The Darcy Inheritance: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Romance

by Rachelle Ayala

Elizabeth Bennet is not a Bennet. She’s the lost Darcy heiress—and falling in love with her could cost Fitzwilliam Darcy everything.

Twenty years ago, baby Elizabeth Rose Darcy vanished the night her parents died in a suspicious fire. Hidden at Longbourn for her protection, she grew up as Elizabeth Bennet, never knowing her true identity. An anonymous letter reveals the shocking she’s the rightful heir to one of England’s greatest estates.

Fitzwilliam Darcy believes his father’s deathbed “Never trust a Bennet.” When Elizabeth arrives at Pemberley claiming to be his long-dead cousin, every instinct screams deception. But the evidence is compelling—and dangerous. So is his growing attraction to the spirited woman who challenges everything he believed about his family.

Multiple parties want Pemberley’s fortune, including the charming but dangerous George Wickham, whose family holds deadly secrets about the night Elizabeth’s parents died. He’s not the only one, as Darcy discovers betrayal from old friends and servants. With each revelation, the danger grows closer, and Elizabeth realizes that claiming her inheritance might cost her everything.

When All Hallows’ Eve arrives with its masquerade of flickering jack-o’-lanterns and hidden faces, the night brings danger, unmasked secrets, and a desperate race against midnight. Can Elizabeth survive long enough to claim her inheritance? Will Darcy choose love over everything he holds dear?

Their once-in-a-lifetime love threatens loyalty, friendship, and family legacy. Together, they’ll discover that the greatest inheritance isn’t wealth or title—it’s the courage to risk everything for your heart.

A clean, medium-angst enemies-to-lovers romance where family secrets run deeper than blood, and love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

Not a Bennet • Secret identity • Lost heiress • Enemies to lovers • Sister-in-law friendship • Inheritance battle • Decades old murder mystery • All Hallows’ Eve masquerade • Bad Bingleys • Wickham and his mom • Protective hero • Courageous heroine • Guaranteed HEA

107,000 words, clean romance

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2025

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention. In 2017, her book about a single mother with an autistic son, Playing for the Save, won the 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Realistic Fiction.

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She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She lives in California with her husband and has three children and two birds.

For an updated, printable booklist:
https://www.scribd.com/document/34213...

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Whole Latte Love
The Remingtons: Leap, Laugh, Love
The Remingtons: Blush of Love
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick
Laguna Beach: Lucky in Laguna
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Sapphire Falls: Going Hearts Over Heels

SPORTS ROMANCE
Played by Love
Playing the Rookie
Playing Without Rules
Roaring Hot!
Intercepted by Love
Playing Catch
Playing for the Save

SWEET ROMANCE
Christmas Stray
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
A Wedding for Christmas
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Blue Chow Christmas
Valentine Wedding Hound

HOLIDAY ROMANCE
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Michal's Window

NON-FICTION
Your Daily Bible Verse
Romance In A Month
366 Ways to Know Your Character
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella

Reviews

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darcy Inheritance is an exciting, murder mystery. An anonymous letter delivered to Elizabeth informs her she is actually a Darcy - the presumed dead daughter or the older Darcy brother and Fitzwilliam's cousin. Thus begins a curious and dangerous quest for the truth. Ms. Ayala has once again captured my attention with this wonderfully plotted, romantic suspense novel. There is the usual love/hate attraction of Darcy and Elizabeth. She ends up sheltered at Pemberley and Darcy guards her as fiercely as he guards Georgianna. Together the investigate the allegations in the letter. The Wickhams and the Bingleys have large roles as well. Everything ends up with an exciting climax the night of All Hallows’ Eve, at a masquerade ball. I am not about to spoil all the twists, turns, secrets, betrayals and more that lead to the stunning conclusion. You will not want to miss this dramatic Pride and Prejudice variation!

[Emerald Gulledge · Rating 2 out of 5]

desperately needs editing

Please please please get an editor. There’s something great conceptually in all your novels but they get lost and/or contradict themselves with misplaced details or contradictory dialogue from the same character.

[Danette Fowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite variation of Pride and Prejudice. It is unique in the story of Elizabeth possibly being a Darcy and has a great mystery that keeps you involved in the story. But the best part is the unveiling of the mysyery and the wonderful ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Good Mystery!

I was never good at solving mysteries. Is Elizabeth really the Darcy baby everyone thought was dead? Who killed her parents and why? Who only wants to marry Elizabeth for Pemberly?