Jane Austen Sequels- Fate and Consequences, by Linda Wells
“If” is one of those tempting questions to ask about love. Wondering if things would be different had something occurred whether through fate, destiny or happenstance? Linda Wells’ Fate and Consequences is one of the recent Jane Austen sequels that dare to ask “what if?” Many know the story of sweet naive Georgiana Darcy and that dreadful George Wickham. He attempts seduce Georgiana and persuade her to elope to Gretna Green with the plan of obtaining her substantial dowry for his own use. What if he had actually succeeded?
Protective brother Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives just in time to begin to salvage his sisters’ tattered honor. But what would her life be like now? How would she go about finding an honorable man who was willing to love her in spite of her past? Many today will have trouble understanding that simply being alone with a man behind a closed door could ruin a woman from a good family completely and take her entire family down with her. It could – and some men determined to marry for money would seduce young women of wealth into situations where they would find themselves in a position that marriage to a scoundrel was the only way to save the entire family from shame.
Darcy is ready to protect his sister and fix the situation but Wickham can still cause great trouble. He has no standing in society but can cause further harm to her reputation simply by writing to the gossip columns or blackmailing the family still further. Darcy is worried about exactly how much trouble Wickham will cause – and assumes the worst given his previous dealings with their family.
The tension in the story is wonderful as the cast of familiar Pride and Prejudice characters take part. You start to wonder exactly how it all is going to come out in the end. Will there be a happy ending? Is it the happy ending you are rooting for? Wells has done a great job at showing the love between siblings, the love Elizabeth has for Darcy and how that love can make all the difference in becoming the best person you can be.
Fate and Consequences is a highly original and exceptionally well written story that operates on the premise that love really does conquer all. If you have read any of Linda Wells other novels you will enjoy this one as well. Both Chance Encounters and The Perfect Fit are also great reads.
You can also read her new work in progress, Memory, which is a Regency Pride and Prejucice prequel. The board requires registration, but this novel is worth the effort.
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