By: Sasha Muradali, guest blogger

Duty & Desire is an interesting addition to the trilogy of Fitzwilliam Darcy: Gentleman by Pamela Aidan. This second installment takes readers through Mr. Darcy’s missing moments in Pride and Prejudice in between his departure for London after the Netherfield Ball and his reemergence at his aunt’s house, Rosings Park.

A decent novel, filled with twists and turns, it’s nothing too extraordinary or special in terms of the storyline.

It has two important qualities however: Mr. Darcy’s relationship with his sister Georgiana and a deeper look into his personality.

Readers familiar with Pride and Prejudice, will know the thoughts swirling around Lizzy Bennet’s head, but were left with presumptions and, often dream-filled landscapes, as to the inner mechanical mind of “the man himself.”

These two facets are the meat of the story. Through Aidan’s novel, readers are exposed to another side of Mr. Darcy they always knew existed, but were ever privy to reading about until the very end of Pride and Prejudice. Darcy’s relationship with Georgiana is beautiful.

To quote Elizabeth Bennet, he’s “an ideal older brother.” From his indulgences of her, patience, kindest endearments and openness, as a girl, you cannot help but love him more. Not only love him more, but have the urge to squeal “awwwwww.”

The best part? He falls asleep on her shoulder one night after he comes back from a horrid escapade with a “pack of vipers.” And yes, the vipers are people, not snakes. No, Pamela Aidan does not take Mr. Darcy into Indiana Jones land. Be not alarmed ladies.

The ability to view Darcy’s love for Georgiana, also enables the reader to delve deeper into, what Aidan interprets, as his inner thoughts. Conflicted and confused between decorum and feelings, duty and desire, this novel is one more way to hold on to the character we all know and love.

Not to mention, that it is, for lack of a better term, simply cute how he pines over Lizzy Bennet

It does fall short of An Assembly Such As This, by not by much.

4 of 5 stars.

Read Keira's review of Duty and Desire.

Buy: Duty and Desire

Find and buy more Pamela Aidan novels.

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Categories:

4 Stars, A-C, Comedy of Manners, Estranged, Gambling, Gentry, Gothic, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, Jane Austen, Regency

Tags:

darcy, duty and desire, elizabeth bennet, georgiana, indiana jones, Jane Austen, Pamela Aidan, sasha