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:
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 story was heavily influenced by the style of Northanger Abbey. One character is borrowed from that novel, and each chapter begins with a quote from it. You do not need to be familiar with it to enjoy this book, but I hope you will want to read or re-read it once you have finished Nurtured Vanity, and I include the first twelve chapters of NA at the end for that purpose.
This story took a satirical turn; it is a lighthearted, low-angst frolic. There are a handful of chapters that will divert your attention from our hero and heroine, but we soon return to them. I break several norms in this book hoping that it will make a refreshing change to predictability. I hope I manage to keep you entertained with my short, little 70,000-word book.
The remaining 30,000 words are Jane Austen's.
Apology to the Goodreads community:
I originally wanted to publish the books together, as you advised but the stories were a little too long. It would make a 120,000 word book. I chose to include some additional material with each story instead. I am also hopeful that the first chapters will be re-read, at least skimmed for the different endings. The style of the stories are so different that I think it is best to wait a few months before publishing the next one.