The Elizabeth Papers

James (Suddenly Mrs. Darcy) follows the characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice beyond the end of their original story and highlights the repercussions of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s union. In the 19th century, James chronicles the lives of the Darcys and the establishment of a trust for their female descendants. Fast forward to 21st-century London, where private investigator Charlie Haywood is hired by Cressida Carter. She believes that descendants of Victoria Darcy should not be recipients of the Darcy Trust, as rumors allege that Victoria was not Fitzwilliam’s biological child. When Charlie meets Victoria’s descendant, Evie Pemberton, and her quadriplegic sister, Clemmie, he learns that Evie relies on the trust money to care for her sister. Charlie must decide whether to leave Cressida’s employ and instead help Evie prove the validity of her trust distribution. The mystery of Victoria’s legitimacy and the present-day attraction between Charlie and Evie create a novel that will appeal to fans of Jane Austen and romantic mysteries. (June)