Rose Fairbanks is my guest today. I'm so glad to have you come back, Rose. The excerpt you chose to share with me and my readers is so good. I can't wait to read the book now. These excerpts are good teasers, aren't they! :) The blurb was also very good at making me want to read more. Congratulations on the release of this novella. The cover is very striking. I like it very much. I also want to thank you for having such a generous giveaway for my readers. Now on to the blurb and excerpt!
Blurb: Resolved
to forget Elizabeth Bennet during a winter in London, Fitzwilliam Darcy writes
a letter in bitterness of spirit. Frustrated by her growing obsession with the
arrogant man, Elizabeth commits her thoughts to paper. But angry people are not
always wise, and secret thoughts do not always remain secret. Compelled to face
their selfishness and fears, their actions encourage those dearest to them to
change as well.
Excerpt:
Monday,
December 9, 1811
Darcy House,
London
5 pm
“Are
you certain you do not wish to attend the theatre this evening?” Charles
Bingley queried his friend.
“No.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy said emphatically.
The
two sat in the billiards room after the early and informal dinner. Darcy’s
younger sister, Georgiana, had excused herself early to write letters in her
chambers, leaving the two gentlemen alone.
“I
say!” Bingley proclaimed with a hint of his usual levity. “I truly had it right
that evening at Netherfield when I claimed I never knew a more awful fellow
than you on a Sunday night—and now a Monday—in his own home with nothing to
do!”
Darcy
remembered this remark and the surrounding conversation in great detail, but
feigned ignorance. “I do not recall you saying such.” He affected a scowl in
hopes of the subject being dropped, but he could not intimidate his friend.
“Truly?
It was after you and Miss Elizabeth were in a dispute over whether my
impulsiveness was a fault or a virtue, and before you asked her to dance a reel
and she refused you.”
Darcy
did not need the reminder; he had already spent hours with his memories of the
twinkle in Elizabeth Bennet’s eyes during their debate—it was not a dispute!
He recalled precisely the expression on her face, the scent she wore and—to his
extreme mortification—the exact shade of blue of her gown with the delicate
yellow ribbon in her hair. It was like the sun cresting over the rocky peaks
of Derbyshire in a sky just after a rainstorm. Darcy cringed again as he
realized how ridiculous and poetic his thoughts regarding the lady had become. I
am practically a mooncalf!
Despite
himself, Darcy sighed at his memories. It was the second time Elizabeth had
refused to dance with him, and he should have been offended, but she was simply
too endearing. She had a unique mixture of sweetness and archness in her
manner. Darcy had not met with her more than six times before being entirely
bewitched. The time she spent at Netherfield, seeing her each day, had been a
sweet torture.
His
thoughts were interrupted by a sigh from his companion, no doubt remembering
his own Bennet lady.
“Netherfield
really was a very picturesque estate. And so close to London, Caroline could
have no complaints.”
Darcy
closed his eyes in annoyance but knew the following conversation necessary, yet
again. “Considering how frequently she claims to enjoy Pemberley and
Derbyshire, it should be no surprise she cannot complain about the distance
from Hertfordshire to London. I believe her complaints were of a different
matter.”
“Everyone
in the area was very welcoming and kind. Caroline wishes to remain in London
for Christmas but I had thought it would be quite nice to celebrate at my own
estate, perhaps invite my closest family and friends.” Bingley let out another
sigh.
Darcy
was growing alarmed. He had no desire to return to the area. “Are you
certain you wish to host such a large party again so soon? You hosted a ball
just over a week ago. You would not want to overexert yourself or Miss
Bingley.”
Bingley’s
brow furrowed and then his face lit up in amusement. “I am certain Caroline
would perform any task to impress the Master of Pemberley.”
Darcy
groaned and walked to the sideboard to refresh his port. “Did you not already
accept the invitation to Lady Tennyson’s ball?”
“Yes.
Caroline is desperate for me to meet Lady Tennyson’s niece, Miss Howe, again.”
“She
is quite lovely and has a good portion.”
“Her
hair is too dark.”
Darcy
raised an eyebrow. “I believe you admired her hair and more in August.”
“And
her eyes are too small unlike...”
Bingley
did not need to continue, and Darcy took a large sip. Blast the Bennet sisters
and their eyes! The eldest had very large and perfectly blue eyes. Elizabeth
had the most expressive and intelligent eyes Darcy had ever seen, a beautiful
shade of brown that could turn nearly emerald green as well. Even the youngest
daughters and the mother had a special twinkle in their eye. Yes! That was an
important recollection—the younger sisters and the mother!
“Bingley,
I know you are quite attracted to Miss Bennet, but you did promise to use this
time in Town to consider other ladies and all the consequences.” Darcy had
privately vowed to do the same.
“Yes,
I know. But what is consequence to affection?”
Darcy
took another gulp of his drink and then decided to refill his glass and offer
more to Bingley.
“The
match would be lacking in all important ways.”
“It
is just like you to think money and connections are all that matter.”
Bingley appeared to be teasing, but Darcy still felt a bit offended.
“I
do not mean only money and connections. You desire affection, perhaps even
love, but you will not gain that with Miss Bennet.”
Bingley
looked sharply at Darcy. “What do you mean?”
“Her
heart is not easily touched.”
“She
enjoyed my attentions!”
“She
has a very easy way with everyone, quite a serene countenance. Do you truly
believe she treated you differently than others?”
“I
cannot believe her to wilfully deceive me.”
“Did
she declare sentiments?” Darcy was aghast at the idea. He had thought at least
Miss Bennet and Elizabeth capable of proper behaviour.
“No,
but surely she could see my intentions, and she made no move to discourage me.”
“You
are very amiable. She most likely thought you were engaging in an idle
flirtation while visiting the area.”
“You
do not believe she has expectations of me?”
“Have
any of the others?”
Bingley
looked sheepishly at him. “I...no, their feelings were never attached, as you
well know after this summer.”
“And
did Miss Bennet truly seem different than the other ladies?”
Bingley
looked from the glass in his hands to Darcy’s face and back to his glass. “I
think you had better pour me another glass.”
*****
6 pm
“She
never loved me. None of them have,” Bingley bemoaned and sloshed the wine in
his glass.
“You
are quite young and so amiable you cannot see those who would scheme against
you.”
“I
ought to be more like you. Or how you used to be.”
“What
do you mean?”
“Since
we have returned from Hertfordshire you have danced nearly every dance at every
soiree, accepted every dinner invitation, and talked with many ladies at each
outing. Everyone is full of gossip that you mean to finally take a wife!”
Darcy
grimaced. The last thing he needed now was London’s gossips after him. His friend laughed at his scowl.
“Well,
so it was until three nights ago. Then, you only danced half the evening and
wanted to leave early, and have refused to go anywhere since. What has
happened?”
Darcy
sighed. “Nothing has happened. I have agreed to go to the next ball with you.”
He motioned toward the billiards table, “Please, let us enjoy our game. More
port?”
*****
7 pm
“I’m
a catch aren’t I, Darcy?” Bingley asked bleary-eyed.
“Of
course,” Darcy replied, quite a bit more in command of his faculties.
“Not
like you, though.”
“What?”
“Pemberley!
You’ve got Pemberley!”
“Yes...too
many want me for my estate.”
“And
your uncle, an earl!”
“You
are a fine catch, Bingley.”
He
grunted. “And I’ll prove it at Lady Tenley...Tenson...”
“Tennyson.”
“Lady
Tennyson’s ball. I’ll be irresistible.”
“Certainly.”
“And
you too. Maybe Lady Elizabeth Harkin for you?”
Darcy
scowled at the name. No Elizabeths. And she was blonde. “No.”
“Your
cousin Miss de Bourgh then?”
Darcy
choked on his port. “Good G-d, no!”
“What
do you want then? More money? Ties to the royal family?” Bingley laughed and
then snorted, causing him to laugh all the more. “I know, love!”
Without
thought, Darcy whispered quietly to himself, “No. I will never find love
again.” He peered at his glass with distrust. Where had this sudden understanding come from?
Bingley
had not heard Darcy speak over his own laughter. “What did you say?”
“I
will never marry for love.”
“Right.
Too silly for you. We must be dignified. We must not laugh.” Bingley tried to
affect Darcy’s scowl. “No more love for me! No more angels!”
Sighing,
Bingley laid his glass aside. “I’m off to bed while I can walk up the stairs.”
“Are
you certain? It is still very early.”
“Yes,
but I have had little rest in over a week.”
Darcy
only grunted as his friend exited. Willing the voice in his head taunting him
with declarations of love for Elizabeth Bennet to silence, he drank another
glass of port before an idea of sheer genius struck him. Ten nights with little
sleep plagued his ability to think clearly. Then, in a flash of inspiration,
THE plan came to him. Writing a letter of sorts to Elizabeth, confessing his
affections would clear them from his mind. He would even keep the letter to
remind himself of all the reasons he could never marry Elizabeth Bennet.
Author
bio:
Rose Fairbanks fell in love with Mr. Fitzwilliam
Darcy twelve years ago. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, she also met her
real life Mr. Darcy twelve years ago. They had their series of missteps,
just like Elizabeth and Darcy, but are now teaching the admiring multitude what
happiness in marriage really looks like and have been blessed with two
children, a four year old son and a one year old daughter. She proudly
admits to her Darcy obsession, addictions to reading, chocolate and sweet tea,
is always in the mood for a good debate and dearly loves to laugh.
You can connect with Rose on Facebook, Twitter,
and her blog: rosefairbanks.com
Doesn't this just make you want to pick up the book right now and keep reading? It does me! Thank you again, for sharing with us, Rose, and for continuing to write. I'm so happy to have you back at More Agreeably Engaged.
Rose is offering a paperback, US only, and an eBook, international. Isn't that great! I'm excited and I know all you readers are too. Please leave a comment to enter. You know the drill so don't forget to include your email that I may contact you should you be the winner. Giveaway ends at midnight, December 27, 2014. Good luck to all and Merry Christmas!
