Lost Souls: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
Martin Hunnicutt
In the spring (1809), Darcy returns to London but he is unrecognizable with a full beard and long hair. The ever-faithful Charles Bingley, invites Darcy to use his new appearance as a disguise to hide and grieve in Hertfordshire. To the surprise of everyone in Meryton, Charles returns from London with a new secretary, one ‘Malcom McDuff’, a wild looking Scots with a full beard, long hair, and an eye patch over one eye. While there, McDuff meets Miss Elizabeth Bennet and they share many interesting conversations. But as the day for the wedding of Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley approaches, McDuff vanishes. There is scandal enough in Hertfordshire that summer when Lydia Bennet elopes with George Wickham from Brighton and the Bennet family is shocked by Lydia’s resolution to her problem.
The next summer (1810), Elizabeth travels to Hunsford to aid Mrs. Collins with the impending birth of her first child. Upon arrival she is introduced to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy from Derbyshire who is on business in Kent.
There is something familiar about this Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth Bennet sets her mind to discovering his secret.