Pride, Prejudice & Treason: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Amelia Grace Royce

Netherfield Park has not been leased for pleasure. It has been opened as a trap.

To the people of Meryton, Charles Bingley is an amiable young gentleman searching for a country estate, while his proud friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, appears determined to dislike everyone around him. No one suspects that both men serve the Crown—or that their arrival in Hertfordshire was prompted by alarming reports of French agents operating within an approaching militia regiment.

Bingley’s charm allows him into Meryton’s drawing rooms, while Darcy’s connections open doors among England’s most powerful families. Their orders are identify the traitors before vital military intelligence reaches Bonaparte.

Then they meet the Bennet sisters.

Jane’s quiet warmth threatens Bingley’s carefully guarded heart, while Elizabeth’s sharp wit and fearless questions make her uniquely dangerous to Darcy. She distrusts his secrecy, resents his arrogance, and cannot understand why he watches her family so closely. Yet every encounter draws them nearer, transforming suspicion into reluctant trust—and trust into an attraction neither can safely acknowledge.

But Longbourn conceals secrets of its own.

Behind the closed door of his study, Mr. Bennet performs dangerous work for the English government, decoding messages that could alter the course of the war. His identity has remained buried for years. Now someone is searching for the mysterious “decoder,” and the arrival of the militia brings the enemy dangerously close to his unsuspecting daughters.

When charming George Wickham enters Meryton and Lydia attracts the attention of a new and seemingly devoted friend, coded letters begin disappearing, loyalties become uncertain, and Elizabeth discovers that nearly everyone she knows has been keeping secrets.

To protect the Bennet family and expose the French mastermind, Darcy and Elizabeth must learn to trust one another before the enemy strikes. But in a neighborhood where courtship provides the perfect disguise and treason hides behind impeccable manners, surrendering their hearts may prove every bit as dangerous as confronting the spy in their midst.

**Author This book theme was inspired by the title of a children's movie from 1996, a favorite of my sister's. If you can figure out the movie please leave a review and comment the movie you think it is from!!**

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 24, 2026

Reviews

[J.C. Plummer]

This is my fifth story by this author. I’ve read two novels (Twice Chosen and Engagement at Longbourn) and two novellas (both with alternate pairings instead of Darcy/Elizabeth). Those four stories were engaging and enjoyable. “Engagement” was amusing, and “Twice Chosen” was touching.

This story was nothing like the other four that I read. It started well enough, and the plot was interesting, but it soon began to veer off into strange, incomprehensible directions. Things were happening that did not make sense. For a bunch of spies, everyone seemed to be confessing everything to each other. Story mistakes started to mount, including the idea that Bingley would enter Jane’s sickroom while she’s at Netherfield.

In particular, there is one moment from which the story never recovers: the magical candles at the Netherfield ball. The magical “main snuffer chain” is activated and ALL the candles go out at once. Hundreds of candles (as established in the story). Poof. Total darkness for the attendees at the ball. Then, someone starts re-lighting the hundreds of candles. Seriously. This actually happens in the story.

While I could believe her other stories were written instead of generated, you can’t convince me that a real person wrote this.

Read through KU.

[Levi]

Sigh with eyeroll*

I was looking forward to this book because it promised some interesting plot.

This is an other poorly generated AI nonsense. Ex:" ... i was observing Mr. Bingley's carpet..." said Mr. Bennet at Lucas Lodge event. What the actual fffffff?!

Also you could easily know who is who in the plot and it seems Wickham was given again the benefit of the doubt even from the Earl for the purpose of observation... right!!!

Don't be fooled by the raitings, probably bots....

[Lynette Turner]

a busy book

Clean, suitable all ages non regency syntax. Possible triggers: Angst w/capital ‘A’, treason, & patriarchal elements in regency period. Plot: Mr Bennet is important employee in clandestine operations working from a young age for the Crown —passing/creating secret messages using coded puzzles/documents he and his brother by marriage (Edward Gardiner- Shipping & Imports) relay to each other via shipping map questions & invoice numbers. Clever ruse for several years & his family is unaware until—Mr Bennet’s life is threatened when it’s discovered French spy(s) have located his home parish & are on the hunt. Mr Darcy & Mr Bingley have secrets other than they find themselves falling in love w/two eldest Bennet daughters when Bingley rents nearby Netherfield estate. Lotsa shenanigans & Lydia is officer crazy as in canon. Wickham is wicked (or is he) & has likeminded friends in the ___Militia. His antics had me thinking he was working both sides…..No spoilers, but bolo females who find themselves in the French agent’s orbits (who will both gob-smack & impress w/his/her cleverness); overall this is well written & plotted book, pacing is fast, some dialogue contrived but overall believable; with so much going on in each chapter, admit couldn’t get emotionally vested in main characters lives..it was more of a who done it vs romantic premise i expected in a PP variation &
admit this well researched book wasnt as enjoyable vs some others written by Ms Royce bc of that fact (suppose i prefer the romantic themes to be forefront of PP variations?). Overall this book is worth investing time in if ur looking for fast, entertaining read (at least once). I admire this author & continue to look forward to reading more of her releases.

[Mary]

I read a lot of JAFF, and really appreciate a fresh story, rather than a rehash of oft-repeated stories. As other reviewers have pointed out, the book does contain some errors, but I am willing to overlook them because of the original and meaningful story. I really enjoyed this book.

[Amelita Armit]

Interesting plot, with twists and turns, lots of "minor inconsistencies", but, overall I enjoyed the ride. I liked that the Bennet girls all had their particular brand of intelligence which were used well in the situations demanded of them.

[Pet]

A very different and fascinating story, lots of twists and turns, unexpected reveals, and a delightfully new way to get ODC together. I really enjoyed reading this.

[Joy Williams]

plot is confusing

A good storyline but massive plot holes and errors that are frustrating - e.g. Jane has a second daughter but already has two?