Monica Fairview has been a staple of my Austen events since the beginning, offering up excerpts and cover reveals and taking part in our fun little Janeite Conversations that we do here in AIA. This year, she was prevented from adding her voice to the Conversations because she was sadly off gallivanting about and escaping from technology for much of this year's event. BUT that doesn't mean that she needed to miss out on AIA entirely...Since she couldn't be here herself, she sent a familiar somebody in her place... I give you: a sneak peek of Mr Darcy's Pledge, and a chance for you to win a copy for yourself!
For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of victories.
It was one of the few mottoes from Aristotle (or was it Plato?) that Darcy still remembered from the torment of his Ancient Greek classes, and he had repeated it over and over again in the last few weeks. He would never have thought that learning Greek could possibly have any practical usage, but here he was today, clinging to that phrase like a drowning sailor clings to a rope tossed from his ship.
Conquering himself was his only hope of overcoming the madness that had beset him when he had allowed his passion to dominate his thoughts. Still now, after almost three months of thinking about it, he could hardly believe he had been foolish enough to propose to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It had been a moment of insanity. Much as he had suffered for it after her refusal, he knew now that she, at least, had taken the wise course by turning him down. Heavens be thanked!
He just wished it didn't hurt so much.
The thundering of the horses' hooves echoes the thundering of Fitzwilliam Darcy's heart, the discomfort of the rattling carriage providing distraction from the turmoil inside him. He had urged the coachman to pick up speed on this last stretch towards Pemberley. The coachman, the young son of Ebenezer Saddler who had recently retired, had brightened up at the challenge and taken him at his word. Darcy found it in himself to pity the horses, who would soon reach an exhaustion matching his own, but he needed to reach his home, to bury himself there, as he had done in the days following his father's death. Pemberley, he was sure, would soothe his pain and bring him peace.
A red grouse rose up in protest as the carriage passed it, flying up towards the window with startled mutterings and breaking in Darcy's thoughts. The thick scent of heather filled the carriage, alerting him to the fact that he was reaching the open moor that preceded Pemberley. There was nothing to see here beyond the pale plump forms of grazing sheep that went on for several miles. He waited impatiently for the moor to give way to pink sainfoin and grass fields ready for the harvest.
His chest tightened at the familiar sight.. He was home at last. Only, it was not really home, not when there was no one waiting for him. Georgiana was there now, true, but she spent very little time overall in Derbyshire, and in any case she wasn't expecting him.
Pemberley was a large hollow house full of people who were paid to serve him
The pace of the carriage slowed. Field hands stopped working when they recognized the Darcy crest on his carriage and lifted their hats or bobbed to him. His father had always taught him to greet the workers properly, so he pulled down the window as far as it would go and moved his hand in greetings as he passed.
The carriage speed picked up again once they had entered Pemberley Woods. The roads were kept in excellent repair here and young Ebenezer gave the team free rein.
They were almost there. They rounded the corner, taking it so dangerously fast that the carriage tilted sideways at an alarming angle. For a moment, Darcy thought they would topple. A fierce gladness gripped him. At least losing consciousness would mean losing the obsessive image of Miss Elizabeth Bennet that haunted his mind.
****GIVEAWAY****
Monica has offered up a copy of of Mr Darcy's Pledge to one lucky Austen in August reader! Giveaway is US only, and ends September 6th at midnight EST. Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter. Good luck!
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
Mr Darcy's Pledge by Monica Fairview
Paperback, 202 pages
Published May 6th 2014 by White Soup Press
Get It | Add It
Torn between his heart and his mind… Mr. Darcy must make a choice.
Fitzwilliam Darcy has always been able to keep his emotions under control. That is, until he falls under the spell of Elizabeth Bennet and surprises himself by blurting out a proposal to her like a moonstruck youth. Stung to the quick by her rejection, his pride in tatters, and left with no possibility that she will ever return his regard, Darcy determines to put all thoughts of Elizabeth behind him. But not even Town with its boundless opportunities for amusement can keep the image of Elizabeth Bennet from pursuing him everywhere he goes.
By the time Darcy leaves Town to travel up to Pemberley, he has learned one thing. There is only one way of overcoming Miss Bennet’s bewitching hold over him and Darcy is desperate enough to try it. The solution is to get married. And this time, he is not going to choose a wife by allowing his emotions to lead him by the nose.
His choice will be entirely rational…
In Volume I of this Pride and Prejudice variation, Monica Fairview traces Mr. Darcy’s journey as he struggles to come to terms with the upheaval Elizabeth Bennet has caused in his life…and his heart.
Fitzwilliam Darcy has always been able to keep his emotions under control. That is, until he falls under the spell of Elizabeth Bennet and surprises himself by blurting out a proposal to her like a moonstruck youth. Stung to the quick by her rejection, his pride in tatters, and left with no possibility that she will ever return his regard, Darcy determines to put all thoughts of Elizabeth behind him. But not even Town with its boundless opportunities for amusement can keep the image of Elizabeth Bennet from pursuing him everywhere he goes.
By the time Darcy leaves Town to travel up to Pemberley, he has learned one thing. There is only one way of overcoming Miss Bennet’s bewitching hold over him and Darcy is desperate enough to try it. The solution is to get married. And this time, he is not going to choose a wife by allowing his emotions to lead him by the nose.
His choice will be entirely rational…
In Volume I of this Pride and Prejudice variation, Monica Fairview traces Mr. Darcy’s journey as he struggles to come to terms with the upheaval Elizabeth Bennet has caused in his life…and his heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Monica Fairview is an ex-literature professor who abandoned teaching criticism about long gone authors who can’t defend themselves in order to write novels of her own. Monica can be described as a wanderer, opening her eyes to life in London and travelling ever since. She spent many years in the USA before coming back full circle to London, thus proving that the world is undeniably round.
Monica’s first novel, An Improper Suitor, a humorous Regency, was short-listed for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hassayan prize. Since then, she has written two traditional Jane Austen sequels: The Other Mr. Darcy and The Darcy Cousins (both published by Sourcebooks) and contributed a short sequel to Emma in Laurel Ann Nattress’s anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It.
Originally a lover of everything Regency, Monica has since discovered that the Victorian period can be jolly good fun, too, if seen with retro-vision and rose-colored goggles. She adores Jane Austen, Steampunk, cats, her husband and her impossible child.
Monica’s first novel, An Improper Suitor, a humorous Regency, was short-listed for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hassayan prize. Since then, she has written two traditional Jane Austen sequels: The Other Mr. Darcy and The Darcy Cousins (both published by Sourcebooks) and contributed a short sequel to Emma in Laurel Ann Nattress’s anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It.
Originally a lover of everything Regency, Monica has since discovered that the Victorian period can be jolly good fun, too, if seen with retro-vision and rose-colored goggles. She adores Jane Austen, Steampunk, cats, her husband and her impossible child.
If you'd like to find out more about Monica, you can find her at
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I got a chance to read this one and really enjoyed it. The blend of humor to it kept Darcy from being too morose in his recovery of the Hunsford proposal disaster. And the longer scenes with Georgiana were treasures.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sophia Rose, for saying so.
DeleteI really enjoyed this book too, looking forward to part 2.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ceri. Coming up soon!
DeleteLooking forward to reading it. Congrats on the new release.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Colleen. Let me know what you think of it.
DeleteThis line right here: "He just wished it didn't hurt so much." *Heart flutters* Love the excerpt. It looks like a book that I would love to own!!! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletePaceLuvr -- poor Darcy. His whole world has been shaken...
DeleteSounds pretty awesome! I'll keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear, Barker&Jones.
Deletecongrats to Monica & continued success!!
ReplyDeletekeep writing!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
Thank you so much!
DeleteI loved this book Monica!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks!!
DeleteI got cut off, but wanted to say thank you for your support, Deborah!
Delete