Review: 'Eligible' by Curtis Sittenfeld (2016)

This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.

Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.

Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming... 

And yet, first impressions can be deceiving.

It's been quite a while since I've been as excited about a book as I was for the release of Curtis Sittenfeld's 'Eligible.' As some of you might know by now I am a big Jane Austen fan and I was incredibly excited about this new modern-day retelling of her famous novel 'Pride and Prejudice.' The book was released in April this year and I was lucky enough to get a copy of the book for my birthday. I decided to save it for my summer holiday, so I would definitely have a good book to enjoy. So, when I went to the UK for my holiday a few weeks ago, I couldn't wait to get started in 'Eligible' and really hoped I would end up enjoying it as much as I expected to...!

Thirty-something Liz Bennet works as a magazine author in New York City, where she lives not far from her older sister Jane, a yoga instructor. When they receive news that their father has been in an accident, they return to their family home in Cincinnati to join their mother and three sisters. While her husband is recovering, Mrs. Bennet is solely focused on how to marry off her daughters and she immediately sees an opportunity for Jane when doctor and reality TV star Chip Bingley comes to town. Liz, on the other hand, gets distracted by his neurosurgeon friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, whom doesn't leave the best first impression but somehow Liz can't get him out of her head...

'Eligible' is the fourth part of The Austen Project, a series of modern-day retellings of Jane Austen's classic novels, and is author Curtis Sittenfeld's own interpretation of Austen's most famous story 'Pride and Prejudice'. I'm a big fan of anything Jane Austen and have to say 'Eligible' is one of my absolute favourite adaptations of the love story so far. I loved the author's writing style (which is comfortable and consists of mainly short chapters with a few longer ones in between), the modern-day setting, and the new interpretation of some of the characters. For example, Mr. Collins has become cousin Willie, a rich whizz kid genius, and Catherine de Bourgh has turned into Kathy de Bourgh, a well-known feminist whom Liz is eager to interview. Next to that, the sisters are also a bit older; Jane is 39 and Liz 38 with the other sisters being in their early thirties and twenties, which obviously fits the modern-day setting really well.

While this is definitely a new interpretation of 'Pride and Prejudice', Curtis Sittenfeld has done a wonderful job staying close to Austen's original, especially when it comes to the witty nature of the story. It made me laugh and shake my head numerous times and I dare to say Austen herself would have loved this retelling as well. The book is quite lengthy, with more than 500 pages, but I personally couldn't get enough of it and wouldn't have minded if it had been 700 pages instead! I'm really glad this adaptation introduced me to Curtis Sittenfeld as well because I definitely plan on picking up one of her other works in the near future. On the whole, 'Eligible' is a fantastic, witty and thoroughly enjoyable modern-day interpretation of Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice', but at the same time also just a great piece of women's fiction, worth picking up whether you're a Jane Austen fan or not.
Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'Prejudice and Pride' by Lynn Messina (2015)

You know Darcy: rich, proud, standoffish, disapproving, one of the greatest romantic heroes of all time. But you don't know this Darcy because THIS Darcy is a woman. 
In PREJUDICE & PRIDE, Lynn Messina’s modern retelling with a gender-bendy twist, everything is vaguely familiar and yet wholly new. Bingley is here, in the form of Charlotte "Bingley" Bingston, an heiress staying at the Netherfield hotel on Central Park, as is Longbourn, transformed from an ancestral home into a perennially cash-strapped art museum on the edge of the city. Naturally, it employs an audacious fundraiser with an amused glint in his eye called Bennet. 
All the favorite characters are present and cleverly updated: Providing the cringe-worthy bon mots is Mr. Meryton, the nerve-wracked executive director of the Longbourn who’s always on the lookout for heiresses to join his museum’s very important committees. (Universally acknowledged truth: Any woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a social committee to chair.) Collin Parsons is still in obsequious, if ironic, awe of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The wicked Georgia Wickham toils as a graphic designer at Redcoat Design by day and schemes against Darcy by night.
Ever since I first read 'Pride and Prejudice' when I was a teenager, I've been a big fan of Jane Austen and almost anything connected to her in one way or another. I love checking out adaptations of her novels, whatever kind they may be: modern-day retellings, from the point of view of another character, an important change of events, featuring vampires and/or zombies (yes, even those!). So, when I found Lynn Messina's 'Prejudice and Pride' on NetGalley, I straight away requested the novel and luckily got approved! I actually already read 'Little Vampire Women', the author's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel 'Little Women', so I was really curious to see what she had decided to do with this particular classic!
Brothers Bennet and John Bethle both live in New York City and work at the Longbourn Collection, a relatively small art museum in the city. Their boss Mr. Meryton is always on the look-out for people to help fund the museum, including young and rich socialites who can organise events and help spread the word. So when heiress Charlotte Bingston, known to her friends as Bingley, comes to town, Mr. Meryton is set on John and Bennet charming her to invest some of her money in the museum. However, Charlotte's best friend Darcy Fitzwilliam isn't amused by the brothers and particularly their boss, and their acquaintance leads to quite a bit more than both parties initially expected...
As a big Jane Austen fan I was really curious to check out Lynn Messina's 'Prejudice and Pride', which is not only a modern-day retelling of Austen's classic novel set in New York City, but also one in which the genders are swapped. I loved looking for the differences and similarities with the original novel and discovering what the author had decided to change or even do completely different. We've got a male Elizabeth and a female Mr. Darcy in the form of Bennet and Darcy, which I thought was great. I also loved what the author decided to do with Mrs. Bennet in the form of Mr. Meryton, younger brother Lydon as the infamous Lydia, and Darcy's gay cousin Collin, who was quite fabulous and a great new interpretation of the character in my opinion!
I do have to admit I missed the sparks between Darcy and Bennet; the chemistry between the two of them unfortunately wasn't really there for me, which is quite an important aspect of this romance story. In some instances the author also decided to use specific Jane Austen quotes/language which just didn't really fit in with the modern-day setting and feel of the story. However, don't get me wrong, I did really enjoy this Austen adaptation and my first gender-swap retelling and definitely recommend it to any Austen fans out there. 'Prejudice and Pride' is a fascinating and original retelling of Jane Austen's most famous novel; a thoroughly enjoyable read and new take on this classic romance that fits the modern day and age.

Rating:8/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Upcoming Release: 'Eligible' by Curtis Sittenfeld!

The Bennet sisters have been summoned from New York City.

Liz and Jane are good daughters. They’ve come home to suburban Cincinnati to get their mother to stop feeding their father steak as he recovers from heart surgery, to tidy up the crumbling Tudor-style family home, and to wrench their three sisters from their various states of arrested development.

Once they are under the same roof, old patterns return fast. Soon enough they are being berated for their single status, their only respite the early morning runs they escape on together. For two successful women in their late thirties, it really is too much to bear. That is, until the Lucas family’s BBQ throws them in the way of some eligible single men...

Chip Bingley is not only a charming doctor, he’s a reality TV star too. But Chip's friend, haughty neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy, can barely stomach Cincinnati or its inhabitants. Jane is entranced by Chip; Liz, sceptical of Darcy. As Liz is consumed by her father’s mounting medical bills, her wayward sisters and Cousin Willie trying to stick his tongue down her throat, it isn’t only the local chilli that will leave a bad aftertaste.

But where there are hearts that beat and mothers that push, the mysterious course of love will resolve itself in the most entertaining and unlikely of ways. And from the hand of Curtis Sittenfeld, Pride & Prejudice is catapulted into our modern world singing out with hilarity and truth.

A completely new modern-day retelling of Jane Austen's famous novel 'Pride and Prejudice' and one I am SO excited about! I already love the sound of 'Eligible' by Curtus Sittenfeld and I can't wait to have a copy of this book in my hands. It sounds like a perfect read for any Austen fan, but I am sure women's fiction/chick lit fans might really end up enjoying this as well. Without a doubt the April 2016 release I am most excited about, CAN'T WAIT!

Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Review: 'Who Needs Mr Willoughby' by Katie Oliver (2016)

What should rule - your head, or your heart?
When sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood are forced to leave their family home to live in a rural Northumberland cottage, Marianne is convinced her social life is over. Somehow, she can’t see kitten heels coping well in the countryside – and being stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from London, sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Not to mention her arrogant new boss, Dr Brandon, who doesn’t seem to think much of her city ways.
When she meets the gallant, charming and handsome Mr Willoughby, Marianne begins to think that country life might not be so bad after all…especially when he suggests that marriage might be on the cards. But the countryside still has a few tricks up its sleeve for Marianne…after all, love rarely turns blossoms in the most convenient places!
On the 24th of March the third part of Katie Oliver's latest book series, The Jane Austen Factor, was released by publisher Carina UK. 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is a retelling of Jane Austen's classic 'Sense and Sensibility', which I'm sure people who know the book already managed to get out of the title. A few weeks ago I read and reviewed the second part of the series, 'The Trouble with Emma' (click here to read my review), which I really loved and is a modern-day retelling of Austen's 'Emma.' I couldn't wait to check out this last part as well, even though I have to be honest and admit I'm quite sad to see this so far great series finish!
The lives of the Dashwood family, consisting of sisters Marianne and Elinor and their mother, are suddenly changed when they are forced to leave their home and move to a cottage in rural Northumberland instead. Marianne feels there's nothing positive the countryside could possibly bring her and finds it difficult to settle in. She manages to find a job at the local veterinary office, but her new boss Mr. Brandon is quite a challenge to please. When Marianne meets the handsome Mr. Willoughby, she is over the moon; finally something to keep her distracted from her rather boring new life. But as they embark on a romance, Marianne has no idea the countryside still has quite a few unexpected events in store for her...
I still don't exactly know why it took me so long to finally pick up one of Katie Oliver's novels, but after having read this second one of hers I am convinced her books are definite must-reads for any Jane Austen fan out there! 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is a modern-day retelling of Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' and Katie Oliver decided to go with a mix of elements from both modern times and Austen's original stories. The story is told from the perspective of Marianne, the younger of the two Dashwood sisters, and I loved how the author portrayed a more modern version of the character while also staying true to her original personality (especially Marianne's love for drama!). I have to say I've always been more of an Elinor fan myself and would have liked it if a bit more focus had been put on her as well, but it didn't make me enjoy Marianne's story any less.
You don't need to be familiar with the other parts of this book series or Austen's original novel in order to understand what's going on in the book; it can definitely be read and picked up as a stand-alone. Katie Oliver's writing is really great, in my opinion. The book is well-paced and the chapters are of a good length, not too long and not too short. I am really quite sad to see this series come to an end and can only keep my fingers crossed and hope Katie Oliver will decide to turn Austen's remaining three novels into modern-day retellings as well! Overall, 'Who Needs Mr. Willoughby' is another entertaining, well-written and simply great modern retelling of an Austen classic; definitely worth picking up for any Austen or chick lit fan!

Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The Madness of Mr. Darcy' by Alexa Adams (2014)

The year is 1832 and regrets beleaguer Fitzwilliam Darcy. All he ever cared for has been taken from him: his pride, his sister, and his true love, Elizabeth Bennet. Now, having nearly murdered a man in a fit of rage, he might lose Pemberley, too. More than just his home, his very identity is at stake. In desperation, he seeks the help of Dr. Frederick Wilson, owner and proprietor of Ramsey House, a madhouse for fine ladies and gentlemen. Is Darcy’s confinement the inevitable end to his tortured descent, or will he rediscover what he lost in the most unlikely of places?

I'm really excited to once again have a blog post about author Alexa Adams on the blog today! Previously I've reviewed Alexa's 'First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice' series, which is a fabulous retelling and continuation of Jane Austen's classic novel (and one of my personal favourites of all time) 'Pride and Prejudice' (click here to read my review of the first part of the series). When Alexa contacted me about possibly reviewing her latest release, 'The Madness of Mr. Darcy', I couldn't say 'yes' quick enough. However, this read promised to be quite different from her previous ones, a lot darker, with a focus on Mr. Darcy going mad... A crazy idea (no pun intended), but something that definitely made me curious!

'The Madness of Mr. Darcy' is set approximately twenty years after Elizabeth Bennet and her family, the Gardiners, visited Pemberley in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Due to circumstances, Darcy is unable to track down Lydia and Mr. Wickham, who have run away, and it seems this crucial event changed the lives of all the characters from 'Pride and Prejudice.' Darcy not only lost Elizabeth, but also his beloved sister Georgiana, which resulted in him suffering from melancholia and battling an alcohol addiction, not knowing how to find happiness in his life after everything that has happened. His cousin Anne de Bourgh, now known as Lady Matlock, decides it's for the best to send Darcy to an asylum where he will be able to get the help he needs. At first, Darcy doesn't know what to think of Ramsey House, the other patients, and Dr. Frederick Wilson, but then something happens that once again turns his life upside down and changes everything...

This book is another retelling of the classic 'Pride and Prejudice', but quite a drastic one! What would have happened if Darcy had never managed to find Lydia and Wickham? What if everything in Darcy's life had gone so terribly wrong, it resulted in him going slightly mad and being sent to an asylum? These are the questions Alexa Adams deals with in her novel and I have to applaud her once again for coming up with a terribly fascinating and entertaining rewrite of an Austen story. I have to admit I was a tiny bit scared at first, namely because I was afraid the novel would perhaps be a bit too dark, too Gothic for me. However, this was definitely not the case; I shouldn't have doubted the author's skills to come up with another simply fabulous story that held my attention from start to finish.

I don't want to give too much of the plot away in this review, but I loved the fact that several characters from other Austen novels make an appearance in this book, such as Maria Rushworth (Mansfield Park), Lady Elliot (Persuasion), and John Knightley (Emma). I really enjoyed the Gothic aspect of this retelling; it's obvious the author did a lot of research and it was fascinating to read and learn about madhouses in Victorian times. Alexa Adams has really managed to create her own style of stories while also coming close to Austen's original witty voice at the same time. 'The Madness of Mr. Darcy' is a captivating, slightly dark and wonderfully unique look at the classic story of 'Pride and Prejudice.' Austen fans have to be sure to pick up Alexa's works, because they are missing out on something great which I personally can't get enough of!
Rating:9,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Weekly Feature: Once Upon a Story...

 'Once Upon a Story' is a weekly feature in which we go back in time and focus  on a specific novel that was released in the same month we're in right now (in this case May), but a few years back! It can be a women's fiction classic from the 1990's or perhaps a great chick lit read from 2011. I thought it would be nice to not just focus on recent releases, but also take the chance to jump back in time once a week and look back at wonderful reads that have been released over the years!

This week, we're travelling back to September 2010 to look back at...

Dr Katherine Roberts is a lecturer at Oxford University and an expert on all things Austen. But she has a guilty secret; a love of racy Regency novels by Lorna Warwick. She’s even struck up a long-distance friendship with the novelist and the two of them have been sharing their closest confidences.

When Katherine gets her yearly invite to a Jane Austen Conference at the magnificent Purley Hall in Hampshire, she sincerely hopes that Lorna will be in attendance as well. She can hardly wait to meet her new friend, but it seems that Lorna may not have been completely honest with her…

Meanwhile, hopeless romantic Robyn Love is at her happiest when her head is stuck in one of Jane Austen’s novels – if only her boyfriend Jace Collins could be more like Colin Firth.

The weekend retreat is the perfect opportunity for Robyn to escape from reality for a few days – especially when she meets handsome stablehand Dan. But Jace isn’t going to be so easy to shrug off.

With misunderstandings, muddles and a few shocking revelations, the weekend proves to be even more than they bargained for. Like all true Jane Austen heroines, Katherine and Robyn will discover that finding their own Mr Darcy is far from easy… 

I love books about Jane Austen/Austen's novels and one of my favourite Austen-inspired chick lit novels is 'A Weekend with Mr. Darcy', written by Victoria Connelly. The book was released in September 2010 and after the success of this one, Victoria Connelly wrote several more parts of the Austen Addicts series, which I can highly recommend. I love Victoria Connelly's writing style, and even if you're not an Austen fan you can definitely still enjoy this book. It has great characters, an intriguing plotline, and a wonderful setting... Just talking about it makes me want to read it again! 

Be sure to visit the blog next week for another blast from chick lit past with 'Once Upon a Story...'!

Review & Guest Post: 'Second Glances' by Alexa Adams (2013)

A year has passed since the conclusion of First Impressions, and the marriages made by the three eldest Bennet ladies are prospering. Expectations are high for the two youngest sisters to do equally well. Kitty, having excelled in school, receives an invitation to join Georgiana Darcy in her first London season, leaving Lydia to bear the burden of the classroom alone. Will the most forward Bennet tolerate such inequity? Kitty arrives in London prepared to be happy, but her delight is marred when she finds a most unwelcome gentleman on intimate terms with her hosts. She has met the reckless Sir James Stratton before and would like nothing more than to never encounter him again, but his acquaintance she is forced to endure. Struggling for firm footing amidst the whirlwind of London society, will Kitty be allowed to follow her heart, or will her family force her hand? Join the reimagined cast of Pride and Prejudice as they pursue happiness amidst the ongoing obstacles of life, love, and interfering relations.
At the start of this year I read and reviewed Alexa Adams’ novel ‘First Impressions’, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ As a dedicated Jane Austen fan, I’ve read numerous rewrites of Darcy and Elizabeth’s love story, and Alexa Adams’ work was definitely one of my personal favourites. Lucky me, I didn’t just receive a review copy of ‘First Impressions’, but also of the other two parts that make up this trilogy. I couldn’t wait to sit down with the second part of the series, ‘Second Glances’ and step back into the familiar world of Austen’s characters!
‘Second Glances’ starts a year after the end of ‘First Impressions’ where the three oldest Bennet sisters all got married. It is now time for the two younger sisters, Lydia and Kitty, to shine. After being sent to school in Bath, Kitty has shown her true potential by excelling while Lydia has kept herself occupied with gossip and the search for an eligible bachelor. When Kitty is invited by her dear friend Georgiana Darcy to spend her first season in London, she is thrilled and can’t wait for all the entertainment, fun and sophistication the city will undoubtedly bring her. However, events turn out slightly different when Kitty keeps running into sir James Stratton, a conceited man who almost ran her over with his horse. It is clear Kitty has captured James’ heart and he is willing to go a long way to convince her that he is the right man for her...
I’m happy to say the second part of Alexa Adams’ Austen rewrite definitely did not disappoint! In ‘Second Glances’, the focus lies on a different part of the Pride & Prejudice cast, most specifically Kitty and her new best friend Georgiana (Darcy’s younger sister). I’ve always liked Kitty and thought it was too bad how she was kind of ignored in Austen’s original story. It was great to learn more about her and see her personality develop in this retelling. Her storyline involves a rather charming man in the form of Sir James Stratton and between them we find the prejudice and misunderstanding that played such a central role in the original ‘Pride & Prejduice’, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable tale of romance.
Alexa Adams’ writing is just as clever, satirical and Austen-like as the first part of the series, which is just a joy to read. The only negative thing I could say about this book is that it was rather a quick read I managed to finish within a couple of hours, and I certainly would not have minded if it had been a bit longer! ‘Second Glances’ is a truly delightful, amusing and well-written read and a great continuation of a wonderful classic!     
Rating:

  9,5/10
For more information about this book: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Goodreads

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I'm really excited to have Alexa Adams on the blog today with a special guest post and excerpt from her upcoming release, 'The Madness of Mr. Darcy'!

I’m so please to be back at 'A Spoonful of Happy Endings' to talk about my new book! The Madness of Mr. Darcy is a reimagination of Pride & Prejudice, like my earlier works, but there the similarity ends. The story is set in the 1830’s, at a time when the care of the insane was rapidly changing in England. The previous two decades have been extremely difficult for our hero and heroine, who were separated when both Lydia and her reputation were permanently lost. Their paths cross once again when Mr. Darcy, battered by depression, places himself in the care of Sir Frederick Wilson, owner of the private madhouse where Elizabeth is matron: the highest ranking female employee of the institution. Lady Elliot (nee Penelope Clay), Mary Crawford, and John Knightley are also “guests” at Ramsey House, and along with several original characters. I’ve greatly enjoyed populating my little bedlam, but I had no notion that Austen characters from other books would creep into the narrative when I began writing the book. This odd company bears witness to a romantic reunion in the most unlikely of places. I’ve had a long standing interest in portrayals of madness during the Victorian period, but it took some creativity to combine that study with Austen. First I had to figure out what might drive Mr. Darcy insane. The following excerpt hints at some of the upheavals orchestrated in order to make the plot work. Please bear in mind that this is still a rough draft and subject to possible change (I rewrote the end of Second Glances less than a month before publishing), and rest assured that there is a whole bucketful of happy endings awaiting Darcy and Elizabeth. Enjoy!

Darcy walked up the ramp to the freshly painted door. He made certain conditions at the cottage were maintained perfectly. Though other areas of the estate might suffer neglect, this place saw none of it. The gardens were tended and walking paths maintained with the same attention devoted to the big house. The inside had been refurbished with the most modern conveniences and contrivances, all installed with the occupant’s condition in mind. No detail was left unattended.

“Good morning, Mr. Darcy,” the plump woman he hired as both housekeeper and nurse to George greeted him.

“Good morning, Mrs. Able. How are you?”

“Tell Darcy he needn’t mind the pleasantries, Hatty,” the familiar voice called from inside. “If he did, he wouldn’t be here at all, for nothing about his visits are ever pleasant.”

“Hello, George,” Mr. Darcy replied, entering the cheerful front room. Wickham sat by a large window that framed the pleasing landscape bounding the cottage’s south side, examining the scene with a determination born out of a refusal to face his guest.

“What do you want, Darcy?”

“I have something I need to tell you.” He remained standing, staring at the back of his former friend and longtime enemy’s head, which suddenly twitched to the side, revealing the briefest glimpse of profile.

“Oh, do sit down man! Still stubbornly formal, I see. It’s a trait I’ve always detested in you.” Darcy perched himself upon the nearest seat, but he could not abandon his rigid posture, quite necessary for his endurance of this ordeal. “What have you to say?” demanded Wickham, with renewed focus on the scene outside.

“I’m leaving Pemberley for a while, and I am not sure when I will return.”

“What! Will you deprive me of your precious company?” he huffed. “I didn’t think you had much occasion for mixing with the world anymore.”

“I don’t.”

The wheeled chair in which Mr. Wickham sat suddenly lurched forward and around to confront Mr. Darcy directly. Unwillingly, Mr. Darcy flinched at the sight of George’s scarred face. “Then where do you go!” he demanded.

Mr. Darcy looked him directly in the eye, trying not to stare at the disfigured flesh. “To a mad house, if you must know.”

“A mad house?” the harsh visage softened with incredulity. “You mean you go willingly?”

“The man who runs it offers hope, and I have none other before me.”

“You must be mad, Darcy, to consent to such a thing! And if you aren’t, you surely will be before long. Do you not know what happens in such places?”

“I have spoken to the doctor myself, and he has described his methods. I know what to expect.”

“Like hell you do! Good riddance to you, then. We shall not meet again.” He turned back to the window.

“I am not leaving for some weeks.”

“I see no reason to beleaguer our goodbyes.”

“Nevertheless, I will come see you before my departure, and I’m sure I will see you again before the year is out,” Darcy told the balding head before him, rising to leave as he did so. Upon receiving no response, he continued, “I will leave instructions regarding your needs.”

A bitter laugh escaped Wickham. “I did not think you would leave me unguarded.”

“Take care of yourself, George.”

“Just go, Fitz.” He moved towards the door, but hesitating he turned back and stood for several moments, staring at the rigid head. “Oh for God’s sake, Darcy! What is it?”

“The man who runs Ramsey House is an old friend of Lord Matlock,” he said softly.

“And why should that matter so to me that you must stand there in silence like an imbecile?”

Darcy forced the words out. “The matron who works beside him is called Mrs. Bennet.

The head twitched. “I see,” Wickham said.

“So you do recall the name?”

The crippled man spun his chair around with surprising force. “Of course I remember the name, Darcy! What do you take me for?” he spat angrily.

Numbly, Darcy replied, “The kind of man who would destroy an innocent, wreaking havoc upon an entire family in the process.”

“Oh, yes!” Wickham smirked. “I had forgotten about that.“

Darcy felt his hatred for the man swell up for the first time since the fire. “I do not see how you could,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Yet you just expressed surprise that I recall the name Bennet! Do make up your mind, Fitz: am I a complete heartless cad, or will you grant me the humanity of having a conscience?”

“Do you?” Darcy asked wearily.

Wickham held his eye. “It does not matter how I reply. You made up your mind as to my character many, many years ago.” He turned back round to the window. “So you think Mrs. Bennet is a relation to those of Longbourn?”

“It seems possible,” Darcy admitted reluctantly.

“Be sure to send her my regards, should she prove an acquaintance.”

“You make me sick, George.”

“I have no desire for your presence, either, Darcy. Do take yourself off already.”
Darcy left without another word. Once he heard the door shut, Wickham rolled himself over to the front window, where he watched Darcy mount Jason and ride hastily away. Had the master of Pemberley bothered to turn round, he might have perceived the vigil, one silent tear making its bumpy way down a distorted cheek.    

Thanks so much, Alexa!