*****
Happy New Year, Janet, and thank you for
having me as a guest! Darcy and Deception has taken me longer
to write than just about any of my other P&P variations—except the first, The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth. I started to write it two years ago and just
couldn’t get the plot to work. But I
returned to it in late 2018 and realized I needed to structure it more like a
mystery novel (a genre I haven’t written in).
I also eliminated a plot point where Elizabeth gets engaged to Wickham
(horrifying thought!) because it led the story off in the wrong direction. I’m very pleased that my “Wickham as a spy”
story finally made it into print, and I hope my readers will like it as
well. Please enjoy the excerpt below:
Returning
home from Kent, Elizabeth Bennet is still distressed over Mr. Darcy’s insulting
marriage proposal. However, her attention
is diverted by the local militia commander who asks her to observe Wickham, now
suspected of being a French spy.
Pretending to be besotted with Wickham, Elizabeth accompanies the
regiment when they relocate to Brighton.
Darcy
arrives at Longbourn with the intention of making amends to Elizabeth, only to
discover that she is now at Brighton with Wickham. Desperate to save her from the scoundrel,
Darcy follows her to the seaside, where he hopes to woo her away from the other
man.
Deception
piles on top of deception as Elizabeth attempts to carry out her mission
without betraying confidences—or breaking Darcy’s heart. However, the French plot runs deeper than she
knows; soon she and Darcy are plunged into the confusing and dangerous world of
international espionage. Can Darcy and
Elizabeth escape with their lives and their love intact?
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I
admire and love you.”
Those words had haunted Elizabeth’s dreams for
a week. All of Mr. Darcy’s words from
that ill-fated night circled her mind like birds that refused to land,
continuously intruding upon her thoughts.
But the declaration of love, in particular, pushed itself into her
consciousness again and again, a most unwelcome visitor.
Many of his other words that day had been
painful and had provoked anger. Many she
could dismiss as the result of his mistaken pride or his misapprehension of her
character. But he had declared his love
in an eloquent and heartfelt—and apparently unforgettable—manner. Those words could not easily be brushed aside
or ignored.
The shock of Mr. Darcy’s declaration had not
worn off completely. At unrelated
moments she would suddenly be struck with a recollection that the master of
Pemberley had made her, Elizabeth Bennet, an offer of marriage. Even now as she watched the scenery of Kent
stream past her carriage window, she struggled to reassure herself that the
event had indeed occurred. It would be
easier to comprehend the happening if she could speak with someone on the subject,
but she had resolved to tell the story only to Jane. Nobody else would have the requisite
discretion and understanding.
If she told her father, he would be
incredulous before considering it to be the occasion for a good many
jokes. Her mother would be in despair
that Elizabeth had refused the offer.
Kitty and Lydia would perforce share the news with the entire population
of Hertfordshire—which was also true of her mother, come to think of it. Mary would moralize.
Only Jane will keep my confidence and will not
laugh at my ignorance. Elizabeth willed the carriage to greater speed so that
she might see her beloved sister all the sooner. She arranged herself more comfortably against
the carriage’s squabs and imagined the solace of Jane’s presence. Her sister might also offer useful counsel.
Elizabeth could use some advice. Reading Mr. Darcy’s letter had been a most
unsettling experience. She had thought
Mr. Darcy a villain and Mr. Wickham a victim, but the letter had revealed how
wrong she had been. She had believed he
disdained Jane’s match with Mr. Bingley because of her dowry when he had
believed her sister to be indifferent to the man. Likewise, Elizabeth had assumed he had
observed her with disapproval and disdain when he had been viewing her
with…longing.
Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, still
dismayed by the depth of her misapprehension.
She still struggled to ascertain her own sentiments about the man. When Mr. Darcy had spoken in Hunsford, she
had been horrified, but now…she knew that much of her dislike was based upon
false information….
How did she feel about Mr. Darcy? Believing he held disdain for her, she had
felt the same for him. But knowing he
loved her…could she love him?
He was handsome, well spoken, and certainly
eligible. They enjoyed lively
conversations, and their tastes in books and music were surprisingly
harmonious. But he was proud and
difficult. Was he not?
If only she could see him with new eyes! More than once Elizabeth wished she could
conjure him from the air so she might judge him with improved
understanding. Perhaps she could have
developed tender feelings for the man under other circumstances.
Elizabeth shook off this thought and gazed out
of the window to distract herself, spying a stream and a patch of wildflowers
that had just burst into bloom. How
lovely. Yes, she would think upon these sights and ignore any thoughts about
Mr. Darcy.
After all, her misjudgment of the man hardly
signified. Their paths were not likely
to cross again—at least in the near future.
Perhaps in ten or fifteen years they might meet by accident when they
were both married to other people.
Why did that thought make her sad?
*****
*****
Thank you for visiting, Victoria. It is always such a pleasure to have you stop by. I must say, I have been intrigued by this new story of yours. You always seem to come up with a new twist and I like that. I look forward to seeing what you "have up your sleeve" next. I think you have another winner with Darcy and Deception and I hope to post my review of the book in the future. I truly enjoyed reading it.
Victoria is giving away one eBook to one lucky winner. Leave a comment to enter. Tell us what you think of Wickham as a spy. What do you think about Elizabeth pretending to be besotted with Wickham? What will Darcy think? Oh, my! That does pose a serious problem, doesn't it! You will love the Darcy in this book. He is quite the romantic!
The giveaway will end at 11:59 P.M. on the 29th of January. Be sure I can reach you should you be the winner. Good luck to all!
Okay! I'm ready to read this one! Thanks for the excerpts and Happy New Year and best wishes with your new book!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read it soon, Jen.
DeleteCANNOT wait to see how this turns out!! Best wishes not only for the new book but for a productive and fruitful New Year! Sharon Legg
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Sharon. Good luck!
DeleteAs Elizabeth was besotted with Wickham for a short while (I presume so in this variation as well) pretending shouldn't be too difficult.
ReplyDeleteKnowing his true character would make it much harder to pretend, especially when Darcy is watching!
DeleteWickham a spy? Very interesting concept! Loved the excerpt. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting premise. Thanks for stopping by, Pam. Good luck.
DeleteI can easily see Wickham as a spy. It's even easier to see him as a double agent, and he would certainly give up any intel on other spies if he were ever compromised. Oh, but he'd be very smug as a spy, wouldn't he!
ReplyDeleteI think you pegged it, Ginna! Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteI could see Wickham as a spy and could see Elizabeth pulling off pretending to be besotted with him. Poor Mr. Darcy though for having to see her act and thinking it's true. jadseah4(at)yahoo
ReplyDeleteThat was pretty heart-wrenching for him, and for Elizabeth too. Good luck!
DeleteLovely excerpt! My appetite is already whetted but each new post increases the determination to read it. I love Elizabeth's regretful musings and the power Darcy's declaration has over her!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read it soon, Agnes. I love those things, too. It would be hard for that declaration to not be played over and over in one's mind...the good parts of it! :) Wow!
DeleteWell, this is certainly different. I don't think Wickham would intentionally become a spy. He thinks too much of himself to risk his life. He might stumble into becoming one. He could be coerced into revealing secrets... I mean, how much could he know? He could give troupe movements, number of camps and mundane things. With the silly wife of the Colonel, he could get information from her in regard to what her husband was doing. Oh, dear, this is just getting worse and worse. Yep, he would be perfect in information gathering. Such a persuasive guy. Dang!! I can't wait to read this. Congratulations on the launch and I am so glad Lizzy isn't engaged to Wickham... shudder.
ReplyDeleteThis one is full of surprises! Wickham is not a nice guy, but then he seldom is! Hope you get to read it soon. I loved reading all your thoughts! :)
DeleteI'm thankful that you decide to drop the part where Elizabeth is engaged to the villain Wickham, Victoria. It would certainly difficult for her to decide to end the engagement without blemishing her reputation.
ReplyDeleteI think if Wickham is a spy for the Frenchies, it's because of money. He's a gambler so he's hard up on cash whenever he loses so that's how he was involved in spying. Whoever gives him a handsome sum, he will do the dirty work for them.
You know Wickham pretty well, Sylvia! He always wants more money for his "lifestyle!" He thinks way too highly of himself!
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