Forced to Marry Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Mary Weston
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
As other reviewers have mentioned, this is an interesting premise, although not unique. Elizabeth and Darcy are caught in an innocent situation that appears compromising, so must marry. Both are reluctant, but find themselves falling in love with each other. After they are forced to marry they are faced with danger from Wickham which draws them together. Pretty straightforward and a story that offers a lot of interesting situations and good conversations.
However, the author has a very annoying habit of creating references to what appears to be a back story, but then never delivers on that story. In addition, many of the characters act so out of character that you are left questioning what is occurring. The story and characters vary from the original Pride and Prejudice, which is fine, but we are often left wondering why and how the changes came about.
For example, at the very beginning of the story the author tells us that at the Netherfield ball the room is tense and feels like the attendees are split into two factions. In a conversation between Elizabeth and Charlotte we hear "This is the most dreadful ball I have ever attended. I've never seen a group of such dismal faces." "I know. It's rather like the air before a thunderstorm. The clouds are gathering and the air is still and sticky and one is just waiting for the storm to break and the air to clear." "What do you think the storm will be? A duel, perhaps?" This is pretty powerful imagery and you wonder what occurred to bring about this great deal of tension. In the original P&P the Netherfield ball is very much enjoyed by all those attending, with the exception of the tension between Elizabeth and Darcy. But, at this version, there is tension that affects every single person attending. Well, that is pretty intriguing. What happened prior to the ball to bring about this kind of tension? Why is everyone at the ball so miserable? What has caused this sense of dread that is expressed in this conversation? Wow, I could hardly wait to find out. But, nothing comes of this. I don't know what the author intended here. Why did she create this situation for the Netherfield ball without any explanation?
Then we have the compromise. The situation is innocent enough - Elizabeth catches her dress on a branch and it tears. Darcy recommends using her broach to pin it together. When Elizabeth struggles with the latch, Darcy helps her. His hand inadvertently touches her breast and this is observed by the Hursts. Now we have a strong series of people acting out of character with no explanation.
Darcy stops Elizabeth over and over as she tries to explain why the situation is innocent. I don't get it. Why does he do this? There is no explanation. The Hursts insist Darcy must marry Elizabeth due to this compromise. What? Don't they want Darcy for Miss Bingley? Miss Bingley believes Darcy has tried to seduce Elizabeth. What? Shouldn't she be defending him so she can keep him for herself? And, Elizabeth knows the situation is dire when told Mrs. Hurst told Miss Bingley about the compromise, because Miss Bingley is a gossip. She would rather gossip than save Mr. Darcy for herself?
It keeps going. Why is Lady Catherine present the next day when Darcy meets with Mr. Bennet? And, she is there to insist Darcy and Elizabeth marry. Isn't this contrary to everything we have ever known about her desire for him to marry Anne? Anne isn't even mentioned. Why is Lady Catherine so different in this variation? Why does Darcy just meekly allow her presence as a representative of his family and his interests? There is no explanation.
Other things are just tossed in as if they matter, but then they don't. Why is Wickham so insistent that Elizabeth is his? In the original P&P Elizabeth is looking forward to dancing with Wickham and feels herself halfway to falling in love with him. In this version, there is no mention of Wickham until after the ball, and Elizabeth feels fear around him. Why? What happened? No explanation.
After the betrothal is all arranged and Darcy is alone to consider what has occurred, he has this thought: "And now he was about to again undertake marriage with a woman who did not want him. Except, this time he planned to stay as far away from his wife as possible." Whoa! Looks like Darcy has been married previously and had a very bad time of it. This is a new twist! Only, it isn't. This line of thinking goes nowhere, apparently, and we are left wondering if we missed something.
When Darcy and Elizabeth reach Pemberley, Lady Matlock visits. She appears to already know Elizabeth! Interesting idea. But, we never find out more about this. It leads nowhere.
So, at some point the headache I was getting from these strange story line starts and stops makes the book difficult to read. Luckily for me another reviewer on Goodreads has chosen to fill their review with all the spoilers necessary to tell the rest of the story. I now can abandon the book without guilt.
Not recommended.
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