What if Mr. Darcy made his abysmal proposal to Elizabeth in a letter before the Netherfield Ball? And what if she composed a letter back—refusing him abysmally in return?

Thus begins Mr. Darcy's secret correspondence with his Elizabeth...

Elizabeth is shocked when she reads Mr. Darcy's proposal—one so insulting as to call their potential marriage a “highly reprehensible connection.” Further, she is incensed when he doesn't even have the decency to ask for her hand—he simply expects her to accept without question!

Elizabeth writes back and gives her answer, a resounding “No.” But, upon giving him her reply, she feels uncertain. Indeed, Mr. Darcy is a man of consequence. He's also very handsome, and she reluctantly realizes that she may even find him desirable. Her uncertainty after her initial refusal causes her to reconsider him and realize that she might want to get to know this man before refusing him flat.

On the night of the Netherfield Ball, she has a plan: she wishes to continue their secret correspondence, a scandalous notion if anyone should ever find out.

Read on to discover a burgeoning romance in the passing of secret letters between a man already in love and a woman in danger of falling...

...in Hailey Jones's debut Pride and Prejudice variation novella Mr. Darcy's Secret Correspondence