BANISHED FROM LONGBOURN at a young age, Elizabeth Bennet is raised among the Fitzwilliams at the Romsley estate, growing up alongside Fitzwilliam Darcy and his cousins. Entering adulthood, Elizabeth soon finds herself in possession of a secret love for him that even she knows is futile, and she must settle for his friendship. SEEING THAT ELIZABETH BENNET has become a pretty young woman, Darcy's mother, Lady Anne and her sister are desperate to separate her from Darcy. Elizabeth returns to Longbourn for the first time in fifteen years where her hopes of finding a loving family are quickly dashed. She is relieved and embarrassed when Darcy and his cousins join her in Hertfordshire, though she is determined to set aside her tender feelings for him. DARCY IS FRANTIC WITH WORRY about Elizabeth while they are apart. No one is more shocked than he is when he realises the true depth of his feelings for her. He sets off to convince her to love him and accept a life as his wife. Will his mother's hostility prove too great an obstacle?