A Daring Heart: A Thrilling Pride and Prejudice Variation

By Aria Green

On their very first time away from Hertfordshire without the watchful eye of their mother upon them, Elizabeth and Jane Bennet, are set loose upon the streets of Bath. Well, as loose as might be imagined.

 

But during their stay, their enjoyment is marred by an altercation between a group of militia officers and a gentleman from Derbyshire who comes to their aid. While Jane and Elizabeth are shaken by their encounter, the dashing Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy escorts them home and promises that no harm shall come to them.

 

Five years after this unfortunate introduction, a mysterious gentleman arrives in Hertfordshire, a gentleman that Elizabeth recognizes as her rescuer from Bath! But the officer who accosted Elizabeth and Jane in Bath has also returned to Hertfordshire, and his list of allies includes the nefarious Mr. Wickham who will stop at nothing to get revenge upon Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

 

A Daring Heart is a thrilling, but clean, Pride and Prejudice Variation that may be enjoyed by all lovers of Jane Austen's romantic classic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Flowers Press
• Release date: Jun 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223690887

Book preview

ONE

elizabeth bennet

The city of Bath lay before us, a jewel nestled amidst the rolling English countryside. Its Georgian architecture sparkled in the sunlight, as if beckoning visitors to explore its hidden secrets. The scent of the natural hot springs wafted through the air, promising rejuvenation and relaxation for those who partook of their waters.

I could hardly contain my excitement as our carriage pulled through the center of town and then turned toward Mrs. Carter's home, where we would be staying during our extended visit.

Where shall we go first? I exclaimed.

Lizzy, you must calm yourself, Jane chided gently beside me, her eyes full of amusement. We have only just arrived, and there will be plenty of time to explore the city.

But Jane is it our first time being outside of Hertfordshire without Mama watching over our every move. I replied, unable to suppress a grin. You must be excited to be here... Can you not feel the energy in the air? The promise of adventure awaits us!

Adventure, Jane said with a shake of her head. Mama said nothing about adventure! And I am certain that Mrs. Carter will take Mama's place when it comes to watching over us.

I let out a heavy sigh and looked out the window once more. Everything was fresh and interesting here. While Bath was certainly not as busy as London, it was still far more exciting than Meryton and I had been looking forward to our stay with great anticipation.

Mama's agreement for this visit had come only after months of good behavior and several arguments about responsibility and when a young lady might be able to leave her family home without a chaperone—but it was Mrs. Carter's letters that had finally convinced our mother that we were, indeed, old enough to embark upon such a journey on our own.

We did, of course, have to bring a companion with us, but Mrs. Fletcher was quite old, and she had been asleep since the journey had begun. Unless her snoring could be a deterrent to any scandalous possibilities, I was not certain that she would be able to protect us from anything at all.

The carriage came to a stop in front of a pleasant looking house with bright flowers planted alongside the stairs. Jane jostled poor Mrs. Fletcher awake just as the front door of the house opened and Mrs. Carter came out to meet us.

Girls, she cried. You have finally arrived! It has been an age!

Her warm smile and outstretched arms enveloped us in a welcoming embrace as we climbed the stairs to the brightly painted front door.

Welcome, my dears, she exclaimed. The last time I saw you both— Oh! Lizzy, your hair was still in ringlets! And I never saw you without a book in your hand!

That has not changed, Jane laughed.

Mrs. Carter's smile was broad and merry and I knew at once that our stay would be a wonderful one.

Will there be any dances or garden parties, I asked. A salon, perhaps, that we might attend?

I daresay you shall find no shortage of entertainment and diversion during your stay, Mrs. Carter exclaimed.

Thank you, Mrs. Carter, for helping us and writing to Mama, Jane said with her characteristic grace. Your hospitality is most appreciated, and we look forward to spending time in your lovely home.

I echoed my sister's sentiments, though I must confess that my thoughts were already racing ahead to the various social events that awaited us in this famed city. While Jane sought solace in quieter activities—painting and embroidery being among her favorites—I was eager to see and experience everything that Bath had to offer.

Mrs. Fletcher harrumphed and coughed her way into the house which caused us all to burst out into giggles as the older woman stepped over the threshold as though she had lived in the house her entire life.

Come, let me show you to your rooms, Mrs. Carter laughed. I hope that you will be as comfortable here as Mrs. Fletcher already seems to be!

The bedchamber was comfortably furnished, and I was surprised to see that Jane and I would not be sharing a room as we always had. I should have been thrilled to have my own room, but Jane and I had shared a room for as long as I could remember, and I did not know what it would be like to try and fall asleep without her steady breathing to measure my own against.

As we settled into our temporary lodgings, I could not help but marvel at the myriad possibilities that awaited us during our time in Bath.

While Jane perused the library of our hostess, Mrs. Carter, her delicate fingers tracing along the spines of well-loved books, I found myself itching to explore the city further.

Jane, I called out, I am going for a walk around the neighborhood. Would you care to join me?

She looked up from her book with a gentle smile. Thank you for the invitation, Elizabeth, but I think I shall stay here and read a while longer. But I'm certain you will be able to wake Mrs. Fletcher and have her come with you?

Very well, I muttered, trying to hide my disappointment. I longed for Jane to share my enthusiasm for exploration, but her contentment in quieter activities was undeniably endearing.

Mrs. Fletcher, meanwhile, was almost impossible to convince to leave the house. But when she did finally relent, I had to restrain myself from rushing ahead to explore every shop window we passed.

Mrs. Fletcher lagged behind me, huffing and puffing as we went along. I tried my best to slow down and keep pace with her, but my eagerness to explore this new place was too great.

Bath was even more beautiful in the twilight hours, with the warm light making the buildings look almost golden.

We should go back, Miss Lizzy, Mrs. Fletcher called out.

But we have only just begun, I protested.

Mrs. Fletcher's expression was stern as she shook her head. I grumbled only a little as I knew that I would not be able to argue with her. But as we turned back in the direction we had come, I could not help but notice a familiar flash of regimental red.

Officers, I murmured.

I darted down the small alleyway and Mrs. Fletcher's shout echoed off the bricks of the buildings around me as I rushed toward the street where I had seen them.

Officers in Bath, I murmured. How very exciting.

I wondered if the gentlemen would be anyone that I might recognize from Meryton. The regiment did march south to Brighton every summer, much to the dismay of many young ladies in Hertfordshire, but Brighton was a good distance away...

What business might they have here?

I peered around the corner of the building, eager to catch sight of them as though they were deer in the woods.

A group of them, four gentlemen in their handsome red jackets, walked together down the street. One tossed an apple in the air and caught it in an easy rhythm that made me smile.

Officers were ever so exciting, and I knew that my mother would not be upset if I were to accept a proposal of marriage from one.

But I was only sixteen, and I should not have been thinking of such things.

What are you doing here in Bath, I murmured.

A hand fell on my shoulder, heavy and hard, and I let out a cry of surprise.

I spun around and came face to face with Mrs. Fletcher's stern countenance. Miss Bennet, she hissed. What are you doing?

"Do forgive me, Mrs. Fletcher, I thought— I thought