Book excerpt: Fake engagement! Can Darcy convince London society that Elizabeth will become his wife—while persuading his heart that she won't? After quitting Netherfield, Darcy must convince Lady Catherine that he's betrothed. It's the only way she'll let her daughter Anne marry her beloved. When Darcy receives a sudden windfall from one of his investments, he comes upon an idea. He offers Elizabeth Bennet a substantial sum to pose as his fiancée. Lizzy is shocked by the impropriety of his proposal. Yet she and her sisters desperately need the funds to stave off genteel poverty. Plus, while she's in London, she can help reunite her sister Jane with Bingley, her former suitor. Lizzy and Jane live as guests under Darcy's roof and receive lessons to fit into fashionable society. Lizzy discovers a new side to the Darcy she once despised: his kindness to his staff, his devotion to his sister, his concern for her wellbeing. Is there more to this handsome and fascinating man she once considered so proud? Could their faux betrothal turn real? This sweet Regency Pride and Prejudice variation is a 57,000-word standalone novel. It includes kissing but no on-page intimacy.