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Chapter One
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy

Thank goodness it is finally over, Fitzwilliam Darcy thought with a
heavy sigh.

He realized that he probably should not entertain such a thought, but it could not be helped. The past eight weeks of his engagement had held many wonderful moments and all in all had been delightful, but also exceedingly trying. Daily he wanted nothing more than to spend time with his beloved Elizabeth. However, the constant pressures of wedding plans, visits from a seemingly inexhaustible quantity of friends and family, constraints of propriety, and business interests that had taken him from Hertfordshire on several occasions all had conspired to separate him from her far too often. Add to that his own uneasiness with all the social engagements, not to mention his continued distaste for Mrs. Bennet, and the weeks had seemed interminable.

Nonetheless, he thought while gazing lovingly upon his sleeping wife… my wife!… There certainly were some marvelous times to be remembered. In truth, he and Elizabeth had managed to pass numerous satisfying hours together alone, or at least almost alone, yet it never was sufficient as far as Darcy was concerned. She had teased him on occasion for acting like a petulant child whose favorite toy had been taken away. Initially, he had been a bit offended, but then he realized she was correct and had to laugh at himself. Yet he could not deny how bereft he felt without her by his side and how he had treasured every moment that they were together, even if it was brief.

They discovered, much to their mutual joy, that the trials of the previous months, during which each had suffered tremendously, had brought them to a place of complete understanding and honesty. The conversations they now shared were open, deeply profound, intimate, and blessedly free of all artifice and misunderstanding. He had revealed himself to her as he never had to any living soul, not even to his sister or dear Cousin Richard. She had done the same.

They had strived to learn as much as possible about each other. The resulting adoration and respect had only grown deeper with each passing day. And all this before they were married! Now they were truly husband and wife, and Darcy could only imagine their love and communion growing stronger.

He rested his head back against the rocking carriage wall, tightened his arm around Elizabeth, and closed his eyes as his thoughts continued to drift. The ceremony itself had been lovely. The women had triumphed in every aspect of the arrangements. Frankly, Darcy could not have cared less about the decorations as long as his precious Elizabeth became his wife. However, he understood the importance of these things to the ladies and had to admit that the Meryton church and the reception hall at Netherfield were stupendously adorned with flowers in profusion, ribbons and bows, candles and more.

Darcy merely gave it all a cursory glance, eyes riveted to the door. Once Elizabeth entered on the arm of her proud father, Darcy saw or heard very little else. She simply stole away his breath and all conscious thought! How he managed to recite his vows was a mystery. Elizabeth was wearing a simple but lovely white gown of silk with lace along the edges and a golden sash. She had styled her hair in an elaborate design of curls and braids with thin gold ribbon and buds of baby's breath and lavender intertwined. She wore the strand of sapphires he had given her as an engagement gift around her slender neck. Her fine eyes sparkled, her cheeks were rosy, and that special smile only for him highlighted her luscious lips. It was a picture imprinted on his mind's eye and would remain there flawlessly rendered for all of his life.

The lovely and ancient church in Meryton, where the Bennet family had worshipped for years, was perfectly suited for the ceremony. In truth, Darcy had always imagined marrying in the chapel at Pemberley and was mildly saddened initially at the natural choice to marry where both Bennet daughters had grown up. However, he quickly recognized the logic to the decision and realized that he honestly did not care as long as they were married with the sanction of the Church, religion being a vital part of his life.

The elderly vicar performed the traditional ceremony impeccably, his strong voice reciting the vows and quoting Holy Scripture with firm conviction. When Darcy slipped the slim, etched-in-jewels gold band onto Elizabeth's finger, nestling it alongside the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that had been his mother's, it was far and away the most profoundly moving moment in his life.

Elizabeth stirred slightly and he pressed her closer to his side, kissing her gently on the top of her head. He pulled the blanket further over her body and tucked it in. Once he was sure she still slept, he rested his cheek on her head and went back to his daydreams.

The reception at Netherfield was joyous, filled with all of their respective friends and relatives. The food was superb, the musicians exceptional, and the wine of the best vintage. Darcy had an extremely difficult time tearing his eyes away from his bride, but he did manage to congratulate Charles and Jane on their nuptials as well, realizing with a start that Jane looked quite beautiful herself. He was embarrassed to admit that he had not even noticed her presence at the church's altar alongside Elizabeth!

He and Lizzy had previously agreed that they would make their escape as soon as good manners would allow. Darcy had secured lodging at the White Stag Inn near Bedford. He had discovered this superb establishment years earlier while still at Cambridge. Located only a few miles off the main thoroughfare to London—on the turnpike to Cambridge, in fact—it was secluded enough to fulfill his preference for quiet while traveling, but also popular enough as a halting place for those journeying to Newmarket for the races, or on to Suffolk for the sea, so that it was well maintained.

It was also the perfect resting point for the two-day ride between London and Pemberley, a trek he had completed more times that he could remember. He had stayed at the White Stag so frequently over the years that the owners, a pleasant couple named Hamilton, knew him well. They had been ecstatic at the idea of hosting him and his new bride for the initial days of their married life.

All arrangements had been made in advance and, to ensure their privacy, he had rented out the entire second story. Luckily, the late time of year meant the road would be lightly traveled, with hired coaches rarely passing and passengers minimal. Even the pub would see few customers, although it would not matter greatly, as their suite was to the rear of the sturdy red-brick building and well away from the public rooms.

Their luggage had been sent ahead earlier in the day, so all would be ready upon their arrival. Darcy was breathless in anticipation of this night! Not just for the obvious reasons of their promised intimacy and consummation of their marriage, but for the peace and relief from the hustle and bustle of the past two months. Just to be alone with his beloved! Never in his life had any evening been so tremendously and lovingly contemplated.

The carriage pulled off the main road, and Darcy knew they were close to their destination. "Elizabeth," he whispered softly, "wake up, my love; we are almost there."

Reviewer Comments: This story continues the story of Elizabeth Bennet, now Mrs Darcy, and Fitzwilliam Darcy from the much loved Pride and Prejudice. In this story, Darcy and Lizzy begin their married life. Ms Lathan has written what she believes happened between Darcy and Elizabeth in their first year of marriage including their first public outing and Christmas.

The story opens with the end of the wedding and Mr and Mrs Darcy on their way to their new life together. We are taken through the first night and also the first days of their life together and the patterns they will set for the future. The couple are honest with each other and there are lots of kisses, lots of “I love you” and lots of intimate moments and cuddling. Darcy assists Elizabeth in her new role and sometimes proves a distraction. Elizabeth also has to deal with the gossip about her marriage to Darcy but she deals with it with aplomb.

The characterization of Elizabeth and Darcy has been well done in this story and has been mostly in keeping with Jane Austen’s version. There were times, as a reader, I felt that Darcy was out of character but that would be my vision of Darcy. I know he loves Elizabeth dearly but at times it seemed his love and affection had been taken too far towards mushy even though we know Darcy has his public image and his private image.

Ms Lathan has shown the difficulties Elizabeth has settling into the role of Mrs Darcy and the Mistress of Pemberley. Such difficulties include the gifts Darcy wants to buy for her, her wardrobe, and having a personal maid to assist her. Of course Elizabeth does shine and tackles the tasks with her known sense of humor. As we travel the story with Darcy and Elizabeth, she is feted wherever she goes and all those immediately succumb to her wit and personality. I liked it when Darcy and Elizabeth have their first marital fight as it showed they were more real. And before Darcy and Elizabeth can make up, Lizzy has an accident and Darcy is in despair.

We do not see many of the other familiar characters except as points of reference to add flavour to the story so we do not learn what happen to them in that first year.

There is no question how much Fitzwilliam Darcy loves Elizabeth, whom he refers to as Lizzy. The past eight weeks of the engagement had held wonderful memories that had been most delightful. Now Lizzy was his wife, and no man could be happier than William. Elizabeth simply loves how William’s eyes glow when he speaks of his family. As their love connects them closer with every passing day, William is driven wild with desire for his beloved. She is bewitching, and their honeymoon proves just how deep their love extends now. He has no idea how he survived all those years without his sweet Lizzy. She is spirited and vibrant and William wants to learn so much more with her. With his magic hands, Lizzy is captivated with his touch and his mere presence. Their love is something to be cherished for the rest of their lives. With the couple being inexperienced as young lovers, can they find the right equation to make their desires even more fulfilling?

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy is a romance that transcends through time. Elizabeth and William’s passion, as they explore their honeymoon, is wonderfully written. The reader gets an idea of how deep their love excels. Sharon Lathan permits the true feelings of Elizabeth and William to illustrate their most tender emotions and hidden desires toward the other. I liked the way their romance buds for the other. Their emotions swim through each page, allowing this reader to visualize their sensations. It was almost as if they could read each others thoughts and act upon them. With simmering ardor for the other, the characters are solid, passionate, and convincing; permitting this reader to believe their honeymoon is not only just the beginning but a lifetime of love that will never turn cold.

Overall rating: 4/5 Hearts
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Linda L.
March 31, 2009

Sharon Lathan has created an amazing book about consuming love between 2 people that anyone would love to have with that speical someone. The majority of the story actually happens in their bedchambers. The banter between Darcy and Elizabeth behind closed doors is intimate and erotic, which amazed me knowing how ’stiff’ they are when out in public (due of course to the ’proper’ rules they must follow.) I enjoyed these parts, but talking about how wonderful each of them were was overdone and I found myself skimming through some passages to find more of the story. ’Two Shall Become One" kept my attention with the writings descriptive details of the surroundings that Elizabeth and Darcy would be in. I felt as though I was there with them, peeking in through a window. The ending seemed a bit rushed with a number of things happening, but overall the book was enjoyable.
I can’t compare this to the Jane Austen book, unfortunetly, because I have not read it (hopefully, one of these days I will.) I have watched the movie version of "Pride and Prejudice" (which I loved) and I will say the book was a good version of a sequel to it. I wouldn’t recommend this for everyone (because of the amount of intimacy might be too much for some), but I enjoyed it enough to say that it will bring smiles and laughs to your day as you read through the life of Darcy and Elizabeth.

3.5/5 stars

The first thing I would like to mention is about how Mr & Mrs Darcy came to be written. In 2005 Sharon Lathan went to the theatre to see the movie Pride & Prejudice featuring Keira Knightly and Matthew MacFadyen. This film touched her so deeply that she couldn’t get it out of her mind. After months of reading and researching everything she could get her hands on about Jane Austen, Sharon Lathan began writing stories in the fashion of what is known as ‘fan-fiction’ and from there it continued to this, the first of a series of Pride & Prejudice inspired stories. It’s a cool little story, I’ve left out quite a bit but if you click here you can visit the author’s website and read the whole story in her own words.

Since, Two Shall Become One, was inspired by the 2005 film version of the novel rather than the Austen novel, the characters are more comparable to the parts played by Knightly and MacFadyen. The story begins as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy return as newlyweds to Pemberley, after a brief honeymoon stay along the way. What follows is an new introduction to one another for the couple, as they essentially learn how to behave and interact in their new roles of husband and wife. This is also a time for Elizabeth to discover what it means to become the lady of an estate, while Mr. Darcy must become more comfortable with sharing his home and his life with his new partner. And of course we get to be witness to the very first social events hosted by the pair. Family, friends and familiar characters appear from time to time but it’s Mr and Mrs Darcy who steal the spotlight as the perfect pair of newlyweds.

The characters in this story are slightly different from the original Austen creations, but by keeping in mind that this is more of a continuation of the film version, it is very accurate. Lathan states on her website that she has done much research into not only the Austen novel, but also the time period and location of Pride and Prejudice. This is very clear to the reader as her descriptive writing is outstanding in it’s detail. Overall the writing is terrific, and the author shows a great talent at both dialogue, narrative and description.

My only complaint about the novel would be the repetitive dialogue between Elizabeth and Darcy, in terms of vowing their love to one another. A plus to some readers may be the inclusion of many quite heated love scenes, however the drawn out talk between the two lovers can put a bit of a damper on the mood of the moment. The main plotline of the story was basically to do with how the couple come together as a married couple, and there wasn’t very much else going on action-wise outside the bedroom. It’s only toward the end of the book that conflict in introduced.

However, even though I was not into the overly romantic tone of this book, I am very much interested in reading Sharon Lathan’s upcoming Pride and Prejudice books. The next volume Loving Mr Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley, looks to be interesting. According to the author’s website, this book will focus on the societal introduction of Elizabeth as Mrs Darcy, with balls, opera, travel and shopping trips. With the author’s obvious attention to historical detail, this should be quite a fascinating read.

Lizzie and her Mr. Darcy have gotten married at the end of the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice. This book begins where that left off and occasionally even flashes back to exact scenes from the movie. The book takes us throughout the first several months of their marriage as they fall even more in love and as Lizzy settles into her role as Mrs. Darcy and the mistress of the Pemberly estate.

One thing I think the author does particularly well is surround us by the Regency period. The language, the tones of conversations and the atmosphere felt authentic to original Austen (although, like I said, the plot is truer to the movie version than to the original book). Even the characters, for the most part, felt genuine and their behavior consistent. What did not feel so authentic to me was the amount and level of detail in the "bedroom" scenes. To be completely truthful, I would classify the book as a romance novel, chiefly for the fact that I was sometimes skimming through two, three pages of detailed romantic interludes.

I liked the interactions between husband and wife when they were not being "intimate," but these scenes felt cut short, always, by their desires for each other - often making me feel that the plot was lacking. It got a bit frustrating because I did like the world that Lathan had created and wanted to spend more time with Lizzy and Darcy out in it! Scenes where Lizzy was meeting Derbyshire society and when she was acting as hostess at Pemberly stand out as ones I particularly liked reading.

In the end, I think your pleasure in this novel will be what you are interesting in finding there. If you want a story of true love - a couple perfectly matched and infatuated with each other and living in a splendid historical time period, than this is the book for you.

MY THOUGHTS ON MR. & MRS FITZWILLIAM DARCY

Ever since I agreed to begin reviewing for publishers, I’ve been hoping for that “dream” book. The one you read that makes you sigh a little inside as you put it down because you don’t want it to end. I was lucky enough to find that book with Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the continuing story of Lizzy Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. It says in a note from the author that she watched the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen and was inspired to continue their story. And this book is that story.

Using certain quotes and moments from the movie in the book gives it a more…intimate setting than something coming straight from the book. In my head all throughout the book, I was picturing Matthew MacFadyen as Darcy and Keira Knightley as Lizzy. I’m not usually one for having actors in my head, but because I loved the movie, I don’t mind.

I admit to having a hard time NOT having a fan-girl moment while writing this review. I’ve been a fan of Pride and Prejudice ever since I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out. Obviously I’d heard of Jane Austen and her books. I knew what P&P was all about, but had never watched any of the movies or read the book.

I remember seeing a snippet of the promo for this movie and thinking “I HAVE to see this!” I sat in the theater with my eyes glued to the screen. The passion and chemistry between these two characters was just downright awe-inspiring. I loved Mr. Darcy’s taciturn, but sweet personality and the way his love for Lizzy made him seem all the more human. I loved how Lizzy wasn’t afraid to stand her ground, even when it meant losing (for the moment), the love of her life.

I took one of my BFF’s to see this movie and to this day, it’s one of our favorites. I’ve also seen the A&E version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and finally read the book last year, but in my heart, the 2005 version of this movie will always be Lizzy & Darcy’s story.

That being said, I admit to a certain amount of trepidation going into this story. I’d just finished reading Pemberley Manor, and though I liked it, it had also traumatized me a bit. I was hoping that this story would follow more along the lines of the story I saw in my head as to how the Darcy’s life would be together after P&P was over.

And I was not disappointed. From the moment the story starts, it’s like a continuation of the movie. I love the fact that it starts from Darcy’s POV and you can just see the love shining from him as he looks at his beloved wife.

Maybe it’s naughty of me, but I admit to wishing someone would delve a bit more into the passion so evident between the two. Ms. Lathan does that well. It’s obvious the two of them have sex, but it’s not fully modernized to the point where you have every single mention of body parts and tab-a-into-slot-b like 99% of the romances out there. This book isn’t chaste by any means, but it’s also much closer to what I would expect. I know, that doesn’t make sense, but I’m doing my best here.

Ms. Lathan gives a richness to the story and details that you could almost expect Ms. Austen to have had them waiting just for this story. As I was reading, I could see what was happening in my head. The sights, sounds and emotions were so clearly detailed that I didn’t want this story to end.

And that’s what’s so great! She’s doing a full series on the life of Lizzy and Darcy. This is just book 1! *happy dance*

I can’t remember the last time I fell in love with a book like this. I can’t wait to share this with you and I’m hoping I’ll be lucky enough to speak to the author and maybe even give away a copy or two of this book. If you love Pride and Prejudice (especially the 2005 version of the movie), then I cannot stress to you enough how much you should go find a copy of this book. It’s awesome!


Rating: A-

Pride and Prejudice sequels and fill ins are a passion of mine. I have read almost all of them in existence - not all, but almost all. It is very true that I have said in the past that most Pride and Prejudice sequels are absolute rubbish and yet, I read every single one I can get my hands on. I can’t seem to stop - and truthfully, it is a totally harmless guilty pleasure - fat free, carb free, alcohol and cholesterol free.....so why not?

What is the draw for me? Purely and plainly, it is the character of Darcy. I love him. He is a thinking girl’s "Knight in Riding Boots" and Sharon’s rendering of my favorite literary man is nothing short of nirvana for the Darcy lover. Now, I know there are those out there who will disagree - and you can disagree all you want. I want a Darcy who doesn’t have a dark past, who doesn’t have any illegitimate half siblings, who doesn’t time travel..... you get my message here. We each have our own image of Darcy. Sharon delivers that to her reader - and then some. That is one of my favorite parts about that character. Miss Austen gave us just enough to go on - and we get to fill in the blanks.

When Sharon discovered the character of Darcy and filled in her own blanks, she made him into a very masculine, romantic and passionate Darcy. That is the driving force behind this book. Darcy is so wonderful and manly, you cannot help but to fall for him. He and Elizabeth set out in their newly married life to explore and discover one another - and while they are both very dedicated to their ’studies’, the romantic and passionate love between the two keeps the reader mesmerized. It is a lovely rendering of a loving and passionate marriage.

This is not Pride and Prejudice rehashed and regurgitated with a few details changed. This book is truly the continuing story of the lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy and his new bride Elizabeth. There are quite a number of sensual scenes in this book - which is very true to life for the stage of marriage that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth are in. They have just discovered the pleasures of the flesh as it were. If you want a story that will bring you intimately into the lives of the Darcys after they begin their married life together, this is the book for you.

The continuing story of the lives of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam is lovingly told by Ms. Lathan with great care and attention to detail. The research and historical context is both romantic and enlightening for the reader. You come away with a real sense of life in the late 19th century and a real sense of the lives of these two people who are deeply in love with one another.

In the end, you are uplifted by a story about love that is not riddled with odd plot points and dark themes. This is, quite simply, a story about love an excellent example of marriage and happily ever after. A wonderful read that is tailor made for the romantic at heart.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One starts out on Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding day. We as readers are brought back to their courtship, but for the most part the story is about their wedding and life together.

The first days as husband and wife are spent at a Coaching Inn where Elizabeth brings up her anxieties about her duties on her wedding night. Darcy is gentle with her. He puts those fears to rest and they spend their time with passion, romance and in getting to know one another.

Elizabeth is brought to Pemberley, where some of the women are not happy that she took a prized bachelor off the market. Darcy is very taken by Elizabeth and is also very protective. His housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, is there to help Elizabeth learn how to become the mistress of Pemberley.

While most people fall in love with Elizabeth, there is one man, the Marquis of Orman, who studies her too intently and makes her uncomfortable. He is not a good friend of Darcy’s and creates a problem that is dangerous for Elizabeth.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy is one author’s interpretation of a continuation of Pride and Prejudice. It was written with wit and loads of romance. I loved how Elizabeth and Darcy sometimes had misunderstandings but made up with passion. It was fun to watch the first months of their married life together.

My Review: I don’t even know where to start with this wonderful book. I had heard from a few people that they thought it was too explicit compared to Jane Austen. Keeping that in mind, I plunged in and I loved it! There are no more of the Victorian chaste kisses, this is a full blown romance. The story has the characters acting as any newly married couple would act. I didn’t think it was very explicit at all., in fact I thought it was wonderfully written and kept me enthralled until the end. I found myself sighing once again over this couple. Darcy emerges as wonderfully romantic husband. We get to see the struggles they go through in the early days and see their love triumph. There is enough of the ’feel’ of Jane_Austen to delight all fans of her novels. For me this was a great book and I’m excited that this is just the first in the series that follows this couple. I’m going to be first in line for the rest of the series!