Two Centuries Beyond Pemberley

What happens when an author spends countless hours crafting a tale along with rounds and rounds of meticulous edits (visual and audible) and proofreading and soon after publishing comes across a review that mashes the book’s plot with that of another book entirely? How does one set the record straight—or at least attempt to?

That scenario is exactly what sparked the idea for a series of “Imagine” posts. If a reader is going to imagine a plot that isn’t there, it seems like the perfect opportunity to invite everyone to imagine the twists and turns as they truly unfolded.

Here are some of the “Imagine” posts that came out of that idea:

Imagine Colonel Fitzwilliam boasting about how Darcy saved a friend from an imprudent marriage—within moments of first meeting Elizabeth. Imagine both Darcy and Elizabeth standing right there, taking it all in. How will Darcy ever extricate himself from such a bind?

And look no further than what happens soon after Elizabeth arrives in Kent:

Imagine Elizabeth Bennet staying at Rosings Park as Anne de Bourgh’s invited guest. Imagine Anne looking to throw Elizabeth directly into Mr. Darcy’s path at every turn! How will Elizabeth navigate this visit, especially once Lady Catherine notices Darcy paying far too much attention to her while neglecting Anne?

The twists and turns continue to compound:

Imagine Darcy’s carefully crafted composure shattering the moment he sees Elizabeth in Kent. Imagine the sheer panic of Lady Catherine realizing her grand plans for Anne are slipping away, while Darcy can’t seem to tear his eyes off a woman with no fortune. How far will Lady Catherine go to stop them?

Especially when certain other characters make an appearance:

Imagine Elizabeth’s first introduction to Mr. Collins occurring in Kent. He shows up well into the story—easily persuaded to do Lady Catherine’s bidding when the grand lady notices Darcy paying too much attention to Elizabeth while neglecting Anne.

Imagine, indeed.

Bewitched, Bothered, and Besotted is now available in eBook and paperback. Read the eBook for FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Buy or borrow your copy today!

Happy reading!

* This article was originally posted on my Substack.