I signed my maiden name first before memorialising my new name. Elizabeth Madeline Darcy. Elizabeth Bennet lay dead on the altar of matrimony.HAVING SIGNED THE REGISTER as Elizabeth Darcy, the former Miss Elizabeth Bennet must somehow survive a crushing scandal as a stranger to herself. Her unwilling husband is so outraged to find himself tied to a person he thinks no better than a fortune hunter that she is forbidden to speak of the circumstances behind their union. Indeed, Mr Darcy seems to loathe even the sound of her voice, and often Elizabeth's only recourse is to be silent.
WHEN THE COUPLE ARRIVES at Pemberley, Elizabeth—Mrs Darcy—is forced to draw upon stores of courage and resourcefulness she did not know she possessed in order to build, if not a happy life, a purposeful one. Facing obstacles and detractors, she carefully cultivates a friendship with Georgiana Darcy.
TRAPPED INTO AN UNWANTED MARRIAGE, Darcy must walk the long road of bitter resentment which forces him into increasing isolation during a very long winter. Increasingly confused by his new wife’s poise and determination to be useful, Darcy’s struggles multiply until a moment of reckoning shocks him out of his rage and into the strong light of that even in the harshest of winters, the roots of tender feelings can quietly grow deep.
THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT is a variation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice with a happily ever after guaranteed for our dear couple. It is a forced engagement/forced marriage scenario and the content is closed-door.
This story is just doggone fabulous. When you pick it up, make sure you have plenty of reading time to spend with it, because you may not be able to stop until you finish - that was certainly my experience!
Elizabeth and Darcy take turns as the narrators. The tale begins with a tense, unhappy wedding that turns her from Elizabeth Bennet into Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. It's apparent that something truly awful led to this point, as her beloved father offers no congratulations or tender good-byes, Jane fights distressed tears throughout the brief ceremony, and the rest of the Bennet family is curiously absent. The groom barely deigns to look at her, much less talk. Both must speak the marriage vows, but neither utters them with sincerity. She hardly knows Mr. Darcy and had not even been introduced before whatever happened during the Meryton Assembly...happened. Having gone through three days of fighting the inevitable, she is now calmly determined to accept her fate and deal with it one day at a time.
In London, their first dinner in the Darcy townhome reinforces the fact that Darcy is a furious, resentful man who hates his unwanted, unsuitable wife for forcing him to become an unwilling partner in this sham of a marriage. The reputation of the Darcy name is paramount, but he can barely bring himself to look or speak to her. He demands that they "converse" only through letters and expects her to play the part of a contented wife in front of the servants and in public, to which she meekly agrees.
Naturally, Elizabeth is not the fortune hunter he believes her to be and actually had begged NOT to marry him. He doesn't allow her to speak freely to defend herself, and she is not about to poke this broody bear by disobeying him at this early juncture. Besides, she understands his fury. This man, who is used to being in control of his world, is as trapped as she is. The difference is that she has reached a point of acceptance before this book begins. Darcy's rage against this unwelcome disruption in his previously well-ordered world, however, goes on unabated.
Not an auspicious beginning for ODC!
Things don't improve significantly when they get to Derbyshire. Elizabeth endures Darcy's disdain and frequent absence by finding purpose in her role as Mistress of Pemberley. Although Georgiana and many of the servants recognize her admirable qualities, others mirror the Master's ongoing antipathy for his wife. She stoically bears it while observing that her husband is actually an attentive landowner and an admirable man...to everyone but herself.
I have read other JAFF novels with somewhat similar storylines, but this is particularly well-executed with enough twists to make it feel unique. The plot demonstrates how important attitude is when facing unforeseen circumstances as well as the fine line that can exist between love and hate. Yes, Darcy is completely unreasonable. But he redeems himself in the end. The pacing is excellent. The writing flows purposefully, building up to a tense climax and (whew!) resolution.
Much as I have admired Ms. Gibson's other books, I think she's outdone herself here!
Content is clean.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Marriage Born of Scandal, Redeemed by Love The Winter of Our Discontent is yet another reminder of how fortunate we are that Grace Gibson has chosen to write in this genre. What a gift she is. Her prose marries intelligence with elegance, writing turns of phrase that place her firmly among my favourite authors. Many of her past variations lean towards light-heartedness, with teasing dialogue and playful banter, but this work, told from alternating first-person Elizabeth and Darcy points of view, takes a more serious turn.
As the book opens, something the reader does not yet know happened at the Meryton assembly which compelled Darcy to do the honourable thing and marry Elizabeth. Weighed down by deep resentment and distrust, Darcy is cool, distant, and at times cutting. Meanwhile, Elizabeth struggles simply to exist within circumstances neither of her making nor her choosing. She carries the ache of being torn from her sisters and mother and losing her father’s affection. Yet she meets her situation with grit, immersing herself in learning to run Pemberley and, in the process, wins over almost everyone—from the tenants to Georgiana—though a few of Darcy’s long-serving staff remain distrustful of her.
I found Elizabeth’s narrative to be the most moving part of the book, her inner voice raw and honest, and often making my eyes sting. She is determined to be useful, to care for those around her, and give herself the dignity and strength to carry on even as her own heart suffers.
“The hard truth remained, however, there was nowhere to go, and so I ran to the only place available—to the sickbeds, to the children in need, to the spinsters and unfortunate souls clinging to gentility by threads, to my motherless new sister, to the parish poor. I ran anywhere I could to escape being alone with my own motherless, threadbare heart. I worked myself into a state of exhaustion from which I did not rest.” —Elizabeth, quote from book
Because of the scandal, Darcy finds himself not quite so respected in society as he once was. Ironically, it is a conversation with Miss Bingley, who now looks down on Darcy as beneath her, that makes his resentment slightly less immovable towards Elizabeth.
“How easy I had found it since even before I reached my majority only to dwell on my strengths and accomplishments. How self-satisfied I had been as I catalogued the finer points of my character. A gentleman, both liberal and well educated, with an impeccable record of doing his duty and preserving the reputation of his name, so cultured, so discerning and meticulous, and so—so deplorable! Wealth and privilege had shone a great light on me, a God-given benefice I took to be my own doing. How easy it was to stand in the light and refuse to look behind at the shadow I cast.” —Darcy, quote from book
When Elizabeth falls gravely ill, Darcy’s reaction changes everything. Tending to her at her bedside, in Elizabeth’s fevered state, the truth of their marriage comes to light, revealing her innocence, which allows Darcy to shed his resentment completely. What follows becomes a tender courtship, and as she regains her health, the reader is rewarded with the light, teasing banter Grace Gibson is so well noted for, and made even sweeter for the trials they bore.
Watching these two find their way from anger to understanding is a heartfelt story I’ll be revisiting. For me, this is Grace Gibson’s most emotional offering yet, and one I can’t wait to experience again in audio. I most highly recommend it. You won’t be able to put it down.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. The published version was also purchased for my Kindle library.
October 30, 2025 - Audiobook This dual narration by Elizabeth Grace and Simon Alison is outstanding. I adore the sound of their voices and their performances are outstanding. Most highly recommend.
December 21, 2025 - Audiobook Just love, love this dual narration!
‘Till this moment, I never knew myself.' (Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice)
People say I'm the life of the party 'Cause I tell a joke or two Although I might be laughing loud and hearty Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face You know my smile looks out of place If you look closer it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears (Sung by Linda Ronstadt)
“I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.” (Jane Austen‘s Pride & Prejudice)
Heart stopping, tear inducing, incredible rendering of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet that swept me up emotionally and gently lowered me down to a deeply satisfying end. A tale of implacable resentment on the part of Mr. Darcy and the incredible courage and compassion of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. A tale of finding yourself and your deepest love.
“What a relief it would be to rage at him, but nothing would come of such displays of weakness, and I would surely give him more cause to despise me. Thus, I clung – sometimes with clenched teeth and a failing grip – to the advice of Marcus Aurelius: the best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” (quote from the book)
Told in the first person by Elizabeth Darcy and Mr. Darcy from the day of their wedding. We know something scandalous has happened at the Meryton Assembly, but we don’t know what until much further into the book. From the first chapter to the last, I was captivated, appalled, proud and angry. Proud of Elizabeth’s strength and compassion…strength even she didn’t realize she had. Angry at Mr. Darcy’s selfishness and blindness. I laughed and cried. At one point, I was reading through the blurriness of my tears at what Mr. Bennet had done to his family. He was as much to blame for the situation they all found themselves in.
“Your ordeal may have worn away your health, Elizabeth, but mine eroded my pride. Only a humble man who has rid himself of self-interest can love a woman with the whole of his heart.” (quote from the book)
Ms. Gibson takes us on a heartbreaking journey with an intensity that gripped my heart and plumbed the depths of pride and prejudice as the newly married Darcy’s embark on a loveless marriage. Laced with her signature style, humour and elegance, she delves deeper into their hearts. Making this a novel that is not light and fluffy, but one of a deeper fulfilling read. One I cannot recommend highly enough. One that I will be buying the paperback edition of that I will read again and place right along with Ms. Gibson’s lighter but just as worthy novels.
Thank you for this novel, Ms. Gibson. It was one I truly needed.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I do enjoy FMS stories and this one comes with a bit of a mystery.
The readers are told that Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to marry after a situation at the Meryton Assembly. Darcy refuses to hear Elizabeth's disclaimer that she manipulated events and Elizabeth is forced to accept his proposal by her father. (Ironically, the Bennet family falls apart after this, with three of the girls being sent off to a school and Mr. and Mrs. becoming isolated from each other.)
So Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are off to Pemberley. He refuses to even call her by name and they mostly communicate by short notes. They do meet and spend some time in the library in the afternoons but only for appearances...not conversation. She does form a friendship with Georgiana.
Elizabeth not only has a maid servant who is most helpful but also has the attitude that she is going to be the best mistress she can be...and she does succeed there. Darcy goes about his usual business. However, Elizabeth does ask him for aid in locating a physician due to an illness she finds afflicting more than one family among their tenants. Here Colonel Fitzwilliam is of use.
Elizabeth also reaches out to help some outside the estate, plus invites for dinner other new acquaintances. These acts are not usual for the class of people Darcy has dealt with in the past and draw comments and/or gossip.
(Spoiler) The turning point in this relationship mostly comes as Elizabeth is severely stricken and others fear for her life. (End of spoiler.)
This long story does include some parts as to Elizabeth's sisters and Mr. Gardiner has his part in shaking up Darcy's notions a bit.
In many ways this was a 5 star read. The detailed depictions of remorse and resilience, plus the skillfully written narrative were some of the most memorable parts of this variation.
I do enjoy the forced marriage trope, and Grace Gibson did it justice. Especially, her interpretation of Elizabeth showing courage and proving Darcy wrong in his assumptions of her uselessness. As to the reason for the “compromised” marriage, the reader is only given hints, and the truth is revealed nearly at the end. This did not affect my enjoyment of the story.
I loved the dueling narrative showing us Darcy and Elizabeth’s point of view as they navigate this new life they do not want. There were several instances where Darcy’s deadpan reactions and sarcasm had me laughing out loud. Case in point, when he tells Elizabeth he will be naming the new school after the misogynistic steward, Johnson. And Elizabeth continuously referring to Darcy as “the bear” made me smile.
It is also worth mentioning how amazing Georgiana is in this variation. The way she gives Darcy a proper scolding for his poor treatment of his wife was one of my favorite parts of the book.
My one complaint was that I wished for more romantic chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy. In this type of trope, it is no surprise that Darcy will disparage his wife’s looks and character, so I only wished for more redemption in that arena. Ultimately, his groveling and transformation as the doting husband was acceptable.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for an angst filled pride and prejudice variation. And this is a doozy! Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy are forced to marry, following a compromise at the Meryton Assembly.
Mr Bennet disowns Elizabeth and sends her younger sisters to a harsh boarding school. It makes Lowood school in Jane Eyre look cushy.
Darcy is convinced that Elizabeth and her family are gold diggers. His distain and bitterness know no bounds.
At Pemberley, Elizabeth finds some allies and some antagonists. Thank the good Lord that Georgiana loves her.
It takes a long time for Darcy to be reconciled to the marriage but when threatened with losing Elizabeth, his behaviour changes.
This Darcy becomes the sweetest husband and we receive a delightful happy ever after, as expected.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love most of the book, with a few caveats. The most jarring element of this tale is Darcy’s hatred of Elizabeth, which transcends irrational to the fanatical. We finally get to see the compromise late into the tale and it’s quite tame, for all that the man rages. To be believable, either the compromise needed to be horrifying, or Darcy needed a more rational anger.
Mr Bennet’s behavior is hard to reconcile, especially since we see him for the briefest of moments onscreen. It’s hard to sell such a drastic change to a character without letting the reader see the transformation happen.
A saner Darcy could still harbor the resentment which spurs Elizabeth’s grace under pressure. She blooms in foreign soils, and I applaud Ms Gibson for choosing a novel (to fan fiction) yet believable epidemic besieging Pemberley’s tenants.
I will be buying this for my permanent collection.
This is a bit angstier than some other Grace Gibson books. Elizabeth and Darcy are married after a very brief and unhappy acquaintance. There was a scandal (the nature of which will not be revealed until later in the book) and he resents her very deeply for it. Life at Pemberley is not easy for Elizabeth but she does her best to be useful. For most of the book, their relationship is cold and formal, but there is a bit of teasing banter in the end, and it was very welcome.
I love it although I thought they ought to have had some more discussion of everything that happened, some more groveling. It seemed like they swept a great deal of strife under a rug.
Elizabeth is forced to marry Darcy, a stranger to her, because of a stupid trick played on her at the Meryton assembly. Darcy is livid, and blames Elizabeth for trapping him into an unwanted marriage with a lowborn wife. At Pemberly, Elizabeth must learn how to make the most of a bad situation, and she succeeds, in spite of Darcy's refusal to treat her with respect. She befriends Georgiana, and their alliance helps to sustain Elizabeth, as she gradually has a positive impact at Pemberly.
I like this author. She's an automatic purchase for me. The high level of emotional hardship almost put me off, but thankfully our intrepid, brave Elizabeth is determined, and her progress is quick and steady. It's difficult to accept a cruel Darcy, even if his reasoning seems justified. However, the author's use of first person POV, alternating between Elizabeth and Darcy, gives us enough insight into Darcy's head that we're confident he's not all bad. The book is very well written and well edited. I recommend it highly, but be prepared for some really high angst.
Нащо ця книжка змусила мене ридати о третій ночі? От уміє Ґрейс Ґібсон закрутити і покатати на емоційній карусельці. А потім дати такий чуйний щасливий кінець! ^^
This version of Mr. Darcy was implacable resentment personified. Ms. Gibson paints a harrowing portrait of how difficult a woman’s life can become under the authority of unsympathetic men. She maintains a skillful tension between a character it would be easy to hate, and another who could be an object of pity. Both have the opportunity to express their viewpoints, and the eventual resolution is powerfully moving. Very well written, and satisfying in the end.
Heartbreaking and Beautiful and I feel lucky to have read this. Grace Gibsons other works are much more light hearted with lots of witty dialogue. This book has great dialogue that carry the story and illustrate the different character and their personalities. I loved the back and forth differing perspectives of ODC. The HEA is all the sweeter for having dragged us through that miserable winter.
This book, like all her others, is fabulous. So well written, I love the way she writes Elizabeth and Darcy. Darcy was hard to like at first, but Gibson does great job of keeping us on the razors edge between understanding and resenting Darcy’s resentments. And he so thoroughly looks at himself in the mirror, we forgive him for being a jerk. It takes some skill to manage the transition, and Gibson does so with aplomb. A great read- highly recommended!
very angsty, yet miraculously Darcy goes from veritably hating Elizabeth to adoring her, and Elizabeth forgives him without a qualm for how horrendously he treated her! lord knows I would not be as easy to placate
the pacing was very odd, dragging out until Elizabeth became ill then racing to the end
I've read a few Darcy-is-forced-to-marry-Elizabeth-to-avoid-scandal stories on AO3 but the ones I thought were promising were all unfinished, so I was excited to stumble on this one, however I've read Silver Buckles by this author and found it lacking and was unsure how much I'd like this one.
It's very emotional, it felt very desolate at times. A perfect read on a gloomy day when you start feeling the clutches of SADs. I enjoyed it a great deal, despite the fact that the rest of this review sounds mostly negative. This isn't a FD&EB love story, it's mostly about the challenges a Mistress of a Grand Estate might face as she's coming into her responsibilities, especially when her husband isn't so happy with this new status and some of his subordinates feel it and act accordingly.
The ending with the sickness was meh. The language was modern at times. Instead of a slow realization by the MC of all faults instead the story moves straight to the Happily Ever After. Boring and lazy.
Warning: Contains scenes that would scandalize the ton. Readers of a delicate constitution are advised to keep their fans and vinaigrettes close at hand.
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. This is part of the Pride and Prejudice Variations series. This is a variation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice with a happily ever after guaranteed for our dear couple. It is a forced engagement/forced marriage scenario and the content is closed-door.
She signed my maiden name first before memorialising her new name, Elizabeth Madeline Darcy, for Elizabeth Bennet lay dead on the altar of matrimony. Having signed the register as Elizabeth Darcy, the former Miss Elizabeth Bennet must somehow survive a crushing scandal as a stranger to herself. Her unwilling husband is so outraged to find himself tied to a person he thinks no better than a fortune hunter that she is forbidden to speak of the circumstances behind their union. Indeed, Mr Darcy seems to loathe even the sound of her voice, and often Elizabeth's only recourse is to be silent. When the couple arrives at Pemberley, Elizabeth, Mrs Darcy, is forced to draw upon stores of courage and resourcefulness she did not know she possessed in order to build, if not a happy life, a purposeful one. Facing obstacles and detractors, she carefully cultivates a friendship with Georgiana Darcy. Trapped into an unwanted marriage, Darcy must walk the long road of bitter resentment which forces him into increasing isolation during a very long winter. Increasingly confused by his new wife’s poise and determination to be useful, Darcy’s struggles multiply until a moment of reckoning shocks him out of his rage and into the strong light of truth, that even in the harshest of winters, the roots of tender feelings can quietly grow deep. 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.
The first half was ok, even though I did not like Darcy him being too annoying and childish. But then Elizabeths ilness happened and that was the turning point - in story itself and in my leaning towards liking it. Felt as if chapters were ripped of a book - there was no explanation in how or when Darcy fell in love, how Elisabeth forgave him, how they came into agreement, - it just happened and I was supposed to be happy about it even though that is the part I look for in the book and that it was nowhere there. I too have no words to describe what was done with Bennets family in the final chapters - with tearing the whole characters apart (like Lizzys father who, in my eyes, was made into a madman basically or Bennet sisters who lost their individual faces and were mashed into the background to emphasize happy end) or our (suddenly saint) Darcy solving everyones problems in the most boring and sappy ways possible. Nope.
1811. A Pride and Prejudice variation where at the Metyton Assembly it would seem that Elizabeth Bennet compromised Darcy and the result is a marriage in which he hates her for for what she has done, and now how he is perceived by others. So he treats her with coldness while Elizabeth tries to be a good mistress of Pemberley and sister to Georgiana. An entertaining story
This same high level angst but i do feel like the ending was super rushed As in, several chapters missing type of rushed, I was expecting a good groveling and we got nothing That was the most disappointing
A solid 80% of the book is his abhorrence of her. Solid 80%. Turn page and he’s in love.
I guess the author got tired of writing.
To be honest, baseline, it’s well written, I just wish the turnaround wasn’t so rushed. It doesn’t really make sense why his attitude would change so quickly and why she would move on without any sort of conversation or spoken understanding.
Premise: A forced marriage situation stemming from a compromise at the Meryton assembly, so ODC have no knowledge of each other's character at all. Darcy is megagrumpy and refuses to listen to anything Elizabeth has to say about the events that lead to the compromise and instead nurses his hatred. At Pemberley, Elizabeth is faced with misogyny from the local doctor and Pemberley's steward, initial animosity from the staff, and an outbreak of venereal disease spreading through the tenant families.
What I liked: This was an emotional slow burn sprinkled with some humor and painful angst. I loved Elizabeth winning over Mrs Reynolds and Georgiana, and her efforts to help her new sister overcome her shyness. I felt indignant for her when she is mistreated and unheard.
Characterization: Darcy is colder and more callous for much of the book, though he does begin to soften a bit before he learns the truth of the compromise. Mr Bennet is awful.
Spice level: None. There's eventually a kiss and a fade to black.
Any non-canon parings: Yep.
Other notes or issues: This was overall entirely delightful. I loved Darcy's struggle with his growing feelings for Elizabeth, and that while he WAS a huge grump, he still made sure she was outfitted and staffed in a way befitting Mrs Darcy. The only thing I wish is that there had been more time after he learned the truth of the compromise. I wanted more time seeing him make amends and slowly win Elizabeth over. She forgave him too quickly, imo, though I suppose what other option did she have? And I really REALLY wanted to see them in town, with him in full protective mode setting down anyone who spoke ill of her. Ha.
4.25 stars. This was a really good story, but I had to deduct points for Darcy being so incredibly obstinate. I get that he was very disappointed at first, but it took him way too long to admit that Elizabeth wasn't the scheming fortune hunter he imagined and he let his resentment towards the situation cloud his judgment on way too many occasions. Which is why I needed groveling (lots of it!), but it wasn't there. Also, I could sort of see why Darcy fell in love eventually, but I really didn't see why Elizabeth did. I congratulate her for not growing bitter and for taking the high road for so long, but that's not love. Darcy didn't show his good side to her until the very last 20% of the book and she sort of immediately fell for him. I just didn't buy that, after months of icy coldness, him not doing anything to curb servants like Johnson and refusing to talk to her, especially about what happened in Meryton.
But there were parts of this book I adored. Elizabeth was a determined pilar for the women around her and I loved how she, Georgiana, Mrs. Reynolds and her maid Wilson banded together. I loved how Georgiana grew up, tried to shield Elizabeth from Darcy and eventually told him in plain English what she thought of his behavior. So don't read this for the romance, because it's not that satisfying, but love it for Elizabeth's journey and the plight of women in this time period. That aspect was very well done.
I am a girl who can't get enough of Darcy and Elizabeth, so if there's a new variation out there, I am always down to read it!
Grace Gibson's latest novel, The Winter of Our Discontent, definitely gives readers a whole different way to look at Elizabeth and Darcy as she brings a forced marriage trope into Austen's classic. As the story opens up, we meet a resigned but unhappy Elizabeth and a furious yet dutiful Darcy, newly married after a scandal at the Meryton assembly.
Be prepared, as Gibson definitely delivers quite the dose of pain and angst as our couple tries to navigate the emotional turmoil and fallout of their sudden marriage. She pushes the boundaries of what one may typically expect from Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth, typically known for her impertinence and sharp wit, keeps herself reserved and battles terrible insecurities about her rightful place as Pemberley's mistress. Darcy is downright resentful and determined to hold on to his anger for so long that you definitely will want to shake him many times over.
However, Gibson's writing is so well done and thoughtful that you can't help but get sucked into this unique twist on the classic. I really appreciated that she wrote this as a dual POV because it provided the reader with a much more in depth character study for both Darcy and Elizabeth. One of the bright spots amidst all the tension is the genuine and beautiful friendship Elizabeth forms with Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana becomes Elizabeth's steadfast ally and her ultimate defender as Georgiana finds her voice in challenging her brother to do better by his wife.
While the path to happily ever after is filled with plenty of frustration and misunderstanding, Darcy and Elizabeth both grow from this journey and I really appreciate the way that Gibson explored this in her novel. I wished we had more time to see more of how the change in the couple's feelings unfolds but I still very much enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend for any Austen lover who is looking for a very unique take on Darcy and Elizabeth's love story.
Forced marriage bc of Lydia’s high jinx (truly all except Jane exhibit a careless disregard for proper boundaries & social behavior) FD @ his absolute worst when he feels like he’s not in control (duty to social propriety & forced to marry EB immolates his ability to see truth of the situation) & treats our Lizzy with soul crushing, no compassion evident contempt; she attempts to mitigate the damage to her psyche by reaching out to Pemberly tenants, parish poor, working hard to learn mistress duties & being silent unless spoken to per Darcy’s rules (inhumane treatment described by him as civility). Loving Georgiana saves her sanity, she throws all her sister energy into helping her recover from the Ramsgate debacle while Darcy goes to London to enjoy ‘peace’, pretending he’s not married & grow his resentment vs every Bennet member. The Fitzwilliam Family as expected disdain the marriage & all talk of divorce, annulment or having Lizzy being sent away to remote, coldest, most bleak holding to be continually ignored until she croaks for entrapping him. The Bennet Family meanwhile, falls apart and kept apart in a cruel fashion at instructions by Mr Bennet. Mrs Bennet banished upstairs from his sight forever for the shame of failing to raise her daughters better (as if his indolence/remoteness isn’t primary cause of Lydia seeking attention). It’s a mess not gonna lie! But the lyrical style & burgeoning self awareness of the Darcy’s is remarkably done and lovely to see. The story is slow sometimes but seeing the truth of who EB is quite inspiring in face of the obstacles thrown at her. Also—Some quite interesting snappy moments along the way. Darcy doesn’t wake up and smell the coffee til about 85% of the book is read which stinks, but it works out and very nice HEA occurs with the sisters being a prominent part of the ending. Recommend to read for genuine PP fans & I will reread again…in about a year (this is my third read)