The Recovery of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Lucy Marin ★★★★★
He has no idea who he really is.
This is a Pride and Prejudice variation, which features the trope of Fitzwilliam Darcy, not knowing his true identity.
The prologue commences with a 1789 news report of the tragic kidnapping of Fitzwilliam Darcy, infant son of a wealthy and well-connected family. It is reminiscent of the high-profile Lindbergh baby case.
The baby’s mother grieves, languishes and dies of a broken heart. His father, George Darcy continues alone, tormented by the burden of his double loss.
Chapter one moves us ahead to Hertfordshire, in 1811.
William Lucas is the adult son of Sir William Lucas. He has a warm circle of friends and is well liked in the local area. He has an “understanding” with his best friend, Elizabeth Bennet and they keenly await her next birthday when they can become betrothed. They plan to be very happy, living on the small estate at Lucas Lodge. A small but contented life.
We are introduced to Frederick Darcy, on old friend of Mr Bennet. He takes one look at William and declares him to be the missing Fitzwilliam Darcy, based on his similarity to George Darcy.
This understandably drops a bomb into the peaceful lives of the Lucas and Bennet families.
As (Fitz)William is whisked away to his birth family, he starts to lose his sense of self. He is overwhelmed by the wealth, status and expectations of his family. Who is he? How should he behave? He sees that any mention of his former life, distresses George Darcy, with the hint that he might leave again.
However, this leads to him neglecting his Hertfordshire connections.
The pain this causes Elizabeth and his Lucas family is heart breaking.
When he meets Elizabeth several months later, at a ball in London, he is distant and haughty. To her he appears to be a different man. We know, from William’s thoughts, that he is trying to protect her from his snobbish and dissolute cousin. He longs to find comfort in her embrace; to be ‘William’ again.
There is a substantial amount of angst for the couple, as they try to rebuild their relationship, in the alien landscape of the London Season.
This was an excellent book with well-drawn characters. The plot is compelling and well written. This book should appeal to JAFF readers everywhere.
I have enjoyed Lucy Marin's previous books and look forward to more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
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