To Have His Cake (and Eat It Too): Mr. Darcy's Tale

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet had this to say about Mr. Darcy: "We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man." Elizabeth Bennet spoke of his arrogance, his conceit, and his selfish disdain of the feelings of others - the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry. Mr. Darcy's housekeeper described him as the best landlord and master who ever lived. Such varying accounts as these are exceedingly puzzling, indeed.

In this amorous, provocative, and at times tumultuous "what-if" story, Mr. Darcy is a wealthy young man of sense and education, with considerable worldly experience - not at all uncommon for Regency-era gentlemen of his social standing. He is his own master. He enjoys his situation and has no particular desire to marry at all.

Darcy's world is turned inside out when he renews his acquaintance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet - her own circumstances considerably diminished pursuant to the sudden and tragic death of her father.

To Have His Cake (and Eat It Too) is a tale of Darcy's journey from a man who, indeed, is proud and haughty, to one who seeks to please a woman worthy of being pleased.