The engagement of Elizabeth Bennett to Mr. Darcy must have had some rocky spots, especially considering Mrs. Bennett’s partiality (and willingness to express it) toward Lydia and her husband. Ms. Bedford has written a book covering the time between Elizabeth’s acceptance of Darcy and the actual wedding (if it takes place at all) in which the truths of Darcy’s first proposal and those expressed by Lady Catherine de Burgh, and the possible effect of the marriage on Georgiana, come home to both Elizabeth and Darcy. Georgiana cannot bear to hear Wickham’s name; how will she react to having him as a brother-in-law, especially when Mrs. Bennett is so fond of him and completely oblivious to the pain she may be inflicting on others?
Mrs. Bennett is wonderfully drawn, and if possible even more difficult than she was in the original book. Elizabeth, Darcy, and Georgiana remain true to their characters also. Mr. Bennett I am not so sure of. In the original book he is if anything relieved to be indebted to a “violent young lover who will carry everything his own way;” in this he is more jealous of his own pride.
The story perhaps has a tendency to quote too much from the original Pride and Prejudice, and the ending is a little abrupt. But on the whole it was an enjoyable read.
(I should mention that I was introduced to this book by a blog hop in which I regularly participate: the Weekend Writing Warriors. I first saw it eight sentences at a time, and was intrigued enough to get the book on Kindle when it came out.)
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