I Dream of Darcy, Book 1: A Pride and Prejudice Regency Variation: I Dream of Darcy, #1

About the Book

Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice refuses to sit idly while her sister pines for a lost love. Certain that Bingley will renew his addresses if only he and Jane are reunited, Lizzy travels from Hertfordshire to London to track him down.

A chance encounter brings her face to face with her nemesis, the disagreeable Mr. Darcy. Lizzy is certain he is responsible for parting Jane and Bingley in the first place. Though furious with him for the pain he has caused Jane, she is touched by the brotherly affection he shows towards his own sister, Georgiana.

Lizzy and Georgiana soon strike up a friendship that gains Lizzy and Jane invitations to the best ton events. As Lizzy and Darcy are thrown more and more together, the attraction between them sizzles. Can they redeem the mistakes of the past and open themselves up to true love?

This Pride and Prejudice variation is a sweet Regency romance. It’s the first of three books in a serial that must be read in order. This serial includes flirty banter, wicked rakes, and breathless kisses, but no on-page intimacy.

Chapter 1

In the slanting light of a January morning, Elizabeth Bennet breathed the crisp air. With a wool pelisse to protect her, she did not mind the cold. The blue sky and open countryside seemed to stretch on forever.

The shopping trip to the little town of Meryton with her sisters had been productive. In the dressmaker’s shop, she had scoured the latest fashion magazines for ideas. Resisting the temptation to order a new gown, she bought some notions to update her old ones instead. She wanted to look her best for Mr. Wickham at the next assembly.

She had hoped she would see him in the village, where his militia regiment was stationed for the winter. Only two of the officers had passed by the shop, however. Her youngest sisters had gone outside and flirted with Denny and Sanderson for a full ten minutes before Lizzy went to round them up.

Now, they were heading home to the manor house at Longbourn. Cheerful birdsong played in her ears, and the wide gravel pathway crunched beneath their feet.

She liked bringing up the rear because it allowed her to keep an eye on fifteen-year-old Lydia. The baby of the family, she was a girl of high spirits. Her adolescent ways too often influenced Kitty, the second youngest.

Mary, the closest in age to Lizzy, was of no use in supervising her siblings. Her mind was full of books and music. While she had much enthusiasm for these pursuits, she unfortunately had little taste. Their mother’s lax parenting style and love of gossip had incited Mary to quiet rebellion. But she had veered too far, turning rigid and pedantic.

Mary walked determinedly, carrying her newly purchased sheet music. Meanwhile, Lydia tried to wheedle Kitty into sharing her new length of blue ribbon. But it would look so pretty with my sprigged muslin, Lydia said, the one with the diamond pattern. You know that I would share with you, if I had bought some ribbon.

I know no such thing, Kitty protested. You never share with me, and you constantly wheedle Mama to let you have my things. I bought the ribbon for an old bonnet I am freshening up. I do not have enough to spare.

I am better at making up bonnets than you are. I’ll do it for you if you let me have the leftover ribbon.

I want to do my own.

And so it went for the next mile they walked.

Lizzy had learned long ago to ignore their squabbling. Neither of their parents had the resolve to put an end to it. Lydia did whatever their mother let her get away with, which was quite a bit. Of the five sisters, Lydia was the most like her mother in temperament. But she had inherited their father’s cleverness. It was not a good combination.

The eldest sister, Jane, was in London. She had been staying in Cheapside with their aunt and uncle Gardiner since the start of the new year. Even after just a fortnight, Lizzy longed for Jane’s company. The sweetest and most sensible of the Bennet clan, she was a balm for Lizzy’s soul. If Jane had a fault, it was that she was too good, seeing the best in everyone. Even those who did not deserve it.

But Lizzy refused to let sadness interfere with her walk. She loved being out of doors, especially on a clear day. The trees might be leafless, but the structure of the grey branches had a beauty all its own.

They reached the cobbled drive too soon for Lizzy’s preference. Now she had no more excuses for ignoring her sewing, for which she had little talent. But as her papa liked to tease, she ought to do something to earn her keep.

In truth, with the entail on her father’s estate, she might have no choice but to earn her keep if she did not find a suitable husband. She sighed at the thought of Wickham. There was no hope in that quarter. Neither of them had fortune enough to make a marriage possible.

Stepping inside the house, melancholy settled over her again. If things had gone Jane’s way last autumn, the eldest Bennet sister would be enjoying London with her new husband. Jane would be happy, and the family would be saved from ruin.

Outside forces had interfered, however. Jane’s hopes had been cruelly and intentionally dashed.

Fury rose inside Lizzy whenever she thought of Jane’s last letter from Caroline Bingley. That upstart granddaughter of a tradesman thought her family too high and mighty for the Bennets, who had been landed gentry for centuries. Not that Lizzy cared two shillings for rank. The effrontery of it burned.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Joining her mother in the front parlour, she picked up her sewing basket.

While Lizzy worked, her mother prattled about a disagreement with the cook. Mary tried out her new music on the pianoforte in the conservatory, missing as many notes as she hit. Somewhere in the house, Lydia and Kitty continued squabbling over bonnets and ribbons.

In the window seat, Lizzy sighed. She loved her family, but she longed for quiet.

More than that, she longed for Jane. Nursing a broken heart, her eldest sister had seemed despondent in her last letter. Lizzy had wanted to hie to town that very day on the mail coach.

But Lizzy had little hope of leaving the environs of the village of Meryton at that time. If Jane were not in London, Lizzy would not even wish to go. The Bennet family lived comfortably in the country. However, a season in town for five daughters was beyond their means. Mr. Bennet had no sons, and Longbourn would go to a distant cousin upon his demise. The family economized where they could.

Lizzy carefully cut the ribbon and lace she had purchased to lengthen the sleeves of her best gown. It was a white muslin with a soft damask pattern, one she saved for special occasions. She took care with her needle, to avoid damaging the delicate fabric.

The activity cheered her. She hoped for a ball at the assembly rooms soon. That would break up the monotony of a dull, dreary January.

She had not been long at her work when her aunt Philips was shown in. Her mother’s sister had married a lawyer in Meryton. Her situation in the village made her privy to gossip before it reached the nearby estates.

On this day, it was clear from her manner that Mrs. Philips had a fine piece of news to share. Upon her arrival, Lydia and Kitty gave up their quarrel, and even Mary came to join them in the parlour. Hill the housekeeper set out the tea tray and some jam biscuits.

Why, sister, what do you think? aunt Philips began, her tone grave. Have you heard the news about Miss King?

Miss King was a young woman of about twenty—the same age as Lizzy. She had not lived in Meryton long. A few months prior, she had come to stay with her uncle, but had attracted no particular notice. At least, not until she had inherited the fine sum of ten thousand pounds.

Miss King is not unwell, I hope? Lizzy asked. She did not count Miss King a particular friend, but Lizzy had no reason to think ill of her. Lizzy would not wish any misfortune to befall her.

On the contrary. Mrs. Philips tapped a finger to her lips a moment, as if pondering her next words. She gave Lizzy a sorrowful look. Miss King is engaged—

Engaged! cried Lydia. That awful, freckled thing?

Lizzy glared at her sister, aghast. Lydia was already out in society, but her manners could have used an extra year or two to develop.

Neither mother nor aunt appeared to have the breath to scold her, however. The next moment, Mrs. Philips continued with her story, giving Lizzy a significant look. Yes. She is engaged...to Mr. Wickham.

Silence descended on the room as Lizzy’s stomach dropped to the floor. Wickham, marry Miss King? Though tears did not prickle her eyes, she could not deny that the news made her chest grow heavy.

She could not fathom it. Wickham had never shown the girl a moment’s interest before. Rather, he had singled out Lizzy from the day they had met, paying her his attentions at every assembly.

He had been clear from the beginning that he was penniless apart from his officer’s pay. The salary of a lieutenant in the militia could barely cover his own expenses, much less those of a wife. He had not misled her in any way.

Still, Lizzy felt all the humiliation of the moment. No, she could not attribute her