Heir Apparent: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Summary

What would have happened if Jane had been born male?

James Bennet is the perfect heir to Longbourn. He is always looking out for his sisters and mother, making sure they have the opportunity to receive proper education, and always making sure they have the guidance and direction they need. He purchased a small cottage to ensure that his mother and sisters had somewhere to live in the event that something happened to him and his father. He works tirelessly on the estate to ensure that Longbourn is profitable. He puts any additional money that comes into the estate towards ensuring that his sisters have dowries that are appropriate for their social standing.

The summer before the story began, James had done the Darcy family a great service, almost certainly keeping Georgiana from ruin. Between the debt owed to the Bennets and the younger girls being away at school, Darcy's objections to the Bennets are greatly lessened. Despite the divide in their social standing, the Darcys and the Bennets find themselves drawn to each other. Yet, given their differing situations, can their connection ever become deeper than just friendship?