Barbara Silkstone and Mr. Darcy are the esteemed guests for More Agreeable Engaged today. It's such a pleasure for you to have us visit your London town house, Mr. Darcy. It is lovely and my Readers and I grateful. We appreciate you, Barbara and Mr. Darcy, for allowing us to sit in on your interview about My Fair Lizzy. Thank you also for such a generous giveaway for my readers.
We shall now quietly fade into the background so you may proceed with your interview, Ms. Silkstone.
Chatting with
Mr. Darcy
Join me in the London town house of
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as we enjoy a bit of a chat and a cup of Lapsang tea.
Accomplished in linguistics and etiquette, Darcy’s manners immediately put me
on edge. I know how Lizzy must have felt in such fine company. I can only hope to
be on my best behavior. The safest way to acquit myself is to follow his lead. Darcy
did not use cream or sugar in his tea, and so I nervously follow suit. He holds
his cup and saucer at chest level, and I do the same hoping I do not spill it
in my lap.
Gazing around the elegant room done
up in shades of burgundy and rich purple against a soft gray background, I take
a deep breath and begin the interview while trying hard not to notice Darcy’s
dark flashing eyes, and thick curly hair. I realize my cup is rattling on the
saucer and carefully place them on the table at my side.
Barbara Silkstone: Mr. Darcy,
Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. I understand that you are a very
private person, and that makes me doubly grateful for this opportunity to speak
with you. If I appear nervous please accept that you are a legend among half
the women on earth. I was surprised to learn that you maintain a townhouse in
London. Do you no longer reside at Pemberley?”
Darcy: My heart is always with Pemberley. I am in Derbyshire six
months out of every year, but currently find myself drawn more and more to
London. I don’t enjoy the insincerity of the ton, but the stimulation of the
multitudes flowing into the City feeds my passion for elocution and dialects. I
am forever studying how best to preserve our beautiful language from the odd vernaculars
that seem determined to destroy it.
Silkstone: Is this the room where you tutored Elizabeth Bennet—Lizzy?
My host seems to relax at the
mention of her name. He settles back in his chair, carefully balancing his cup
and saucer. A smile graces his face allowing a dimple to appear in his left
cheek.
Darcy: Miss Bennet and I spent many frustrating hours in this room.
I have fond memories of us stretching one another’s patience within these
walls. She does not take to repetition well, and learning proper elocution
takes repeating.
Silkstone: Surely it couldn’t have been that bad? We are talking
about Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a lady known for her charm and wit.
Darcy: If only you could have heard her. Close your eyes and you
just might hear her. Press here! https://soundcloud.com/barbara-silkstone/my-fair-lizzy-06
Darcy: Lizzy may be charming and clever, but the lady was in a hurry
to be done with her instruction and return to her flower shop in Covent Garden.
Let me offer a short explanation to you on how this all came about. You see, I
accepted a wager from my dear friend Charles Bingley. He bet that I could not
teach a lowly tradesman to pass for nobility.
Silkstone: So your tutoring Miss Bennet was the result of a wager?
Darcy: Yes. Bingley duped me into accepting Lizzy, Miss Bennet, as
my student. During our first encounter at her flower shop I had taken an
instant dislike to her for she was like an angry kitten. But I am a people
person and quick to understand the inner feelings of others, and so I was
patient with her.
Silkstone: You are a people person? That was not exactly the way Lizzy had described Darcy.
Darcy: You doubt me? I am known for my understanding of the human
heart.
Silkstone: Even your own heart?
At this point I am having a bit of trouble keeping a straight face.
Darcy: You have been talking to Lizzy, haven’t you? I suppose she
used all those descriptive words she keeps in her pocket: pompous, proud,
prideful, presumptuous, and ponderous? Hmm. Do you notice how they all begin
with a “p”?
Repeat them after me; remember to
sound those “p’s” without spitting.
Silkstone: I cast him a sympathetic
look knowing he can’t help himself for
he is naturally pedantic. I
understand you and Lizzy are to be wed, soon?
Darcy: I have learned many things from tutoring Lizzy, but the most
important is: In order to be happily married a man must understand every word
his wife is NOT saying. See how understanding I am? Now please excuse me. I
have an appointment with the Archbishop of Canterbury. He has prepared our
special license to marry!
Suddenly
appearing nervous, he stood spilling his tea onto his waistcoat.
Darcy: Pardon me! Love has a tendency to make one clumsy. He blushes. The butler will see you out.
~~~
Buy Links
~~~
A Regency tale ~ Lizzy Bennet, a
sassy London shop girl is instantly attracted to Fitzwilliam Darcy, the
arrogant, handsome visitor to the Bennets’ struggling Covent Garden flower
shop. Darcy insists on purchasing Lizzy’s lucky orchid as a gift for his aunt,
Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Will Lizzy sell her family’s much needed good fortune
to the haughty know it all?
Complications arise when Darcy
accepts Bingley’s wager to make a sophisticated lady out of the humble flower
girl. Can Lizzy endure Darcy’s mentoring in order to save the Bennet family’s
flower shop? Will Caroline Bingley tolerate Darcy’s peppery new student? Will
Wickham finally bring about Darcy’s ruination?
This is a light-hearted tale of a
headstrong, London lass (Lizzy) whose drive to achieve more than life has
handed her compels her to accept the position of pawn in a wager between two
friends, (Darcy and Bingley). Gumption meets true love.
A fun read for all those who have
ever enjoyed George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.
Barbara Silkstone Bio
Barbara Silkstone
is the author of over forty novels and novellas including the hilarious Wendy
Darlin Capers – a five book series.
She has currently
written nineteen Pride & Prejudice
variations both Regency and Contemporary—always with a light comic touch. Look
for Darcy and Elizabeth Serendipity
and Darcy, Lizzy and Emma, Darcy, Lizzy and Lady Susan, The Gallant Vicar and The Return of the Gallant Vicar and My Fair Lizzy. Enjoy her Mister Darcy series of comedic mysteries
– eight book series with more on the way! Also The Witches of Longbourn – a three book series imagining Darcy and
Elizabeth as witches who come together to save the king of England from one of
Darcy’s spells that has gone terribly wrong.
Second Act CafĂ© ~ Barbara’s occasional newsletter ~
***Give Away***
Giveaway: Please post a
comment by midnight Sunday October 29th to qualify for the drawing. One winner
will received a signed paperback copy of My
Fair Lizzy (US Only) and one winner will received an ebook version of My Fair Lizzy (outside the US.) Winners
will be announced during the week of October 30th.
With
love & laughter!
Barbara
Silkstone
Another great post! I love how Darcy starts off quite pompous and ends up edgy and nervous. Elizabeth is obviously good for him and he seems to appreciate it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Glynis. Wasn't this a lovely interview! Lizzy must be very good for Darcy. Sounds like a fascinating read.
DeleteThank you for hosting us, Janet. Mr. Darcy was quite pleased. :)
ReplyDeleteBarbara Silkstone
You are welcome. It was such an honor to host the two of you and be part of this interview. I'm glad to hear that Mr. Darcy was quite pleased! :)
DeleteGlynis,
ReplyDeleteThank you. I found him to be all bluff and bluster. Down deep he is a pussy cat.
Barbara
Loved the interview. He sure says a lot without saying much. I agree Elizabeth will be good for him.
ReplyDeletePatty, Thank you. Like most men, Mr. Darcy is easily read. :)
DeleteBarbara
You are so right, Patty! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGreat interview! I can't wait to to see how Mr. Darcy transforms Elizabeth. Congrats on your new release. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteDung Vu, Thank you! I hope that you enjoy Lizzy's transformation. :)
DeleteWon't that be neat to read! I can't wait either, Dung! Good luck in the giveaway.
DeleteI actually laughed out loud at "But I am a people person ..." and before I read Barbara's response. Glad to know I'm not the only one lifting a skeptical eyebrow at that!
ReplyDeleteGinna,
DeleteI am tickled you enjoyed that. Men! Darcy!
Barbara :)
That was a funny statement, wasn't it! I laughed on that one, too!
DeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteAm relieved to know that our beloved Mr Darcy is perceptive enough to realise that what a lady doesn't say speaks volumes about how she's feeling! As long as he remembers this salient point,he will have a very happy marriage!
As for him being a people person,well,let's just agree to disagree in that regard!
Loved this post and the opportunity to eavesdrop on the conversation. Quite a different Darcy evident at the end,which just goes to show that he is human,after all! ☺️
Mary,
DeleteThank you! Yes...I can attest to the fact that Darcy is human, handsomely human.
Barbara
That is an excellent perception, I agree. I hope he remembers too. I think we are all laughing at the people person comment! lol
DeleteOh my, that was an insightful interview. Poor Darcy. Love seeing him go soft over Lizzy and then get flustered.
ReplyDeleteSophia Rose,
DeleteHe did go all soft and mushy, didn't he?
He was blushing so sweetly.
:)
Barbara
Darcy getting flustered was great and sweet! I loved it!
DeleteLovely interview! The description of Darcy was heartwarming. WOuld so love to read this boook!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Priscilla. I hope you get the chance to read it soon.
Deletelove the post.Would so love to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nikita. Glad to have you stop by.
DeletePriscilla,
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was such a pleasant interview. One of the best I have ever experienced.
:)
Barbara
Nikita,
ReplyDeleteThank you! I do hope you get to read it.
It was a delight to write.
Barbara