The Golden Thimble: A Variation on Pride & Prejudice (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798440848870)

A variation of Pride and Prejudice, The Golden Thimble begins when a mischievous fairy asks Elizabeth Bennet to rescue one of their fellows named Puck who has been cursed by King Oberon to live as a man for one lifetime. However, Puck is in danger from a beast named Caroline Bingley. Elizabeth hesitates because Puck is none other than the dour Fitzwilliam Darcy, but she agrees to save the man.
In autumn, young Lizzy Bennet rescues a fairy injured during battle with a bumblebee. Carrying the fairy home, Lizzy brings the magical creature inside Longbourn and learns that fairies love to play tricks that aggravate adults but make children laugh. The fairy, named Taylor, is soothed by a saucer of cream and biscuits, and then she asks 'Lizzy Elizabeth Bennet' to stitch her wing back together. Lizzy practices sewing tiny stitches and gathers spider webs to use as the thread to prepare. During the full moon, Lizzy repairs the wing, and Taylor flies back to the land of fairies. Lizzy discovers a golden thimble for her finger left beside the window the following morning.
As she grew up and became 'Elizabeth' rather than Lizzy, the young woman held onto her belief in fairies, perhaps because she reads Shakespeare's Midsummers Night's Dream regularly and wears the Golden Thimble every day. When the time for the annual assembly approaches, Elizabeth uses her Golden Thimble to sew beautiful gowns for her sisters. Jane's beauty captures the attention of Charles Bingley, a new gentleman in Meryton, and the couple spends time together. Unfortunately, this means Elizabeth is in company with Bingley's friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, who always frowns.
One evening, Elizabeth is surprised by a visit from the fairy Taylor, who asks for her help once again. During their conversation, Elizabeth learns that 'Puck', the trickster from Midsummers Night's Dream, is in grave danger of losing his soul to a dreadful beast. Taylor tells 'Lizzy Elizabeth Bennet' that King Oberon sent the fairy to command the girl with the Golden Thimble to save Puck by teaching him to laugh and love.
Concerned by this command from the king of the fairies, Elizabeth is shocked to learn that 'Puck' is none other than the dour Mr Darcy, who appears to be a cold, unfeeling fellow. Then she learns that the beast is Miss Caroline Bingley.
First, Elizabeth thwarts the magic Miss Bingley uses to control her brother and Mr Darcy, and then she teaches the man to laugh. After dancing with the lovely Elizabeth Bennet at the Netherfield Ball, Mr Darcy leaves Meryton. Forewarned by Taylor that the man would disappear for a time, Elizabeth hopes for the best when Jane and Charles Bingley become engaged, and Caroline Bingley returns to London with Mr and Mrs Hurst.
After Jane's wedding, Elizabeth visits Charlotte in Hunsford, the parish where Mr Collins serves as pastor. She meets Mr Darcy again there, and he asks for permission to speak with her father regarding a courtship. Elizabeth welcomes a courtship so they can fall in love before they marry. Unfortunately, Mr Collins attempts to force Elizabeth to remain in Hunsford. Locked in her room, Elizabeth manages to escape with the assistance of her fairy friends, but then Mr Darcy must search for the missing woman.
Mr and Mrs Gardner journey to Derbyshire with Elizabeth, where they are to visit with Mr Darcy and his sister at Pemberley, the Darcy family estate. During the visit, Caroline Bingley invites herself to tea, but the woman's secrets are revealed during the gathering, and the fairies carry her away. Caroline vanishes from most people's memories except for Mr Darcy and his Elizabeth Bennet.

Author: Martin Hunnicutt
ISBN-10: 8440848870
ISBN-13: 9798440848870
Publisher: Independently Published
Language: English
Published: 03/27/2022
Pages: 324
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.73d