An Affectionate Heart: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Heather Moll. ★★★★★
The Bennet sisters were pushed out into Society at an early age. The eldest, Jane married at fifteen, with Mary and Kitty marrying at seventeen.
To her mother’s eternal relief, Mary became Mrs Collins, thereby ensuring the security of the family remaining at Longbourn.
Unfortunately, Mr Collins is an obnoxious fool and Mary delights in reminding her sisters of her superior status, as Mistress of Longbourn.
Elizabeth Bennet had been her father’s favourite. Now she was an unwanted, dependent sister. Treated as a poor relation, she is shuffled from one household to the next. Worse, she has been written off as a spinster despite being only twenty.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is living in obscurity to protect his younger sister Georgiana. The consequences of an almost elopement with a fortune hunting rake, have broken Georgiana’s already fragile health.
Darcy rarely joins local Society and Georgiana is too sick. Unfortunately, the local gossips fill the vacuum with malicious speculation. Mr and Mrs Collins, being judgemental and heartless, declare the Darcys sinful and notorious.
Elizabeth returns to Longbourn to face a claustrophobic life with her controlling and condescending family. She is downtrodden and disparaged.
Desperate for some distraction from her troubles, Elizabeth makes friends with Georgiana. Mr Darcy is intially suspicious of her motives, but begins to appreciate the comfort and care she brings to Georgiana.
Life-changing news prompts Elizabeth to escape Longbourn and devote herself to Georgiana’s care. However, overcoming the obstacles of propriety requires a daring plan. A plan to combine forces with Mr Darcy!
This is a great story, but there is serious angst. I recommend a full box of tissues.
It was really hard to see Elizabeth so downtrodden and disparaged. Just the description of her controlling relations made me feel claustrophobic.
Darcy is lovely to Georgiana, but the strain of coping without family or friends for support is visible.
Watching Elizabeth and Darcy learn to love each other but thinking it unrequited made me cry.
A special bonus was having Darcy give a well deserved set down to the Collinses!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
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