During the middle of 2025, Ulysses Press, the publishing house with which I published many of my Jane Austen variations, contacted me about rereleasing “Darcy’s Passions” and “Vampire Darcy’s Desire.” With “Darcy’s Passions,” they left the title as it was. However, with “Vampire Darcy’s Desire,” they changed the title to “Midnight at Pemberley.” They presented both books with new covers, more of the nature of what we see on the Continent, as people would say in the Regency era.
“Midnight at Pemberley” explores the roots of the various legends of vampires. Mr. Darcy is a dhampir, the offspring of a vampire and a human. I presented the idea of his following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a dhampir.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a dhampir is a half-man, half-vampire, a hybrid creature. They are the offspring of a human and a vampire. Dhampirs typically possess all of the supernatural strengths of a vampire—such as enhanced speed, strength, and senses—but retain human characteristics like a heartbeat and the ability to walk in sunlight.
The concept of the half-vampire originated in Balkan folklore. According to regional myths, a dhampir was the child produced from a union between a living human and a vampire. In these stories, male vampires were often believed to have a lingering sexual desire for their former wives or local women, and the resulting offspring were uniquely capable of seeing and hunting down the undead.
The half-vampire archetype is a staple in popular culture, bridging the gap between the mortal and immortal worlds:
- Blade (Marvel): Perhaps the most famous half-vampire is Eric Brooks (Blade), a human-vampire hybrid who possesses all the vampiric strengths but none of their traditional weaknesses. He uses these powers to hunt rogue vampires.
- Vampire Hunter D: This iconic sci-fi series features “D,” a legendary, enigmatic dampier (half-human, half-vampire) who wanders a post-apocalyptic world.
- Twilight (Renesmee): The franchise features vampire-human hybrids who age rapidly to maturity, share traits of both species, and have unique abilities like projecting thoughts.
Check out this You Tube video that explains the concept. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/STOO1-rUQqA
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To the idea of a dhampir, I added the ballad, Lord Thomas and Fair Elinor. “Lord Thomas and Fair Elinor” (also known as “Fair Annet” or “The Brown Girl”) is a tragic English folk ballad (Child Ballad #73). It tells the story of Lord Thomas, who is torn between his true love, Elinor, and a wealthy “brown girl” chosen by his mother. I made these characters Darcy and Elizabeth’s ancestors, and their “curse” has been passed down to them. George Wickham is a powerful vampire, having been turned to one by Lady Eleanor in my tale.
The story comes to a massive fight in a graveyard in northern Northumberland, the part that was once still in Scotland proper. The story is set for a sequel, but I have not found time to write the sequel, though it remains in my head and a slew of notes to make it come to life.
A gothic romance where passion defies death and Mr. Darcy’s darkest secret could destroy him—and the woman he loves.
When Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives in Hertfordshire, his proud reserve hides a secret far darker than Elizabeth Bennet could ever imagine. Beneath his impeccable manners and quiet intensity lies a hunger that defies nature itself—and a past shadowed by loss, betrayal, and blood.
Drawn to the spirited Elizabeth despite every warning of danger, Darcy struggles to protect her from the truth of what he has become. But when the mysteries of Pemberley’s moonlit halls begin to unravel, Elizabeth finds herself caught between desire and dread, uncovering a love powerful enough to challenge immortality itself.
From candlelit ballrooms to graveyards veiled in mist, Midnight at Pemberley transforms Jane Austen’s classic tale into a sweeping gothic romance of passion, redemption, and forbidden desire. With her signature mastery of Regency detail and emotional depth, Regina Jeffers reimagines the world of Pride and Prejudice in a story where love is eternal—and eternity comes at a price.
Note: If you find “Midnight at Pemberley” too expensive, please remember that “Vampire Darcy’s Desire” is still available. There are only minor changes in this new version.
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