It was the talk of the town; not even Mr Darcy could avoid hearing about it, with his best friend's loquacious sister in tow.The sisters, dressed in their mourning garb, do not quite meet the expectations of the fastidious Mr Darcy, who soon finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to rectify a poor first impression. But then a dramatic event forces them to unite against a common enemy—a master of deception—to save their sisters.A chaste Pride and Prejudice variation of approximately 63 000 words, appropriate for adults due to graphic descriptions of nonsexual violence. A forced marriage scenario with no compromise.*Henry and Emma, a poem by Matthew Prior (1664-1721)

    It is a sweet and clean regency romance with only non-graphic references to intimacy between married couples.Excerpt:"Darcy, what are you doing in London? Why are not still with Bingley in Hertfordshire pursuing the enchanting Miss Elizabeth Bennet?" Darcy looked up in surprise at his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam?Without waiting for a response, the colonel spoke, "Oh, don't try to convince me you aren't enamored with the lady. You may have fooled Bingley, but I know you too well. I saw the way your eyes followed her whenever you were in her company, how you listened to all of her conversations. Not that I blame you, of course. She is truly a fascinating woman. Intelligent and witty with beautiful eyes, not to mention her very fine figure." Richard grinned and waggled his eyebrows at his cousin.Fitzwilliam Darcy was shocked to discover that his attention to Elizabeth Bennet had been noted by anyone. "Really, Richard, I know not of what you speak. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is tolerable in appearance, but her manner is impertinent, not even taking into account her appallingly inappropriate family. Surely you jest to think that she would attract my attention.""Well, despite your protest of disinterest, I can see that you have given the alliance a good deal of thought. I am amazed that you don't recognize that Miss Elizabeth is a 'pearl of great price'. You are severely underestimating the young lady. And I cannot believe that you would abandon her to a forced marriage with her obnoxious cousin Collins!""If you think so much of the lady, Richard, then you go rescue her!" Darcy huffed.Colonel Fitzwilliam continued to gaze at his cousin and dearest friend in disbelief before standing and pronouncing, "Very well, I will, if she will have me"

    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?

    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.

    As she finds herself falling more and more in love with this man, will the truth of his real identity change the way she feels? How does her correspondence change her interactions with others and will the letters lead to her ruin if their existence is discovered? A Letter By Any Other Name is a reimagining of Jane Austen's classis novel "Pride and Prejudice".

    . .” William CongreveA month after her wedding, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy had taught herself to be silent, watchful, careful. She moved through the house with eyes downcast, avoiding contact, speaking only when spoken to. She walked through the garden in much the same way, her face hidden from the sun—and from the direct gaze of any servant she might encounter—by the deep brims of the fashionable bonnets she wore.Just four short weeks after their marriage, the deep love between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy is on the verge of collapsing forever. They must join forces to overcome whatever—or whoever—threatens to destroy their home, their love and their very lives.

    Disgrace falls upon the Bennet family and further tragedy strikes.After time compromises must be made, and life must go on. The stories of all the Bennet sisters go forward in different ways. Elizabeth settles for motherhood and mundane respectability. Darcy's life at Pemberley also goes forward but hearts still call to one another out there in the world.The 'year of no summer' throws up challenges for both families. Loss and heartache, dread reality, longing and resignation, it seems, must prevail. Can our beloved couple find their way back together?This version explores fully and explicitly, the adult, sometimes oppressive nature of the various relationships of our characters, and the behind-the-scenes realities of life in the early nineteenth century.A happy ending is, at last, of course, guaranteed!

    Before her marriage, she saw herself making the best possible choice. Her husband saved her family from ruin. All he asked in return was her hand. Secure in his good opinion, Elizabeth married him. Only with hindsight and his cryptic warnings that passion is not immutable does Elizabeth question her decision. Her solution? Give him a son as soon as possible. Once his lust for her has been slaked, this service she has rendered him will ensure her value. The newlyweds are summoned to Rosings Park almost the moment they are married. Though the estate can boast of beautiful grounds, Elizabeth and Darcy arrive to find devastation. A flood has swept away Lady Catherine’s last hopes of hiding debt and years of mismanagement. She expects Darcy to shoulder the recovery efforts. The effort to save Rosings strains the already tense relationship between Elizabeth and her husband. To make matters worse, her presence is met with disdain and disinterest from the family. As the days in the besieged estate drag on, Elizabeth slowly untangles the histories and secrets of her new relations. Like Elizabeth’s marriage, the crisis at Rosings is the culmination of past events. Disaster need not be the result of only bad choices; good principles have led them astray as well. As for Elizabeth, she barely knows her husband, and loving him might be impossible. Yet, she is determined to save all she can—her marriage and the estate—and somehow create the future she longs for.

    Darcy desires marriage to Elizabeth Bennet, but he ruins any such prospect during his proposal at Hunsford. The resulting general sense of malaise interferes with his usually amicable yet stately demeanour, and his Fitzwilliam relatives resolve that Darcy is lonely-he must be in want of a wife. His cousins convince him to leap into the London Season for one month and partner every lady they select for his felicity.At Longbourn, chaos erupts as Mr. Bennet undergoes a transformation, and Jane and Elizabeth receive the gift of a month in town to enjoy the Season. Meanwhile, Elizabeth pores over Mr. Darcy's Hunsford letter and wonders about him, warmed by his words.It's only a matter of time before the two meet again in this Pride and Prejudice novella. But will their encounter be a repeat of the earlier disaster, or will they overcome their tenuous history? And can Elizabeth's credentials pass the stringent criteria of the scheming Fitzwilliam cousins who direct Darcy towards the single daughters of every peer of the realm?

    He has quarrelled with Bingley, his only close friend. Lydia’s lapse has left the Bennets disgraced and ruined. Most painful of all, Elizabeth is married, to a Highland laird she met on her trip to the Lakes. Darcy’s only solace is Georgiana, who has blossomed under his guardianship and is enjoying her first London season. Fashionable debutantes vie for his attention, but he can think only of past mistakes. A chance meeting brings shocking news. Elizabeth’s husband has been found dead, leaving her penniless as lawyers wrangle over the inheritance. Darcy hastens to Scotland to offer help. But his efforts are overshadowed by a conflict over her husband’s estate. Darcy’s presence is seen in some quarters as a threat. Unknown enemies may be planning to remove him from the picture, by any means necessary ...

    “Mr. Darcy, who are you to dictate? My sister is twenty-one years old: therefore an adult. I will guarantee nothing on her behalf! Of course, you may treat Mr. Bingley as a child if you choose. It would be quite in keeping with the rest of your arrogant behavior. And now, I bid you a very good day, sir.” Angry tears pricked behind her eyelids and she turned to walk away. But Darcy reached out and placed a heavy hand on her arm. “Not so fast, Miss Elizabeth…” he began to say, when a shrill voice called out behind them. __________________________________________________________________________________ A QUEST FOR A LIFE OF MEANING. Elizabeth Bennet, a young woman possessed of a keen intellect and sharp wit has spent most of her young life in forced seclusion in the small rural village of Meryton. But with the arrival of two wealthy young gentlemen, things look set to change for the Bennet family, especially when Elizabeth encounters and clashes with the arrogant and controlling Fitzwilliam Darcy, never dreaming that he will come to admire her or that the social barriers between them can ever be surmounted. Darcy, despite being born to power and privilege, has always been discontented with his lot – not least because family obligations make marriage to his sickly cousin, Anne, unavoidable. Until he visits the small town of Meryton his attitude is characteristically contemptuous and bitter and it is only when he has to contend with Elizabeth Bennet and her disturbing ability to pinpoint his faults while mocking him at every turn that he is compelled to examine his own behaviour more closely. Slowly, Darcy travels the path to self-knowledge and in the process over comes his cynicism and begins to yearn for a life of purpose, passion and real fulfilment. BUT CAN DARCY HONOUR HIS OBLIGATIONS TO HIS FAMILY AND RESIST HIS DESIRE FOR ELIZABETH AND THE PROMISE SHE HOLDS FOR ENDING HIS LIFE OF LONELINESS? AND CAN ELIZABETH OVERCOME A FAMILY SCANDAL AND HER ABSORPTION IN THE WORLD OF IDEAS, TO SEE PAST DARCY’S ARROGANT EXTERIOR TO THE MAN WHO IS ON A QUEST FOR THE MOST PROFOUND FORM OF LOVE?

     Finding Elizabeth Abducted from her home just before her third birthday, Elizabeth is taken in by the Bennets. It is only with the arrival of a new tenant at Netherfield that her true identity is discovered. According to Mr Bennet, Elizabeth was found wandering in the gardens of Longbourn but will the truth of the matter ever be known? Her Grandmother’s Wisdom Elizabeth and Mary Bennet on holiday with their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner in Derbyshire. It is there that they first meet Fitzwilliam Darcy a year after his father’s passing. Four years later, Darcy is pleased to discover the young lady he had thought of often resides on the neighbouring estate to the one his friend Bingley has recently leased. Miss Bennet’s Adventure Following the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy, Mary is invited to join her sister and new brother at Pemberley. There she meets again a certain colonel in His Majesty’s Army. Sequel to Her Grandmother’s Wisdom. Hurst Knows All What if Hurst was more aware of what was going on around him at Netherfield and shared his wife’s and sister’s liking for gossip. Storms over Hunsford The morning after the ill-fated proposal at Hunsford, Elizabeth is walking aimlessly in the grounds of Rosings Park as she reads Darcy’s letter. So caught up in reading and re-reading the missive, while chastising herself, she does not notice the approaching storm until it is too late.

    She is the woman he longs for against his better judgment. Can love grow from a marriage brought about by deceit?Fitzwilliam Darcy cannot fix on the moment when Elizabeth Bennet became so appealing to him. He had scarcely allowed her to be tolerable on their first meeting, but now, he is utterly bewitched by her. If it were not for her ridiculous family and the inferiority of her connections, Darcy thought he would be in some danger of making a foolish alliance.Elizabeth Bennet has disliked Darcy from the moment they met. Not only did he insult her appearance and express disdain towards her family, but he has also denied his former childhood friend Wickham his inheritance. When they attend the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth is determined to avoid the proud, haughty gentleman as much as she can.But Wickham has his own plans where Darcy is concerned. Wickham has vowed to humble his former friend, and what could be more humiliating for Darcy than being forced to marry a woman he finds barely tolerable and whose family will make him the laughingstock of society? And what better place to arrange a compromising situation than at a ball?When Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to marry to save Elizabeth’s reputation, Darcy finds himself happier than he expected. And as Elizabeth's feelings for her future husband grow, she struggles to understand how a man who treats her with such kindness and affection could betray a friend so cruelly.When Wickham discovers Darcy is in love with Elizabeth, he is furious to realise he has merely helped him get what he wanted, yet again. Now, he must find another way to take revenge on his old friend. And what better way to do it than through the woman Darcy loves?Partial and Prejudiced is a Pride and Prejudice Variation novella of approximately 36,000 words.

    Finding herself pregnant with Mr. Darcy’s baby, she is forced to make decisions that will have an impact on the rest of not only her life but her family’s.Mr. Darcy, who cannot remember the night in question and therefore does not believe he is the father of Elizabeth’s child, soldiers on in his pride and arrogance until he's forced to admit - he is the father.His realization comes too late. She is now married and not only is she unattainable, but so is his son.**Warning** There is a hint of what some might feel is sexual violence in the first chapter. It is not graphic, but some readers who are sensitive to this type of scenario should read with caution.

    For three years, it has hung like a dead weight about his neck, yet his first priority has been and must continue to be his young daughter. He married once for duty, he will only marry again for love. Is there a lady out there who will love him for the man he is underneath his vast wealth and lofty connections and, more importantly, who will love his precious daughter as dearly as he does? Will those with their own agenda to push allow him to follow his heart?A rocky first encounter with the handsome friend of her new neighbour leaves Elizabeth reeling. Meeting his adorable daughter will change her life forever. Loving the sweet little girl is easy, but what about the tall, brooding man she calls Papa? What will Elizabeth do when faced with those who deem her unworthy of the master of Pemberley?Mr. Darcy's Daughter is a sweet full length novel of +82,000 words. This is Melissa's debut novel.