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. 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