Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Bennet had always hoped to marry for love—that is until she surrenders to her mother’s demands and marries the handsome Duke of Leeds. Thrust into a society disinclined to accept a country nobody who somehow entrapped one of their most prominent members, Elizabeth holds her head high, ignoring their whispers and stares and a husband whose indifferent behaviour … confuses her. Her marriage of convenience is nothing like what she expected.
Fitzwilliam Darcy is a man torn. After meeting the Duchess of Leeds at a ball, he is fascinated by her intelligence and humour, but how does one maintain a respectable friendship with a lady—particularly when that lady is the wife of his cousin and godfather? His father and his sister both love Elizabeth, and he quickly realises he loves her as well, though not as one loves a cousin or even a sister. His feelings must stay hidden from everyone, particularly Elizabeth, but how is he to keep himself under such strict regulation when he is constantly thrown into her company? How does one prevent their own undoing?
Contains scenes with adult content.
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This variation by L.L. Diamond was quite a surprise for me, from start to finish! I have read other variations that completely went off canon, but this one has been off the most. There are lots of surprises in the characters, too. Lizzy marries a duke, then meets Darcy. And it doesn’t stop there. I don’t want to give anything away, so I will just say that I could hardly put the book down, as I needed to know what would happen next. It was not your usual Darcy and Elizabeth tale!
Reviewed: April 1, 2020
My Rating: 4.5* rounded up to 5*
I am undone…
As the book description states, Elizabeth, at seventeen marries the Duke of Leeds. What follows is a journey that takes our beloved characters through a torturous personal journey that is difficult, but at the same time, realistic. This is a ‘what if’ that will test Elizabeth and Darcy as never before. A test of their principles, their honour and their pride. Will it be their ‘undoing’?
“It could be a blessing your feelings do not run deeper. You will not suffer for it. You would have a husband worthy of your respect instead of one you revile.” (quote from the book)
Though Mr. Bennet tells Elizabeth that it is her decision, he knows his daughter too well and Mrs. Bennet’s temperament even more so, to think she will not accept the Duke’s marriage proposal. What he and others do not know, especially, Elizabeth, is why he chose her.
“He might not be pushing as Lady Catherine was, yet why did he not consider that his deceptions would be just as damaging.” (quote from the book)
With this variation, Mr. George Darcy is still alive. So when the Darcy’s first meet Elizabeth, they are completely charmed. When Darcy first espies Elizabeth, her ‘fine eyes’ capture him. It is here, where an invisible thread of energy immediately connects them. And that is just the beginning…
“How did one keep themselves under such strict regulation?” (quote from the book)
For some, this will not be an easy read. My reactions and emotions ran the gamut. But Ms. Diamond has had this book percolating for many years, as she explains at the end. It is one that is bold as well as brave. Yes, it is for mature audiences, but still tastefully done. Again, another variation that has taken a nugget from history and literally ran with it.
There was much that I loved…Elizabeth and Darcy most of all. Their love explodes off the pages. For the secondary characters, Jane is a favourite. Her goodness and ability to see the best in others is still there, but with more common sense and compassion. There are changes, or should I say variations, to certain characters. I did love Lord Matlock’s heir very much.
“We are two lost souls – lost to each other.” (quote from the book)
The villains were a piece of work. However, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was more of quiet step. This was a missed opportunity, in my opinion, but it was not the path Ms. Diamond chose to take. Lady Catherine has her share of the conversation and Wickham was a gnat that needed to be squashed. Regardless, I still loved this story and by the end I was a watering pot.