An Encounter at Brighton: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Elizabeth Bennet had been relying on a trip to the Lakes to forget about the awful evening she harshly rejected Mr Darcy’s proposal, only to discover she had misjudged him — particularly where George Wickham was concerned. When her uncle’s work prevents him from travelling so far north, she suggests a visit to Brighton instead. If she cannot enjoy the Lakes, she can at least keep an eye on her flirtatious sister, Lydia, who travelled with the militia and Mr Wickham to spend the summer there. However, options for suitable places to stay are limited so late in the season.

Fitzwilliam Darcy cannot bear the thought of returning to Pemberley for the summer when he had thought he would bring Elizabeth Bennet there with him as his wife. When Mr Bingley suggests a visit to the seaside instead, Darcy agrees. Brighton might not be his favourite place, but if it will distract him from thinking about Elizabeth, he is willing to try anything. However, making a decision to go so late in the season means even a wealthy gentleman does not easily find suitable accommodation.

Shocked to find they are staying so close to one another, Elizabeth and Darcy increasingly take pleasure in one another's company as they let their guards down and their feelings deepen. But Wickham has never forgiven Darcy for keeping him from the wealth he believes his due. And when he sees a chance to interfere in the blossoming relationship between his former friend and the woman he once desired for himself, Wickham takes a drastic step that might separate the two forever.

An Encounter at Brighton is a Pride and Prejudice novel of over 87,000 words, and uses British spelling.