Against Every Expectation: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

By: Paige Badgett

Narrated by: Sarah Groarke

Amid the groves of Rosings Park, with Elizabeth by his side, Darcy had begun to hope for something different for his future than he had previously allowed himself to believe was possible—a partnership, a love match….

Elizabeth Bennet travels to Kent to escape her mother’s histrionics, hopeful to find respite in visiting her oldest friend, Charlotte Collins. Instead of the reprieve she desired, she finds herself trapped and miserable—a direct reflection of Mr. Collins’ peculiar sense of hospitality, justice, and duty. The tension in the parsonage is significant, and her friend is much changed. Elizabeth’s only relief is derived from her morning rambles, where she finds great solace in the strangest of places—walking with Mr. Darcy. His steadiness, kindness, and dependability greatly oppose her previous perceptions of the man, and yet she cannot help but continue to compare his character in Kent with the man she had supposed him to be during their previous acquaintance in Hertfordshire. Could it be that he was now showing his truest self to her?

Just when it seems felicity is near, however, insidious jealousy arises and the betrayal of one close to the two couples threatens their nascent happiness. Elizabeth is pulled away too soon, and Darcy is left to wonder if she ever had feelings for him at all. Can the truth be untangled in time for their course of love to reach its completion?

©2022 Paige Badgett (P)2022 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Different storyline

I enjoyed this different storyline. I was sorry for Charlotte's situation being married to Collins, who was mental. Charlotte's treatment of Elizabeth when she visited was spiteful and cruel. The author wrote the story of how Elizabeth meet Darcy was beautiful. This book has so many different stories within. Must read

Enjoyable

Loved this tale. Collins was a nasty piece of work. The courting of Darcy and Elizabeth was sweet. Really appreciated the narrative. Great pacing.

Unexpectedly Affecting

The friendship/courtship between Elizabeth and Darcy that emerges during an extremely restrictive visit to Kent stands out for me as a beautiful representation of the beginnings of love forged under fire. The misunderstandings between ODC, and their inability to be forthright about their feelings, take on new dimensions as Elizabeth tries to decipher truth in the midst of overwhelming duplicity that makes her question her ability to correctly sketch the character of people she has known nearly her entire life.

Elizabeth's struggle is set within the framework of Charlotte attempting to adapt to a marriage that has provided her with a form of stability that is much more complicated and fragile than she expected when she chose her practical marriage.

The narration added to the overall effect by being well paced and just dramatic enough to evoke feeling without overpowering the listener with the more complex emotions wrought by the trauma experienced by the two women at the center of the story.

Scary Mr Collins but Charlotte is, perhaps, Worse

Whoa - this was some story!! And a completely Original Variation of all that I have listened to. The Collins couple were Creepy in the extreme. I really felt for Lizzy and had to keep listening to know what would happen next. Darcy was Very Good. The scenes between him and Elizabeth were done very very well. The author and narrator were both new to me,, but will look for more from both.

good story, not amazing, but worth a listen

I liked this story, it is definitely unique, in all the PP variations I've listened to this is the first time for this particular scenario. I didn't love the idea of Charlotte being so nasty, just me! and Mr Collins - WOW he's horrible! There were lots of sweet moments between ODC and lovely sisterly moments. I really like Lydia in this version, she was true to character but also sensible at the same time. I HATED Mr Bennet in this one also, not true to character at all. LOVED Ann, this is one of a handful of PPV's that has really done an outstanding portrayal of Ann.

I think the writing could have been a bit more embellished and expanded upon. There were several moments in the book that I thought, that's all?? why couldn't the author have developed those moments in the story more fully? There were a few too many abrupt story changes. Just my opinion. I think this was a bit more apparent because of the narrator also, While she did a ok job, her reading style is flat and she has a really terrible way of transitioning from scene to scene. It was as if she ended one scene and started the next all in the same sentence. It was really annoying. One second you are in Elizabeth's head, the next you are in Charlottes without even a pause or a breath between.