Miss Darcy's Companion: A Pride and Prejudice Variation in Austen Variations

May 17, 2016 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing

Georgiana Darcy is thrown into company with Miss Bennet while G.’s brother, Fitzwilliam, and her cousin, Richard, make their annual trek to Kent…not knowing that Richard’s older brother’s wife, Lady Stretton, and her three children are also visiting at Malvern House, the home of Lord and Lady Malvern. Cousin, Amelia Fitzwilliam was to be her sole company, as she is of Georgiana’s age and of an open disposition akin to her brother, Richard. Upon returning Darcy reflects that he might not have lef Georgiana Darcy is thrown into company with Miss Bennet while G.’s brother, Fitzwilliam, and her cousin, Richard, make their annual trek to Kent…not knowing that Richard’s older brother’s wife, Lady Stretton, and her three children are also visiting at Malvern House, the home of Lord and Lady Malvern. Cousin, Amelia Fitzwilliam was to be her sole company, as she is of Georgiana’s age and of an open disposition akin to her brother, Richard. Upon returning Darcy reflects that he might not have left her there if he had known of Lady Stretton’s plans to also visit. (That Lady reminded me of Aunt Reed while her son, Hartfield, has an uncanny resemblance in his misbehaviors to Jane Eyre’s cousin, John Reed, in that novel.) A short time later we find Georgiana pleading with her two guardians to hire Miss Bennet as her companion rather than Mrs. Younge. Despite some misgivings due to the age and lack of experience on Miss Bennet’s part she is hired. Soon Georgiana and Miss Bennet are sent back to Pemberley while Darcy addresses business in town.

When Darcy does join the two young ladies in the country he finds two things: Georgiana is relaxed, happy and very obviously has developed a warm friendship with Miss Bennet. The other thing he finds is that Miss Bennet is not afraid to speak her mind. But they soon come to an understanding and he finds himself enjoying evenings playing a game of chess or even debating a book with Miss Bennet as well as enjoying watching his sister and her interact. Imagine his puzzlement when, after a Christmas Ball during which he and Richard come upon the two hiding out near the orangery, spying on the ball and then being coaxed into a dance, Elizabeth seems to withdraw from his company, turning down games of chess and presenting a much more reserved mien while in his presence.

We the readers find ODC have much angst as each cannot fathom ever overcoming the gulf between their positions in society to satisfy newly discovered feelings of attachment between them. Darcy soon departs for London to debate with himself how to reconcile those disturbances to his peace while Elizabeth makes plans for the near future to join Jane and her new husband at their estate, Netherfield, near her old home.

Joana Starnes has a talent in relating the feelings of love to us. She doesn’t find it necessary to write graphic sexual details but every nuance of the heart is laid bare with words of tenderness, longing, mind-boggling depths of yearning that it brings me to dewy-eyed sighs of appreciation for her art.

Georgiana rates much more page time in this book. She has her opinions and relates them to Darcy. She also is not afraid to correct miscalculations he has made. A vicar, Mr. Bradden, and his sister show an interest in our Elizabeth. We read of Wickham again, along with a Miss Fenton’s aid, plying his deceit in searching for that pot of gold, a dowry earned through seduction. Can Elizabeth, who knows nothing about his history with Darcy, intuit his intentions and his true character? Your heart will cry for ODG when Elizabeth’s quick thinking and reputation saving actions paint a picture completely opposite in Darcy’s mind.

I loved this story and guarantee that it is one that I will read over and over again. Elizabeth is not immune to suffering the pangs of unrequited love in this variation…but Darcy does have his moments of longing also. Do read this story!

All of Joana Starnes’ books have rated 5 stars for me. I look forward to her next release.

12/23/18: I began "reading" this story for the second time listening to it on Audible as I do my morning walks. 12/29/18: finished listening to this story today - loved it all over again. ...more

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Oct 03, 2016 Anna added it · review of another edition

Shelves: austenesque

Miss Darcy’s Companion is a Pride and Prejudice variation by Joana Starnes, and it imagines Elizabeth Bennet as a temporary governess for Colonel Fitzwilliam’s nieces and nephew, which is how she meets Mr. Darcy. The Darcys and Richard feel bad for how Lady Stretton treats Elizabeth, and Darcy thinks about how he would feel if his sister, Georgiana, were in her shoes: the daughter of a gentleman thrown out of her home upon the death of her father.

Convinced by Richard that Georgiana needs a compa Miss Darcy’s Companion is a Pride and Prejudice variation by Joana Starnes, and it imagines Elizabeth Bennet as a temporary governess for Colonel Fitzwilliam’s nieces and nephew, which is how she meets Mr. Darcy. The Darcys and Richard feel bad for how Lady Stretton treats Elizabeth, and Darcy thinks about how he would feel if his sister, Georgiana, were in her shoes: the daughter of a gentleman thrown out of her home upon the death of her father.

Convinced by Richard that Georgiana needs a companion closer to her age and that, despite her lack of experience, Elizabeth’s liveliness will do her a world of good, Darcy agrees to hire Elizabeth as Georgiana’s companion — and the three settle into a comfortable friendship at Pemberley. That is until Elizabeth becomes withdrawn, and Darcy realizes he wants the love and passion he witnesses between his friend Bingley and his new wife, Elizabeth’s sister Jane. Forced to distance himself from Pemberley to get his feelings under control and make a life-changing decision, Darcy must rush back to Pemberley when a ghost from his past arrives and destroys his hopes for happiness.

In Miss Darcy’s Companion, Starnes puts Darcy and Elizabeth in entirely new situations with entirely different misunderstandings but stays true to Jane Austen’s characters, namely Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s impertinence. She also portrays a Darcy whose true character is known almost immediately by Elizabeth, and a more solemn Elizabeth who is more difficult for Darcy to figure out. I really enjoyed seeing Georgiana blossom under Elizabeth’s watchful eye and Richard relentlessly tease his cousin. There also were plenty of original characters to liven the plot, from the obnoxiously arrogant Lady Stretton to the vicar’s sweet sister, Miss Bradden, to Fitzwilliam’s charming nieces Margaret and Hetty.

Miss Darcy’s Companion is the third Pride and Prejudice variation I’ve read by Starnes, and it’s another winner. (Check out my reviews of The Subsequent Proposal and The Unthinkable Triangle.) Starnes has quickly become one of my favorite authors of Austen-inspired fiction. She never lets me down with her beautiful writing style, tenderly drawn characters, and imaginative plots.

Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric ...more

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May 15, 2016 Ceri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austenesque-no-sex-scenes, austen-variation, austen-inspired, 2016-austeneseque-challenge

This review was first posted on Babblings of a Bookworm: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....

One of the main ways to change the story of Pride & Prejudice is for Mr Bennet to die. The Bennet ladies were woefully protected financially as Mr Bennet had never saved and the Longbourn estate was entailed to Mr Bennet’s cousin Mr Collins, as the Bennets had no sons. If Mr Bennet had died before any of his daughters had married, what would have happened to them? The girls and Mrs Bennet would have ...more

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May 13, 2016 JMarcy rated it liked it

Shelves: jaff-regency

What if Darcy first meets Elizabeth while she is an interim governess for his eldest cousin's children, whose wife treats her deplorably? What if Georgiana decides she would rather have Elizabeth as her companion than Mrs Younge? From here they travel to Pemberley rather than Ramsgate. After a despicable neighbor tries to take advantage of Elizabeth, Darcy realizes his love for her, but in his struggle between love and duty decides to leave for London. Enter Wickham, with the help of the dastard ...more

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Jun 29, 2021 Martha rated it it was amazing

Anticipated a Familiar Re-Telling, but This Was Unique

While in general, others have written a similar theme, this story went places I did not expect and I found that most enjoyable - an interesting story. Always happy to read a story that minimizes Lydia and Lady Catherine! Have enjoyed several stories by this author and I hope she writes more!

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Jan 06, 2019 Michelle David rated it liked it

Interesting

Interesting variation of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice. Events are rather different as Mr. Bennet died and Collins cast the family out

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May 05, 2021 Liliya rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this story. Mr. Bennet dies and Elizabeth ends up being employed by Darcy as Georgiana’s companion. This intimate setting allows them both to fall in love with one another in their time and in their own way.

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Jan 06, 2018 Staciel rated it really liked it

Shelves: jane-austen-inspired, austen-inspired-faves

I may be upgrading my rating later-- I'm going to sit on the four stars for a bit.

This was a gift from Santa on Christmas morning, and proof that I was a good girl in 2017.

My first JAFF book by Joana Starnes (how is that possible?!), and one that has been on my 'tbr' list for quite a while.

I enjoyed this book so much that I bypassed watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve to stay up and finish it.

A nice way to end 2017 and begin 2018-- if you haven't read this one yet, I recommend it. ...more

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Nov 15, 2018 M rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible-reads

2021 second read review: 3.5

Fast moving & sweet in many ways. Resolves perhaps a little too easily in end (though difficulties are noted, if not dwelled upon).

Also a few Regency errors - e.g. the ease of special licences (particularly for someone in trade) & the son of Viscount (courtesy title assumed) being Lord instead of Honourable. Minor enough to not particularly affect story.

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