This short story assumes the reader is familiar with Pride and Prejudice.Cover by Summer Hanford

    The arc of their courtship, marriage, and the starting of a family serves as the foundation for a turbulent series of events. As it always is within Austen’s world, there is the familiar carousel of suitors, betrothals, triumphs, and societal disgrace. Many of the familiar characters are on hand, including Mr. and Mrs. Bennet; their daughters Jane and Elizabeth; Colonel Fitzwilliam; and Bingley, who has his eyes on Jane. Also here is the bitter Lady Catherine, as the novel also considers the more ominous social realities of the fondly remembered age. The handsome but conniving Mr. Wickham seeks to even an old score with his former friend Darcy. False accusations challenge Elizabeth’s love for her new husband, and the novel careens to a violent climax that is the result of society gossip and damaged reputations. This attention to the consequences of the contemporary mores of the day in the lives of these characters represents a fresh take on this time-honored tale.

    With the search for love being hard enough in Georgian England, Kummoung places our heroine - the plucky and witty Elizabeth Bennet - in the centre of even more difficulties as she attempts to assert herself, her destiny, and her heart in the face of a great secret. Elizabeth Bennet is a singular young woman. Daughter of an overbearing mother, and sister to a handful of independent women each seeking their own fortunes through marriage, she is determined to only settle for a partner who can not only ensure the prosperity of her family, but who will also cherish and respect her for who she is. However, Elizabeth has a secret which has the potential to cause untold difficulties in her search. Will the mysterious Mr. Darcy, a wealthy young man with no shortage of responsibilities and expectations, be able to overlook what she perceives as her failings and accept her wholeheartedly as his own? Follow Elizabeth and her sisters, as well as Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham, the Bingleys and almost all the other characters from Pride and Prejudice as they attempt to unravel the labyrinth of the human heart. Set against the backdrops we all know and love from dozens of adaptations, reimaginings, and the source text itself, Kummoung’s vision of this historical romance taps into the hidden lives of the Bennet family like never before. For fans of Pride and Prejudice, this romantic and perceptive novel offers new insights into the much-loved characters, and shows sides of them they had perhaps never before imagined. It’s a tour de force of imaginative and interpretive fiction, and one which is sure to be taken to the hearts of old fans and newcomers alike.

    Darcy – and also makes the acquaintance of his charming cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. But the surprises do not stop there, as another group of guests arrive most unexpectedly, disturbing the peace and good order of Rosings Park and of Lady Catherine’s life. Could Rosings Park have more than one owner?Fitzwilliam Darcy was prepared for nothing more than his annual visit to his Aunt Catherine but instead finds himself forced to again face the very woman from whom he wished to escape when he left Netherfield. Soon enough he realises that he has been struggling in vain, so he decides to propose marriage to the only woman in the world he has ever loved. Unfortunately what he receives in return is not what he expects, so he has nothing else to do but to try to forget his addresses and his confession. Or so he believes in the heat of anger…Busy dealing with his aunt’s business and mediating the conflict within his family, Darcy could hardly have noticed that Elizabeth’s opinion of him was slowly improving and her feelings for him were growing more tender.On her side, Elizabeth is filled with remorse for her hasty misjudgement of Darcy’s character and intrigued to discover secrets that Lady Catherine is struggling to conceal. Furthermore, she is astonished to discover her growing attachment to Darcy and her desire to bond her future happiness to his.But what can she do to make Darcy aware of the change in her sentiments? Is there anything to be done, especially when news of a most unexpected wedding at Rosings triggers her feelings of jealousy, disappointment and remorse?Where, when and how will Elizabeth and Darcy find their well-deserved ‘happily ever after’?And how will the favourite nephew ever reconcile with his aunt?The answers to all these questions are in this lovely, romantic variation, waiting to be discovered.

    Darcy's caustic remarks about her at the assembly. Would she still have seen him as arrogant, selfish and conceited? Would he have been able to remain aloof and prideful if Elizabeth was not initially prejudiced against him? The road to true love turns in unexpected ways. Although there will be others in my What if series they are all stand alone stories.

    Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are off to Gretna Green! In Book 4 of the Moralities of Marriage series our dear couple have survived accidents, forced marriages, and meddling relatives. After a short stay at Pemberley where the future Mrs. Darcy comes to terms with the kind of wife Fitzwilliam Darcy will need on his arm, they take off for the border to marry over the anvil. When Mr. Darcy plans an idyllic wedding trip to his family estate just outside of Dumfries, the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Darcy discover the trappings of marriage have yet to relinquish their hold. The Trappings of Marriage delivers the highs of the Darcys’ love and devotion in spite of the lows of scandal and destruction they left behind in England. Join author Elizabeth Ann West and the thousands of readers who read this book as it was posted chapter by chapter for a unique visit into the world of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

    Darcy has always considered himself a controlled, rational man – until he meets Elizabeth Bennet.Suddenly, against his better judgment, he is falling madly, foolishly, passionately in love with a woman who is completely unsuitable.At the Netherfield Ball, Darcy learns that Mr. Collins is planning to propose marriage to Elizabeth in the morning. This cannot be. Darcy must act first to win Elizabeth’s hand or risk losing her forever.

    Because of a death bed promise, he will only marry a lady who will unconditionally love the infant and whom he can love. However, in his past searches, Darcy found most society ladies saw only his wealth, connections, and property. How is he to find a lady who sees past what he has and loves who he is?Elizabeth Bennet wants to marry only for love, and of one thing she is absolutely sure, she loves Mr. Darcy’s infant ward. The question is, can she love the man as well. If she does choose to marry, she does not want her mother planning a lavish, overly embellished wedding, so how can she thwart her mother’s plans — through a secret arrangement.Besides the issue of love, what other problems could occur? A mother who will take control of the engagement and wedding arrangements, another lady's jealousy, and a grandmother who wants her infant granddaughter to disappear.Will Elizabeth and Darcy find love and happiness?

    Darcy from realizing she is there. During those days she is successful in keeping her presence from his notice, she comes to learn more about him, his honorable character, and how well he is regarded by others. How long will she be able to keep her presence a secret from him, and what will happen when he finds out she is there? Mr. Darcy, meanwhile, is curious about the odd incidents taking place that he cannot explain. How will the reason he returned to Pemberley a day early affect him and those he cares about? Is the beautiful, accomplished, and admirable Miss Westerfield someone to whom he has already attached his affections? Does he truly intend to ask for her hand, as everyone believes? And how does the magpie play a role in the events of this story?

    Darcy’s proposal and allowing him to assume a love she does not yet feel pains Miss Elizabeth Bennet but she is certain she can love him…in time. After all of the miseries he endured to salvage her youngest sister’s reputation, how could she not come to love such a man? Unfortunately, Lady Catherine arrives, bringing even thornier complications. With the many objections Darcy’s family will have regarding his marriage to the daughter of an unremarkable country squire, what more trouble can Lady Catherine stir up should she learn Elizabeth’s secret? In this Pride and Prejudice variation, what will Mr. Darcy do when he learns his beloved has accepted him although her heart is not engaged? New through Kindle Unlimited, Recognizing Love is a Jane Austen adaptation of about 73,000 words. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice variations, vagaries, fanfiction, and sequels, check out Recognizing Love today.

    Darcy’s Love begins two years after Darcy’s letter of explanation to Elizabeth. . . a time of great anguish for both. These intervening years have brought immense changes in the lives of the all the Pride and Prejudice characters. Unsurprisingly, Jane and Bingley are now married, but all our other favorites are flung into unexpected lives. The Collins will no longer inherit Longbourn. Why? Where has Lydia disappeared to? How can she be found? Who tries to kidnap Georgiana? Will Elizabeth finally find pleasure in Mr. Darcy’s love or will Caroline and Wickham and perhaps even Lydia intercede?

    Deciding Georgie was unprepared for such circumstances due to their society's preference to keep young ladies innocent and unknowing of the ways of the world, he chose to enlighten her. He began discussing things with her and educating her on matters that others may feel were not for the eyes or ears of a lady. He wanted her to be prepared when she came out in society and not be susceptible to the fortune hunters. What he did not realize was that she would use her new found knowledge upon him.

    The incident brings her face to face with the less than ideal situation existing in the Bennet household and forces her to acknowledge some unpalatable truths about herself, her family and their society. These realizations compel her to take matters into her own hand and initiate some much needed changes. What are these changes? Would her sisters and family cooperate with her?What effect these changes evince on the conduct of the gentleman from Derbyshire and his friend when they come to stay at Netherfield a year down the line? How would the sudden visit of heir to Longbourn impact the unfolding events. And when a roguish Lieutenant in the militia stationed at Meryton, tries his hand at some mischief how would the young ladies handle this challenge?

    Lizzy couldn't care less about the haughty Mr Darcy: she's more interested in the new physician in town, Dr Gregory. Nor is the very experienced Mr Darcy about to fall for a country chit; but as the local fauna, and her arts and allurements conspire against him, he makes a grave miscalculation. This story is suitable for mature readers.

    The men in my life would consider it amusing but naïve to afford the same semantics of conversation for wholly different circumstances such as these, or they would should one of them choose to read it.This vagary proposes an alternate telling of the original Pride and Prejudice and considers what may have happened should the characters have been afforded a slightly altered set of circumstances. What if Mr. Darcy had accepted quite early that he was falling in love with Elizabeth? What if Elizabeth was the least stubborn of her sisters? What if Mrs. Bennet was allowed to settle in mind and spirit? What if Mr. Bennet exerted himself on behalf of his daughters? What if Mr. Collins was in some way welcomed as the next owner of the estate? Those are only some of the twists within this tale, and while not canon, I hope I gave your favorite character a moment unto themselves that will make you smile.CAUTION: I want to specifically state that this vagary is not for all Pride and Prejudice genre readers. If one reads to find fault in what is not canon, I’ve been most forthcoming about the fact that it is a vagary, so you should already be on your guard and perhaps pass it by. For those of you who are strict authoress-guidelines conscious, I will argue that in all time periods people spoke with the use of contractions. To that end, I was true to life rather than follow her pointed non-use of them. Outside conversation, however, you will not find them, and I hope that soothes any feathers which may be ruffled at such a bold defiance.CAUTION: My editor also requested that I issue a point of clarification on her behalf. I confess that as an author em-dashes drive me nanabas, so in conflict with her excellent advice, I did not include many of them where she said they should be. Despise me for it if you must, but no novel, story, prose, or verse ever hinged on one’s use. The lacking or use of a comma, however, has cost millions. I promise that for those, I let her fully guide me.NOTE: My personal pleasure in writing this book was the intent to make any who read it find themselves staying up at night; not because ODCs are near death, have been forced to do that which they despise, or are off chasing Lydia again, but because I believe I am not the only one of us who dearly loves to laugh.