Both sisters are hurt after Mr. Bingley’s hasty departure from Netherfield, although their suffering differs. One of them is trying to mend her broken heart and the other one tries to soothe her anger against those who hurt her sister. Jane and Elizabeth are unexpectedly reacquainted with the men who will change their lives forever. “In a More Amiable Light” is the first Austenesque attempt of a man who has been in love with reading and with Jane Austen’s books all his life but has tried his pen only in other genres so far. The author hopes the readers will give this story a try, so he gains enough courage for another longer and more complex project.

     How Mr Darcy is going to win Elizabeth's heart? *** This is an edited version of the story "Five Questions" published online several years ago. ***

    Bennet is dead. Her second eldest daughter, Elizabeth, has no time for suitors. She must placate a melancholy father and help raise her younger sisters. Fitzwilliam Darcy is of like mind. He struggles to keep his family's legacy alive and support a younger sister beset with problems of her own.The two meet at a country assembly. While she teases out his quiet charm, he delights in her fiery intelligence. As soon as he lets his feelings be known, duty pulls him away.Will Elizabeth conquer her prejudice against the first circles to see a man worthy of respect? Will Darcy deliver justice for the sins committed against his sister, or forever drown in the silence of his inherit pride? Will he capture the only woman to bewitch him body and soul?

    Principles and feelings must now be forgotten: Elizabeth knows what she must do in order to save her family. As unpalatable as it is, she prepares to swallow her pride and travel to Kent. There is one factor Elizabeth did not anticipate: Fitzwilliam Darcy. Is he really as hard as he seems or is a kinder nature lurking just below the surface? Elizabeth does not dare allow herself to hope. Darcy may be the only one who can save her from a life of unhappiness.

    Elizabeth, an orphan raised at Longbourn, is not the daughter of Mr. Bennet but his niece. Shortly after Hunsford proposal Elizabeth learns that her late mother was the daughter of the earl. With her life circumstances suddenly changed Elizabeth has to learn how to handle herself as a wealthy young woman with noble connections.****“I will walk you back home,” he insisted, following her.“I thank you, sir, but it is not necessary. It is not far away,” she said as she kept walking.“I insist.”Elizabeth ceased her protests, knowing that there was no point in trying to convince him not to escort her.“It is here, Mr Darcy,” she said, stopping by the front entrance. “Thank you for your assistance, although as you can see, it was entirely not needed. I was perfectly capable of returning home on my own.”Darcy looked at the imposing building. “This is the home of the Earl of Riverstone.”“I am aware of that.”“He is not currently present in London.”“How can you be so certain of it?”“I dined with him in Manchester a week ago. He assured me that business matters should keep him in the north for a while.”“He may be there, but his mother is here.”“The Countess of Riverstone?” Darcy’s eyes widened dramatically. “Now, that it impossible,” he whispered.Elizabeth raised her head high. “What is impossible, Mr Darcy?”A heavy frown appeared on Darcy’s forehead. “What was your mother’s maiden name?” he enquired.“Gardiner.”“I was not asking about Mrs Frances Bennet. I heard some gossip during our stay at Netherfield. Caroline Bingley mentioned to me that you and Jane were first cousins, not sisters, and that your parents died when you were very young. The Bennets took you in to rescue you from destitution. She said that you were a foundling.”“You believed her?” she exclaimed. “Was that the reason why you chose to propose to me in such a cruel, offending, and demeaning manner?”“Lower your voice, please.”“My parents married one another out of pure love. They were deeply devoted to one another, they respected each other, and they loved me. My father was a soldier and the heir to Longbourn. My uncle, Thomas Bennet, inherited the estate only after his death. I have never been a foundling, even before I learned the truth of my mother’s family.”“May I know what was your mother’s maiden name?” he asked.“Lady Eleanor Grey.”Darcy stared at her hard and long.Elizabeth took a step forward, looking into his eyes. “Yes, Mr Darcy. My mother was the daughter of an earl, the same as yours. Do you find me equal now? Would you have treated me differently, knowing that back in April?”“Elizabeth? Who are you talking to? Who is that gentleman?”Elizabeth looked away from Mr Darcy to see the Countess of Riverstone, standing in the front entrance, the butler right behind her.Darcy turned around and bowed deeply in front of her ladyship. “Countess of Riverstone, I had the pleasure to walk your granddaughter home.”“Mr Darcy,” the countess beamed at him. “I was not aware that you were in London.”“I arrived a few days ago.”“It is always a pleasure to see you.” She looked at Elizabeth. “My dear, you have never mentioned that you are acquainted with Mr Darcy.”“We were introduced last year, your ladyship,” he explained. “I had the pleasure to spend some time in your granddaughter’s company due to common friends.”“I see. Shall you step in, Mr Darcy?”“No, thank you, your ladyship. Miss Bennet, Countess of Riverstone, I wish you a good day.”Darcy walked away. He did not look back. Nevertheless, Elizabeth was certain that he talked to himself as he walked. She smiled. Poor Mr Darcy. She would never forget his expression when it dawned on him who she really was.

    Mr. Darcy wants to gain command of his wayward heart. But Miss Bingley wants to be acting. Thrown together in the cause of entertainment, our reluctant pair learn to see each other with fresh eyes. But the course of true love never does run smooth. And neither does the course of amateur theatricals. To achieve the stuff that dreams are made of they and their friends must navigate a sea of troubles and dodge the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

    Her carriage has met with an accident! Of course, Darcy comes to the rescue despite the recent, scathing rejection of his hand and heart. Circumstances force them to seek refuge in a nearby farmhouse, posing as man and wife! Why was Elizabeth travelling to London in a strange carriage, days before her visit to the metropolis was scheduled? Why did their hostess at the farmhouse welcome them with a shooting rifle. And with the acrimony and hurt of the proposal still raw, how would our dear couple navigate this chance encounter! This light-hearted story answers all these questions and more!

    Collins’s younger brother when they meet Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy’s disapproval of the burgeoning affection between Jane and Charles is painfully obvious, and Lizzy does her best to thwart his attempts to stop the developing relationship. She is puzzled by how invigorating it can be to trade barbs with Darcy, and he seems to enjoy it as well, but he is the last man she could ever soften toward due to his haughty manner and prideful ways.When their ship wrecks, Lizzy and Darcy end up stranded alone on an island. As the days pass while they await rescue, the undeniable attraction between them becomes overwhelming, leading them both to act. Even as Lizzy succumbs to the temptation and falls for Darcy, she wonders if he is indeed the last man she would ever marry, or if she has been fooling herself about the strength of her emotions all along? While Abbey sometimes writes sweet JAFF, this is strictly SENSUAL.

    The fast paced conclusion to Netherfield's Duchess takes our beloved characters from Hertfordshire to Scotland, from Derbyshire to Kent to London as our couples are forced to deal with plotting Lady Catherine and Wickham.

    Both the grandfather and father of the master, Mr. Thomas Bennet, married blue-stocking wives from the Continent. These circumstances had a profound effect on Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters. Because of this broader worldview, the Bennet family was more aware of, and affected by some historical events of the period far outside the twenty-four families around Meryton than what one would expect of minor gentry in the backwater.Elizabeth Bennet had a superior mind and the self-assurance of a modern young woman; Mr. Darcy, the too proud master of Pemberley, Derbyshire was properly humbled by Mrs. Bennet during their first meeting. How would the courtship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy go under these different scenarios? How would Mr. Darcy behave when his pride was under good regulation?If you stripped away the changed circumstances, the characters would behave fairly similarly as in canon. If you are looking for extra angst or extra thrills, you will be disappointed. Pride and Prejudice has been classified as a comedy of manners. It is of course a huge challenge for even a seasoned writer to have anywhere close to the genius of Jane Austen to dissect and depict Regency manners with such a sharp insight. The ‘manners’ part of the Regency era was particularly difficult for a twenty-first century first-time fiction writer to emulate. In fact, the reader may detect some modern sensibilities in the Elizabeth in this story: self-assurance, resourcefulness, independence, etc. Hopefully, this story offers some amusing bits to make it a fun read.All verifiable historical characters, buildings and events appearing in this story are borrowed purely as vehicles in a work of fiction, but as much respect as possible is paid to the historical accuracy (as obtained through brief internet searches and well-researched references) in the description of these entities. Chapter notes are provided where appropriate for those who are interested.As of May/June 2021, the whole story has been revised - errors largely corrected, the length slightly shortened to improve the flow of the story, and a few extra chapter notes added.

    This may be especially so when the man in question not only possesses the rightful inheritance of said ladies, but is also of a most odious disposition and less than agreeable in appearance. Such was the lot of five young women near the town of Meryton. Not only had they no fortune, their own father, an absentee parent at best, had not the foresight to put aside a single pound should they not have the opportunity marry. For this sole reason, their overbearing mother deemed it necessary for one of her daughters to marry this impossible man. However, a mother’s best laid plans cannot come to pass if the gentleman in question is not only repulsive, but also very, very dead. Desperate times often call for desperate measures. There is a myriad of ways to dispose of an unwanted suitor, all of which may be deemed accidental, for who would ever accuse a young lady of good family? The answer is simple… no one. However, some persons are as extremely difficult to be rid as they are to tolerate in life. The Reverend Mr. Collins, despite his obvious deficiencies when it came to appearance and personality, has an uncanny knack for staying alive but, where there is a will, there is always a way…

    Consigning herself to a marriage of convenience, she sets out to make it work. But she had not expected Mr. Collins to be so contentious. Other new people in her life are causing trouble too. As her efforts to create harmony fail, she manages to find happiness in her duties and her friendships. Especially the friendship of Mr. Darcy, who provides her with interesting conversation, a sympathetic ear, and assistance when she is in need. That need becomes dire when her husband turns violent. But the harder her life becomes, the more her friends step up. The loyalty of old and new ones helps her to navigate a difficult journey. And her dream of love is waiting at the end.

     Her sister, Elizabeth, is distraught over the engagement, and although aware of an unspoken attraction between Jane and Mr Bingley, she is powerless to alter her sister’s inevitable future without encouraging a scandal. Elizabeth’s displeasure is often manifest by way of general complaint to the even wealthier and more distinguished Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, who confesses a propensity for offending wherever he goes. Despite assurances that Jane has made a most suitable match, Elizabeth is determined never to marry for mere security and familial obligations, but her sharp wit and biting tongue produce obstacles in making a fortunate alliance of her own. “My Dear Readers, If you have taken up the delightful chore of reading this novel, I hope that you are as fond of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and its author, Jane Austen, as I am. I make no claims of being her equal in writing, though I strive to preserve her style and characters in a way that will do justice to those presented to us in the original. I am under no delusion that my adaptation must appeal to every reader of Jane Austen fan-works. Yet I have done my utmost to deliver to you the sort of drama we might expect from a novel of this period; that of familial duty and regret, of sisterly quarrels and affection, enduring friendships, first impressions, and yes, now and then a runaway animal, and a bit of family scandal. For any inaccuracies written in ignorance, I apologise. For liberties taken for the sake of writerly whims, I can only request your indulgence. These liberties may be most apparent in the continuing stories compiled in Volume II, as this is where my novel expands into new territory and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ could not be consulted for material, leaving me to rely on speculation. My original design to end the story by Volume I was thwarted when I found it impossible to do some of our favourite couples and their endings justice under such limitations. My wise editor, fellow author, and eternal friend, Miss Catherine Miller, suggested I take a page from the illustrious Jane Austen herself and expand into a second volume, the better to tell everyone’s stories in the most satisfactory manner. A last word to those astonishing persons who have made it this far. Thank you ever so much for choosing to read this humble author’s adaptation of such a beloved and enduring novel. I know there are a multitude of fan-works to choose from in this sphere, and I am absolutely delighted that you would consider mine worthy of your time and attention. May it prove so! Your Little Scribbler, Madam Beth Poppet”

     Rather than see her sister marry her cousin, a horribly dry man she doesn’t love, Elizabeth Bennet hatches a plan that will see her sister marry a wealthy man and send their boring cousin packing. Moments before the ceremony, Elizabeth’s plans go awry, and she is inexplicably cast into her sister’s role as a blushing bride. Despite her best intentions, Elizabeth suddenly faces the risk of scandal and public ruin… and a marriage she never planned on. Married to the much-revered Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth struggles to understand the stirrings in her heart. When an afternoon by the lake goes awry, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself giving his consent to marry a woman he’s never met. He never imagined his return to Pemberley would result in a new bride, a growing scandal, and an inexplicable connection to the beautiful and tenacious Elizabeth. As he settles into his unexpected role, a threat emerges, promising to sever their relationship and possibly ruin Elizabeth’s good name. With controversy stirring from all angles, can Elizabeth convince Fitzwilliam that he is the man she’s come to care for more than anyone in the world? **** Marrying Mr. Darcy is a sensual romance featuring Our Dear Couple in this Pride & Prejudice Variation, and it's over 40,000 words long.. ****

    It is recommended for a mature audience, due to the subjects of violence and abuse – that are often mentioned but never detailed other than in Elizabeth’s recollections.This is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, thrown by fate and unfortunate circumstances into the middle of an ordeal from which she struggles to escape, fighting for her life. Her character, her strength and her determination are tested more than ever before. She has to enter into a battle which she must win, or the loss will be immeasurable. She has a strong ally in Darcy, first from afar, then by her side. The man she rejected just a month before will return to prove his loyalty, and the depth of his feelings.Elizabeth also benefits from the loyal support of a friend – a young woman of colour – who struggles to prove her worthiness and find her deserved place in a society unwilling to accept her.The story begins when Elizabeth returns from Kent and stays in London for several days. She is surprised to find her sister Jane and aunt in a new, but rather close acquaintance with a young earl and his mother. Over those several days, the nightmare slowly envelops the Bennets and Gardiners, and the threat of ruin and misery weighs heavily on them.To their apparent salvation came a hasty and strange – but so timely – marriage proposal from one of the most illustrious gentlemen of the ton. Despite her reasoning, her suspicions, her fears and her lack of feeling for the man she barely knows and even less respects, she does not dare refuse a third marriage proposal, which would throw her entire family into ruin.By the time of her marriage, Darcy has returned to London and Mr. Bingley has returned to Jane. Things appear to have improved for the Bennets. But for Elizabeth, it is too late.Trapped in a marriage as dark as a nightmare, never consummated but dreadful nevertheless, she must protect herself and those around her from the evilness and cruelty of a horrid man and his supportive mother and friends.With fate’s mercy, Elizabeth’s ordeal will not last long. Circumstances turn her into a widow, one of the wealthiest and most influential women in London, with a power she is not yet ready to use.Darcy’s feelings are the same, while Elizabeth's are quite the opposite compared with those she expressed in Kent. Darcy is the only man she can trust. Near him she feels safe, protected and supported. But her heart is so full of hate, distrust and plans for revenge, that it has little room for love and happiness.Darcy’s feelings for Elizabeth have remained strong and deep, but the woman he adored had changed dramatically. She is now above him in terms of position, wealth, and power.While she accepts him as a friend, and gratefully benefits from his support, Elizabeth is not ready to surrender to the power of another man yet, even if she has no reason to doubt his affection, his honour or his character.Elizabeth Bennet is now Lady Barrington – smart, well educated and beautiful, with the power and means to treat those around her as she pleases. Her old sweetness, her teasing wit, the smile that made her eyes sparkle, her musical laugh and tendency to joke seem lost. But they are only deeply buried under fear, and hate and are just waiting for the right moment and the right man to bring them back up into the light again.