"Characters Austen herself would be proud of." —Independent Book Review

In the intimate prequel true to Pride and Prejudice, the misused daughter of a penniless earl finds refuge in a man who is everything young Lady Catherine was raised to fear.

Perfection is a lady's only armor, but on the night of her debut a public snub from the cousin she was intended for leaves Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam disgraced. Capturing the interest of the Duke's heir might be enough to repair the damage, but it's a dangerous move. With a father whose title shielded every cruelty, she knows the dangers of men with such unchecked power.

After dismissing Catherine as far too innocent for a man of his reputation, Charles Ashcroft, Earl of Renault, discovers the ambitious lady has set in motion a scandal she may not escape. Stepping forward to shield her from ruin, Charles soon finds his heart desperate to rescue her from the very world conspiring around her. But protecting her means betraying the memory of the brother whose place he's duty-bound to honor.

In the unforgiving grasp of Regency society, Catherine and Charles can outrun scandal only so long. When their secrets threaten to surface, can their love survive the truth she still refuses to surrender?

"A satisfying romance that gives depth to one of Austen's notorious antagonists" (Foreword Clarion Reviews, ★★★★). Book 1 of the Pride & Prejudice Origins Series, Young Lady Catherine tells the love story of the vulnerable girl behind the woman Jane Austen made unforgettable. Faithful to Austen's work, it reveals the devotion and self-protection that will one day put her between Darcy and Elizabeth.

Meet the woman you only think you know.

For fans of Persuasion and The Other Bennet Sister. Winner of the Literary Titans Gold Book Award.