This ‘Pride and Prejudice” novel variation follows Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy through the first year of their marriage. Arranged by his father in the I Promise To… novella, their union saved Elizabeth from a persistent, abusive suitor. The couple has known each other for years and quickly come to realize their love for each other. However, not everyone is happy with the marriage, and trouble … trouble comes quickly upon them. Dealing with jealous ladies and scornful gentlemen in London as well as illness and injury at Pemberley, they grow together as a couple while Elizabeth regains the confidence she has lost.
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Entitled: mean girls with a title, meet P&P, and PTSD
Titled girls [who felt entitled] were the equivalent of our modern mean girls with their smirking, snide comments, cutting people down to size, and even going so far as to striking Elizabeth [a married woman] several times in order that she may know her place.
This second ‘Promise’ book by Burton was really a juvenile story that relating the teenage years of Elizabeth Bennet-Darcy as she grew into her shoes as Mistress of Darcy House and Pemberley. In the first book, we had her struggling with an unrelenting suitor encouraged by her mother. Both Mrs. Bennet and Lord EVIL were a piece of work and both were sociopathic to the core. This had to be the most misguided, unfeeling [mother for her child], I have ever read about in any JAFF. Mrs. Bennet was simply AWFUL, and she was unrepentant as to what she allowed to be done to her least favorite child. Elizabeth was severely injured and Mrs. Bennet blamed her for her injuries. How dare she turn down a peer.
Some have questioned Elizabeth’s emotional state and why she acted the way she did. Let’s look at the facts; she was attacked and severely injured at her Longbourn home and then her mother blamed and berated her constantly during her convalescence. Mr. Bennet, fearing for her safety and not trusting his wife, sent Lizzy [as soon as she was able to travel] to her London relatives in order to escape her mother’s tirade and future attempts on her person. Extra guards were posted at Gardiner’s home, and yet the assailant continued in his attempts to kidnap and or compromise Elizabeth. He was determined to have [possess] her.
I think we can safely say that Elizabeth suffered from PTSD. You don’t survive verbal abuse from such a mother, physical assaults on your person, attacks to your emotional state, and deal with broken bones and bruises on more than one occasion, without side effects. No wonder she was uncomfortable around men, anxious in the presence of new people, distrusting in new situations, cautious and careful where she went and with whom, never wanting to be alone when around others, and constantly needing a guard or burly footman nearby. She had been through hell. There was no place that felt safe except in the presence of her husband or Mr. Darcy senior. I think we can cut her some slack. If I had suffered as she, I would be agoraphobic and never leave the house.
The story took us through an evolutionary journey that started with a scared sixteen-year-old Lizzy and brought her to the grown-up Elizabeth that we know and love. She couldn’t have done it without the support and love of her Darcy men. And, let’s face it, they were simply magnificent. Wow!!! Mess with a Darcy…and you have to deal with them all.
Now, let’s face reality… there were several situations that just did not seem realistic. Many of the confrontations didn’t ring true. I know we like those hero moments but let’s face facts. For instance, take a Lord Father and have an Untitled Gentleman, like a Darcy, attempt to discuss the bad behavior of Lord Father’s spoiled Lady Princess. In truth… it could have gone terribly wrong. Not once did any of these Lord Fathers refuse to believe the accusations regarding the actions of their spoiled Lady Princess. Let’s face it, the peerage was not known for their understanding and self-control outside their own circle.
Several references were made to those spoiled debutantes learning their bad behavior at school. This made Burton’s book come across like a learning guide for juvenile readers, with lessons on proper comportment. Even Bingley chided Caroline regarding how she changed during her school days.
The tone of this second book was so different than the first. Elizabeth’s age put her at about a sophomore or junior in high school. It was hard seeing her being bullied and having her parent [Mr. Darcy senior] and husband [young Darcy] come to her rescue. Their weapons of choice were power and clout and were wielded as readily as a sword, and both Darcy men were masters. Just how powerful was the Darcy name? While we were given our hero moments, were these situations realistic?
It seemed the family was constantly doing damage control even with their servants. Here I had to question the stubbornness and disrespect displayed by the servant. To even look the master of the house in the eye was enough to be considered a challenge. What was the point, especially if this servant’s family had served the Darcy’s for generations? To show disrespect to the Lady of the house and not show contrition or repentance was too much. I know the author wanted a scene where Elizabeth could demonstrate her skills as mistress of the house; however, it just didn’t feel right.
I know at some point in time Mr. Darcy [senior] and Fitzwilliam would no longer feel the need to lead Elizabeth around with leading strings. It just seemed to take a long time for her to get there.
The end chapters read like an epilogue. There were several threads left hanging and I wondered what happened? Errors have been mentioned in other reviews, no need for me to repeat them.