Elizabeth is surprised to find Darcy charming and intelligent, and she is shocked to discover that her heart has fallen for this second son.
When Elizabeth meets Fitzwilliam Darcy at the Meryton ball, she finds him intelligent, handsome and charming. He is equally enthralled with the energetic, bright and dark-eyed beauty.
Darcy is a second son with little wealth to speak of, while his brother, on the other hand, inherited Pemberley’s riches. When his brother dies suddenly, Darcy is faced with the results of his brother’s dissolute character. Pemberley is deep in debt and suffering from neglect. Darcy struggles with how to pay the creditors and put right the wrongs done by his brother. Must he marry a wealthy heiress?
Elizabeth worries that Darcy could share some of his brother’s tendencies. They have known each other such a short time... but her heart cares not. Can they conquer their fears to be joined in marriage?
This is a low angst, Darcy and Elizabeth friends-to-lovers story.
I am a scientist by training, but a writer at heart. I have always loved reading with a passion and turned my hand to fanfiction a few years ago. I write stories similar to the ones I enjoy reading. They are interesting but light, romantic but not steamy. I am a super fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and have been having a wonderful time writing P&P variations, exploring how new circumstances affect the beloved characters. So far I have published two novel-length Pride and Prejudice variations plus one short story via Amazon. My books include ‘I am Jael’ and ‘The Blind Will See’.
This story ended at page 539 on my Kindle for PC and then we had a "sneak peek" of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn!
The story description lays down the basic facts in this story. The title tells you that "our Darcy" is a second son and thus does not inherit Pemberley nor its rich income. Lawrence, his older brother, the heir, has as a best friend, George Wickham, and THAT tells you much about his character. Obviously Fitzwilliam is not close to either. He does inherit a small estate but has to work to bring it back from its neglected state.
Fitzwilliam comes to Netherfield with Bingley but he also brings his sister, Georgiana, as he is her guardian along with Richard Fitzwilliam. (They do not want Lawrence Darcy to know of her whereabouts.) So it is that Elizabeth becomes best friends with Georgiana and helps her overcome her shyness.
Thus, we have the reason that when Lawrence dies "accidently" (This becomes an issue.) and Darcy how inherits Pemberley, which is in a state of debt with tenants being neglected, their cottages in disrepair, etc., Darcy desires that Elizabeth come with Georgiana as they return to Pemberley to attempt to attend to matters there. Ironically, Wickham has been left a neighboring estate by his friend, Lawrence Darcy.
Darcy and Elizabeth are falling in love, but she is not sure if he will reflect his brother's character while he looks at duty to marry an heiress to help "rescue" Pemberley vs. marrying for love - a thing not considered among his friends and family.
Meanwhile Mrs. Bennet has her campaign going on...to marry her daughters to men of wealth and/or standing. Bingley and Collins play parts in that thread. Lydia and Kitty are much as in canon, however their older sisters help to guide their lives. Wickham is not part of the militia that comes to town so he does not play a part in Lydia's life.
There is a 3 chapter epilogue which goes a long way into the future. The thing I remember most from that is the gender count among the Bennet grandchildren.
I have read some 18 of this author's stories and enjoyed all of them, most rated with either 4 or 5 stars.
After his Wickham like brother dies Darcy must make Pemberley profitable again.
All the character seemed pale and drab. The book starts out with the major bad guy , the first brother, is dead. The story starts from there and really, it just wasn’t all that interesting.
Very good I do love a second son trope and this one is very good. I always enjoy this author’s pleasant, no or low angst variations, and I always come away very satisfied whenever I read one of them.
It is not often that a P&P variation has Fitzwilliam Darcy not being the first son and Master of Pemberley. Another twist is that much of George Wickham's canon vices are found in the first son. Add a mysterious death to be solved, and the product is Ms Kendig's newest book. I have read many of her stories, and I found that this one seemed comparatively better written. There was better flow to the plot and dialogue between characters. The romance between ODC was better fleshed out. Being the second son, Darcy did not have to deal with mercenary or matchmaking schemers and as a consequence, his behaviour in society was changed accordingly. Jane, Bingley, and Mary had stiffer spines and much of the action took place outside of Meryton. I also thought that there was less emphasis on religion - biblical excerpts did not distract me from the plot. I really enjoyed reading this.
Darcy is the second son, living on a small estate and raising his sister while his brother is ruining Pemberley with his gambling, neglect of his duties, and ravishing any young girl that comes across him. Darcy is at Netherfield, where he and Georgiana have become friends with Elizabeth Bennet when he's informed of his brothers death. Rushing back to take care of the estate for his brothers widow - Anne. Of course Lady Catherine had forced that marriage on them! Anne is just weeks from giving birth and hoping for a daughter so she can leave Pemberley and take over her own estate Rosings. Elizabeth joins Georgiana at Pemberley to support her during this time. The only part I hated was reading how terrible the tenants had it due to the neglect by the older brother. In some cases they were living worse than those in the slums of London. I enjoyed reading this very much and especially the ending chapter that gave us a look into what the families were going through in 10+ years.
But very engaging, nevertheless. Interesting premise, well written and developed. I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and this version of the Bennet sisters.
Laraba Kendig has given us another fabulous book to enjoy and treasure. No real angst, the normal villains subdued from the start or fairly easily managed, and the real villain dead. A book of love, compassion, honor, and human growth. I loved every single word.
I have read all of Mrs Kendig's Pride and Prejudice variations and enjoy them all. I had to force myself to make the book last two days! I love her low angst, happy tales told from a distinctly Christian point of view! Thank you, Laraba!
A little angst, a little mystery, a little romance, and most of our favorite characters. The plot revolves around the villainous, disgusting behavior of a non-canon older brother for Darcy, but all ends happily.
One brother rich, but without a conscience. A wasted life of gambling, seductions, and sinful living regardless of the consequences. A second son, Fitzwilliam, just the opposite to his older brother, Lawrence. Lawrence had married Anne de Bourgh and she was expecting their first child. Lady Catherine never one to give up her dream of uniting Pemberley and Rosings, tells Darcy after Lawrence’s death that he must marry Anne. Of course, both Darcy and Anne have their own agenda, and neither includes marrying each other. Days before Bingley’s marriage to Jane Bennett, Caroline Bingley sharpens her claws to capture Darcy. Darcy throws a fly in that plan by asking Elizabeth to marry him. In his possession is a special license and it is agreed that they will marry with Jane and Bingley in a double ceremony. Towards the end of this tale, Caroline is engaged to none other than George Wickham who by Lawrence’s gift inherited a small estate that borders Pemberley. Surprising details about Lawrence’s death emerged later, but everyone has chosen to ignore it. We end the story with three happily married couples, and one not so much when an invitation to Pemberley never is given. Good story. Glad Darcy followed his heart and not his wallet.
Darcy was very meh, I didn’t find him that romantic. Also the side plot with Lady Catherine trying to get Darcy and Anne to marry was just frustrating, she’s his sister-in-law, it’s literally illegal. They talk about how it’s illegal in the book as well. Why aren’t you dropping it?
Overall, it was kind of a boring book, and when it wasn’t boring, it was irritating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In this story Darcy has an older brother who has inherited Pemberley. The elder brother is married to Anne deBurgh, who is expecting their child, and is a crony of Wickham. His character is dissolute…he is a drunkard and a womanizer who also forces himself on servant girls. He has also run up debts and let Pemberley run down through lack of care as he spends the income on carousing.
Fitzwilliam Darcy was left a secondary estate, which he traded his brother for a lesser estate in order to become Georgiana’s guardian so his brother could not marry her off to the highest bidder. His small estate earns about 1,000 pounds annually.
The story begins as Darcy and Georgiana are guests of Bingley, who has just let Netherfield. Since Darcy’s status is on a par with the Bennet’s there is no insult or trying to separate Jane and Bingley. In fact Elizabeth becomes good friends with both Georgiana and Darcy; so much so that when the Darcy siblings receive news that their elder brother has died in an accident Elizabeth returns to Pemberley with them to keep Georgiana company.
There they find a distraught Anne who is suffering from something more than her advanced pregnancy. As well Darcy must deal with the aftermath of his brother’s bad management of the estate and determine if it can remain solvent. It is unknown whether Darcy or Anne’s unborn child will inherit the estate since it is entailed to heirs male.
After Anne births a daughter Darcy inherits Pemberley. He begins to fall for Elizabeth but must decide if he can afford to offer for her or if he must marry a woman of means to help rehabilitate Pemberley. Meanwhile Elizabeth discovers a dark secret surrounding Darcy’s brother and his death and becomes concerned if Fitzwilliam Darcy may have similar proclivities as his brother. They both must come to terms with their fears and decide if their love is strong enough to overcome the issues they face.
This P&P variation is different than any I've read. Darcy being the second son and not the master of Pemberley is a new trope for me. It was interesting to see Darcy struggling to fix problems with no money. There is some angst but not too much. I loved that Darcy & Elizabeth are friends from the start. I loved that Lady C was obnoxious but also rather easily handled. I couldn't figure out Wickham. He appears to be one kind of person but is it all a ruse to get something? No one knows for sure. I was happy that he didn't play an evil villain in this. And I enjoyed Anne, even though she still seemed somewhat weak, she actually has a strength in her when she must. The book is long, and everything moves slowly so if you like constant fast paced action, this book might not work for you. But if you just want to leisurely see what happens at Pemberley it is enjoyable. The book also has a long epilogue. It spans many years and we get an overview of everyone's lives. There are multiple relationships in the story and the epilogue covers them all. Plus it covers those who didn't have a romance in the book. It was kinda fun to see how everyone is doing in the future. I enjoyed the story, though it was maybe too long. Still I'm not sure what I would have cut out so maybe it is just the right length?
Sex: references to the first Mr. D's debauchery Language: Some Deity Violence: First Mr. D raped women prior to the beginning of the book. One flashback to a scene where he intends to do just that but it never gets that far.
As the book summary indicates, Darcy is a second son, whose older brother is master of Pemberly, but is an immoral and bad estate manager. Darcy comes to Netherfield as per usual, but since he's a second son, Caroline Bingley doesn't give him any notice, and he's more open to dancing with the ladies at the Meryton assembly, including Elizabeth. Therefore, her first impression of him is good. He brings Georgiana to stay at Netherfield, and Darcy is immediately impressed with Elizabeth's ability to befriend his sister. When Darcy gets the bad news that his elder brother has died, Georgiana asks for Elizabeth to accompany them to Pemberly, where Darcy must sort out the huge financial mess that his brother left behind.
Anne DeBourgh has a significant role as the pregnant widow of the elder Darcy brother, and she lives at Pemberly. Elizabeth, with her kindness and cheerful attitude, manages to garner the approval of everyone at Pemberly, including Anne, and they become friends. Darcy loves Elizabeth, but struggles with the fact that, with Pemberly in dire financial straits, he really should marry someone with a lot of money.
This author is an automatic purchase for me. The story is engaging and uplifting. There are situations that are heartbreaking and heartwarming. The book is well written, and while there were editing errors, they weren't too numerous. I recommend the book highly for a satisfying way to pass some time.
This book had a bit of a slow start, and I almost put it down (I'm not someone who likes a huge amount of description in books, and this one started out with a lot, which might might be your cup of tea). That being said, after skimming a little bit, I was soon hooked by the sweet friendship between Georgiana and Elizabeth, as well as the burgeoning relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.
In this book, the villain is not Mr Wickham (although he does feature), but new character, Lawrence Darcy, the master of Pemberley, and wife of Anne (de Bourgh). He is a gambler, a spendthrift, and a debaucher, not to mention, a negligent husband. In the space of five years, he has mismanaged Pemberley almost into the ground.
I enjoyed this read, and the first half had an almost cozy mystery feel as the characters tried to figure out whether Lawrence really died by accident. I actually expected the story to continue more in this vein, with, perhaps more characters dying, but the author chose a more wholesome route.
Overall, this story was low angst, with most of the key characters softened to their most likeable versions. It was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
This was an interesting variation that held my interest. The plot was engaging and I quite enjoyed the descriptions of clothes, the landscape etc.
I have one big problem and that was everyone wanting Darcy to marry his brother’s widow. They keep saying it is against ecclesiastical law BUT a quick google search reveals it was against the law of the land. Why didn’t the author know this?
Also, I don’t think the author has any experience with business- Darcy could have leased out the London house if he were in such difficult financial circumstances.
Lots of exhaustive descriptions. Do we need to be told every time a stable is near that the smell is unpleasant? That’s a rhetorical question.
The author did a great job of describing how cold and drafty large home could be. We tend to romanticize this era due to film adaptations but I think it would have been thoroughly unpleasant, even if you were wealthy.
A good story, as always by this author, though this time I had issues with some details. To name a few: Darcy, Mrs Bennet having a pug, and the term office instead of study. We may not know it right at beginning of story, but if Fitzwilliam Darcy is a second son, would he be known as Darcy when his elder brother is a) living and b) has no title? Mrs. Bennet having a pug is a throw away line but had it been any other older female character, it would not have gained my notice. Her nervous disposition may either have been calmed by a dog or made worse and I shudder to think of how ill-behaved that dog would have been, picking up on its owner's nervousness. Lastly, I am surprised by the term office being used instead of study. Have no idea if there is meant to be a difference between the two, just curious at author's choice.
I have always enjoyed variations of this classic story. What if Fitzwilliam Darcy was a second son? Following along with beloved characters portrayed in slightly different ways was quite entertaining. I must admit, it was quite a challenge to imagine Pemberley and its people any state other than perfection. I really liked how different and deeper connections were explored between many of the characters, particularly Anne. While the focus is mostly on Darcy and Elizabeth, it was quite the pleasure to see more personal details and satisfying endings for all the Bennett sisters as well as dear Caroline Bingley. The ending I felt was just perfect – showing HEA snippets of so many families while staying grounded in the realities of life. Loved it!
I have always enjoyed variations of this classic story. What if Fitzwilliam Darcy was a second son? Following along with beloved characters portrayed in slightly different ways was quite entertaining. I must admit, it was quite a challenge to imagine Pemberley and its people any state other than perfection. I really liked how different and deeper connections were explored between many of the characters, particularly Anne. While the focus is mostly on Darcy and Elizabeth, it was quite the pleasure to see more personal details and satisfying endings for all the Bennett sisters as well as dear Caroline Bingley. The ending I felt was just perfect, showing HEA snippets of so many families while staying grounded in the realities of life. Loved it!
This story pulled me-the title. When I began reading I enjoyed the change in Darcy. He was not the highly sought after guy but just another land owner. I enjoyed reading about Georgianna and the growth of the storyline. It was believable and lovely. The changes on how characters act, respond, and relate to one another was written in a way that was not high drama but enough pain and turmoil that it flowed. I highly recommend this for all ages.
Very well written except for minor editing issues like a missing word.
Interesting approach to Darcy as a second son. Characterizations are very well done. What is there is quite enjoyable. Find the Darcy must marry Anne deBourgh trope a bit forced and tedious. Nearly half of the story is told in epilogue, rather than shown.
Another excellent read from this author, Fitzwilliam Darcy is the second don in this story and his brother Lawrence is the Alderson and heir to Pemberley he found the estate to the ground and when it is passed to his brother it is in a lot of debt he has to sell his own prosperous estate to get Pemberley back on his feet and marry Elizabeth.
Fitzwilliam has an older brother who has run pemberley into the ground. His is also dissolute and has impregnated several servants in London. His wife the former Anne de burgh is due to give birth at any moment. Then Lawrence has a fall down the stairs and dies, leaving his younger brother a financial and poor Pemberley to his care.
I was refreshingly surprised by the novelty of the initial plot, but the dénouement and final pages were fairly ordinary. I had thought I would re-read this variation, but the end dissuaded me.
In Regency England it was not exactly illegal to marry your widowed sister-in-law (your brother's wife), which Georgiana does emphasize. However, I enjoyed it.
Finished. OH, the endings of all our couples were so lovely. Yes, I teared up a little bit.
This Pride and Prejudice vagary did make me tear up a bit. How are people so creative to invent so many tales with our dear couple. It is also low angst, and didn't have tons of description of dresses and lace (I am rather like Mr Bennett in my lack of appreciation of such fripperies :D )
A nice long read, long angst, lovely and kind characters - what more could we ask for.
Very good JA fan fiction. I have read a lot - and intend to read more - and LK does a very nice job. My only suggestion would be that the "servants" are treated more like Downton Abbey servants. The prinicple characters confide a little too much. Other than that -- it's very good.
But wordy. Well thought out characterization and plot. Most of the characters are true to canon. The author mistakenly uses the addresses Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennett interchangeably.
Turns out that this Kindle Unlimited is only 4 chapters of a much longer book titled The Talented Daughters of Longbourn. A little disappointed. I don’t know if I had purchased it, would it still be only 4chapters?