With his dear sister in a state of despondency after the vile advances of the audacious Mr. Wickham, Fitzwilliam Darcy leans into the familial obligations and expectations imposed by his shrewd father. Wanting to avoid the grave misjudgement of character the senior Mr. Darcy made, Fitzwilliam agrees to rein in his relationships, excluding those not of a similar social status or financial situation. Not uncommon in the early 19th century, this rigid mandate guides everything from business dealings to marriage agreements. With a set of social skills that could be taken as surliness, young Darcy is overcome with an unfamiliar sense of disinhibition when he makes the acquaintance of Elizabeth Bennet. Surely with an awareness of the duty incumbent upon him, spending time with Elizabeth, a woman not categorically worthy of his affections, will not pose a temptation too great to resist. But Darcy has never met a woman with as great a sense of self-possession and perspicacity as Elizabeth Bennett. A “brief interlude with her had been akin to a beatific reverie, and its conclusion left him…bereft.” With a chemistry that is as affecting as a tidal wave, will Darcy be able to abide by the demands of his father? And does it even matter, when Elizabeth has her own set of responsibilities to negotiate?
Set in a time when the matters of greatest importance in life included observing the rules of propriety, owning a worthy estate, earnestly displaying manners and fulfilling obligations with honor, A Dutiful Son is the Regency era novel your heart has been yearning for. The plot is typical for an Austen-inspired story, but the character development is where this inventive variation leaves an indelible mark. It is a lovely treat to get to know Darcy’s father, a man whose previously unexplored personality shapes so much of Fitzwilliam’s disposition. More than even her intelligence and outspoken nature, an aspect of Elizabeth’s character that is deeply forged in Kelly Miller’s novel is her ability to soothe and nurture. This is obvious with her sisters, but also becomes striking with Darcy during their formal first dance. Georgiana is even more naive and likable than ever before. And an overly forward and deeply discomfiting Mrs. Bennet helps round out this beloved cast, welcoming eager readers back into the courtly world Jane Austen wrote about so long ago. Indiscretions, implications and incitements abound in A Dutiful Son, an essential novel for any fan of Pride and Prejudice.
