The Bennets' Fortune Series by Elaine Burkett

After the unfortunate death of both her parents, beautiful Jane Bennet finds herself the owner of Longbourn. Though she is only eighteen, she spends the next year learning how to run the estate and the house. In the following years, Jane grows in maturity and wisdom, doing all she can to raise her younger sisters to be elegant yet strong young ladies.A little less than four years later, Mr. Bingley and his party enter the neighborhood... moreAfter the unfortunate death of both her parents, beautiful Jane Bennet finds herself the owner of Longbourn. Though she is only eighteen, she spends the next year learning how to run the estate and the house. In the following years, Jane grows in maturity and wisdom, doing all she can to raise her younger sisters to be elegant yet strong young ladies.A little less than four years later, Mr. Bingley and his party enter the neighborhood. The gentleman is easily smitten with the kind and gentle Miss Bennet, but the lady is less entranced with him. Instead of encouraging him, she conspires with his sister to convince him to leave her alone.A few months later, Jane takes her sisters to London for a couple of months. While there, she meets one of her uncle’s business associates, Mr. Carruthers, and immediately falls under his spell. Meanwhile, Elizabeth runs across Mr. Darcy in Hyde Park, not just once but several times.This story is mostly about Jane and how her greater responsibility and greater maturity helps her sisters, though there is plenty of attention given to Elizabeth and Darcy as well as Mary. As with all my books, there is little angst. It is a sweet story to help the reader unwind from life’s stresses. less

When only eleven years old, Elizabeth Bennet saved the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Perry when they accidentally fell into a small river. Nine years later, Elizabeth was informed that Mr. Perry had suddenly perished, leaving most of his wealth to her.When Elizabeth claims her new estate, Mowbray Manor, she becomes fast friends with Mrs. Perry, who lives in the dower house on the estate. Once Elizabeth becomes used to her new home and her new responsibilities, she and Mrs... moreWhen only eleven years old, Elizabeth Bennet saved the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Perry when they accidentally fell into a small river. Nine years later, Elizabeth was informed that Mr. Perry had suddenly perished, leaving most of his wealth to her.When Elizabeth claims her new estate, Mowbray Manor, she becomes fast friends with Mrs. Perry, who lives in the dower house on the estate. Once Elizabeth becomes used to her new home and her new responsibilities, she and Mrs. Perry head to London where the older lady always spends her winters.There, Elizabeth encounters Mr. Darcy once again, who once again resumes his campaign of staring at her unaccountably, though he has added the discomfort of attempting to speak with her and dance with her at every opportunity. Elizabeth, however, rebuffs his every attempt as well as she can. Through a few twists and turns and after some misunderstandings are resolved, the couple eventually comes together, but not before each of them has learned and grown from their mistakes.This book is the second installment of the Fortune Series, where each book focuses on a different member of the Bennet family as they somehow acquire a fortune of some kind. This time, Elizabeth takes the center stage, though Jane and Mary are featured. less

In this third installment in the Fortune Series, it is Mary’s turn to take center stage. At the tender age of sixteen, Mary is married off to the richest man in the neighborhood, Mr. Allen, a man who is ten years older than Mr. Bennet. Contrary to what one might expect, Mr. Allen turns out to be an excellent husband, patiently teaching the young Mary how to gradually become more independent and decisive... moreIn this third installment in the Fortune Series, it is Mary’s turn to take center stage. At the tender age of sixteen, Mary is married off to the richest man in the neighborhood, Mr. Allen, a man who is ten years older than Mr. Bennet. Contrary to what one might expect, Mr. Allen turns out to be an excellent husband, patiently teaching the young Mary how to gradually become more independent and decisive.Though she does not love her husband in any romantic sense, Mary respects him a great deal and is therefore devastated when he passes away only a year into their marriage. Using the knowledge and experience she gained from him, Mary establishes her independence and even offers a home to her older sister, Elizabeth.As the story unfolds, we see how Mary’s fortune and status, gained from her marriage, affect the path of our dear couple, Elizabeth and Darcy. We also see how Mary gains the love and respect of a very good man and learns to love him in return.Warning: since a portion of this story is about Mary’s married life, there are a few scenes where adult topics are alluded to, though there is nothing explicit. less

In this fourth entrant to the Bennets’ Fortune Series, Kitty is the main character, instead of simply being an accessory to her younger sister, Lydia, as she is usually portrayed.As a young girl, Kitty became friends with an elderly lady, named Mrs. Parker. Kitty’s youth helped cheer the lonely older lady, and Mrs. Parker’s patient wisdom made Kitty wiser. When Mrs. Parker passed away, her remaining small fortune was left to Kitty. It wasn’t much, and it didn’t change her life in any way... moreIn this fourth entrant to the Bennets’ Fortune Series, Kitty is the main character, instead of simply being an accessory to her younger sister, Lydia, as she is usually portrayed.As a young girl, Kitty became friends with an elderly lady, named Mrs. Parker. Kitty’s youth helped cheer the lonely older lady, and Mrs. Parker’s patient wisdom made Kitty wiser. When Mrs. Parker passed away, her remaining small fortune was left to Kitty. It wasn’t much, and it didn’t change her life in any way. Months later, however, Kitty learned that Mrs. Parker’s fortune was far greater than anyone, including Mrs. Parker, knew. Now the heiress of a very large fortune, Kitty is determined to never marry so that she can retain control of her fortune, thereby providing for her sisters and her mother when her father dies.To help her meet and socialize with people of her new status, Kitty is sent to a school for young ladies of similar fortunes. There she meets, and becomes close friends with, Georgiana Darcy. Through her friendship with Georgiana, Kitty becomes acquainted with Mr. Darcy as well as their cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Stephen Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale and heir to the Earl of Matlock.Viscount Hilldale first meets Kitty Bennet when Kitty is merely fifteen. His own life is in turmoil, and he barely notices the young girl who Georgiana brought to Pemberley for the summer. After a short exchange at dinner one evening, however, she sticks in his memory as a very unusual girl.The path to happily ever after is far from straight for these two unusual people. On the one hand, Kitty has no intention of ever marrying and does not even think about falling in love. On the other hand, Stephen was burned badly by his first marriage and does not wish to experience anything like that again.Despite the difficulties that lay in the paths of Kitty and Stephen, there is little real angst here, just enough to give interest to the story. Please enjoy this insight into what Kitty might have been had she spent her formative years in school instead of at Longbourn. less

The youngest and most notorious of the Bennet sisters finally takes center stage, just as she always hoped she would.Lydia’s path in life is altered dramatically just before she turns fourteen when she is invited to keep her aging Aunt Amelia company in London. Though she expected the ordeal to be boring, it turns out to be anything but. Aunt Amelia is knowledgeable and is not stingy in sharing her knowledge. Not only that, but the older lady is also fun to talk to... moreThe youngest and most notorious of the Bennet sisters finally takes center stage, just as she always hoped she would.Lydia’s path in life is altered dramatically just before she turns fourteen when she is invited to keep her aging Aunt Amelia company in London. Though she expected the ordeal to be boring, it turns out to be anything but. Aunt Amelia is knowledgeable and is not stingy in sharing her knowledge. Not only that, but the older lady is also fun to talk to. The two of them spend many hours, days, and months exploring the city and experiencing everything there is to experience.Over time, Lydia becomes a fixture in her aunt’s home, more at home there than with her parents and sisters at Longbourn. Eventually, she is introduced to the family of Aunt Amelia’s late husband, the Matlocks. There she meets Lord and Lady Matlock, their three sons, and the Darcys, including Georgiana Darcy.Though they do not immediately click, Lydia and Georgiana gradually become friends. What Lydia does not know is that the youngest of the Fitzwilliam brothers, Robert Fitzwilliam, gradually falls head over ears in love with Lydia, though it takes many years.This story spans over seven years, showing how Lydia grows up under the influence of her wise aunt rather than her mother, though she never loses her cheerfulness or her indomitable spirit. As Lydia grows and matures, Robert struggles more and more against his love for her, eventually leading him to life-threatening consequences.Of course there is a happy ending, but not without a great number of trials along the way. In the end, however, both our hero and heroine grow up, mature, and of course find love with each other. less