The Next Generation, A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice

This sequel concerns a new generation of young women who are the daughters of prominent characters from the original story. As they come of age, Pearl Darcy, Martha Wickham and Bess Collins must resolve the same daunting question that tested their own mothers and grandmothers before them. How does a young woman go forward and achieve a satisfactory life in a man's world?
Martha Wickham is the youngest daughter of Lydia and George Wickham. The story begins as young Martha is married off to a wealthy but much older widower in an arrangement financially advantageous to her insolvent parents. Pearl Darcy is the youngest child of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. She is deeply distressed by the marriage of her cousin Martha to a much older man. Intelligent, kindhearted and unspoiled, Pearl prefers life in the countryside. She has been brought up to value a person's character above all other attributes and has great admiration for the heroic blacksmith of Lambton Village, Miles Fulton. Bess Collins is the daughter of Charlotte Lucas Collins and the country vicar, Mr. Collins. With both of her parents now deceased, Bess has been required to support herself and is comfortably employed as the ladies companion to a dowager duchess. Bess is educated, reliable, responsible and sensible. Her life however, is isolated and offers few opportunities at finding love.
The lives of all three ladies become intertwined. They help one another through personal crises. In so doing, all three women learn that the path to abiding love is a journey involving trust, determination, passion, patience and risk. With a new generation comes a more intense expression of desire and passion.