Once Mr. Darcy Promises

Book excerpt: When Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, she learns he is engaged to be married to Miss Caroline Bingley. He seems devoted to his bride-to-be, quite attentive to her comfort and always willing to escort her to bed when she falls asleep early in the evenings, as she is wont to do. They are to be married in something of a rush, it seems, as soon as the banns are read. Which is why it’s monstrous that Mr. Darcy looks at Elizabeth in that way that he looks at her sometimes, or that Elizabeth feels an odd stirring towards him. Positively monstrous. Beneath them both. And there is nothing for it, after all. Once a gentleman gives his promise to a woman, he cannot break an engagement. It’s against all codes of honor to do so otherwise. Mr. Darcy will marry Miss Bingley, and there’s no reason for Elizabeth to think it could ever be otherwise. Dear reader, this story features a good Mr. Wickham and a sympathetic Caroline. Obviously, Caroline doesn’t actually marry Mr. Darcy, but read this if you’d like to see just how badly they’re entangled, how we end up with Caroline happily ever after with Colonel Fitzwilliam, and how we get our dear couple sorted. Take note that there is content that may be objectionable to some readers, including nonconsensual activity, violence, and detailed lovemaking scenes.