Everyone Loves The Darcys

Money, romance, independence, and the rights of women are central to this Victorian-style novel, The Second Mrs. Darcy. It catches the reader’s attention immediately by proclaiming to a newly widowed young woman that “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband.”

From here on it was obvious that this young woman, Octavia, the second Mrs. Darcy, would surely not be in want of a husband and would resist the matchmaking of her friends and family at all costs.

The rest of the story was about Octavia gaining her independence and supporting herself as a single woman during a time when it was not proper for a woman not to have a husband to look after her.

When Octavia’s husband died she was left with nothing because Mr. Darcy’s estate was left to his cousin. Luckily Octavia learns of a distant aunt of hers who died and left her whole fortune to her as the only surviving family. This aunt owned land in England and India and was incredibly wealthy and was managing her own affairs. This sets the aunt up as a role model and Octavia learns to manage her money and lands without any help from her brothers (but of course, at least with a male lawyer) and to the scorn and disbelief of everyone.

Female independence and equality with men is a central theme through this book with several other strong female characters. There is Sophronia, the sister of the male lead, who is thirty-five-years old and single. She is in charge of her own life and assures her brother that women do not want to do housework no matter what men might think. There is Camilla, who is married to Alexander, and seems to have a relationship of equals and proclaims that “clever, amusing, kind men do not grow on trees… I count myself fortunate indeed to be married to one myself, but there are not, as you say, so many of them, not enough to go round, in fact, which accounts for some of the dreadful husbands one meets.” And Lady Susan is a single woman in her mid-thirties who travelled to America to become an actress and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

In spite of Octavia’s vows never to marry again there is, of course, a male romantic lead. It’s quite obvious who he will be from the beginning, but in spite of this it’s hard not to watch in anticipation as Octavia becomes more aware of her feelings and tries to resist falling in love. He, also, is a confirmed bachelor, and the reader waits anxiously for them to realize their true feeling for each other. In the end Octavia does realize how she feels and the reader is happy she has found love, while of course, still keeping her independence that is so central to the character.

This book, although only related to Pride and Prejudice as Darcy’s distant cousin, finds a way to bring that style of living into the modern reader. It’s easy to read and the romance and fight for Octavia’s independence keeps the reader turning the pages. She is likable and the reader wants her to succeed.

This book proves that having a husband and falling in love does not mean a woman is the weaker sex relying on the man. It is perfectly possible to be strong and independent, while at the same time being in love and considered an equal to your partner.

As the fifth book written by Elizabeth Aston about the Darcy family, I certainly want to read the rest of the series after reading this one.