Becoming Elizabeth Bennet

By: Dee Kay

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

To discover her true self, Elizabeth Bennet must overcome a difficult childhood. Fortunately, she finds a friend in Fitzwilliam Darcy when she is sent to Lambton to live with relatives.
As the bond of friendship grows, Elizabeth becomes the woman she was meant to be. On the cusp of expressing their love, they are separated by tragedy.
Fate has a way of bringing two meant for each other together again. From there, it is a matter of working out the difficulties that keep them apart.

Very Original Storyline

WARNING: This story portrays some domestic violence towards the end of the book. Some spoilers ahead…

Oh my! Elizabeth is gender confused, although not in the way you might expect. Elizabeth is the second born of a set of twins, but almost everyone except her mother, Mrs Hill and the midwife thinks there was a single birth. The first born, a son, dies after only a few hours and because of the entail baby Elizabeth is substituted and raised from infancy as a boy, “Arland” Bennet. Mr Bennet only catches in after about two years, but continues with the charade hoping he might still have another son at some point. In the meantime his cousin Collins and his son, William, are grudgingly satisfied that a Collins will not inherit the estate.

Later, when puberty is imminent and the deception can’t continue, Bennet explains to Elizabeth that she is actually a girl and removes her from the family who believe that “Arland” is going to school. In reality she is sent to Derbyshire to live with her aunt and uncle Gardiner. Now, after all these years, she must learn how to be a girl.

Of course she becomes acquainted with Darcy who finds her rather odd (she relates to him like a chum rather than a girl to a boy normally would). Over the years their feelings gradually change to a more romantic one. Then Darcy’s father becomes ill and Elizabeth moves to London with her aunt and uncle.

When Charles Bingley is looking to lease a certain estate Bennet requires “Arland” to sign some legal documents and then disappear forever. Thereafter Elizabeth is to make her first appearance in Meryton as a long lost daughter from Bennet’s first marriage. Elizabeth grudgingly agrees to the plan thinking she’s helping her sisters. In London “Arland” meets Darcy and Bingley briefly but makes a big impression.

When Elizabeth comes to Longbourn her mother, who doted on her as “Arland,” now hates her and will only acknowledge her by threat of Bennet. Bennet is also indifferent and her sisters don’t know her. She is happy when her good friend Darcy comes to the neighborhood but must work hard to keep him from discovering her scandalous secret and he is very suspicious of her circumstances. Bennet has secret plans for her and her past and future are about o collide in a very shocking manner. Hold on to your seat!

Seriously Different Variation in a Good Way

I don’t want to give anything away as this story should be experienced by each listener and thus enjoyed as it unfolds. I really like this author’s humor, creativity and ability to write dialogue. The early years with the young Elizabeth and Darcy are especially good. The Virtual Voice has some issues but isn’t bad.

Gender confusion, Regency Style.

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline, including everything from brain-washing to assumed beliefs to abuse ( trust, some physical but mainly psychological). The end was rushed and storylines lacking some real endings, but the first 2/3 of the story were lovely!