Wanting to rediscover the feeling of reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time - wondering if Darcy was good or bad - I created this two-book series. Each story is complete on its own. The title and the timing of the pre-order release could be misleading. This is a traditional romance.
I did not want to write this book. It is a premise I would never choose to read. If you are like me I challenge you to read it anyway. I fought through my dislike as I told the story and discovered something that I believe is really beautiful. For the series to work, for the other story to be told, this one needed to be written. It explores some rather dark themes, much darker than I like but it does redeem itself. In the end I fell in love with this story. I hope you will walk briefly along the cold, dark path to reach the flowers at the end of it.
How the stories diverge from the
Anne Darcy dies after giving birth to her son. Mrs. Wickham brings her son to Pemberley and their early years are shared. Devoting herself entirely to the heir of Pemberley, Mrs. Wickham sends her son away to be raised by her husband's father and sister. Fitzwilliam Darcy is introduced as a roguishly charming character. George Wickham is presented as studious, independent, and virtuous. Each book begins with the same fourteen chapters and then explores different possible repercussions from this change of circumstances. The first fourteen chapters are shared and closely follow the events of the original novel from Elizabeth's stay at Netherfield through Jane's visit to the Gardiners in London. Each novel begins from this point to tell very different stories that will affect the way the first fourteen chapters are understood. In both stories, there are different mysteries to unravel and questions to be answered.
This short novel is about 66,000 words long.
I include a series afterward and a personal exploration of the book of James at the end.