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A Promise to Keep
Jane Bingley, young and beloved, dies unexpectedly mere months into her marriage. Her husband Charles returns to Netherfield to fulfill his late wife's final wish: to find a bride amongst her sisters. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is, quite naturally, the next one in line. But what does Mr. Bingley's best friend have to say about that?
In an alternate reality where a short-lived love forces Charles Bingley to choose a Bennet bride again, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself in the odd position of confidante, advisor, and helpless spectator. Whom does Bingley remarry? And does Darcy find love as well?
A short love story that grows from somber and sad to an eventual sweet ending.
In an alternate reality where a short-lived love forces Charles Bingley to choose a Bennet bride again, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy finds himself in the odd position of confidante, advisor, and helpless spectator. Whom does Bingley remarry? And does Darcy find love as well?
A short love story that grows from somber and sad to an eventual sweet ending.
51 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2021
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25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 8, 2022
This very short story's description gives you the premise: Jane Bennet Bingley has died only 2 months after being wed to Charles Bingley. Upon her death bed she elicits a promise from her husband that he will marry one of her sisters.
Darcy has never been to Hertfordshire and has only met Jane. So it is that Darcy, in trying to support and comfort his friend accompanies him to Netherfield. Bingley plans to fulfill that promise. Also arriving on the scene is Collins. So the story gives various descriptions of the sisters and Mrs. Bennet's attempt to match them to two suitors. She has not considered Darcy as a suitor at first.
Darcy has discussions with Elizabeth when he finds opportunities. Collins' attentions have to be diverted, as you can imagine. And you know, you must know, how it all ends up!
A short sweet piece to fill a small space of time on an afternoon.
Darcy has never been to Hertfordshire and has only met Jane. So it is that Darcy, in trying to support and comfort his friend accompanies him to Netherfield. Bingley plans to fulfill that promise. Also arriving on the scene is Collins. So the story gives various descriptions of the sisters and Mrs. Bennet's attempt to match them to two suitors. She has not considered Darcy as a suitor at first.
Darcy has discussions with Elizabeth when he finds opportunities. Collins' attentions have to be diverted, as you can imagine. And you know, you must know, how it all ends up!
A short sweet piece to fill a small space of time on an afternoon.
March 7, 2021
“Grief, no matter how you try to cater to its wail, has a way of fading away.” –V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic
Rating: Clean, quick read at only 12-chapters: Angst level: low: sad for the occasion of the death of a major character: Source: borrowed KU 3-7-21: This review may contain spoilers
Short read with a grieving Bingley. The book description explained that after a few short months of marriage, Jane Bingley née Bennet died. Darcy was in London attempting to console his friend in his time of grief. Jane had made a deathbed request… a promise from Bingley. Because of the situation of her family, she asked that he marry one of her sisters.
This variation was completely off the rail. Talk about your OOC. Darcy had never been to Hertfordshire and had only met the newly married Jane Bingley when they were in town. He arrived with Bingley at Netherfield and met the Bennet family. OMG! Mrs. Bennet was horrid and, to add insult to injury, Mr. Collins had arrived with his own intentions toward the daughters of Mr. Bennet. Good grief. The rest was a farce with Mrs. Bennet in full-out matchmaking mode and everyone on their toes. I can’t say anything as it will give it away.
Read this with a grain of salt. OK, a bag of salt. I did find it entertaining. That’s all that matters and there was a HEA, or two, or three. Just saying.
“If you gave someone your heart and they died, did they take it with them? Did you spend the rest of forever with a hole inside you that couldn’t be filled?” –Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes
Rating: Clean, quick read at only 12-chapters: Angst level: low: sad for the occasion of the death of a major character: Source: borrowed KU 3-7-21: This review may contain spoilers
Short read with a grieving Bingley. The book description explained that after a few short months of marriage, Jane Bingley née Bennet died. Darcy was in London attempting to console his friend in his time of grief. Jane had made a deathbed request… a promise from Bingley. Because of the situation of her family, she asked that he marry one of her sisters.
This variation was completely off the rail. Talk about your OOC. Darcy had never been to Hertfordshire and had only met the newly married Jane Bingley when they were in town. He arrived with Bingley at Netherfield and met the Bennet family. OMG! Mrs. Bennet was horrid and, to add insult to injury, Mr. Collins had arrived with his own intentions toward the daughters of Mr. Bennet. Good grief. The rest was a farce with Mrs. Bennet in full-out matchmaking mode and everyone on their toes. I can’t say anything as it will give it away.
Read this with a grain of salt. OK, a bag of salt. I did find it entertaining. That’s all that matters and there was a HEA, or two, or three. Just saying.
“If you gave someone your heart and they died, did they take it with them? Did you spend the rest of forever with a hole inside you that couldn’t be filled?” –Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes
March 5, 2021
Young, loving, and beloved! oh cruel Death!
Couldst thou not spare the treasure for a while?
~ Mary Ann H. Dodd Shutts (1813–1878), "The Mourner"
“A Promise to Keep” begins on a tragic note. Jane Bingley has passed from this life only a few months after her wedding to Charles Bingley. Beloved Jane was aware of how ill she was; thus she asked her husband for a promise: he should re-marry instead of mourning and he should choose one of her sisters for his second wife.
Bingley shares his grief and his promise with his friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, who had not visited Meryton as originally planned. Darcy met Jane briefly but had not met any others in the Bennet family. Bingley asks for his support at Netherfield, and of course, Darcy travels with him to Hertfordshire.
The Rev. Collins is also in Meryton and also intends to choose a wife from the Bennet sisters.
Mrs. Bennet has hopes that Bingley’s wealthy friend is matrimonially-inclined as well, but, alas, it is not to be. So, which daughters should a loving Mother push to which suitors?
This is surprisingly light-hearted, considering the family’s grief. I would recommend it to JAFF readers, especially when they are looking for a low-angst love story.
Quote from the book: Even in her death, Jane had been selfless.
Couldst thou not spare the treasure for a while?
~ Mary Ann H. Dodd Shutts (1813–1878), "The Mourner"
“A Promise to Keep” begins on a tragic note. Jane Bingley has passed from this life only a few months after her wedding to Charles Bingley. Beloved Jane was aware of how ill she was; thus she asked her husband for a promise: he should re-marry instead of mourning and he should choose one of her sisters for his second wife.
Bingley shares his grief and his promise with his friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, who had not visited Meryton as originally planned. Darcy met Jane briefly but had not met any others in the Bennet family. Bingley asks for his support at Netherfield, and of course, Darcy travels with him to Hertfordshire.
The Rev. Collins is also in Meryton and also intends to choose a wife from the Bennet sisters.
Mrs. Bennet has hopes that Bingley’s wealthy friend is matrimonially-inclined as well, but, alas, it is not to be. So, which daughters should a loving Mother push to which suitors?
This is surprisingly light-hearted, considering the family’s grief. I would recommend it to JAFF readers, especially when they are looking for a low-angst love story.
Quote from the book: Even in her death, Jane had been selfless.
February 9, 2024
It's a nice story, and very promising premise but could have been longer and Darcy and Elizabeth's love story maybe explained a bit. I'm still wondering when did they fell in love and why did they fell in love.
If you're looking for a very short story low to none angst + awful Mrs. Bennet and Lydia, this might be something to consider for you.
Mr. Bingley is a widower, our dear Jane Bingley née Bennet died and asked him to promise to marry one of her other sisters. He sets off to Hertfordshire with Darcy in tow, who by the way was never in Hertfordshire before and never met the Bennet's before. There the 'race' in finding a suitable wife amongst the Bennet's begins. We are also graced by Mr. Collins's appearance in the book, who is seeking a wife amongst the sisters too. And Darcy? He is there to lend support to Mr. Bingley.
One point I did not liked, the family didn't appear to mourn Jane at all. Not even Elizabeth. I get that not everybody mourns the same as some do, and they maybe mourn silently in private. But there we had 4 sisters and 2 parents, and none of them seemed to grief.
Otherwise it was a nice story and I recommend it.
If you're looking for a very short story low to none angst + awful Mrs. Bennet and Lydia, this might be something to consider for you.
Mr. Bingley is a widower, our dear Jane Bingley née Bennet died and asked him to promise to marry one of her other sisters. He sets off to Hertfordshire with Darcy in tow, who by the way was never in Hertfordshire before and never met the Bennet's before. There the 'race' in finding a suitable wife amongst the Bennet's begins. We are also graced by Mr. Collins's appearance in the book, who is seeking a wife amongst the sisters too. And Darcy? He is there to lend support to Mr. Bingley.
One point I did not liked, the family didn't appear to mourn Jane at all. Not even Elizabeth. I get that not everybody mourns the same as some do, and they maybe mourn silently in private. But there we had 4 sisters and 2 parents, and none of them seemed to grief.
Otherwise it was a nice story and I recommend it.
March 9, 2021
Taking this for what it is, it is good. In an alternative universe, if this wasn't making me squeamish.
I vacillate between 3 and 4* because of the content, so I am only going to review the writing and story growth, which has merit.
I vacillate between 3 and 4* because of the content, so I am only going to review the writing and story growth, which has merit.
March 21, 2021
In the midst of tragedy, Charles Bingley and his friend travel to Longbourn to keep a promise that Charles made to his dying wife Jane. He will marry one of her sisters. His friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, finds himself hoping that he won't pick Elizabeth Bennet. Luckily for him, Elizabeth feels the same way about Charles but how they handle it makes for fun reading.
August 21, 2022
Short, sweet and well written, I enjoyed it.
Only flaw: how and when did Lizzy fall in love with Darcy?
Only flaw: how and when did Lizzy fall in love with Darcy?
May 2, 2023
A courtship false turns to a marriage gained
“Even in her death, Jane had been selfless.” This is the thrust of this story when Charles Bingley becomes a widower shortly after his marriage to Jane Bennet, who at her deathbed made her husband promise that he marries one of her sisters. Quite improbable for a kind generous soul who only wished for herself and her sisters to marry only for love. This reader can’t reconcile that image of Jane Bingley, having extracted that promise from her husband. Still familial duty in mind while terminally ill, it begs the questions whether Jane truly realized how malleable/impressionable her husband is, and how cruel can she be to dictate her husband’s future in that manner.
Elizabeth Bennet gets the brunt of insults and directives from her sisters and mother, respectively. Trying to ward off two suitors who are totally unsuitable for her, she voices out her woes to Mr. Darcy, who listens with a patient and compassionate heart. Little did he or she know his caring and compassionate nature would inspire him to make unconventional proposals and actions that lead to happiness to him, Elizabeth and the rest of the Bennets.
This reader likes this variation the least of all the author’s works she’s read so far, as the romance is shallow and hurried. Not much time is given to development of the courtships and engagements; not even Darcy and Elizabeth were spared of this lack. Still may readers would probably find this tale amusing and enjoyable, if only for its brief length and quirky characters.
“Even in her death, Jane had been selfless.” This is the thrust of this story when Charles Bingley becomes a widower shortly after his marriage to Jane Bennet, who at her deathbed made her husband promise that he marries one of her sisters. Quite improbable for a kind generous soul who only wished for herself and her sisters to marry only for love. This reader can’t reconcile that image of Jane Bingley, having extracted that promise from her husband. Still familial duty in mind while terminally ill, it begs the questions whether Jane truly realized how malleable/impressionable her husband is, and how cruel can she be to dictate her husband’s future in that manner.
Elizabeth Bennet gets the brunt of insults and directives from her sisters and mother, respectively. Trying to ward off two suitors who are totally unsuitable for her, she voices out her woes to Mr. Darcy, who listens with a patient and compassionate heart. Little did he or she know his caring and compassionate nature would inspire him to make unconventional proposals and actions that lead to happiness to him, Elizabeth and the rest of the Bennets.
This reader likes this variation the least of all the author’s works she’s read so far, as the romance is shallow and hurried. Not much time is given to development of the courtships and engagements; not even Darcy and Elizabeth were spared of this lack. Still may readers would probably find this tale amusing and enjoyable, if only for its brief length and quirky characters.
March 18, 2021
Ugh! What a strange premise!
I have to give two stars just because this strange little book is so well written, and for the creativity of the idea. However, the premise is so creepy, and so off-putting, that I can't love the story. To start out with the death of Jane is bad enough, but the idea that Bingley would, more or less, go "shopping" for a replacement bride among the remaining Bennett sisters, is just too icky.
This whole book came off, for me as if it was just a little effort on the author's part to come up with something truly bizarre, and perhaps it was supposed to be approached with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. I tried, but death is serious stuff, and the Jane Bennett character is just too precious and beloved to brush off that easily. In what should have been a season of deep mourning for this family, this whole scenario came off as quite heartless and thoughtless.
Although the story didn't work for me, this author always writes well. I can't really recommend it unless you're just in the mood for something short and odd.
I have to give two stars just because this strange little book is so well written, and for the creativity of the idea. However, the premise is so creepy, and so off-putting, that I can't love the story. To start out with the death of Jane is bad enough, but the idea that Bingley would, more or less, go "shopping" for a replacement bride among the remaining Bennett sisters, is just too icky.
This whole book came off, for me as if it was just a little effort on the author's part to come up with something truly bizarre, and perhaps it was supposed to be approached with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. I tried, but death is serious stuff, and the Jane Bennett character is just too precious and beloved to brush off that easily. In what should have been a season of deep mourning for this family, this whole scenario came off as quite heartless and thoughtless.
Although the story didn't work for me, this author always writes well. I can't really recommend it unless you're just in the mood for something short and odd.
February 28, 2021
Very little angst
I enjoyed reading this story because it was certainly different than any other I have read. It however has very little conflict to the storyline.
I enjoyed reading this story because it was certainly different than any other I have read. It however has very little conflict to the storyline.
March 26, 2021
Not complex, but fine for a quick read. No character development, more just a story.
March 31, 2021
Sorry but sweet
Though it started out sad the journey of the Bennett sisters was entertaining. Worth a read if your in the mood for a short story.
Though it started out sad the journey of the Bennett sisters was entertaining. Worth a read if your in the mood for a short story.
August 21, 2024
2.5 stars
July 9, 2022
3.75*
A short sweet read.
A short sweet read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews