A Most Respectable Pursuit

By Danielle Darling

A trip to town was about to change Elizabeth Bennet's life forever…

 

After a particularly dreadful winter and spring, a stifled Elizabeth Bennet is in search of an escape from Longbourn. She does not know what she wants; she only knows she will not find it in Meryton. Then, while visiting the green grocer with her mother one afternoon, Elizabeth spots an unusual advertisement posted on the wall. It begins, "A gentleman engaged in a most respectable pursuit, for want of a wife…"

 

And all at once, Elizabeth begins forming a plan.

 

A Most Respectable Pursuit is a Pride and Prejudice variation that begins with a marriage of convenience and ends with the most perfect romance. Fall in love with ODC all over again in this exciting new story!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daisy Chain Publishing
• Release date: Jun 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223391364

Book preview

A Most Respectable Pursuit

A Most Respectable Pursuit

A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION

DANIELLE DARLING

Daisy Chain Publishing

Copyright © 2023 by Daisy Chain Publishing

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Coming Soon…

Available in August…

Coming Soon…

Available in September

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One

The shrill voices of my younger sisters, Lydia and Kitty Bennet, pierced the once-peaceful parlor like the first crack of ice on a frozen pond. Their heated argument centered around the ownership of a particular dress, a pale blue confection of silk and lace that I had grown quite tired of hearing about.

Please, both of you, cease this racket at once! I implored, holding the book I was attempting to read aloft as if it might serve as a shield against their relentless bickering.

Elizabeth, surely you can see that the gown is mine! Lydia wailed, her cheeks flushed with indignation. I saw it in the shop window first!

Yet I am the one who tried it on, Kitty retorted sharply, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. And it fit me perfectly!

The long winter months had been particularly harsh this year, causing us all to be confined indoors far too often for our liking. The result was a simmering restlessness amongst the Bennet girls, which now threatened to boil over at any moment.

Lydia, Kitty, please, I begged again, pressing my free hand to my forehead in a feeble attempt to stave off an impending headache. This constant quarreling serves no purpose. There must be a more reasonable way to settle this dispute.

Perhaps we should ask Papa to decide, offered Kitty, casting a glance toward the door that led to his study. 

Indeed not! cried Lydia. He will only say that neither of us should have the dress and that we ought to save our pin money for more practical purchases.

Her words rang true, for our father was ever the voice of reason in our household. Yet, I could not help but agree that such a verdict would bring little satisfaction to either party involved.

Very well, then, I conceded, closing my book with a sigh. Why not flip a coin or draw lots to determine the rightful owner of this coveted garment? Anything would be preferable to this incessant noise.

Fine, agreed Lydia, her eyes narrowed as she glared at Kitty. We shall draw lots. But know this, sister – if I lose, I shall never speak to you again!

Nor I to you! Kitty shot back, matching Lydia's venomous tone.

As they began their preparations for the fateful drawing, I sank back into my chair, hoping against hope that this decision would bring an end to the squabbling and restore some semblance of peace to our beleaguered parlor. Determined to return to my book, I tried my best to block out the surrounding chaos and focus on the printed words before me. Alas, it seemed there was to be no reprieve from the restlessness that plagued us all.

No sooner had Lydia and Kitty found straws to draw than our dear mother, Mrs. Bennet, swept into the parlor like a tempest. Her keen eyes darted between her two youngest daughters, alighting on the dress in question with an expression of mingled curiosity and disapproval.

Mercy me! What is all this commotion about? she demanded, hands planted firmly on her hips. Surely you girls have better things to do than squabble over a bit of muslin!

Mama, I began, attempting to intercede before yet