Uncompromising: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Cathleen Earle

Jane Bennet is less lovely than usual when she is constantly coughing and sneezing.
Elizabeth Bennet is even more lovely than usual when she is bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked, with curls disheveled by the breeze, as she arrives after walking three miles from Longbourn to Netherfield Park.
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley both desire Miss Elizabeth, but it is Caroline Bingley's scheming that really brings the drama to the group assembled at Netherfield.

Uncompromising is a novella with approximately 30,000 words. This book contains some mature content.

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

Cathleen Earle is that rare thing - someone who is third generation Southern Californian. Raised in Pasadena, she went to the University of La Verne and now lives in Chino, a town known for cows and prisons. (She has nothing to do with either!)

A long-time education writer and editor, she writes science fiction books for kids and teens and Pride and Prejudice variations for adults.

Cathleen loves science fiction and Jane Austen, alternative rock music and jigsaw puzzles, streaming TV shows (think "Resident Alien" and "The Good Place") and really, really old places (think the Roman Forum and Stonehenge).

Reviews

[Katja]

This was a new-to-me author. It's a quick read and everything in the story takes place within a very short time. When Jane is ill at Netherfield, Bingley is already bored with her and is attracted to the next nearest girl, Elizabeth. Darcy and Elizabeth get engaged very quickly. But Caroline is plotting a compromise. At the end of the story some ends are left loose.

Steam level: there are some references to physical arousal (I found these rather unromantic occasionally) and we know that vows get anticipated but the details are left to the imagination.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story where Caroline's attempt at a compromise goes terribly wrong, at least for her...

[ste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun premise idk about the execution.
Elizabeth and Darcy’s story felt rushed and it had a weird pacing

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compromise gone wrong

I am not at all surprised that a certain someone would scheme and plan to compromise Darcy! What an interesting story with different dynamics.

[Terri M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little naughty, but not very explicit. A low angst story with no Collins, Wickham, or Lady Catherine (except by mention). Caroline Bingley will make an attempt at compromising Darcy. Will it work out as she has planned? Charles Bingley has changed his mind. Jane is no longer his ideal of feminine perfection…Elizabeth is as she is lively, curvaceous and passionate. Will Elizabeth accept his change in affection from Jane to herself? Bingley believes he can convince her they belong together. Darcy is in love. Will the enchanting Miss Elizabeth accept his proposal? This is a quick afternoon’s read. Prepare your favorite cup of tea and enjoy this little tale.

[Mustang · Rating 3 out of 5]

D & E together very early

In this variation we start off with Miss Bingley entering Darcy’s room at Netherfield and finds Darcy and Elizabeth in bed. The story then jumps back to reveal what occurred prior to this. This is a story for mature audience but nothing to graphic. I would have liked the story to be a bit more expanded to at least see what happened with Bingley and Jane even though we do know, they do not end up with each other as Bingley admits he is not interested in marrying Jane. if you are looking for a very quick read that has Darcy and Elizabeth together quickly this will fit requirement.

[Marta Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet

This was a quick take on our beloved P & P. No wasting time with Wickham, Lydia or Mr. Collins and their shenanigans.
I’d have liked to see the fickle Mr. Bingley being officially set down by an indignant Elizabeth on behalf of her beloved sister, or maybe a rightly furious Darcy. Bingley was no better than a rake and certainly deserved an appropriate ending.
But this is imply a quick read with good and lighthearted fun for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

[Rosanne M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drama and Love

I wish Jane’s feelings were explored. I like that she (Jane) did not end up with Bingley. She the sweet Jane deserved Love and respect.
The Darcy and Elizabeth story was fast, sweet, and I did not see that curve. While the prologue let you glimpse the outcome—the story had you wondering how in the world until tea time came. Caroline is so foolish.
I highly recommend this tasteful variation!

[Vem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short for any proper character development. Elizabeth is also into Darcy before the Netherfield stay and no explanations were given as to why.

It’s a fine writing though. Just that, with the drastic unexplained change to the feelings of both from canon and the short length it was not a convincing read

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Cute book where Caroline makes plans and they go quite awry. Mr. Bingley is a jerk, though there is not followup or epilogue to know what happened between Darcy and Bingley. It was nice to not have any Wickham, Collins or Lady Catherine (she was merely mentioned).

[J.C. Plummer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant, short, and more explicit than I expected, but thankfully not as graphic as it could have been.

There should have been some closure on what happened with Bingley after the end of the story and whether Jane found love.

[CEK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, sexy, and cute

A decisive Darcy, an inconstant Bingley, a nasty Caroline and a sweet Elizabeth get tangled up at Netherfield when Jane catches cold there. Lizzy and Darcy have some cute romantic moments and some delightful sexy moments as Caroline's plots go awry.

[Jen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a bit of fun. A bit irreverent. Doesn't appear that Darcy insulted Elizabeth at the assembly and things went along swimmingly from there. Caroline's clumsily and unwittingly helped things along (good thing otherwise it could have ended badly for ODC).

[RTD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and quick read

What a difference a day makes.

Caroline is a schemer, and Bingley is still Bingley.

I'm surprised there aren't more stories of Bingley's affection turning towards Elizabeth.

[Linda K Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncompromising

A sweet short story. Funny that Huntley thinks he can switch his affection from Jane to Elizabeth and never dreamed that Darcy actually cared for her. And Caroline, she really thought her compromise would work. Boy are they shocked.

[Audny V. Kjuus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story with a twist. It was not chaste, but that was because some scheme of Miss B. going astray. Luckily so would I say. I always love stories where E&D comes to an understanding early like in this story!

[Donna Bokaie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun

I ALWAYS love a book where Caroline Bingley receives what she deserves.
I knocked one star as I would have enjoyed a short epilogue for Jane (did she realize life isn't perfect), Bingley (did he ever grow up) and Caroline (hoe much fun was she having now).

[Camila · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good

It was so good, the first parragraph is so engaging that you just want to know what happend next. Realy short, lovely variation with no angst.

[CharlotteReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, and brief little novella

No Bad guys, well except CB and ODC gets an HEA pretty quickly. A good read with a cup of tea- ensure it is not “delicious”

[Lady Jl · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very entertaining read

This is a very entertaining read. Short but entertaining. Lots of possibilities for a full length story that I wish the author had taken.

[Terri Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. The prologue gives it away a bit imo but you had to read along until you get there again.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Está bien, sin más. Los Bingleys caen muy muy mal

[Ss8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this one. I will read more from this author