Elizabeth Aston featuring the Darcy, Collins, and Bingley families. The first novel to go out under the "Elizabeth Aston" name, "Mr. Darcy's Daughters", was released as a sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" in 2003. It features the five daughters of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet as they navigate London society while their parents are in Constantinople. The novel was a success for publisher Simon & Schuster, and led the company to produce further Austen adaptations and sequels by other authors, such as Pamela Aidan's "Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman" series. Aston's Darcy series came to include five further novels: "The Exploits & Adventures of
Pride and Prejudice a rich and eligible bachelor who has arrived in the neighbourhood. After some verbal sparring with Mr. Bennet baiting his wife, it transpires that this visit has already taken place at Netherfield, Mr. Bingley's rented house. The visit is followed by an invitation to a ball at the local assembly rooms that the whole neighbourhood will attend. At the ball, Mr. Bingley is open and cheerful, popular with all the guests, and appears to be very attracted to the beautiful Miss Jane Bennet. His friend Mr. Darcy is reputed to be twice as wealthy; however, he is haughty and aloof.