiot
Elisabeth is ridiculous
And all Georgianna is missing is a cellphone
I kept holding out hope for this immature piece of work. But it was a waste of time.

[Crystal Baker-Breault · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overuse of possibly

Used over one hundred times throughout the book some variation of possibly or some form of it. Passages very confusing in the way they were written. This version of Elizabeth is rather and idiot, not at all witty. Passages that seem out of order in their placement in terms of timing.

[Pet · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a light enjoyable variation. I’m not over fond of misunderstanding drama when an honest conversation would have fixed things I’m also not a fan of “I don’t know if I’m in love” mostly because the answer to that would be no.

[Elisabeth Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not up to her normal standard.

She made Darcy and Elizabeth seem like unsure teenagers. Darcy became inept and unable to solve problems. A very strange version.

[Terri Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not see this plot coming. Really interesting take on ODC and marriage.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely variation. Considering propriety in this time period and Darcy‘s need to follow societal rules, it was very interesting to see how the story would unfold following the initial accident scene. I enjoyed watching both Darcy and Elizabeth‘s relationship progress and change as they came to learn more about themselves and each other. I also had to smile at the very coordinated effort to ensure Lydia’s protection. I think it was some of Darcy and Elizabeth’s revealed vulnerabilities, reflections, and eventually open discussions that I enjoyed the most. Loved it!

I received an ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* rounded up to 5. I enjoyed this book, although it isn't perfect. In spite of his anxiety and uncertainty, especially in the early parts of the book, I liked this Darcy a lot. Perhaps the book should have been named The Anxiety of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Poor man, trying to do the right thing, against advice from his family. They had made all kinds of wrong assumptions about Elizabeth and what had happened in the early parts; they had decided she was a fortune-hunter and set up the whole carriage accident/bandit escapade to trap him, then sent her home with messages that ruined her and her family. But Darcy, once he is finally healed from a gunshot wound, steps up and marries her, and takes her to Pemberley.

I love how this author gets into people's heads and how they all are misunderstanding what others mean by their behavior. It is alternately sad, ironic, aggravating, and hilarious in places. The consummation of Darcy and Elizabeth's marriage was touching but also rather funny. In the middle of everything, Darcy is wondering about the etymology of a certain lady part, and I was cracking up. They both are worried about things they should not be worried about at all and it adds much humor as the story continues.

Georgiana was very clever and I loved how they all sneakily managed to use psychology (I know they didn't call it that then) to convince Wickham to marry Lydia by having him "save" her from being forced to marry someone who would be even worse than Wickham.

I do recommend the book. My only complaint would be that I wish that there had been an epilogue to see what went on with them and some of the other characters after a few years. It's not a big deal; I mainly just didn't want the book to end yet because I enjoyed it so much. I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.