On Equal Ground: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary E-book
On Equal Ground: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary E-book
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💛 Read the Synopsis
💛 Read the Synopsis
Well-read, observant, and spirited, a young Elizabeth Bennet draws the attention of a widowed earl. Unexpectedly, she finds herself falling in love with him, despite his age and even greater wealth.
Lord Asheland is the consummate gentleman, though his tragic life has left him jaded and uncaring of society's strictures. When he meets a young woman who makes him feel joy again, he grabs happiness with both hands.
Wealthy and titled, when Elizabeth finally meets Mr. Darcy, she outranks him. Of course that doesn’t stop him from insulting her. His propensity to give offense shows no respect for rank.
When Elizabeth’s perfect world is shattered, to her great surprise, Mr. Darcy offers to help her put it all back together. Can she trust a man she has disliked for so long? Can she learn to love again? And can Darcy rise to the occasion?
Tropes in this story:
☑️ Single Mother Finds Love
☑️ Enemies to Lovers
☑️ Rags to Riches
☑️ Age Gap Romance
☑️ Widow Rebuilds Her Life
From a country girl to a countess. From a wife to a widow. From grief to love.
Excerpt:
“You are a supporter of the Harrington Orphanage, are you not, Lady Asheland?” Darcy asked after some time of idle chatter.
“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?”
“My aunt is as well.”
“Yes, I am acquainted with Lady Matlock.”
“She was telling me recently about a new initiative some of the board have suggested.” He plucked another sweet cake from the tray before them and continued, “It seems they want to start a school of sorts.”
“That isn’t so unusual, Mr. Darcy. Surely educating orphans to support themselves has been going on for some time,” she said patiently.
“Yes, but generally they are trained to be servants or seamstresses, or in the case of the boys, craftsmen of some sort. Higher learning has always been thought to be wasted on them.”
“Define ‘higher learning,’ sir,” she said crisply.
He leaned back comfortably and crossed one leg over the other. “I define it as everyone defines it. Foreign languages, music, debate, classical studies. What use would they have for such things?”
“Is your objection then that they would learn useless topics?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t call it an objection. I do wonder if it is a worthwhile endeavor. What will they do with such knowledge once they have it? Would their time not be better spent learning something of use?”
“Like how to iron a shirt or shoe a horse?” she quipped.
“Precisely.” He flashed his smug smile again before he took a sip of tea and she had a strong urge to dash the cup from his hand and let the tea stain his silk waistcoat.
“Tell me, sir, how often do you speak Latin with your friends?”
“Excuse me?”
“You were at Cambridge and I assume some sort of school before that. Perhaps your parents brought in tutors for you at home.”
He nodded, a suspicious look on his face.
“So you must have learned Latin, like most gentlemen. Tell me, do you speak it together at the clubs? Do you have secret conversations in full view of the servants, knowing they can’t understand you?”
“Of course not!”
“Then what was the purpose of learning it? Would you not have been better served learning something useful?”
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Look Inside
Look Inside
Winter, 1807
“What did you think of Miss Grange?”
“She was as expected.”
“And what does that mean?”
“It means she was terribly dull, if I may say so of a lady.”
“You may. What of Mrs. Carteret?”
“Calculating eyes.”
“Miss Thornton?”
“Too stupid by half.”
“Lady Leticia Worthington?”
“Who?”
Alfred sighed and threw his hands up. “Really, Robert, it wouldn’t hurt you to be moderately helpful.”
“Ah, helpful, what an interesting word. And what exactly am I supposed to be helping with, cousin?” Robert leaned back in his chair and sipped his brandy slowly.
“You know what! You need a wife!”
“I’ve had a wife. Two, as a matter of fact. I see no need for another.”
Alfred looked stricken. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I will not marry to please the family. Not again.”
“Not marry!” he spluttered. “You need an heir!”
“I have twice married ladies of considerable rank and fortune. I have had three heirs, and they have joined their mothers in the churchyard. No, I have no desire to do it all again.”
“Who will inherit if you do not have a child?”
“My nephew may inherit if it comes to that. He’s a fine boy.”
“But, but…” his cousin trailed off.
“I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have decided to live life on my own terms. I have been a slave to duty these thirty years and now my life will finally be my own.”
His cousin looked at him with suspicion. “You’re not going to marry a milkmaid, are you?”
He laughed. “You do say the most ridiculous things! Where would I even meet a milkmaid?” He chuckled again. “At the barn, I suppose,” he added thoughtfully.
Alfred looked at him seriously after the laughter died down.
“Just promise me you won’t do anything too rash,” he said.
“Define rash,” answered Robert. At Alfred’s exasperated expression, he had mercy on his cousin. “I won’t do anything disastrous, you have my word.”
“No milkmaids?”
“No milkmaids.”