Mistaking Her Character: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Queen of Rosings Park Book 1)
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is prepared to be very generous when it comes to medical care for her sickly daughter, Anne – generous enough to lure noted physician Dr. Thomas Bennet to give up his London practice and move his family to Rosings Park. But his good income comes with a price: complete dependence on his demanding patroness’s every whim.
Now the Bennet family is trapped, reliant on Lady Catherine for their survival. Their patroness controls every aspect of the Bennet household, from the shelves in the closet to the selection of suitors for the five Bennet daughters. Now she has chosen a husband for headstrong Elizabeth Bennet– Mr. George Wickham.
But Lady Catherine’s nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy, is not so sure about his aunt’s choice. He is fascinated by the compassionate Elizabeth who seems to effortlessly understand everyone around her, including him. Lady Catherine has other plans for Darcy, though, and she forbids Elizabeth to even speak to him.
As Anne’s health takes a turn for the worse, Darcy and Elizabeth are thrown together as Dr. Bennet struggles to save Anne’s life. Darcy can no longer deny the truth – he is in love with Elizabeth Bennet. But Lady Catherine will do anything to stop Darcy from marrying her – even if it means Elizabeth will lose everything she loves.
Read an excerpt
Lady Catherine loomed in the parlor doorway, her features gathering into her darkest, most menacing scowl. “A word, if you please.” She turned on her heel and disappeared into her lair.
Elizabeth dropped a small curtsey and rushed into the parlor to brave the dragon in all her fury. If only she had remembered to bring her sword in her workbag.
Lady Catherine ascended her throne, a stony mask of creases, gnarls and shadow firmly in place.
Was that the scent of burning sulfur in the air?
“Your ladyship?”
“You think I am ignorant of what you are about, young woman?”
“I have not the pleasure of your meaning, madam.”
“None of your cheek here, girl. I know. Oh, I know.” She shook her finger toward Elizabeth. “You have ambitions beyond your station, beyond all propriety and decency.”
“Excuse me?” Elizabeth grabbed the back of the nearest chair to shore up her liquid knees.
“It is written upon your face—clear in that indecent display I just walked in upon.”
“Mr. Darcy?” She gasped. “You assume far too much. I only met him yesterday.”
“Entirely long enough to form designs upon his person and fortune. You spurned Mr. Collins—I am sure—in the hopes of someone of greater consequence whom you have now found in the person of my nephew.”
The upholstery tore a tiny bit beneath her fingernails. “I assure you, madam, I never considered such a thing. Mr. Collins and I … our temperaments are so different, we could never have made a good match. I am convinced he has a much happier situation with—”
“Are you suggesting happiness may be found in disobeying me?”
“By no means.”
“Then turn your attentions to Mr. Wickham. He studies at the Inn of Courts—.”
“He does not, nor is he likely to, having offended a very influential member.”
She flushed puce.
That could not be healthy.
“Where do you come by this information?”
“Mr. Darcy—”
Lady Catherine slapped the arms of her chair and heaved to her feet. “What were you doing talking to my nephew?”
“We met on the road this morning.”
“While you were driving, unchaperoned, as I have expressly forbidden.”
Her shoulders drew up and she tucked her elbows close into her sides. “Yes, your ladyship.”
One, two, three steps. Lady Catherine stood so close their skirt hems touched. She waved her bony finger under Elizabeth’s nose. “I will make this very plain to you, young woman, so that even you, in all your cleverness, cannot pretend to misunderstand me. Darcy is for Anne. From their cradles, they have been promised to one another. It was the fondest wish of his mother and me. No upstart like you is going to interfere with those plans.”
“What am I compared to Miss de Bourgh?”
“What are you—exactly! Exactly! But do not play coy with me.” She circled Elizabeth, a hungry cat stalking a bird. “We both know you have arts and allurements to distract him from his duty to his family. You have no delicacy, exposed to the basest things of life—of men.”
How did one respond to such raving? Perhaps best not.
“Have you considered why I have been trying to find you a match? Even with your connection to me, few decent men will ally themselves with a woman like you. Despite your youthful airs and arrogance, I have had—and will continue to have—your best interests in mind—unless—” She stabbed her sharp finger into Elizabeth’s chest.
Elizabeth jumped back.
“—unless you insist on preying upon Darcy. You are not his equal and would bring shame upon his name and all his family.”
“Shall I leave Rosings?”
“No, Anne requires your presence. I will not deny her any comfort, no matter how little I fathom it.”
“Then shall I ignore him? Turn my back as the servants do when he approaches?”
“You are not … not … a servant.”
“How am I to behave?”
“With every civility, but nothing more.”
“As you wish, your ladyship.”
“I will be watching you, Miss Elizabeth. Do not think you can escape my notice if you disobey. Now leave me.”
She curtsied and strode away, fists balled so tightly her arms shook.
Two steps into the corridor, Mr. Darcy blocked her path. She stopped short and barely held back a tiny shriek. How tall he was, towering—or was that, hovering over her.
“I hardly know what to say, my aunt—”
She raised an open hand. “Pray forgive me, sir, but I am truly in no state for conversation at the moment.”
“Will you speak with me later?”
“I do not know, sir. Excuse me.” She curtsied and hurried away.
About the author
Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. After penning five file-drawer novels in high school, she took a break from writing to pursue college and earn her doctorate in Educational Psychology. After 16 years of university teaching, she returned to her first love, fiction writing.
She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six more novels in draft form, waiting for editing, seven published novels, sewn eight Regency era costumes, shared her life with nine cats through the years and tries to run at least ten miles a week.
She can be contacted at
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7 comments:
so glad to read that Lady Catherine is as bad as ever
fun excerpt
Lady Catherine, muahahahha, I am sure your efforts will be again pointless!!!
I love this story. I look forward to seeing it in print. Thank you for the giveaway.
Lady Catherine is insufferable as always...
The arrogance of that woman is really infinite...
A very good excerpt. I'm looking forward to reading the edited story since I love it when it was posted as a serial on Jane Austen Variations blog. Thank you.
I must read more!!!
thank you for the giveaway.......
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