Maria Lucas cover art

Maria Lucas

A Short Story in the Personages of Pride & Prejudice Collection

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Maria Lucas

By: Jennifer Becton
Narrated by: Anne Day-Jones
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Summary
 She married for security, not love, but when her husband suddenly banishes her from their estate, she refuses to go quietly. Flighty Maria Card (née Lucas) thought her platonic marriage of convenience was a fair trade to save her family from destitution. But when her husband unexpectedly commands her to leave their home for London without explanation, Maria revolts and secretly returns to spy on him. Instead of a timid gentleman, she discovers a transformed manbronzed, muscled, and working the fields alongside his laborersigniting an unexpected surge of romantic passion. Eavesdropping in the shadows, Maria learns that their estate is facing financial ruin due to past mismanagement, and Jonas sent her away to hide his insolvency from her. With Crumbleigh on the brink of collapse and Jonas sacrificing his own fortune to feed his starving tenants, Maria realizes how foolish and blind she has been. To save her marriage, she must brave the dark corridors of his bedchamber and risk her heart on a husband who may have already given up on winning her love. Some marriages begin at the altar; others begin in the dark.©2011 Jennifer Becton (P)2013 Jennifer Becton Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Romance Short Story
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This is a lovely short story. It definitely makes more sense if you first read Charlotte Collins by the same author. These stories are delightful for all fans of Jane Austen.

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