'A Public Compromise' by E. Bradshaw takes an alternative route to the story told in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'.
In this variation, the story opens with Fitzwilliam Darcy, who has been left reeling and angry after Elizabeth Bennet rejects his marriage proposal. Consequently, when Darcy unexpectedly encounters Elizabeth again at a ball in London, and he sees her apparently consumed in a search for a husband, he is overtaken by an uncontrollable feeling of jealousy and resentment.
He therefore confronts Elizabeth in the seclusion of a hallway, and in their subsequent conflict, he inadvertently, but irretrievably and publicly, compromises her. Faced with a growing crowd of avid spectators and knowing that this scandal with surely become the tittle-tattle of London, Darcy has very little choice but to announce an engagement between the two of them – even though he knows that Elizabeth will surely hate him for it.
But matters only worsen when he returns to Hertfordshire to face Elizabeth's father, for Mr Bennet is adamantly opposed to their match – and as it turns out, desperate to find a way to end their hastily-formed engagement.
However, Darcy persists in his efforts and finally wins Elizabeth's love – but is it all too late, and will their families ultimately succeed in tearing them apart?
This story is a long read, at approximately 208,000 words long, and it contains scenes of a sexual nature.
'Darcy suspected that his impatience must have been evident enough when he spoke again.
"Look, you must have read through the marriage settlement by now," he added through gritted teeth. "You must surely know that I have ample means to look after her."
This evidently got Mr Bennet's attention, for he glared at Darcy with unconcealed affront.
"Yes," he snapped, "I am well aware of your material ability to look after her, but what concerns me is her long-term happiness! I wanted her to marry someone she could respect, someone she genuinely loved – and not someone she can barely tolerate!"'
