The Unraveling Of Mr Darcy

"What's a gentleman to do when he has laid his heart before a lady only to have it crushed beneath her dainty slippers? If you're Fitzwilliam Darcy, there is only one thing to do -- unravel your tightly wound pride, mend your ways, and convince the lady of your worth. And what's a lady to do when she has spoken harshly and knows she has done so unfairly? If you're Elizabeth Bennet, you take a deep breath, swallow your dignity, give him a second chance, and perhaps along the way, discover a gentleman you didn't know existed. And what's a couple to do when they have difficult family members? If you're Darcy and Elizabeth, you expect a few bumps in the road and prepare yourself for some absurdity along the path to happily ever after."--Back cover.

A thrilling story of murder and betrayal filled with the scandal, wit, and intrigue characteristic of Austen’s classic novels Fitzwilliam Darcy is devastated. The joy of his recent wedding has been cut short by the news of the sudden death of his father’s beloved cousin, Samuel Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy travel to Dorset, a popular Regency resort area, to pay their respects to the well-traveled and eccentric Samuel. But this is no summer holiday. Danger bubbles beneath Dorset’s peaceful surface as strange and foreboding events begin to occur. Several of Samuel’s ancient treasures go missing, and then his body itself disappears. As Darcy and Elizabeth investigate this mystery and unravel its tangled ties to the haunting legends of Dark Dorset, the legendary couple’s love is put to the test when sinister forces strike close to home. Some secrets should remain secrets, but Darcy will do all he can to find answers—even if it means meeting his own end in the damp depths of a newly dug grave. With malicious villains, dramatic revelations and heroic gestures, The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy will keep Austen fans turning the pages right up until its dramatic conclusion.

When Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, she learns he is engaged to be married to Miss Caroline Bingley. He seems devoted to his bride-to-be, quite attentive to her comfort and always willing to escort her to bed when she falls asleep early in the evenings, as she is wont to do. They are to be married in something of a rush, it seems, as soon as the banns are read. Which is why it’s monstrous that Mr. Darcy looks at Elizabeth in that way that he looks at her sometimes, or that Elizabeth feels an odd stirring towards him. Positively monstrous. Beneath them both. And there is nothing for it, after all. Once a gentleman gives his promise to a woman, he cannot break an engagement. It’s against all codes of honor to do so otherwise. Mr. Darcy will marry Miss Bingley, and there’s no reason for Elizabeth to think it could ever be otherwise. Dear reader, this story features a good Mr. Wickham and a sympathetic Caroline. Obviously, Caroline doesn’t actually marry Mr. Darcy, but read this if you’d like to see just how badly they’re entangled, how we end up with Caroline happily ever after with Colonel Fitzwilliam, and how we get our dear couple sorted. Take note that there is content that may be objectionable to some readers, including nonconsensual activity, violence, and detailed lovemaking scenes.

When Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy hears that Miss Elizabeth Bennet is about to become mistress to another man, he is appalled. It has been five years since Miss Bennet spurned his proposal, but he has never quite gotten the proud beauty out of his head. Mr. Darcy knows that the Bennets have fallen on hard times. Her father has been dead for years now, and they make their way on their own. Mr. Darcy seeks Miss Bennet out, resolving to do whatever is necessary to help her, including paying back the mountain of debt that her late mother left behind. But Miss Bennet is still proud. She refuses his charity. When he opens his mouth to convince her that she must change her mind, he finds himself making her a different offer altogether. A scandalous offer. A dishonorable offer.

Mr. Darcy is the steward of a grand estate. Elizabeth Bennet is a lowly housemaid. It's P&P, but all the characters are servants below stairs All Elizabeth Bennet wants is to escape. The housemaid position in the refuge of Donwell Abbey seems to be the answer to all her prayers. She finds an immediate friend in fellow housemaid Jane Langley, and she respects the housekeeper, Mrs. Charlotte Lucas. Certainly, the steward, Mr. Darcy, is haughty and proper and thinks she’s not handsome enough to tempt anyone, but he’s easily avoided. Soon, however, Elizabeth must dodge the advances of the butler, Mr. Collins, who has determined making her his wife will greatly increase his happiness, and the jealousy of fellow housemaid Caroline Bingley. And if that weren’t bad enough, a dark man from her past lurks outside on the grounds, ready to destroy her new life. Mr. Wickham knows all her secrets, and he can crush her if so decides. Dear reader, this variation places all the characters we know and love as servants in Donwell Abbey—yes, Mr. Knightley’s Donwell Abbey. This timeline takes place after the events in Emma and features the happily married couple and a cantankerous Mr. Woodhouse. I wanted everyone to read it, so I did my very best to keep it clean. And I mostly succeeded (mostly, mostly, but you know me, so there are some innuendos…), however I could not help but write a bonus steamy wedding night scene at the very end of the book for my spice-loving JAFF aficionados! Enjoy!

Miss Elizabeth Bennet is pleased with the state of her life. She lives with her sister and her sister’s husband, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, and she dotes on her niece and nephew. She doesn’t long for a husband or children of her own. To do so would only bring her misery. Then news reaches them which tears Elizabeth’s contentment to shreds. Mrs. Caroline Darcy is dead. She’s drowned herself. Everyone has long observed the late Mrs. Darcy’s dissatisfaction with her loveless, childless marriage, so the news, while tragic, is not entirely surprising. Elizabeth knows that Caroline trapped her husband into marrying her by falsely accusing him of a compromise that never occurred. Of course, that truth has never mattered, nor has the fact that Mr. Darcy is still in love with Elizabeth and that she is in love with him. Now, Mr. Darcy is free, but propriety dictates that he cannot remarry immediately. A quick marriage would court scandal and it would wound Caroline’s brother, Mr. Bingley, who is also Mr. Darcy’s dear friend. So, though Elizabeth knows that Mr. Darcy will be hers eventually, they cannot be officially engaged yet. Now, they must wait. For these two who have waited so long for each other, the waiting will prove to be the hardest part. Read this variation if you like our dear couple angsty and yearning, and if you’re amenable to a steamy culmination to all that tension.