Marie Croft’s humorous novella, A Little Whimsical in His Civilities spans one moonlit, autumnal night upon the gentleman’s return to Hertfordshire in pursuit of Elizabeth Bennet. “We take the turning which places us on Meryton’s main road, and—oh, gad! There it is—the base-court building which passes for an assembly hall in this godforsaken place. For me, the venue shall be either a heaven or a hell tonight. My palms grow clammy, my gut churns, and I regret that second helping of onion-laden vegetable pie forced on me before we left.” Accompany Darcy as he, intent on reversing the disastrous first impression he made there, braves another Meryton assembly and seeks to win his heart’s desire.

    Collins proposes marriage, Elizabeth Bennet is prepared to refuse him, but then she learns that her father is ill. If Mr. Bennet dies, Collins will inherit Longbourn and her family will have nowhere to go. Elizabeth accepts the proposal, telling herself she can be content as long as her family is secure. If only she weren’t dreading the approaching wedding day… Ever since leaving Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy has been trying to forget his inconvenient attraction to Elizabeth. News of her betrothal forces him to realize how devastating it would be to lose her. He arrives at Longbourn intending to prevent the marriage, but discovers Elizabeth’s real opinion about his character. Then Darcy recognizes his true dilemma… How can he rescue her when she doesn’t want him to?

    This Pride and Prejudice deviation takes the reader on a journey through a labyrinth filled with misunderstandings, bias, guilt and fear - not to mention, laughter, animal magnetism and waltzing. As Elizabeth says, 'she shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson's frigates' but as she learned from her father 'unhappiness does, indeed, have comic aspects one should never underestimate.'Though the path for our protagonists is much more arduous than canon, the benefit remains the same; a very happy Janeite ending for these two star-crossed lovers. Along the way there is retribution, redemption and reward for other characters - including a few that recall players in two grave injustices as written by Ms Austen in ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ These grievances prompted this long-time struggler for women's rights to write a tale that provided these women vindication.

    Ever since she rejected his proposal of marriage, she cannot think of him without embarrassment and regret. She had judged him harshly and allowed the lies of others to poison her opinion of him, only to discover she had misjudged him when it was too late. Taking comfort from the knowledge that Darcy is not at home, Elizabeth goes for a walk through Pemberley Woods. But when a storm strikes, Elizabeth cannot find her way back to Lambton. While trying to find her bearings, she is struck down by an accident that leaves her unconscious as the storm clashes overhead. Returning to Pemberley early, Darcy is shocked to find a young lady lying injured and unconscious in his woods during the height of the storm. He is even more horrified to discover the lady is none other than Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the woman who broke his heart all those weeks ago. Knowing he will compromise the reputation of the one woman who does not want him, Darcy has no choice but to take her to a nearby shelter for the night where he can care for Elizabeth and where they can wait out the storm. When Elizabeth awakens, she has no recollection of who or where she is. Neither does she recognise the kind, handsome man who is so concerned for her wellbeing. When Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle stay at Pemberley to help her recover, Elizabeth starts to fall in love with this sweet, generous man who goes out of his way to make them welcome. But why is Darcy so evasive about their previous relationship? And why does she hear such mixed accounts of her earlier feelings for him? Darcy’s affections and wishes for Elizabeth are unchanged, and only grow stronger as he spends more time with her. He can hardly believe she is under his roof where he once hoped she would live as his bride. But how can he marry her when she has no memory of how much she really dislikes him? When she has no idea she once told him he was the last man in the world she could ever marry? Darcy's one hope is that Elizabeth will learn to love him as the man he is now. But can she ever really love a man she cannot remember? Trouble comes when rumours spread of Darcy and Elizabeth’s night in the woods and of Elizabeth’s memory loss. Word soon reaches Brighton, where George Wickham has been having little luck in his goal of marrying an heiress. When he hears of the interesting situation between his old enemy and the woman who was once Wickham’s favourite, Wickham sees an opportunity to solve his financial problems once and for all. He travels to Pemberley, and there, he makes a shocking announcement that leaves Darcy and Elizabeth devastated and in despair that they can ever be together.

    Darcy than ever…Mr. Darcy is determined to find a more suitable bride. But then he learns that Elizabeth is living in London in reduced circumstances, after her father’s death robs her of her family home…What if…Mr. Darcy can’t help himself from seeking her out…He just wants to make sure she’s alright. But once he’s seen her, he feels compelled to talk to her, and from there he’s unable to fight the overwhelming desire to be near her, or the ever-growing mutual attraction that is between them…What if…Mr. Darcy’s intentions were shockingly dishonorable…

    Bennet's greatest fear comes to pass--Longbourn is entailed to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth finds work as a governess in London, widening the social divide between her and Mr. Darcy and making it more difficult than ever for them to find their way to each other...

    Enjoy a what-if journey with Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley and more of Jane Austen's beloved characters as their lives are changed by a bit of plain speaking.

    Bennet becomes even more determined to find them husbands. The family is shocked to discover that Lydia will have an ‘unexpected visitor’ in the spring and to avoid scandal, the youngest daughter is married far from Longbourn. When Mr. Bennet announces the impending visit of his cousin, Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet sends Elizabeth to London to stay with the Gardiners. With Elizabeth out of the house, Mrs. Bennet speaks with Jane of her duty to her family.When the engagement of Mr. Collins and Miss Jane Bennet is announced, Elizabeth is saddened and seeks solitude in the park across from the Gardiner’s home where she meets a distressed young lady who has been deserted by her lady’s companion. Miss Georgiana Darcy requires a friendly shoulder and an escort home where Elizabeth meets the cold, older brother. When Elizabeth and Georgiana begin a friendship based on books and music, Mr. Darcy pays attention to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and they begin to fall in love. But can Elizabeth and Darcy save Jane from her betrothal to Mr. Collins?

    Bates and Miss Bates(from Jane Austen’s EMMA), Elizabeth Bennet is sent to Hunsford with orders to become a flirt and return married or not at all. Unfortunately her mother’s letters to Mr. Collins are misunderstood and the local gentry assume that she is ‘in a certain condition’.You know that won’t end well.

    Bingley after a whirlwind courtship which began the night of the Meryton Assembly. But when her cousin Mr. Collins arrives from Kent, he informs the Bennet family that he seeks a wife from amongst the Bennet sisters to soften the existence of an entail that hangs over Longbourn. 
Knowing her family has no need of such an alliance with Jane’s future secure, Elizabeth is surprised when Mr. Bennet approves of the parson’s plan. Surely her father will not allow the man to ask for her hand?
When Mr. Collins sees that Mr. Darcy, the nephew of his distinguished patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has designs on his cousin he knows he must propose to Elizabeth though his heart has been won by her sister Mary. To allow Mr. Darcy to propose to Elizabeth would bring down the wrath of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and destroy his living at Hunsford.

    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.