A tale of love, secrets, and adventure across the oceanWhen textile merchant Edward Gardiner rescues an injured youth, he has no notion that this simple act of kindness will change his life. The boy is bright and has a gift for numbers that soon maken makes him a valued assistant and part of the Gardiners' business, but he also has secrets and a set of unusual acquaintances. When he introduces Edward to his sparkling and unconventional friend Miss Grant, Edward finds himself falling in love.
But who is this enigmatic woman who so quickly finds her way to Edward's heart? Do the deep secrets she refuses to reveal have anything to do with the appearance of a sinister stranger, or with the rumours of a missing heir to a northern estate? As danger mounts, Edward must find the answers in order to save the woman who has bewitched him . . . but the answers themselves may destroy all his hopes.
Set against the background of Jane Austen's London, this Pride and Prejudice prequel casts us into the world of Elizabeth Bennet's beloved Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Their unlikely tale takes the reader from the woods of Derbyshire, to the ballrooms of London, to the shores of Nova Scotia. With so much at stake, can they find their Happily Ever After?
The Assistant is a full-length JAFF novel of about 90 000 words.
Praise for Ms. Everly's Teaching Eliza:
"With her thoughtful and skillfully-crafted debut release, Riana Everly has created a most engaging and entertaining tale that is sure to charm ardent fans of Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice, and Pygmalion." - Austenesque Reviews
"Teaching Eliza by Riana Everly is a variation I did not want to put down. I was delighted by every twist that brought Darcy and Elizabeth together and enjoyed the entertaining paths they took when they were parted." - Savvy Verse Wit
"If you're looking for a historical romance that's sharp, well-written, and pays homage to two great works while still offering something fresh and new, pick up a copy of Teaching Eliza." - Compulsive Overreader
A prequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Vanity and Verity explores the London debuts of Lady Anne and Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam. Upon arrival in London, Lady Catherine is immediately taken with the striking Mr. George Darcy (father of Austen's iconic Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy). But the circumspect Lady Anne questions the character and connections of the yet unknown Mr. Darcy. Anxious to please her proud and domineering mother and concerned about protecting the imprudent Catherine from herself, Anne hopes to forge the right friendships and alliances to steer the sisters safely through a season in 1780s London. However, the cautious Anne is in danger of giving Mr. Darcy entirely the wrong idea of her character, even as Anne herself begins to reevaluate her first impressions of the gentleman. Meanwhile Catherine, intoxicated by the London scene, pursues flirtations with Mr. Darcy, his friend Mr. Tyndall, her cousin, and even the tedious Sir Lewis DeBourgh while Anne struggles to remind her sister – and herself – of the importance of empathy and consideration for others. When the sisters and their circle retire to the Derbyshire countryside and are introduced to a new set of company (including the roguish Lord Barham, Mr. Darcy’s steward Mr. Wickham and his conniving wife) Catherine’s interest is drawn by yet another gentleman and her behavior threatens to grow more ungovernable yet. When one of Catherine’s flirts becomes the determined suitor of Anne, Anne finds herself in danger of losing all influence over her younger sister. Can Anne maintain a sisterly relationship with Catherine, while discouraging unwanted suitors and encouraging the one man she does want, but whose interest in her is unclear? Will the erratic Catherine ever fix on just one gentleman to pursue and will she choose a relationship that feeds her character and not just her vanity? Vanity and Verity probes the relationships of the parents of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Anne DeBourgh, and George Wickham, explains a great deal about Austen’s characters’ personalities and preconceptions, and will provide the reader of Pride and Prejudice with a whole new perspective on Austen’s beloved work.
Fitzwilliam Darcy long ago gave up any hope of finding true love. Ladies look at him and see Pemberley, his estate. If it were not necessary to get an heir, he would as soon remain a bachelor. Then a friend hits on a fine solution: bring Darcy's sistDarcy's sister, Georgiana, to London and introduce her to society. She will easily attract a husband and provide an heir to Pemberley in no time. After all, is that not a gentlewoman's duty?
But when rakes and fortune hunters come out of the woodwork to prey upon his naïve sister, Darcy has to rethink his strategy. Colonel Fitzwilliam suggests they send Georgiana to spend the rest of the summer at an out-of-the-way resort near the sea.
What could possibly go wrong?
Set before Mr. Bingley takes up residence at Netherfield Park, Elizabeth travels into Derbyshire with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. On a day when her relations are visiting with some of Mrs. Gardiner's childhood friends, Elizabeth decides to explore the small village instead. Without realizing it, she strays further and further from the village, unconsciously walking in the direction of Pemberley, the estate they visited two days prior.
Lost in her thoughts and the beauty of the Derbyshire countryside, Elizabeth wanders further than she realizes and fails to notice the storm clouds building above her. With the first flash of lightning and peel of thunder, she seeks somewhere to shelter from the storm. Rushing for a dense tree line where she might stay dry from the impending rain, Elizabeth Bennet meets with a dreadful accident.
Returning from business in London, Fitzwilliam Darcy races across the grounds of Pemberley trying to outrun the storm. Coming across a beautiful young woman who is injured, he takes her home so his staff can care for her. Darcy hopes her presence will help lift his mother's melancholy.
When Elizabeth regains consciousness, she has no memory of her name or her past. During the many weeks of her recovery, Elizabeth grows close to Mr. Darcy and his mother, Lady Anne. When Elizabeth recovers enough to leave the estate, the Darcys decided she needs an identity that will protect her from gossip. And so, Miss Elizabeth Chamberlayne, a long-lost Darcy cousin is born. After receiving two requests, Darcy accepts an invitation to stay with his friend, Mr. Bingley, at Netherfield Park and the ladies will join him.
What will happen when Elizabeth comes face to face with her family? Will she remember them, or will her memory still be a blank? All of the original characters of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice make an appearance. How will Elizabeth's lack of memory affect her interactions with them?
REVISED, PROFESSIONALLY EDITED VERSION!Dark curls and an unforgettably sweet laugh were all he knew of his sister's rescuer. Later, a second glimpse showed her to be lovely, and he heard her melodious laugh again. Darcy wondered what it would be li would be like to meet this remarkable, and remarkably lovely, young woman. Would the spirit that caused her to go to the aid of a stranger be able to bring some joy to his lonely life? Would they ever meet, or would he always be left wondering?
Little did Fitzwilliam Darcy know that his trip to Hertfordshire to help his friend would bring him face to face with the lovely young woman whose unforgettable laugh had haunted his dreams for the last several years. Would she be anything like the woman he had built up in his dreams? Would he be able to avoid Miss Bingley long enough to discover more about this mysterious young woman?
THE REVISED PAPERBACK VERSION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN A WEEK TO 10 DAYS. I WILL REMOVE THIS NOTE WHEN THE PAPERBACK HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH THE NEWEST VERSION.
Every great love has a beginning. In Austen's Pride and Prejudice, we meet with perhaps the most sensible, caring relatives a lovelorn young woman could hope for: Mr and Mrs Gardiner. What is their story?Edward Gardiner has just been refused by the lsed by the lovely young woman he had intended to make his wife. Heartbroken and eager for a diversion, he accepts an invitation from his brother-in-law, Thomas Bennet, to accompany him along with his two eldest daughters to the north on family business. Gardiner's pleasure tour is interrupted, however, when his eldest niece falls ill and is unable to travel farther.
Stopping over in the scarcely remarkable village of Lambton, the men decide that Bennet must continue on, while Gardiner and the children remain. The only trouble is that Gardiner has not the least idea how he should care for one ailing niece and another who is ready to drive him to distraction... until he meets with Madeline Fairbanks.
Accepting a marriage proposal is merely the beginning . . . How did Lady Catherine restore Mr. Darcy's hope to prompt his second proposal? Did Caroline Bingley yield gracefully? Were the Bennets and Meryton citizens approving? Fitzwilliam Darcy and proving?
Embark on the journey as Darcy and Elizabeth overcome the rocky past and discover the depth of their love. Delight in budding passion and sweet romance. Enjoy the wedding planning and adventures during the initial weeks of their engagement.
