The Darcys' First Christmas: The Disappearance

by Andrea J. Wenger

After a blissful honeymoon, Elizabeth Darcy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is thrilled to see her sister Jane again as the two prepare to spend their first Christmas with their new husbands. But when distressing news arrives from their family at Longbourn, it overthrows their plans.

With the shame of her sister Lydia's elopement still fresh in her mind, Elizabeth fears the worst—and worries that this new proof of her family's folly will test Darcy's attachment to her. Can their love endure this new challenge? Or will their first Christmas together be their last?

This is a clean and wholesome Regency novella with a happy ending.

94 pages, ebook

Published December 22, 2016

About the author

Andrea J. Wenger is the author of Regency romance and romantic comedy. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys gardening, scuba diving, and hiking active volcanoes with her husband.

Reviews

[Susan Chapek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommending this short seasonal diversion to those who enjoy Austen sequels. Kisses only (but lots of twinkles in the married characters' eyes).

[Carol Perrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darcys' First Christmas: The Disappearance

The Bennets are once more in the sights of the Darcys and the Bingleys. Both couples in London after their honeymoons, are faced with the news that Kitty has disappeared. Dutiful Darcy and Bingley head out to search for Kitty knowing that she's probably with Lydia. Once again no one has any idea where that might be in vastness of London. After a night with no news and after Darcy and Bingley left to search, Kitty comes to Darcy House in tears. Deciding that Wickham is not a very good gentleman. Lydia also shows up wanting to go to Longbourn. She thinks she is with child and needs her mother. She's also wised up that she never learned to be a wife much less a mother. The Bennets show up since Mrs. Bennet decided if the girls wouldn't come to Longbourn, she'd go to them. Oh, joyful Christmas indeed. With a "gentle" reminder to Wickham from his commanding officer, Colonel Fitzwilliam, everyone is ready to enjoy the Holiday meal at the Bingleys. With as many unexpected guests arriving, I'm surprised Andrea didn't have Lady Catherine de Bourgh show up! Wouldn't that be the icing on the cake. Short, but sweet.

[Teresita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty eventful Christmas

After all the mayhem that could be had, our beloved couple learns to appreciate having family around for the Christmas season. Lovely story!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Pride and Prejudice sequel where the honeymoon is at an and the Darcys and Bingleys are in town for Christmas, when Kitty goes missing. Not really that interesting, just foolish Lydia and Kitty.

[J.C. Plummer · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5-stars rounded up

[Jessica.M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lol sorry to the author but no 😂 totally lost me on page one: ‘It still sometimes surprised her that this handsome man was her husband.’ Haha no. Lizzy would be surprised from time to time in her life with Darcy, but not likely because how handsome he was lol. I’ve read much better P&P fanfics on AO3.

The second or third DNF in my entire life.

[Jacquelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't really a variation. Because it was so short I wouldn't call it a sequel, but it's too long to be an epilogue. It's more like a continuation. It's less than 100 pages long so I didn't expect a very involved story plot. But again, it wasn't a variation because there really was no variation from the original story or characters. One thing I love about variations is that the authors can attempt to write some wrongs. Maybe Mrs Bennett isn't quite so flighty, or Lydia has her eyes opened and doesn't marry Mr wickham, perhaps Mary marries Mr Collins, the list goes on of possible variations. In this book however the characters are all pretty much the same. Lydia remains a silly girl, Mrs Bennett is ridiculous, Mr Bennett does have to admit to Elizabeth that he has not taken care of his family as he should have so that's something. Jane still tries to paint everyone in a good light, regardless of how glaringly awful they are, almost to the point of being annoying. The author even tries to make the reader sympathetic to terrible characters like Wickham and even Lydia, but I really couldn't sympathize with these characters. They were still as ridiculous as in the original story. It was not a very good read but it wasn't terrible

[Catherine McClarey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet

Set shortly after the conclusion of the events in Pride and Prejudice, the Darcys are preparing to spend Christmas at their townhouse in London, when word arrives that Kitty has gone missing. Eventually it comes out that Lydia talked Kitty into this, because Lydia is pregnant and desperate to have her mom's support at Longbourn, and Wickham doesn't seem to want the baby. The entire Bennett family ends up reunited in London, and plans are made to deal with everyone's near-future problems. Everything is resolved quickly in this short novella.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas is certainly time when many things happen. This seemed like a much more mellow version of Darcy, Elizabeth and even the rest of the family. I found it interesting to see a glimpse of reality set in for Lydia-and even Kitty to some degree. Satisfying sort of solution at Christmas-but I certainly would not trust Wickham at his word.

[Tess]

Married Darcys dealing with craziness.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

still the same unlikeable wickham and lydia...

[Ray Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good, the beginning bothered me a bit and she tends to use lines straight out of the ‘95 series but it wasn’t terrible.