Showing results by author "Carrie Mollenkopf" in All Categories

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that while a man in possession of a fortune may be in want of a wife, there may be ladies who do not reciprocate. This may be especially so when the man in question not only possesses the rightful inheritance of said ladies, but is also of a most odious disposition and less than agreeable in appearance. Such was the lot of five young women near the town of Meryton. Not only had they no fortune, their own father, an absentee parent at best, had not the foresight to put aside a single pound should they not have the opportunity marry. For this sole ...

After the marriages of her sisters, Mary Bennet is left to run the estate of Longbourn in their absence. Forced to manage a crumbling house in need of repairs, as well as respond to the demands of her mother, Mary makes a most disturbing discovery. How long had the skeletal remains of a long dead woman been hidden in the cellars? Who is she and how did she get there, locked inside a storage cell? With the assistance of Meryton's newest physician, Mary will endeavor to learn not only the identity of the woman, but also the location of her dowry. Will her efforts allow Mary to gain a long ...

In the months following Elizabeth Bennet’s refusal of marriage to Fitzwilliam Darcy, he does his best to forget her. If Miss Elizabeth Bennet did not want him, surely there were a hundred others that did, and he would make sure that she knew exactly what had been lost. Unfortunately, love, if it is true, cannot really die, but others can definitely interfere. Seeing an opportunity to console Darcy, Caroline Bingley manifests a scheme to marry the master of Pemberley. Caught in her web of lies and deceit, Darcy finds himself engaged to a woman he cannot tolerate as honor dictates his ...

Elizabeth Bennet Darcy appears to have a perfect life. She has a handsome and loving husband, a beautiful son,wealth and respectability, but the unexpected arrival of her youngest sister Lydia threatens to turn her world upside down. Not only do she and Darcy break the vow to never welcome the Wickhams to Pemberley, unfortunate events escalate and Darcy finds himself accused of murder. With another child on the way, Elizabeth must rely upon her greatest strengths of character to prove Darcy's innocence, but will it be enough? A tale of jealousy, suspicion and lies that will test Darcy's ...

Mary Bennet finally feels as if her life is coming together. She has found a soulmate in Dr. Atlas Sutton and accepted his hand, Longbourn is secure and her days are filled with purpose. But is it too good to last? While the engagement is yet to be announced, the return of Lydia Bennet Wickham and her troublemaking husband threatens to destroy Mary's happiness. Always in desperate need of funds, the Wickhams do their best to interfere with Mary's comfortable situation, resulting in mystery, murder and trouble for all. Will Mary triumph, or will she once again succumb to the demands of her ...

Elizabeth had often fantasized about what life at Pemberley would be long before her marriage. Upon first impressions, the estate was grand and offered everything a lady could ever possibly want, including a handsome man who loved her. However, as dreams often do, hers is altered by reality. Pemberley, in all its grandeur, is in a constant state of decay and requires the care of a mistress to be returned to its former state of glory. However, when Elizabeth gladly takes up this responsibility, not all are pleased with the changes. An intruder, resentful of the interference, will go to great...

When Elizabeth Darcy joins her sister-in-law on the important task of house hunting, they discover far more than they ever expected. The vacant former leasehold of Ivyglenn is everything Georgiana ever dreamed, that is, all but the body in the attics. Who left a lady carefully posed in a wedding dress staring lifeless out the attic windows? Read an excerpt below... Elizabeth had wandered down an equally labyrinthine passage, leading towards one of the dormer windows. It’s light, surprisingly clear for a space so cluttered, shown down upon what appeared to be a dressmaker’s form clad in ...

.Charles Bingley is in possession of five thousand a year, and a recent inheritance, but where did he acquire this fortune? Is he the respectable man that he appears to be? Or does his past hide something else? And what of his closest friend Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, does he too, hide secrets that best remain buried? There are those who will do anything in the name of revenge, and those who will reciprocate with honor. London 1813…. Already regretting his decision, Fitzwilliam Darcy grumbled as he glimpsed the first views of the London dockside. The foul smells of rotting fish and ...

Lydia Bennet has managed to find a husband just before her sixteenth birthday and before her elder sisters. However, she quickly finds that the old warnings of the risk in marrying in haste are true. Soon, her prince Charming's golden glow becomes tarnished by reality. George Wickham is not the gentleman he pretends to be. The youngest Bennet must depend on her personal pride and stubborn streak to survive when her life is turned upside down. Lydia's trials take her from the cold North of England to the Outback of Australia. Will the happiness she seeks be realized or will her dreams become...

When Elizabeth Bennet marries Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy it is believed that she will want for nothing. He is handsome and wealthy, but most importantly loves her dearly. However, all is not as it appears when Elizabeth becomes mistress of Pemberley. Running an estate is much more than dinner parties and afternoon tea. Keeping up appearances in the face of financial strain can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Will Lizzie and Darcy's love be strong enough to withstand the storms brought by natural disaster and interfering families? Or, will they give in to the demands of society and ...

Mary Bennet, now financially secure with the entailment to Longbourn dissolved, concentrates on how to rectify the deficit in her education. Unfortunately, each tutor is dismissed within weeks of hire as none meet her exact needs or prove to be critical of her desire to obtain a man's education. It is only with the arrival of Grayson Everfield that her prayers are answered. The handsome, educated man appears to be all that she is seeking, but how does his presence affect her standing relationship with Dr. Atlas Sutton? Unfortunately, perfection is not what it seems to be as human remains ...

“Fitzwilliam Darcy, you are a complete idiot!” Elizabeth snapped before slamming the now filled trunk. The motion, so sudden, spooked the cat who leapt from his place to rub circles around her limbs. Scooping the mewing creature into her arms, Elizabeth rubbed her face into its fur, finding a measure of comfort. “No wonder lonely old women keep cats; they are much better than husbands,” she insisted, wondering if Charlotte would part with the cat. Three weeks had elapsed since she had arrived in Hunsford, and Elizabeth had seen enough. Charlotte, by her own admission, was perfectly ...

“Fitzwilliam, I have received most excellent news from Longbourn.” “Oh? Has Mr. Collins returned?” Darcy’s attempt at jest was met with equal amusement as Elizabeth tapped his hand playfully with the letter. The Reverend Collins was her father’s heir, and at one time, sought her in marriage. An odious sort of person, he had made her miserable for weeks, but eventually resigned himself to another, Elizabeth’s closest childhood friend. It had been an odd arrangement, but one that suited both parties. Mr. Collins required a wife and Charlotte wished to be mistress of her own home...

Mary Bennet's wedding day is swiftly nearing. The date is set, the banns have been read and all the preparations are well in hand. The fairy tale dream appears to have become a reality. Only the discovery of the cold corpse belonging to Meryton's beloved vicar threatens Mary's happiness. Who would have killed such a gentle old man? Who will perform the wedding? The rush to find a suitable replacement vicar will not be as easy as it seems with the untimely return of Mr. Collins as he does his best to interfere. Mary and Atlas will embark on a quest to not only discover the identity of the ...

Pemberley 1818, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy sat alone in her private morning room contemplating her plans for the following week. It had been five years since her marriage, and she and her husband had fallen into an unofficial tradition of creating a series of small surprises to celebrate the occasion. More often than not, the surprises turned out the be jokes of the worst kind, but they loved it. Never ones for large crowds, they had preferred privacy to sharing, even with immediate family. So far, it had been nothing short of heavenly as they grew to know each other in ways that most married ...

When Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy indulge in a much needed holiday, it is far less than restful. From the opera houses of London to the beaches of Brighton, dangers follow as they attempt to save a new acquaintance. Read an excerpt from Mrs. Darcy and the Soprano's Suitor. “Miss Milton! It is Elizabeth Darcy. I trust you are enjoying your stay?” Turning, the young woman’s countenance broke into a smile, but it was short lived. While the presence of the Darcys was not entirely unwelcome, the sight of the man whose constant presence had been as yet considered coincidental, now drove ...

Elizabeth Bennet Darcy walked slowly down the long gallery that housed the visual images depicting generations of Darcys. As she paused before the frames, it was as if each pair of eyes was staring back, studying her in return. Imagining they could speak, Elizabeth pondered what opinions were held by her husband’s forebears. Were they pleased with the new mistress or did they find fault? Some of the portraits went back hundreds of years, having been installed in the current house long after the first had been razed during the early 14th century. Pemberley, as it now stood, was built upon ...

Before the Reverend Mr. Collins can take up his living under the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh at Hunsford, he is beset by an old enemy who not only sells the good reverend into servitude, but takes his place as vicar. Unbeknownst to all, the imposter will seek a wife to secure his new status while the real Mr. Collins suffers aboard a ship bound for China. Through turmoil and misery, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet will discover the ruse and attempt to set it to rights. Read an excerpt below from Stealing Mr. Collins: William Collins groaned as he tried in vain to open his ...

Nearly five years after her marriage, Elizabeth Darcy has every happiness a woman could want. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for her dearest sister Jane. After miscarrying a child, Jane is expecting once again, but the presence of Caroline Bingley is making her miserable. Fearing for Jane's health, Elizabeth goes against her own preferences and invites her former nemesis to Pemberley with the hopes of finding an appropriate husband for Caroline. However, Caroline's selfishness interferes with the happiness of everyone around her as she demands attention. Even sweet Georgiana Darcy ...

“I have just received a letter from Charles. He has invited us to stay at Netherfield for several weeks. They are hosting a gathering for one of the local young ladies. The daughter of Sir Alvin Bixby. Of him, I cannot say much, having met the gentleman but once, but without a mother there would be no one that can see to such things as her coming out and what not. Jane must be in her element with preparations. But I must say, it has been far too long since the children have seen their grandparents. We really must accept. Are you up to a journey so soon?” To this, Elizabeth could not ...