Done for the Best

A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Engaged to Mr Darcy Series)

Perhaps this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me… It is done, however, and it was done for the best. Elizabeth Bennet, walking in Kent the day after Mr Darcy’s proposal meets with an unfortunate mishap. A meeting with an adder has disastrous consequences for her and when she wakes from a period of unconsciousness, she has no memory at all of the last ten months of her life. To her complete shock she learns that she is engaged to a man called Darcy, a man she has no recollection of meeting before.

Darcy is shocked himself to realize that Elizabeth thinks she is engaged to him but his efforts to correct her misapprehension are thwarted by those around her who believe that to learn the truth will be detrimental to her recovery. As the days go by, Darcy and Elizabeth spend time together, reading and driving out around Kent, behaving as the lovers Darcy always dreamt they would be. To continue in the disguise, to forget the contentions and misunderstandings of their past proves an unbearable temptation.

When the worst happens and Elizabeth learns that not only did she refuse Darcy’s proposal, she hated him. What she learns seems completely incongruous with the man she has fallen in love with…and yet she simply does not know if she can forgive him for deceiving her.

©2025 AMY D'ORAZIO (P)2025 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Done for the Best - Done Just Right

I really enjoy this narrator, Simon Alison. He has a velvety voice, smooth and soothing—like melted chocloate that leaves a lasting impression. He’s a keeper.

Elizabeth awakens at Hunsford parsonage after being bitten by a snake and becoming very ill with fever—her last ten months are a blank, and is informed that she’s engaged to Darcy. It’s not his doing—he’s just trying to protect her recovery—but Colonel Fitzwilliam’s unintentional mix-up, believing she’d accepted Darcy’s first proposal, and doctor’s orders not to give Elizabeth any shock puts Darcy in a tough spot, keeping up the pretense, and ‘done for the best’.

Their time together at Hunsford is so sweet. Elizabeth is softer than in many variations—a bit lost and more vulnerable because of her illness.  And Darcy—so careful and protective—finally experiences the kind of relationship he’s always longed for with her. But the truth is always there in the background waiting. Amy D’Orazio always includes an element of angst, so you expect a hammer will fall at any moment to ruin everything. When the truth comes out, it’s painful for both.

Elizabeth breaks off the engagement, stung by Darcy’s silence about their false betrothal, which shakes her faith in him. Darcy’s anguish after her rejection is hard to watch. Elizabeth is deeply hurt, certain she can’t trust Darcy anymore. Over several chapters, you see her wrestling with her doubts, still drawn to him. When it seems all hope is lost she finally takes matters into her own hands and writes a letter—so raw and hopeful, it made me cry. Don’t I almost always? Amy D’Orazio writes books that always make you feel something and pull you in—she sure knows how to grab my heart!

Wickham plays his usual slimy enough part—and Lord Saye, everyone’s favourite recurring off-canon D’Orazio character, uses his cheeky wit and charm to ‘help’ those he cares for in order to get his way and engineer happy endings.

I usually want an epilogue, but this ending was perfect and didn’t need one. Done for the Best pulled me into Darcy and Elizabeth’s sweet romance, then broke my heart when it unraveled—Elizabeth’s letter is pure JAFF magic and leads to the perfect happily ever after. Such a great, emotional read from an author I adore.

JAFF with Depth!

DONE FOR THE BEST is yet another heartwarming creation brought by Amy D'Orazio. She has an immense talent for honoring canon while taking you on an intriguing alternate path. The dialogue is always believable, the stories plausible, and the characters, with their relatable struggles and triumphs, make you feel connected and empathetic. There is just enough angst, swooning, and teary-eyed moments, and all in perfect proportions. D'Orazio's secret weapon—Lord Saye and Lillian Goddard—only enriches the storyline further. It is why I quietly jump for joy in my heart at the release of another. Simon Alison, as always, delivers the story skillfully, making for delightful entertainment!

One of the Best P&P Variations

Great variation. Great narrator. Great new character. The addition of Darcy’s cousin ,Say, (not sure if that is how you spell it) was a nice surprise. He should get his own story!

Enjoyable

I have no idea if the symptoms of an adder bite are as horrible as portrayed in this book and wonder at the lack of communication being necessary for Elizabeth's state of mind but it it made for a nice story. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a good job. It was fun to listen and I stayed up way too late to finish. Darcy was really quite romantic but the two of them had a hard time pulling it all together until the end. Thus my having to stay up so late to finish the book.

Great narration

This story had a wonderful beginning. The middle was angsty and Elizabeth was very irritating . She was very much her mother’s daughter. She set her mind that Darcy was irredeemable and nothing he or anyone else said would change her mind. Not even her own memories of his wonderful actions towards her after the snake bite. She even let Wickham in again despite knowing of his misdeeds. Thankfully Darcy’s cousin Saye was introduced and his actions to help Bingley, Darcy and Elizabeth livened up that section. I wish the story hadn’t ended so quickly after Elizabeth and Darcy FINALLY got back together and more time had been spent on Saye and his courtship and Jane and Bingley’s renewed acquaintance. Or at the very least an epilogue to let us know how things worked out for Saye.
Simon Alison’s narration was very enjoyable and enhanced the story