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Marry in Haste
Elizabeth Bennet marries an Earl two years before P&P begins. Now widowed, wealthy and a peer of the realm, she has been abused by her love, a shadow of her former self. With Ramsgate in his mind, Darcy seeks to restore her to liveliness, & her love.
- GenresRomance
191 pages, ebook
Published February 11, 2012
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 13, 2021
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7822870/...
Version 1: 4-stars: 28-chapters: Rating: MA or at least PG-17 due to discussions of abuse, nothing graphic was discussed just hinted at. We deal mostly with her reaction to looking back.
There are several excellent reviews on GR already, so there is no need for me to outline the story. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this story. I simply adored this Darcy as he approached the wounded Lady Elizabeth, Countess of Walden, with such care. Since he was such a consummate horseman, he knew how to approach a skittish horse. When he looked into the troubled eyes of this beautiful woman, he recognized the tragic haunted look that he had seen in the eyes of his younger sister.
There were several matches in this story that was delightful. There were secrets revealed for family members that were hard to hear.
Our villains left the page fairly quickly, but whether it was the end of them or not was left unknown. There is version 2 by this author of this same story. Perhaps they will be dealt with in that story. Otherwise, there were a lot of threads left dangling.
Version 2: 3.5-stars: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8044351/...
32-chapters: Caveat Rating: MA Not-To-Be-Ignored: trigger warnings due to spousal abuse: explicit descriptions: references to bondage, described spousal rape and physical abuse. The author was kind and didn’t get too explicit or too graphic with the abuse and sex. There were suggestions enough to indicate that this was bad. The camera, so to speak, didn’t always go to black. I have alluded to bondage, but it was not extreme. This was a man who was more about control and dominance… even though he felt [in his own twisted mind anyway] that he was honorable. Most psychopaths do.
Lord Lucius, Earl of Saffron Walden: This story was very different than version 1, in that it had a darker feel to it. Although the emotions ran higher… the angst ran deeper. The story leaned more toward a modern bent on the feelings regarding marriage. Attitudes toward marriage were very different in the Regency era. I understand that many a lady left her husband for whatever reason ‘back in the day;’ however, the social ramifications were severe and not to be taken lightly. Too many people in this story shook their heads and turned a blind eye and that was a bit jarring.
Comparing the two stories was like comparing two decks of cards. The number cards and the face cards were the same, only one deck was red and the other was blue. If we could have shuffled the decks together, we would have a very different story. My main concerns dealt with the relationship of the very married Elizabeth with the very single Darcy. I’m sorry… Elizabeth was married… period. It was one thing for them to look at each other, it was another for them to voice their feelings. They had no business crossing that line.
The writing was good and I liked the interactions of the secondary characters. Having already read version one, I had knowledge of the story from a different perspective and I really liked the slower calmer version better. There were several revelations in version two that were useful and the twist to the story was good. It’s like… there were good parts in both stories that… combined… would make up a really great story.
1st read 1-22-17
2nd read: 6-12-21 ~ 6-13-21
Version 1: 4-stars: 28-chapters: Rating: MA or at least PG-17 due to discussions of abuse, nothing graphic was discussed just hinted at. We deal mostly with her reaction to looking back.
There are several excellent reviews on GR already, so there is no need for me to outline the story. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this story. I simply adored this Darcy as he approached the wounded Lady Elizabeth, Countess of Walden, with such care. Since he was such a consummate horseman, he knew how to approach a skittish horse. When he looked into the troubled eyes of this beautiful woman, he recognized the tragic haunted look that he had seen in the eyes of his younger sister.
There were several matches in this story that was delightful. There were secrets revealed for family members that were hard to hear.
Our villains left the page fairly quickly, but whether it was the end of them or not was left unknown. There is version 2 by this author of this same story. Perhaps they will be dealt with in that story. Otherwise, there were a lot of threads left dangling.
Version 2: 3.5-stars: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8044351/...
32-chapters: Caveat Rating: MA Not-To-Be-Ignored: trigger warnings due to spousal abuse: explicit descriptions: references to bondage, described spousal rape and physical abuse. The author was kind and didn’t get too explicit or too graphic with the abuse and sex. There were suggestions enough to indicate that this was bad. The camera, so to speak, didn’t always go to black. I have alluded to bondage, but it was not extreme. This was a man who was more about control and dominance… even though he felt [in his own twisted mind anyway] that he was honorable. Most psychopaths do.
Lord Lucius, Earl of Saffron Walden: This story was very different than version 1, in that it had a darker feel to it. Although the emotions ran higher… the angst ran deeper. The story leaned more toward a modern bent on the feelings regarding marriage. Attitudes toward marriage were very different in the Regency era. I understand that many a lady left her husband for whatever reason ‘back in the day;’ however, the social ramifications were severe and not to be taken lightly. Too many people in this story shook their heads and turned a blind eye and that was a bit jarring.
Comparing the two stories was like comparing two decks of cards. The number cards and the face cards were the same, only one deck was red and the other was blue. If we could have shuffled the decks together, we would have a very different story. My main concerns dealt with the relationship of the very married Elizabeth with the very single Darcy. I’m sorry… Elizabeth was married… period. It was one thing for them to look at each other, it was another for them to voice their feelings. They had no business crossing that line.
The writing was good and I liked the interactions of the secondary characters. Having already read version one, I had knowledge of the story from a different perspective and I really liked the slower calmer version better. There were several revelations in version two that were useful and the twist to the story was good. It’s like… there were good parts in both stories that… combined… would make up a really great story.
1st read 1-22-17
2nd read: 6-12-21 ~ 6-13-21
February 5, 2017
Note that there are two versions with the same title at the fanfiction.net web site. I read Version #2 first, thinking it would be a later (more edited) version of the same story, but they are, in fact, quite different. Then I read Version #1 in its entirety, too.
VERSION 1: 3 stars
VERSION 2: 4 stars
Average: 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars
The basic premise is not the same, although in both stories, Elizabeth Bennet has been unhappily married to Lord Lucius, the Earl of Saffron Walden, for two years. He's known to Darcy as a heavy drinker, a gambler, a womanizer- in short, a man Darcy does not respect- but it turns out Lord Lucius is also a brutally abusive husband. In Version #1, Elizabeth is already a widow. Her husband dies in the same manner in Version #2, but this does not occur until well into the book.
The author shows tremendous writing talent. I love her beautiful writing style. There are some snippets of dialogue lifted from the original Pride and Prejudice, usually given to different characters than in canon, that work logically in their new context. There are other occasional excerpts, but her own writing blends so well that there's no discernible difference. I do note occasional grammar errors in both versions that would be corrected easily should she decide to publish. Her use of actual era estates and clubs is impressive, and she includes footnotes documenting their history.
The focus of Version #1 is Elizabeth's PTSD and Darcy's gentle efforts to help her heal emotionally. The primary conflict is "man-vs-himself," since Elizabeth needs to overcome her horrific past and embrace the chance for a happy future. This is very tasteful in its treatment of battered wife syndrome. While there are triggers that bring back Elizabeth's ingrained feelings of fear, the author avoids specific flashback memories in favor of Elizabeth's emotional responses and her attempts, with Darcy's help, to exorcise her past. It's very introspective, spending a lot of time describing the thoughts and feelings both have over several months. Darcy is at his most romantic, patiently waiting for her to be ready to trust him enough to try and love again.
Much of it becomes repetitive, and there isn't a lot of action. Once Elizabeth and Darcy meet, there isn't any serious threat to their relationship and the reader has no doubt how the story is going to go. There is one interesting section with Caroline Bingley scheming that includes her enlisting George Wickham's aid, hoping to drive a wedge between them. This complication is very short-lived, and neither character appears again.
Some interesting side plots emerge with Mr. Collins' marriage and the visit to Hunsford/Rosings. Unfortunately, it doesn't really have much to do with the main storyline except for Lady Catherine finally getting the message that Darcy won't be marrying her daughter Anne.
I found the plot in Version #2 to be much better constructed and filled with more action, although it also would certainly be more upsetting for many readers. Examples of the abuse that are only alluded to in the other version are described here, and Elizabeth suffers bondage and rape at the hands of her husband. The author wisely posts advisories at the beginning of any chapter where such scenes appear and separates the distressing parts in such a way that readers can opt to skip those details and not lose the thread of the story. Even the nonviolent scenes between Elizabeth and Lucius are fraught with tension, as she has to walk on eggshells in futile attempts to avoid enraging him. He has isolated her, not only from her family, but from all of society aside from her presentation to the Queen.
This story begins with Darcy finding Lord Lucius drunkenly passed out on the front steps of the London club to which both belong. He reluctantly deposits the man at his townhouse, and that's where he first encounters the Countess of Saffron Walden, whose reaction makes it clear that this is a common occurrence. Meanwhile, Jane is visiting, seeing her sister for the first time since the wedding two years ago. It's clear to her that Elizabeth isn't happy even though she keeps insisting she is content. Jane's relationship with Mr. Bingley brings Darcy and Elizabeth together on other occasions. Darcy is also able to recognize her despair behind the calm facade she presents to the world, and he finds himself fascinated and entranced by her quiet bravery.
Interestingly, much of the Rosings interlude is the same in both stories, but this time Lord Lucius is there, as Lady Catherine is his godmother and he shares her elitist attitudes. When Elizabeth dares to disagree with Lady Catherine it has ramifications that affect the major plotline. With Darcy's encouragement, Elizabeth gets away from Lord Lucius! Two dueling challenges are issued! There's a murder attempt on Darcy's life! Lydia is kidnapped! Can she escape, or will she be rescued? Lord Lucius dies!
Elizabeth still must heal emotionally, and Darcy is still the gentle, patient lover, waiting for her to be ready for him. But he's also her Champion in Version #2, which I find sexier and a whole lot more interesting.
VERSION 1: 3 stars
VERSION 2: 4 stars
Average: 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars
The basic premise is not the same, although in both stories, Elizabeth Bennet has been unhappily married to Lord Lucius, the Earl of Saffron Walden, for two years. He's known to Darcy as a heavy drinker, a gambler, a womanizer- in short, a man Darcy does not respect- but it turns out Lord Lucius is also a brutally abusive husband. In Version #1, Elizabeth is already a widow. Her husband dies in the same manner in Version #2, but this does not occur until well into the book.
The author shows tremendous writing talent. I love her beautiful writing style. There are some snippets of dialogue lifted from the original Pride and Prejudice, usually given to different characters than in canon, that work logically in their new context. There are other occasional excerpts, but her own writing blends so well that there's no discernible difference. I do note occasional grammar errors in both versions that would be corrected easily should she decide to publish. Her use of actual era estates and clubs is impressive, and she includes footnotes documenting their history.
The focus of Version #1 is Elizabeth's PTSD and Darcy's gentle efforts to help her heal emotionally. The primary conflict is "man-vs-himself," since Elizabeth needs to overcome her horrific past and embrace the chance for a happy future. This is very tasteful in its treatment of battered wife syndrome. While there are triggers that bring back Elizabeth's ingrained feelings of fear, the author avoids specific flashback memories in favor of Elizabeth's emotional responses and her attempts, with Darcy's help, to exorcise her past. It's very introspective, spending a lot of time describing the thoughts and feelings both have over several months. Darcy is at his most romantic, patiently waiting for her to be ready to trust him enough to try and love again.
Much of it becomes repetitive, and there isn't a lot of action. Once Elizabeth and Darcy meet, there isn't any serious threat to their relationship and the reader has no doubt how the story is going to go. There is one interesting section with Caroline Bingley scheming that includes her enlisting George Wickham's aid, hoping to drive a wedge between them. This complication is very short-lived, and neither character appears again.
Some interesting side plots emerge with Mr. Collins' marriage and the visit to Hunsford/Rosings. Unfortunately, it doesn't really have much to do with the main storyline except for Lady Catherine finally getting the message that Darcy won't be marrying her daughter Anne.
I found the plot in Version #2 to be much better constructed and filled with more action, although it also would certainly be more upsetting for many readers. Examples of the abuse that are only alluded to in the other version are described here, and Elizabeth suffers bondage and rape at the hands of her husband. The author wisely posts advisories at the beginning of any chapter where such scenes appear and separates the distressing parts in such a way that readers can opt to skip those details and not lose the thread of the story. Even the nonviolent scenes between Elizabeth and Lucius are fraught with tension, as she has to walk on eggshells in futile attempts to avoid enraging him. He has isolated her, not only from her family, but from all of society aside from her presentation to the Queen.
This story begins with Darcy finding Lord Lucius drunkenly passed out on the front steps of the London club to which both belong. He reluctantly deposits the man at his townhouse, and that's where he first encounters the Countess of Saffron Walden, whose reaction makes it clear that this is a common occurrence. Meanwhile, Jane is visiting, seeing her sister for the first time since the wedding two years ago. It's clear to her that Elizabeth isn't happy even though she keeps insisting she is content. Jane's relationship with Mr. Bingley brings Darcy and Elizabeth together on other occasions. Darcy is also able to recognize her despair behind the calm facade she presents to the world, and he finds himself fascinated and entranced by her quiet bravery.
Interestingly, much of the Rosings interlude is the same in both stories, but this time Lord Lucius is there, as Lady Catherine is his godmother and he shares her elitist attitudes. When Elizabeth dares to disagree with Lady Catherine it has ramifications that affect the major plotline. With Darcy's encouragement, Elizabeth gets away from Lord Lucius! Two dueling challenges are issued! There's a murder attempt on Darcy's life! Lydia is kidnapped! Can she escape, or will she be rescued? Lord Lucius dies!
Elizabeth still must heal emotionally, and Darcy is still the gentle, patient lover, waiting for her to be ready for him. But he's also her Champion in Version #2, which I find sexier and a whole lot more interesting.
July 15, 2016
4.5 stars
Darcy is an exceedingly patient man as he falls in love with a wounded Elizabeth; a wealthy, beautiful widow who has sworn to never give a man the power over her which her late husband held. During her marriage she was only seen once in society upon her presentation to the queen. Now that her husband has been dead for some time and the widow is in half-mourning the ton is very curious as to when she will make an appearance and who she might now marry. She is rich, owns many estates and is blessed with good looks. This story has much of the dialogue and events of canon but those are twisted to new situations and with different respondents, etc. We also have Richard Fitzwilliam and Mr. Collins with variations in their love lives. Wickham makes an appearance in Meryton but this is also handled differently. PLUS Lady Catherine happens to be the godmother to Elizabeth’s deceased husband so her role has a new slant.
Set in Herefordshire and Derbyshire for the most part there is one night at the theater in London. Georgiana and Elizabeth have both had their trials at the hands of different men. Darcy recognizes the damage he has seen in Georgiana’s eyes also in the eyes of Elizabeth, Lady Saffron Waldon, when he meets her at the Assembly in Meryton. Georgiana has accompanied him to Netherfield and forms a friendship with Elizabeth. Step by step he has to restrain any display of physical attentions as he has seen E. flinch once and soon comes to the correct conclusion that she has much to overcome and that he cannot force disclosures of what she suffered nor push her to consider a second marriage until she has learned to trust him.
This tale deals with PTSD. Darcy puts on his kid gloves and very slowly finds ways to earn trust, respect, even partnership as he sees the prize so worth earning in Elizabeth. He wins the heart of this reader in the steady, small steps we read of him taking towards the goal. This is not a journey to be rushed and the story teller keeps that in mind and she gives us details of the handling of a delicate situation. There is a second version to this story which I have not yet read but I did enjoy this unpublished novel.
Darcy is an exceedingly patient man as he falls in love with a wounded Elizabeth; a wealthy, beautiful widow who has sworn to never give a man the power over her which her late husband held. During her marriage she was only seen once in society upon her presentation to the queen. Now that her husband has been dead for some time and the widow is in half-mourning the ton is very curious as to when she will make an appearance and who she might now marry. She is rich, owns many estates and is blessed with good looks. This story has much of the dialogue and events of canon but those are twisted to new situations and with different respondents, etc. We also have Richard Fitzwilliam and Mr. Collins with variations in their love lives. Wickham makes an appearance in Meryton but this is also handled differently. PLUS Lady Catherine happens to be the godmother to Elizabeth’s deceased husband so her role has a new slant.
Set in Herefordshire and Derbyshire for the most part there is one night at the theater in London. Georgiana and Elizabeth have both had their trials at the hands of different men. Darcy recognizes the damage he has seen in Georgiana’s eyes also in the eyes of Elizabeth, Lady Saffron Waldon, when he meets her at the Assembly in Meryton. Georgiana has accompanied him to Netherfield and forms a friendship with Elizabeth. Step by step he has to restrain any display of physical attentions as he has seen E. flinch once and soon comes to the correct conclusion that she has much to overcome and that he cannot force disclosures of what she suffered nor push her to consider a second marriage until she has learned to trust him.
This tale deals with PTSD. Darcy puts on his kid gloves and very slowly finds ways to earn trust, respect, even partnership as he sees the prize so worth earning in Elizabeth. He wins the heart of this reader in the steady, small steps we read of him taking towards the goal. This is not a journey to be rushed and the story teller keeps that in mind and she gives us details of the handling of a delicate situation. There is a second version to this story which I have not yet read but I did enjoy this unpublished novel.
June 28, 2017
Read V1. Enjoyed the story. Low angst, references to abuse. Not sure if I want to read V2 as it references infinitely and I'm don't like to think of them acting that way even it ends with a HEA for Darcy & Elizabeth.
Read
November 11, 2019Version 2
I have not read version 1 of this book so my comments are for the second version.
A dark and angsty read in form of content but it was not written in an engaging way. Too much filler compelled me to speed read a lot and 3* might be a tad generous but the premises was intriguing.
Darcy encountered Elizabeth for the first time as he drow her very drunk husband home.
Subsequent meetings convinced him that all was not right in the Earl and Countess' home. Elizabeth admits as much and Darcy comes up with a plan to rescue the abused countess, resulting in a duel.
The story contains explicit descriptions of abuse.
I have not read version 1 of this book so my comments are for the second version.
A dark and angsty read in form of content but it was not written in an engaging way. Too much filler compelled me to speed read a lot and 3* might be a tad generous but the premises was intriguing.
Darcy encountered Elizabeth for the first time as he drow her very drunk husband home.
Subsequent meetings convinced him that all was not right in the Earl and Countess' home. Elizabeth admits as much and Darcy comes up with a plan to rescue the abused countess, resulting in a duel.
The story contains explicit descriptions of abuse.
February 6, 2022
There are two versions. Both are excellent. Both include abuse, so trigger warning. On Fanfiction.net. Listed as 'Marry in Haste Version 1' and 'Marry in Haste Version 2' , I believe. She has several stories worth checking out.
December 10, 2016
3.5 stars
In this unpublished P&P variation Lizzy is a 20 year old widow and the Countess of Saffron Walden. She is now one of the richest women in England. Living at the great House at Stoke she is close to Longbourn and her family. So she is at the Assembly at Meryton to meet Mr. Darcy who is enchanted with her and she is pleased with him.
She has spent her mourning improving herself so there is little she has to be ashamed of and their relationship is fairly smooth excepting Caroline Bingley which is so absurd it can't be taken seriously.
There are a few other changes to canon; Maria Lucas marries Mr. Collins, Bingley returns to Netherfield quickly and Georgiana comes to Meryton with her brother.
The story hints at, but never specifically spells out, that Lizzy's first marriage was very abusive and now she is freed to disdain marriage for all but the deepest affection.
There are several things in the book that should have been smoothed over by Lizzy's incredible wealth, but weren't.
In this unpublished P&P variation Lizzy is a 20 year old widow and the Countess of Saffron Walden. She is now one of the richest women in England. Living at the great House at Stoke she is close to Longbourn and her family. So she is at the Assembly at Meryton to meet Mr. Darcy who is enchanted with her and she is pleased with him.
She has spent her mourning improving herself so there is little she has to be ashamed of and their relationship is fairly smooth excepting Caroline Bingley which is so absurd it can't be taken seriously.
There are a few other changes to canon; Maria Lucas marries Mr. Collins, Bingley returns to Netherfield quickly and Georgiana comes to Meryton with her brother.
The story hints at, but never specifically spells out, that Lizzy's first marriage was very abusive and now she is freed to disdain marriage for all but the deepest affection.
There are several things in the book that should have been smoothed over by Lizzy's incredible wealth, but weren't.
December 25, 2018
First version : 3.2 stars.
Second version: 1.8 stars.
The first one is an almost good fanfiction, with a not too bad idea and a good pace.
The second one, while having more to offer in terms of things that happen in the book, in my opinion, is very unrealistic. Darcy and Elizabeth are almost in love at the first sight. They didn't talk much before falling in love ( don't worry, this isn't spoiling, I'm not talking past a quarter of the book) and trusting one another, which in case of Elizabeth, is highly unrealistic. Even in the first version where Elizabeth is a widow at the start of the book and can protect herself, is much more distrusting than Elizabeth in the second version.
October 26, 2016
Sweet story with very little angst. References to Lizzy treatment in her 1st marriage mostly hint at the violence without painting the horrid picture. Very tastefully done.
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