The approaching death of Mr. Bennet threatens to leave his five young daughters at the mercy of the vengeful Mr. Thaddeus Collins. But Mr. Bennet plays one final desperate card before he passes, calling on his distant relatives—the Darcys—to provide his children with a home. Removing themselves to Pemberley after their father’s death, the girls are protected by the estate’s current master, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who looks after them as conscientiously as he does his own sister. When chance takes the Bennets and their Darcy relations to the estate leased by Mr. Bingley, little do they know that their father’s thwarting of Mr. Collins has only fanned the flames of his envy and hatred. He is determined to secure a Bennet daughter as a wife for his son, and he will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal. Elizabeth has become consumed by love for Mr. Darcy, but since he remains oblivious to her feelings, Elizabeth’s desperation forces her to consider going into service as a governess, if only to obtain some distance from the object of her affection. But Mr. Collins has no intention of letting Elizabeth escape his grasp so easily, and everything finally comes to a head when he meets with her in an explosive showdown.

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOKCLUB PICK 'Utterly engrossing' Guardian It is wash-day for the housemaids at Longbourn House, and Sarah's hands are chapped and raw. Domestic life below stairs, ruled with a tender heart and an iron will by Mrs Hill the housekeeper, is about to be disturbed by the arrival of a new footman, bearing secrets and the scent of the sea. What readers are saying: 'A novel to be savoured' 'Highly recommended' 'Very enjoyable exploration of the background to Pride and Prejudice'

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • “Fans of Austen...will take particular pleasure” (People) in this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice. While Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters fuss over balls and husbands, Sarah, their orphaned housemaid, is beginning to chafe against the boundaries of her class. When a new footman arrives at Longbourn under mysterious circumstances, the carefully choreographed world she has known all her life threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, upended. Mentioned only fleetingly in Jane Austen’s classic, here Jo Baker dares to take us beyond the drawing rooms of Regency England and, in doing so, uncovers the real world of the novel that has captivated readers’ hearts around the world for generations.

After the loss of his eldest child and only son, Mr. Bennet swears that no Darcy will ever darken the doorstep of Longbourn again... Elizabeth Bennet is only a child when she meets Fitzwilliam Darcy under the most inauspicious of circumstances. Outside the constraints of adult society, they form a fast friendship that is severed almost immediately by Mr. Bennet and his anger at the death of his son, John Bennet. Thirteen years later, it is love-at-second-sight, at a masquerade in Meryton... No longer a girl, but a young woman out in society, Elizabeth attends a masquerade in Meryton, only to dance two sets with a gentleman that she does not recognize but feels uncommonly drawn to. There are newcomers to Hertfordshire, letting out Netherfield Park, and this quiet, tall gentleman with an aristocratic mien must be one of them, for she does not know his voice and his face is hidden by his mask, but his eyes... Elizabeth Bennet, who has sworn off of love for herself so that she may never feel the touch of grief again, falls deeply and irrevocably in love with those dark eyes that follow her across the assembly hall each time she looks up. The last time he saw her, she was but a wisp of a thing, in need of a kind word and a friend... Elizabeth Bennet has grown into the kind of beauty that would break hearts were she to stay any length of time in London, with a cleverness and wit that catches Mr. Darcy by surprise. He had not wanted to attend the masquerade, and now he both deeply regrets and rejoices all at once at his decision to go. But the woman who has caught his eye, and his heart, is the daughter of a man who cursed him and barred the Darcys from the Longbourn estate and forbade any kinship with the Bennets, forever. Darcy regrets ever coming back to Hertfordshire, for he knows that after one dance with Elizabeth Bennet, his heart is forsworn to her, and after two dances, his mind is set: he will marry her, or live the rest of his life alone. But he cannot court her as himself; no Darcy would ever be permitted to marry a Bennet, never-mind how desperate the situations at Longbourn might be. And so Mr. Darcy must become someone else, in order to be with the woman of his dreams, and hope that his deception will not be discovered. But with a familial patriarch barring the way, and skeletons amongst the ton waiting to descend with outstretched claws, will Mr. Darcy finally find his happiness? And if Elizabeth Bennet discovers his secret, will she still accept him? This is a sweet, clean romance suitable for all lovers of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

After the ball at Netherfield, a fault in their carriage results in the Bennet family being forced to stay at the Bingley estate, and when a blizzard blows in overnight, the Bennets find themselves stranded there. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, having heard of her nephew's interest in the second Bennet daughter, descends upon them, demanding her nephew marry her daughter, making all who are trapped at the estate uncomfortable by her behavior. The next day a body is found, leading to a string of murders which threaten the lives of those present. As the tension at the estate rises, Elizabeth and Darcy form an alliance to discover the identity of the murderer and save those they care about most. But the depraved actions of a killer, striking from the shadows, threatens their newly found admiration for each other. The stage is set, a race against time to find a sinister murderer before another victim is found.

A die-hard fan of Jane Austen novels and the traditional English mystery, Tracy Kiely has combined elements of both for this truly delightful and witty debut. Planning New Year's resolutions to rid her life of all things unhealthy, Elizabeth Parker has dumped fatty foods, processed sugar, and her two-timing boyfriend. Indeed, the invitation to join her Aunt Winnie for a How to Host a Murder Party on New Year's Eve at Winnie's new Cape Cod B & B comes just in time. But when the local wealthy miser ends up the unscripted victim, Elizabeth must unearth old secrets and new motives in order to clear her beloved aunt of suspicion. The suspects include the town gossip, a haughty rich woman, and an antiques business owner much enamored of his benefactress, a Mrs. Kristell Dubois. If that isn't bad enough, Elizabeth must also contend with her childhood nemesis, Peter McGowan---a man she suspects has only matured in chronological years---and her suspicions about his family's interest in Winnie's inn. Yesterday, her only worry was of ever finding her Mr. Darcy. Now she has a murder to solve. Is it any wonder her resolution to achieve inner poise is in tatters? By reimagining characters and themes lifted from the treasured classic Pride and Prejudice, and crafting an expert, intricate mystery, Tracy Kiely has brought to life something very special: a new cozy series that is clever, vibrant, and utterly disarming.

Unable to visit his cousins as planned, Mr. Collins invites them to stay at his parsonage the following spring. The Bennets go to Kent expecting a foolish Mr. Collins and an overbearing Lady Catherine de Bourgh. While one is as they expect, the other is surprisingly amiable. When Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, visit Lady Catherine at the same time, they each begin to focus on a Bennet sister, prodded by well-meaning relations, but spurred on by their own feelings. But though Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth quickly begin to fall in love, there are other elements of both families who are determined to interfere . . . . Chaos Comes to Kent is a short novel of 75,000 words.

A different outcome of Georgiana Darcy’s near ruin in Ramsgate leads to a different party arriving in Hertfordshire. Not only is its composition altered, but the changed circumstances have lasting effects, not only in Miss Darcy but also her brother. The Bennet family is also changed, as a new suitor emerges for the worthiest of the Bennet sisters, one who is not beset by dissenting sisters, protesting her unsuitability. And while Mr. Darcy is still notable in his objections, there is little he can do to push back against the inevitable, as his sway is not nearly so profound. Her sister having obtained her happiness, Elizabeth Bennet finds herself thrown into society far above any she might have otherwise expected. But as she travels to new locations, Elizabeth meets a mysterious man who strangely attracts her. But of greater consequence is Elizabeth’s growing feelings for Mr. Darcy, for the gentleman, who was disapproving of them all when she met him, has begun to show her another side of himself, one which Elizabeth feels she could come to love.

An incident during Elizabeth Bennet’s first assembly at the age of sixteen leaves her wary of men—and of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in particular. When Mr. Darcy returns four years later, he finds a young woman matured from the girl he knew, resolved to overcome the trials she has endured. The uncertainty leads Elizabeth to a situation which once again puts her at risk. Uncertain how Mr. Darcy will act, Elizabeth is forced to question what kind of man he is. Despite all these hurdles, the course of true love cannot be diverted. Elizabeth finds herself strangely compelled by Mr. Darcy and attraction grows, a connection begins to be forged. But while the lovers are sorting through the misunderstandings of their turbulent past, forces gather from a distance, intent upon separating them forever. Elements of Mr. Darcy’s family, those who possess the power to exert great influence over his future, do not take kindly to his potential choice of a wife. And the machinations of a detested rival threaten their happiness, one who believes he has been misused and is determined to receive his due no matter what the cost.

What is a mother to do? A marriage of convenience, even when it brings the benefit of great wealth, cannot be agreeable, especially when the principals of the union are ill-suited. The mother who loves her son has no choice but to interfere, and the best way to do so is to present another option. At the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth is introduced to the dearest ladies in Mr. Darcy’s life: his mother and sister. Though Elizabeth does not care much for the proud Mr. Darcy, the friendliness of his relations soon make them favorites. Then, when an invitation is extended for Elizabeth and her elder sister to visit in London, the sisters accept, eager to continue their acquaintances with the Darcy ladies. Elizabeth, though eager to go to London, knows she will live in the same house as Mr. Darcy, and having already done so, she is not eager to be close to the gentleman again. The closer she grows to his family, however, the more Elizabeth begins to discover about Mr. Darcy. When love blossoms, the machinations of others threaten to interfere, but a mother set on protecting her children will not be denied.