Fitzwilliam Darcy, Hero

A Pride and Prejudice Variation Duology

By: Julie Cooper, Mary Smythe

Narrated by: Simon Alison

Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Hero is a duology comprised of two previously published novella length variations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Mr Darcy's Abducted Bride by Julie Cooper
ON THE DAY AFTER MR BINGLEY'S BALL , Fitzwilliam Darcy is preparing to leave Netherfield when he hears horrifying news. Mr Collins, it seems, intends to make Elizabeth an offer of marriage. Mrs Bennet—panicked by Mr Bennet’s illness—will stop at nothing to ensure that her obstinate, headstrong girl accepts it and becomes Mrs Collins as soon as is possible.

RUSHING TO LONGBOURN, Darcy finds Elizabeth out of her wits while she and Mr Collins plan for an immediate wedding. Recognising that Elizabeth will find herself bound to a ridiculous man for life, Darcy acts a hero, rescuing her and removing her from harm, intending to keep her away from the dastardly duo until she has regained her wits.

Elizabeth finds herself thrust into a terrifying journey alone with Mr Darcy. Mr Collins and her mother will stop at nothing to see their plans carried to fruition, and Mr Darcy is her only chance of salvation. Can she learn to trust him quickly enough to discern which of the choices before her will lead to happiness?

A Case of Some Urgency by Mary Smythe

When Lydia Bennet elopes with George Wickham it seems certain that the second chance at love for Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy has been destroyed. Desperate times often call for desperate measures, as Mr Bennet is soon to discover under the most painful of circumstances. His search for Lydia and Wickham is proving unfruitful and still worse—he has discovered signs of a secret romance between Elizabeth and none other than Mr Darcy.

Seeing an opportunity to avoid ruination , Mr Bennet visits Darcy with a proposed solution. But every solution provides a new set of challenges for Darcy and Elizabeth in this tale of romance lost and found.

©2024 Julie Cooper and Mary Smythe (P)2024 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Entertaining duology!

I love having two-for-one audiobooks, and this one with Julie Cooper’s Mr Darcy’s Abducted Bride and Mary Smythe’s A Case of Some Urgency fit that bill perfectly. I also loved Simon Alison’s narration and performance of both books. He’s new to me, and I enjoyed him very much.

Mr. Darcy’s Abducted Bride - Julie Cooper
Mrs. Bennet devises and proceeds with a nefarious plot to drug Elizabeth with Mr. Bennet’s heart tonic which has a potential side effect that enhances amorous desire, hoping she will accept Mr. Collins’s proposal. This action by her was a bit over the top for me, but did provide some diverting moments later. In this novella, thanks to the interference of loyal servants (I really love when this happens), Darcy is alerted and he kidnaps, ‘er rescues Elizabeth just as the trio are departing the house for the church. Elizabeth is basically out of her wits and only semi-conscious. What can go wrong? I loved the twist/switch used regarding Lady Catherine’s usual confrontation with Elizabeth.

A Case of Some Urgency - Mary Smythe
Following Lydia’s elopement and his subsequent search for her in London, Mr. Bennet finds Darcy’s Hunsford letter to Elizabeth, which she had inadvertently left tucked away in Mr. Gardiner’s carriage during their return to Longbourn from Derbyshire. With one daughter ruined, and in order to protect the reputation of a second, he demands the couple marry. Darcy and Elizabeth, feel the other has no wish to marry them, but Mr. Bennet remains adamant, and once they resolve each other’s uncertainties, they acknowledge their love for one another. This was a lovely and sweet moment of communication between them.

However, when the betrothals of Lydia’s two eldest sisters overshadow her homecoming after her own hasty wedding, a jealousy-driven plot conceived on her part threatens our dear couple’s road to happiness. Kitty, no longer fooled into following her younger sister’s whims, and Mary, never ever impressed with Lydia’s selfish conduct and actions, are drawn closer as sisters and play a role in exposing her ongoing deceit.

Recommend!