For Darcy and Elizabeth, overcoming the odds has never been more challengingFor Fitzwilliam Darcy, choosing between his heart and what he thinks is his duty is no easy task. However, when a gentleman has a cousin such as Darcy does, sorting out what is best becomes far easier. If only that cousin had not tried to improve Miss Elizabeth’s opinion of Darcy!Since their first meeting, Elizabeth … meeting, Elizabeth Bennet has not held Mr. Darcy in high esteem. Indeed, she has loudly proclaimed her dislike for the gentleman. However, after hearing the tale Colonel Fitzwilliam has to tell, that dislike threatens to grow into unyielding disdain.
When a gentleman of honour creates a problem, he must see the trouble resolved. It is, therefore, under the watchful eye of Colonel Fitzwilliam that Darcy and Elizabeth begin down a path of greater understanding until fate and relations, intervene creating a situation bordering on impossible.
With the Colonel’s Help is just one of Leenie Brown’s numerous Pride and Prejudice inspired stories. If you like well-written, sweet romance where family ties are strong, understanding runs deep, and love rises above any obstacle, then you will love this story about capturing and restoring a love that was almost lost.
So, put the kettle on, grab your copy of With the Colonel’s Help, and slip into a world of sweet romantic indulgence today.
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“One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.” –Euripides
I have read nearly all that Leenie Brown has written and am a huge fan of her work. I love a good colonel story and I am happy to say I was not disappointed in this one. Our dear Colonel Fitzwilliam is a cousin/brother to Fitzwilliam Darcy. According to canon and Brown, he may not be as tall, handsome or as rich as Darcy; however, he has his back. He is a friend, confidant and brother to Darcy and is co-guardian to Georgiana.
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” –King Solomon
Our story opens in Kent and our dear Colonel has realized that his morose cousin is attracted to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He just didn’t realize the mess his cousin had made in his acquaintance with the lively Miss while Darcy was staying in Hertfordshire. Nor did our dear Colonel realize that, in his attempt to ingratiate his cousin to the witty Miss Elizabeth, that he had in fact stirred the pot against him. What a predicament and what to do? Well, you cannot get a Colonel of His Majesty’s service down with one set-back… our dear Colonel was, if nothing else, a master at strategy. Now, if he could only arrange his cousin’s life and that of Miss Elizabeth.
“My best friend is the man who is wishing me well wishes it for my sake.” –Aristotle
When Miss Elizabeth heard of Darcy’s involvement with separating her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley she was livid. She was prepared to hate him for all eternity. Calm and sensible Charlotte helped her friend to see the situation through different eyes and encouraged Elizabeth to go to Rosings and not feign having a headache and hide… em… stay behind at the parsonage. We who know the canon story know that Charlotte had unwittingly averted another disaster. Whew, that was close.
By now our dear Colonel and Darcy had worked out a plan to slip Miss Elizabeth a letter explaining their history with Wickham. This was delivered in a most surprising way. That night Elizabeth read the account of Wickham’s dealings with the Darcy family and especially with a very young Georgiana. As agreed upon, she met the gentlemen the next morning on her walk… contrite and ashamed that she had fallen for Wickham’s lies. Since she was going back to London, Darcy and his cousin offered to transport Elizabeth and Maria back to London in the Darcy carriage.
While on the London Road they encountered a disheveled Lydia, who had escaped from Wickham. She fainted shortly after Elizabeth heard her story. She wouldn’t respond nor did she wake up for some time. As Lydia recovered at Cheapside, Mr. Bennet arrived from Longbourn. After hearing the story from Elizabeth, he sent a letter to Darcy house severing all connections between their families. Mr. B blamed Darcy for the failure to inform Meryton of Wickham’s proclivities and he didn’t want Darcy near his daughters.
Our dear Colonel had Wickham in custody but the scum-bag-rat-bastard was claiming that Lydia had stolen his purse. This was a serious crime if in fact the charges were true… not only was her reputation ruined… she would also be branded a thief and possibly transported.
Now we have the dark days of Darcy and Elizabeth and their forced separation. Mr. Bennet was unyielding. I was so angry with him. Could he not see his own culpability in Lydia’s situation? Where did he stand in all this mess? Grrr! How dare he throw stones at Darcy when he lived in a glass house. What about him… and his wife… and their behavior? I wanted to scream. I have to remember that he was angry and angry people are not
“… He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone…. ” John 8: 7 [KJV]
Our dear Colonel was so smart in his dealings with Mr. Bennet. He told Bennet of Darcy dealings with Wickham’s debts, purchasing a commission in the Regulars, and making plans for Wickham to be escorted under heavy guard a new assignment. As Bennet wondered why Darcy would do those things… our dear Colonel reminded Bennet of how he had blamed Darcy for Wickham’s debts and how Darcy felt it was his responsibility to correct. He then handed Bennet a stone and asked him to remember what the Good Book said about casting the first stone. It was a powerful metaphor.
It was a while before we reached the HEA. There were strong moments where Darcy and Elizabeth were able to convey their true feelings to each other in spite of Mr. Bennet’s ill feelings. That scene in the library will melt your heart. I loved it. Without Mr. Bennet’s consent, they could do nothing as Elizabeth was underage. These were indeed dark days and Darcy nearly made a horrible decision but for our dear Colonel’s intervention.