The Bennet family recognizes that the winter is very cold but nothing prepares them for the ‘year without a summer’ that follows. Frost and cool temperatures every month of the growing season reduce harvests of important grains, vegetables, and fruits. Their England is dependent upon locally grown foodstuffs and the people are unable to bring in food stuffs from other parts of the world–in fact other parts of the world would not have had surpluses of food to send. Horse and oxen-drawn wagons could only move produce so far in any single day.With some good luck, Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet separate after the Ball at Netherfield on excellent terms. Through happenstance, the couple meet at Hunsford at Easter during the cold spring, fall in love and become engaged. However, as the families and tenants struggle to harvest diminished harvests of grains and hay, the Bennet and Darcy families struggle to remain hopeful. The poor harvests do not prevent the marriage of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, and they travel from London to Pemberley for the lean winter that affects the inhabitants of manor houses and farmhouses.In Hertfordshire, Charles Bingley must deal with Caroline and his aunt from Scarborough, and Jane must rally her family as they discover how much they miss Elizabeth’s humour and wit. But in spring 1817, the weather makes all of England a green and bountiful land once again, and Jane and Charles find their way toward the happily-ever-after they deserve.

    

    Elizabeth is resigned to her life as a shopkeeper and a spinster, when an accidental meeting with Mr. Darcy and his cousin puts her at the center of a triangle that changes her life as well as the lives of others and yet ends surprisingly well. This is a low angst sweet Regency romance with no explicit intimacy, however, it does contain mature themes.

    While the revenge taken is not fully or graphically detailed, it is extreme.“He had certainly formed such a plan, and without meaning that it should effect his endeavour to separate him from Miss Bennet, it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern for the welfare of his friend.” Pride & Prejudice, chapter 45This vagary proposes an alternate path for the characters of Pride and Prejudice. Some character aspects are embellished, and longstanding plans change, fail, or are realized and perhaps regretted in this fanciful twist.Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy’s plan to avoid being compromised by Miss Caroline Bingley leads to an unexpected friendship with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. In this tale, the two of them work together on one plan to help his sister, and another, which, with the aid of his friend Mr. Charles Bingley and her elder sister Jane, will assist her family in correcting some of their most embarrassing behaviors. The plan, if brilliant in its execution, has results which are beyond any they could have imagined. After Mr. Darcy dashes her plans to become the next mistress of Pemberley, Miss Bingley chooses to leave Netherfield, take her mother’s maiden name of Northwood and control of her dowry, and returns to town. What machinations will she resort to in order to force Mr. Darcy to marry her? Miss Mary Bennet, at her sisters’ encouragement, devises a plan of her own to win the future she wants for herself. Sent by his mother to Meryton in order to assist his cousin, to what lengths will Colonel Fitzwilliam go in order to persuade Miss Charlotte Lucas that she is exactly the woman he has been searching for? And which plans of that scoundrel George Wickham's can be thwarted using the infamous gossip chain of Meryton, and to what measures will he resort if they succeed?CAUTION: This vagary does have some uses of profanity. In defense of Mrs. Bennet, however, sometimes an indolent husband needs to be told to get off his arse.CAUTION: For those who are on Team Richard, I do hope you enjoy him in this tale as much as I have. For those of you who prefer to look at Darcy as the man above all men, I preemptively apologize. While an almost perfectly proper gentleman who makes a decision or acts on a plan only after considering all angles, a situation sometimes requires a man whose strengths include quick, strategic action.NOTE from the author: The whole of the book takes place between Jane and Elizabeth’s sojourn at Netherfield and the ball. I confess that I find the journey to the courtship or altar, whichever comes first, the most exciting part of a variation/vagary/retelling. The original novel, and the movies derived from it, end quite quickly after all pertinent parties have chosen their partner for their HEA. So, too, do I hope that when this tale ends, there is no doubt that they will ever after be happy.NOTE from the author: Readers may notice what would be considered an improper use of capitalization when referring to members of the militia throughout this novel. These capitalizations were not made in error, they simply demonstrate respect for the rank earned by the characters portrayed in this novel, a form of deference and respect that could not be overlooked by the author.

    Bingley leave Hertfordshire immediately after the ball which Mr. Bingley hosted at Netherfield Park. It assumes that Mr. Bennet has died and that the Bennet women no longer live at Longbourn because of the entail which gave that estate to Mr. Collins. The Bennet daughters have been distributed among relatives--Mary and Lydia with Mrs. Bennet in a cottage in Meryton, Jane with her Uncle and Aunt Phillips in Meryton, and Elizabeth and Kitty with their Uncle and Aunt Gardiner in London. This variation addresses how the family manages to survive the tragedy, how the relationship of Elizabeth and Darcy is influenced by Elizabeth's becoming the ward of her merchant uncle and aunt, and how the lives of other Bennet daughters are affected.

    What if the Bennets were not penniless and unconnected? For the purposes of this story great wealth is assumed, the source of the wealth is explained in the book. Will Darcy choose to acknowledge the rectitude of Miss Elizabeth’s reproofs or will he reject them in pride and conceit?Does he have the fortitude to change and how will knowing the Bennets affect those around him? Bingley in this variation is closer to his irresolute character that we see in canon. That is the only similarity that your will see in him my dear reader. There are villains but they are not the focus of the story.You will find all of your favourite characters from canon with a few new ones added in to broaden the tale. I trust that you will enjoy my effort.

    Having heard her new brother, Charles Bingley praise him to the skies, Invited to accompany her brother and beloved, Jane, to stay at the man's estate, Elizabeth wonders how he can possibly be as good as Charles claims.At Pemberley, Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy is a diligent man, one sober and upright, a man engaged in the welfare of his estate. His sister, Elizabeth also learns, is a wonderful girl, a girl, unlike her own sisters who are often wild and uncouth.Settling in at Pemberley for a visit, Elizabeth grows to love the estate, and her esteem for the master and his sister grow apace. But while Elizabeth is happy there, she cannot forget the events of the past year, which continue to plague her peace of mindThen an old enemy of the Darcy family arrives to wreak havoc on the Darcys, pulling Elizabeth's own family into his schemes. The question, in Elizabeth’s mind, is whether Mr. Darcy’s newfound appreciation for her can withstand the machinations of a libertine and the silliness of a reprehensible sister.

    She is reunited with her sister Jane, who is still in the Gardiners’ home.As both sisters are in low spirits, Mrs. Gardiner attempts to cheer them and arranges for them to attend several parties, balls and plays.These occasions lead Elizabeth and Darcy to be caught in some awkward encounters, both filled with regret for their past behaviour.Furthermore, the beautiful Jane Bennet appears to have gained the interest of a wealthy earl, who has begun courting her. She is still very much in love with Mr. Bingley – who, however, has not appeared again.Darcy has more knowledge about the earl’s true character and does not consider him a suitable match for the kind Miss Bennet. Feeling guilty for his intervention that separated Jane and Bingley, and willing to show Elizabeth that he has taken her reproaches to heart, he intervenes to remedy a situation caused by his arrogant presumptions.When Bingley returns in town, Darcy reveals the whole truth to him. Unlike in canon, Bingley’s reaction is very strong, against Darcy, against his sisters, even against the earl who seems unworthy of Jane.Fighting for his love, Bingley is badly injured, in danger of losing his life.Darcy intervenes again, protecting his friend, helping him to heal in body and spirit and to reunite with the woman he loves.Amidst these endeavours, Darcy and Elizabeth finally put their pride and prejudice aside, and unite their efforts in a fight for love and happiness.

    The estate entailed to a male heir has created enmity between relatives and divided the family.Yet, an unexpected solution suddenly appears when one of Elizabeth’s sisters marries the heir, Mr Collins.A cruel twist of fate involves Darcy in the rescue of the new Mrs Collins, proving his generosity and benevolent nature—very different from the gentleman Elizabeth met at Netherfield.But the way to Elizabeth’s heart is full of obstacles that Darcy must conquer one by one in a battle to win his lady’s hand.Angst, love and friendship are mixed with unforeseen events involving our favourite characters in a plot that twists with every turn of the page.Impossible to predict the end, you will be safe only on Elizabeth’s journey towards her beloved Darcy.

    The story is appropriate for all audiences.While spending a pleasant time in Ramsgate as a companion to her aunt, Elizabeth meets and befriends a young, beautiful and elegant young lady of whom she knows little except that she resides in a nearby cottage. Surprised, Elizabeth observes the restrained girl with delicate manners breaching propriety several times by meeting late at night with a man who seems to hide his identity. Their friendship, although new, is not shallow and when the girl simply disappears one evening—apparently taken away by her brother—Elizabeth can’t help worrying about her and makes efforts to enquire about her health and whereabouts.Returning home to Longbourn, Elizabeth finds several new arrivals in the neighbourhood: Mr. Charles Bingley, the new master of Netherfield, his family and his friend—Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. Mr. Bingley’s amiable manners are universally appreciated, in complete contrast to Mr. Darcy’s arrogance and aloofness. When a militia regiment then arrives in town, a certain Mr. George Wickham—handsome and charming—also claims his place in Meryton and Longbourn society.To her utter joy and complete astonishment, Elizabeth finally receives news about the young lady she met in Ramsgate—and the revelations are astounding.While struggling with pride, prejudice, misunderstandings and misjudgements, Elizabeth will grow in character and feelings and will slowly discover Darcy’s true character as well as the strength, depths and loyalty of Darcy’s love.

    While visiting his aunt's home, he meets and falls in love with Margaret O'Brien. The married and had more children, including three sons, thus breaking the entail that had been in place by Thomas' grandfather. But Thomas' cousin is convinced that the sons cannot inherit. You see, the second Mrs Bennet came from Antigua, the child of an English born land owner and a freed slave. Mr Collins, the Bennet cousin believes that the sons are not worthy of inheriting an estate, and plans to eliminate the entire Bennet family, thus he could claim Longbourn. How will Darcy, who is visiting the community with his friend who had leased the neighboring estate of Netherfield Park, accept such knowledge? Will he follow his heart or will he bow to society's view of such a family? Will Elizabeth and Darcy have a happily ever after or is their relationship doomed?

    When the real Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives Elizabeth has a second chance to become acquainted with the gentleman. Can she break through the façade Mr Darcy erected because of a family tragedy, and will she like what she discovers of his character?

    The end of Darcy’s hopes and dreams.He decides to give her the letter and escape the humiliation.But he cannot do it.No matter the cost, he will do anything — anything — to be worthy of her acceptance.Elizabeth Bennet must decide which of the two characters is the real Mr. Darcy, before she can choose which path in life will make her happiest.Should she follow her heart, or her head?

    When someone claims to have enjoyed Elizabeth’s special favours, he demands to be released from their engagement. He returns to London in a jealous rage and vows to never speak her name again. A woman who surrenders her virtue to another man cannot complain when her folly is exposed.Elizabeth Bennet’s happiness is shattered when someone makes unfounded claims against her. Enraged that Darcy believes she had played him false; she refuses to show any regret for his loss. Now ruined in the eyes of society, can she forgive the follies and vices of others, including Fitzwilliam Darcy?This Pride and Prejudice variation begins three weeks after Elizabeth accepted Darcy’s second proposal.

    Having met the Bennets on her previous visit to the estate, Lady Felton decides that taking an interest in Mr. Bennets older daughters will help give her some purpose and distraction from her personal grief. Arriving with her guest, Anne de Bourgh and her godson, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, the Duchess soon fills up her guest rooms with the Bingleys, the Hursts and Mr. Darcy and his ward and younger sibling Georgiana. Her guests, the Bennets and Mr. Collins and the newly arrived militia all combine for matchmaking, madness and matrimony in this Pride and Prejudice variation.