Conceit and Concealment

Book excerpt: Pride & Prejudice meets Alternate HistorySix years after Napoleon's invasion of England...Fitzwilliam Darcy is a traitor. He openly admits to collaboratoring with Napoleon's troops. Even if he says it's only to protect the people he cares about, Elizabeth Bennet doesn't believe him for a minute. She despises all traitors.But Elizabeth can't make sense of Darcy. He doesn't act like a traitor. He hates seeing people mistreated by the French and risks his own safety to save young women from a predatory French officer. And how can she despise a man who loves puppies? There's something about him that doesn't add up - and he is far too attractive for her peace of mind.Once, long ago, Darcy had abhorred disguise of every sort. Now he could hardly recall when he had not worn a disguise. And the enchanting Elizabeth Bennet is a threat to that disguise, making him forget what he needs to do. He craves more of her, even if she considers him a despicable traitor and he can never tell her otherwise. But when Darcy's carefully constructed world crumbles, he must entrust his closest-held secret to Elizabeth. To protect that secret, Elizabeth must disappear entirely, leaving her family and Darcy behind, to plunge herself into the dizzying world of top French generals, fashionable London, and the dangerous world of the Loyalist Resistance. Nothing will ever be the same again.Darcy is prepared to search the length and breadth of England to find Elizabeth. Now that she knows the truth about him, there is nothing to keep them apart - nothing, that is, until the day when Darcy is forced to choose between his country and the life of the woman he loves...