All is fair in love and war – or is it? What if Mr. Darcy’s rival for Elizabeth Bennet’s hand and heart is not some inconsequential stranger, but his dearest, closest friend? How is he to reconcile the claims of loyalty and kinship with the urge to pursue his heart’s desire?“Eyes tightly shut against the horrifying future, Darcy dug his fingers in his hair. Lost to him forever. Not merely lost, … merely lost, but promised to his cousin – firmly in his life, but never his! How in God’s name was he to bear it and not become unhinged? How was he to have her at his table as Richard’s affianced, and not betray himself? How was he to see her, time and again, and give no sign that he wanted her more than he had ever wanted any woman? How was he to keep up the pretence, day after excruciating day?”
“This cannot be! Today’s events have tampered with your judgement.”
“Elizabeth, pray let my judgement be my concern alone. From the very first days of our acquaintance I sat in judgement instead of courting you, and I paid a terrible price for it. After a year such as I had, there is nothing – nothing, do you hear? – that I would not do to be with you.”
He kissed her with a passion bordering on desperation, then burst out, more fiercely than ever:
“You must leave me room to hope! Or, as God is my witness, by this time tomorrow I will have carried you off to Gretna Green and damn the consequences!”
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“The Unthinkable Triangle” is delicious angst. What else could it be? What happens when Elizabeth Bennet forms an attachment at Hunsford with not Fitzwilliam Darcy but the dear colonel, Darcy’s amiable cousin Richard? Good grief! Author Joanna Starnes is an evil genius. How else could one contrive a scenario so well that I felt myself accepting, nay! welcoming this connection. After all, they do get on well! But Darcy. Poor Darcy. My heart broke for him as he was witness to the colonel’s wooing–and Colonel Fitzwilliam even asked his cousin Darcy to look after her, should the worst happen when he heads off to the Peninsula! I would not for the world tell you how Starnes wraps this up to our ultimate satisfaction but I will admit to shedding tears. And it is not an ending you would suspect! A happy ending for all indeed! This author has definitely become one of my “must reads!
I dreaded reading this book because of the premises and I was right, it was heart-wrenching.
I have not come across an author that can write Darcy’s anguish quite as soulfully as Joanna Starnes.
Beautifully and so well written that I utterly believed every word from cover to cover.
Happily for me, the angst relented at about 75% and in the epilogue, the world was put to rights again. Restoring my equilibrium admirably.
The Colonel’s proposal came the day before Darcy had planned his, sending him into depths of despair. It did not help that the Colonel asked Darcy to take care of his betrothed while he went of to the continent to fight off Boney.
Proving himself as her staunchest champion and protector, earned him her better opinion.
His cousin coming home injured, set his priorities straight but he could not hide his feelings from everyone…
Ends in a HEA for ODC but how that came about, you will have to read the book to find out.
Heartily recommend this book!
Gird your loins and be prepared for the Darcy-Elizabeth-Colonel love triangle.
I cannot begin to give voice to the emotions that Joana Starnes was able to garner in this… another 5-star book for me. I am still amazed that she was able to gently pull me through the various levels of hell and, frankly, I enjoyed every minute of it. Go figure.
As you read this work, it is best if you tackle it in sections knowing that there will be conflict, angst, feelings of betrayal, guilt, grief, despair, lost opportunities, and all manner of emotions that encompass love gained and love lost. Because I had previously read several wonderful reviews [look for them], I knew going in I was in for an emotional ride. That helped a lot so I could guard my heart and emotions in order to avoid having an apoplexy.
We start off in Kent with Darcy and the Colonel visiting Rosings at Easter. Like canon, our dear Colonel was smitten by Elizabeth’s beauty and wit. Darcy was still struggling with his feelings for Elizabeth and, due to fighting his inclinations, missed his opportunity with her. Remember, he had no idea of her true feelings for him; so he thought everything was a go. As Darcy approached Huntsford Parsonage, with the intent to propose, he encountered the couple and was informed of their engagement. To say he was stunned is a misnomer.
On the one hand, we have our dear Colonel’s joy and on the other, Darcy’s despair. He, naturally, left Rosings immediately and headed back to London where he went through hell in his disappointed hopes. Darcy’s descent was horrible to witness. We struggle with him as his emotions run the gamut as he contemplates his life without Elizabeth as his wife.
Our dear Colonel now has the job of defending his betrothal to his family. It did not go well as they fought him tooth and nail. They think her a chit from the country with no fortune, no connections and a family tainted by trade. They are awful and the worst was his older brother, the heir. This guy was disgusting, taunting, despicable, loathsome and an otherwise immoral person. He and Darcy have an altercation while at Netherfield that was delightfully delicious. I loved it. Way to go Darcy.
Second sons have always had problems with money or lack thereof; our dear Colonel was no different. The Earl was not impressed with the engagement and threatened Richard if he didn’t give her up. Because Richard defied his father, the Earl withheld funds intended for Richard from another side of the family. Since he was now unable to resign his commission, he was forced to return to the conflict on the Continent. When he was seriously injured, Darcy brought Elizabeth and her father back to Darcy House where Richard was being treated. An express was sent to the Earl as they were away. This was a highly charged emotional time when we didn’t know whether Richard was going to live or die. Everyone was on an emotional run that was difficult to read. In one scene, I simply covered my mouth… OMG!!!
Joana is a genius in her use of language in this work. She is a true wordsmith as she created word pictures that were simply delicious. She crafted scene after scene that left me amazed and weak in the knees. The language she chose for our lovers was so private that I was embarrassed to eavesdrop on such a poignant, personal, sensual, and sexual moment. I blushed, held my breath and read as quickly as I dared in order to not miss a single delightful word. I was fanning myself, stunned and in awe at the beautiful scene before me, my heart pounding in my chest. I don’t have the words to even give a decent review. Just read it for yourself. I applaud Joana Starnes… Brava my dear, Brava!!!!!