Today, I am resharing this video that I made for my series of Pride and Prejudice Novellas called Choices. This series is now available on Kindle, iBooks, and Nook as a bundle at a very good price. It will be available on Kobo as soon as I hear back on a technical issue I had during the publishing process.
This has been a bit of a stressful week on the publication front. The Kindle version of Her Father’s Choice is still not available in the Kindle store despite being published a week ago. Something has gone wrong in the technical realm and after many emails to Amazon, their technical people are looking into the issue. They have told me that I should have an answer by the end of day November 12. However, the ebook is available at Kobo and the print version is available on Amazon.
I have not yet figured out how best to share my books here after they are published. So, for now, I will include an excerpt of the chapter below which will be followed by a link which for the next week will take you to the rest of the chapter. However, at the end of the week, this chapter will become unavailable and the next one will become available.
Lady Sophia tapped her toe as she waited in the sitting room with Georgiana at Darcy House. “He should expect me to be early. I always am.” She straightened her sleeve. “I am curious to meet the lady who has finally captured your brother.”
“Captured would be the proper word for it,” said Richard entering the room and giving first his aunt a kiss and then Georgiana. “I did not realize you were coming today, Georgiana.”
Georgiana pursed her lips and looked at her aunt. “I was not supposed to come.”
“An omission made in error, I am sure.”
Georgiana looked at her aunt doubtfully. “My brother does not make errors of omission. He is the most fastidious correspondent.”
“Ah, well, your brother does not get married every day, either.” She smiled and raised her brows, which combined with the twinkle in her eye, made her look very impertinent. “He will see his error as soon as I have explained it to him.” She patted Georgiana’s hand reassuringly before turning to Richard. “Now, tell me why captured is the proper word.”
“It seems – ” began Richard.
“That I am the topic of gossip within my own home,” finished Darcy as he entered the room and gave Richard a stern look. “Georgiana! It is a surprise to see you.” He placed a kiss on his sister’s cheek while giving a questioning look to his aunt.
It seems that Darcy often ends up apologizing for some slight or blunder, both in the original story by Jane Austen and in many JAFF stories. My current work in progress is no different in that regard. Elizabeth has heard the slight at the assembly, and during a walk, Darcy is attempting to explain why he said what he did. Here is a small snippet of how well that went.
From Her Father’s Choice
“I never said you were not handsome.”
Her eyes were wide with surprise. “You did not?”
He crossed his arms and glared at her. “No, I did not. I said you were not handsome enough to tempt me to dance.”
“You did not say to dance.”
He closed his eyes and tried to rein in his frustration. “It was implied. As I said, I was in no mood to dance that evening. You could have been Aphrodite herself, and you would not have been handsome enough to tempt me to dance for I had no intention of dancing.”
“I see.” She stepped passed him and began walking away. She needed space to think.
Darcy watched her walking away and silently cursed Bingley’s idea to be more open. Explaining himself to Bingley was never this difficult. This was like trying to reason with Georgiana.
This is a song that I simply adore. It is on my Music to Write By in an instrumental version (no words are allowed on that list 😉 ). But, I also love this video of it.
I have begun working on my next book, and this song is one that I keep playing as I write it. (In fact, I think it could be an unofficial theme song for the story.)
In this variation, Elizabeth and Darcy are forced into a marriage by … nope, not telling yet. 🙂 But know that at the beginning neither are completely sure of their feelings for the other; though Darcy does suspect he is indeed in love with Elizabeth.
This little bit of the story is in its “Head to Page” version, and I hope it survives to the final draft because it is sweet. Darcy and Elizabeth are in the process of learning a bit more about the other. Elizabeth has just asked why Georgiana has not accompanied Darcy to Hertfordshire.
From Her Father’s Choice
“She is with her aunt and taking lessons from the masters. I did not wish to interrupt her education.” He smiled slightly and there was a twinkle in his eye. “And she did not wish to spend time with Miss Bingley.”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide. “But, Miss Bingley led me to believe she and Miss Darcy were close.”
“She knows how dear my sister is to me, so I believe she says it so that I will think she would make a good sister for Georgiana and, therefore, a good wife for me.” He stood and extended a hand to Elizabeth to assist her in rising from her seat on the stile. “She is mistaken if she thinks I would ever consider her for a wife.”
“Because she is from trade?”
Darcy laughed. “No, because she is annoying and rather dull.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and kept it covered with his own. “I have always wished for a companion in a wife. Someone with whom I can have discussions. Someone who has read extensively and has a quick wit. I wish for my sister to have a sister who is compassionate and caring as well as intelligent and strong.” His steps faltered slightly at the realization that dawned on him. “I believe…” He paused. “I believe I have been looking for you.”