History ReFreshed | Ah, Elizabeth! Ah, Darcy! Part the Second

AN ASSEMBLY SUCH AS THIS

In the first, AN ASSEMBLY SUCH AS THIS, we meet Darcy as he visits Hertfordshire with his friend Charles Bingley. While fending off Miss Bingley’s persistent attentions, Darcy encounters the Bennets, and wary of match-making mamas, initially disdains them. But despite his dislike for her vulgar mother and ill-behaved sisters, Elizabeth’s charms continue to spark his unwilling attraction—even as his concern grows over the attentions paid her by the unsavory George Wickham. The addition of some new characters, including Darcy’s intrepid butler, Fletcher, add new dimension to the tale.

DUTY AND DESIRE

Book 2 takes Darcy to realms not visited by Jane Austen, covering the time between Darcy’s departure from Netherfield and his visit to Lady Catherine at Rosings. In DUTY AND DESIRE, Darcy vows to rid himself of his fixation with the unsuitable Elizabeth Bennet by looking for a woman with her wit and beauty, but from a proper family. He attends a house party at Norwyke Castle, home of a college friend, where he is drawn into a mystery with some supernatural events, encounters an unusual lady–and singularly fails in driving the lovely Miss Bennet from his mind. Readers seem split between those who enjoy this journey away from Austen’s characters, to give Darcy the perspective to appreciate Elizabeth, and those who prefer their story to remain firmly within Jane’s original framework.

THESE THREE REMAIN

The conclusion of Aiden’s series begins with Darcy’s visit to Rosings. In THESE THREE REMAIN, Darcy delivers his arrogant proposal, then retreats to London to try to make sense of what was, for him, a stunning rejection. Concluding after much reflection that Elizabeth’s accusations might have some merit, he resolves to become a better man, reevaluating and remaking his relationships with Bingley, his sister, and all those around him. When he meets Elizabeth again by chance at Pemberley and Lydia’s elopement threatens the family with ruin, the new Darcy has a chance to prove himself to now be a man worthy of her good opinion.

DISAPPOINTED HOPES

Volume 1, DISAPPOINTED HOPES, takes up the classic tale just after Elizabeth has rejected Darcy’s proposal. Returning to London, Darcy struggles to manage his shock and disappointment. Elizabeth, too, makes an unplanned visit to Town, where the presence of an old friend, Nicholas Harington, godson of her Aunt Gardner and son of a wealthy man whose position in Society rivals Darcy’s, helps her deal with the unexpectedly strong emotions engendered by her spurned suitor. To the couple’s mutual discomfort, circumstances throw them together, and Darcy learns the unpleasant news that Harington is now considered a potential suitor to Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Jane and Bingley’s romance flourishes, and Georgiana and Fitzwilliams play their parts to move the romance forward.

DARCY’S DILEMMA

Volume 2, DARCY’S DILEMMA, continues the scenario set up in the first volume. With Bingley spending much time courting Elizabeth’s sister Jane, Darcy cannot always follow through on his promise not to inflict his unwelcome presence upon her. Their interactions continue, as does the machinations of Lady Catherine and the loyal support of Colonel Fitzwilliams and Georgiana. As the couple gradually comes to understand each other better, Lizzie finds that Darcy still has the unaccountable ability to strongly affect her emotions. For his part, Darcy can’t escape noticing that Elizabeth and her erstwhile suitor Harington seem well-suited. Should he take himself away, to escape the heartache of watching the woman he still loves courted by another. Or stay, and try his hand again?

DESPERATE MEASURES

The final volume, DESPERATE MEASURES, begins with Darcy devastated by hints of Elizabeth’s engagement to Harington. Convinced now he must get away, Darcy leaves with his sister and cousin for Bath. Despite the attentions of her new suitor, Elizabeth finds herself in low spirits after the departure of a certain gentleman whose removal she ought to celebrate. Hoping a trip may energize her, Lizzie sets off with Nicholas and Aunt Gardiner’s half-sister Serena to the Harington estate at Sutton Coker. Of course, Fate intervenes, and the Harington party soon decides to leave Sutton Coker for a sojourn at their house in Bath…where Lizzie will have one last time to take the true measure of her heart before it is too late.