Elaine Jeremiah... Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again

It is a pleasure to have the lovely Elaine Jeremiah as my guest today. She has a new release, Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again. Have you been seeing it around the blogosphere? Have any of you read it yet? If you have, please let us know in the comments.

Since we all love excerpts, Elaine is sharing one with us today. Isn't that great! We will be able to learn a little more about the book. She is also giving away two eBooks! Thank you for your generosity, Elaine. 

Let's take a look at the blurb before we read the excerpt.

Blurb:

Little does Elizabeth Bennet think the journey across muddy fields from her home at Longbourn to Netherfield Park will change her life forever.

But an unexpected encounter with the proud and haughty Mr Darcy leaves her injured and vulnerable. Worse still, she is left alone with him for a significant amount of time. Her reputation at risk, she is forced to make a decision about her future. Now her life will never be the same again. 

Can Elizabeth ever be happy? Or will she always loathe Mr Darcy?

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I like the sounds of this book. Lots of Darcy/Lizzy time is always a plus for me. What about you? Do you like them to spend much time in company? Maybe the excerpt will give us a peep into some of that together time! :)

Excerpt:

They had been trapped together for hours now. The rain was still pouring down outside and yet Darcy was immeasurably relieved. Conversing with Elizabeth on the subject of their favourite novels had been the most pleasant discussion he had had with her in the history of their short acquaintance. During their previous heated exchange, he had thought that they would never be able to get past their difference of opinion. He did so wish not to be at odds with her. Why exactly that was he could not have said. And yet she was like no other young woman he had ever met.

Her manner was so unaffected and natural. There appeared to be no guile in her nature. In spite of their somewhat precarious situation, he found himself glad to be in her company. How it would end he knew not. He supposed that when the rain died down he ought to go and get some help. Walking to Netherfield Park would most likely be the easiest solution. It was not so far from here. 

But for the moment there was nothing he could do except to remain seated next to her in the tiny hut. He found it was no hardship to him however and he wondered if after today’s events, her feelings towards him would thaw a little. Perhaps that was too much to hope for though, and he should just be gratified that fate had thrown him together with her for a while.

He shook his head at his jumbled thoughts. What is wrong with you, man? he asked himself. What is it to you if the lady likes you or not? Even if she did and you liked her in return, there would be nothing to be done about it. She is unsuited to you in every way. She is…

‘Mr Darcy?’

He started and turned to see Elizabeth staring at him with a puzzled expression on her face. He cleared his throat, which was suddenly dry. ‘Yes, Miss Bennet?’

‘Are you quite well?’

He felt his cheeks growing warm. ‘Yes, thank you, quite well.’

She gave him a searching look. ‘I am glad to hear that. Only, you appeared lost in thought and you shook your head as if something were the matter.’ She paused, leaning her head to one side as she regarded him. ‘I hope I am not the cause of it.’

Egad, how did she succeed in reading his mind? ‘Not at all,’ he said. Would she see through his lies?

But it appeared that she believed him, for she said, ‘I am glad to hear it, sir. Goodness knows I’ve caused enough trouble to last you a lifetime.’

He shook his head. ‘Not at all, madam. I have… I am enjoying being in your company. In any case, I should say that of the two of us you are the worse off. After all, you have the injured ankle.’ He gestured towards it. ‘Are you still in great pain, or is it improving somewhat?’

She scrunched up her nose. ‘My ankle has seen better days. But the pain is less when I do not put any weight upon it.’

Before he knew what he was doing or could stop himself, he reached out a hand to her and touched her arm for a brief moment, then removed it as swiftly. Mortified, he said, ‘Forgive me, Miss Bennet, I am not quite myself. I am concerned for your welfare and that is all.’

Elizabeth looked at him with a curious expression on her face. It seemed to him to be a mixture of outrage and something else. What that was he could not have said. But when she spoke, she merely said, ‘Please do not trouble yourself, Mr Darcy. I am not affronted. After all, you have handled me a great deal more than that already today.’

He nodded, biting his lip and dropping his gaze to the floor with a smile. ‘You are right, I suppose. But in truth, my carrying you all that way was out of necessity rather than will.’

‘So you wished to touch my arm?’

He sat up swiftly, his cheeks burning. He could not meet her gaze. ‘I did not entirely… that is to say…’ He trailed off, unable to finish.

‘Sir, it is of no matter to me whether you wished to or not,’ Elizabeth answered him. When finally he felt equal to the task, he risked a glance up at her. To his surprise she looked as though she were trying to suppress a smile, a laugh even. ‘In fact I am glad that you are not finding my company a trial.’

‘A trial? Oh no, Miss Bennet, I could never say that.’

She nodded, pursing her lips. ‘Then, Mr Darcy, perhaps we may draw a line under the truly terrible turn of events at the assembly and continue to be cordial in one another’s company, as we are being now?’

He smiled at her hyperbole and at the knowledge that perhaps she no longer hated him. ‘Of course, Miss Bennet. Nothing would please me more.’

 *****

This sounds like a good read. Darcy was caught! I loved that he was blushing and unable to meet Elizabeth's gaze. I'm ready to find out what happens next! 

Author Bio:

Elaine lives in Bristol, South West England with her husband and their golden retriever, Dug. But she was privileged enough to grow up in Jane Austen country, in Hampshire. 

She’s always loved writing, but it’s only been in recent years that she’s been able to devote more time to it. She decided to self-publish with the help of her wonderful husband who’s very tech-savvy! In 2013 she self-published her first novel, but it was only with her fourth, her novel ‘Love Without Time’, that she felt she finally found her niche: Jane Austen Fan Fiction! 

She’s always loved Jane Austen’s writing and the Regency era, so this felt like a natural thing for her to do. ‘Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again’ is the first ‘Pride and Prejudice’ variation she’s written.

If you want to connect with Elaine online, her Facebook page can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/elainejeremiahauthor/ 

Her Twitter handle is: @ElaineJeremiah

Her website is here: https://elainejeremiah.co.uk/

Giveaway:

It's time for the giveaway! Yay! Two of you will get the eBook, Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again, and get to find out for yourself, what happens next. To enter, please share your thoughts on the excerpt. Be sure I know how to reach you, should you be the winner. The giveaway will end at midnight, Central Time, on the 23rd of February. Good luck to all of you.

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Should you want to go ahead and purchase your own copy, the links are below:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

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Elaine, thank you so much for including my blog in your tour for this new release. I loved having you visit. Thank you also for the generous giveaway for my readers. Best wishes on your book.