An Epic Surprise

**Please Note: This is a full length novel of 145,000 plus words**

Almost 300 years ago, one brother rejected another because a lady chose the younger brother rather than himself. As much as the father fought to prevent it, there was a split between the brothers.

The father is a peer of the realm, and has a title his older son will inherit. After the father dies and the son is elevated to the title, he changes his first and family names to make sure there is nothing which connects him to his brother. He is angry because rather than a love match he had to settle for a marriage of convenience.

Before he died, the father made provisions for the future if the worst was ever to happen. We fast forward almost 300 years to 1810. By then, none of the affected families know there are any connections between them.
The Darcys, Fitzwilliams, Rhys-Davies (Duke of Bedford), Winstons (Duke of Hertfordshire), and Carringtons (Earl of Holder) are all good friends with some familial connections between some of them.

At the same time the Bennets of Longbourn have three daughters and two sons. Jane is born from the body of Fanny Bennet who passes soon after the delivery. Not long after her death, not mourning Fanny due to the fact she entrapped him, Bennet marries the love of his life, Miss Priscilla Morris. They are blessed with 2 daughters and 2 sons.

The Bingleys and Hursts lease Netherfield Park, and as in canon, Fitzwilliam Darcy comes to stay with them to honour his word to Bingley. Not all of the Bingleys and Hursts' characters are the same as we have come to expect. There are some events similar to canon, like the infamous insult, and a very bad proposal, but there are many differences as I put my own spin on this tale.

At some point in the story, tragedy strikes some members of the noble families mentioned above. The 'epic surprise' is revealed when the long dead father's instructions are followed.

Who is connected to who? Will Darcy's attitude towards a certain Bennet only change after the revelation? What will the roles of Lady Catherine, Wickham, and Collins be in this story? To answer these and many other questions, read on and enjoy.

**Warning: Although not described in any sort of detail, there is a huge tragedy in this tale resulting in the loss of many lives. None of the principal characters are lost.**