Book excerpt: Elizabeth Bennet’s world is shattered when she receives a letter at Rosings telling her that her father has passed away. Moments later, Mr. Darcy arrives and asks for her hand in marriage. Thrown by the dreadful news she has just received, Elizabeth cannot respond to him. Once the dreadful sickness has finished raging through Hertfordshire, Elizabeth’s family has been decimated, only leaving behind herself, Jane, and Lydia. Numb and aggrieved, Elizabeth agrees to become pledged to Mr. Darcy, but asks that he wait for her period of mourning to be over before they wed. Together, they set off for Pemberley, where Elizabeth must face Lady Catherine’s disapproval, Georgiana’s painful shyness, and the sudden appearance of Mr. Wickham…