Hello, friends! Please welcome to the blog once more my good friend Jayne Bamber, to whom I have handed the reins for the day, that she may introduce us to her newest work. Take it away, Jayne!
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As anyone who has read my novels will already know, when I re-imagine the events of Pride & Prejudice, Lizzy and Darcy’s path to happiness is never sweet and simple.
In my newest release, Strong Objections to the Lady, the complications pile up very quickly for everybody, and the rapid pacing shows just how much can go amiss in only the space of a day. Set over the course of just four weeks, the story follows Lizzy, Jane, Anne and Mr. Darcy day by day, as the mounting chaos creates a whirlwind of heightened emotions and intense situations.
At the center of it all is Anne de Bourgh. After a dull and repressed life at home, she seizes the opportunity to surround herself with society, and fans the flames of mischief around her, until, of course, it catches up with her in the end.
The day after Mr. Darcy’s disastrous Hunsford proposal, Elizabeth is embroiled in what decorum dictates is a family debacle, but Anne’s resistance to propriety pushes the boundaries -- she ensnares not only Elizabeth but Jane as well, and her desperation for female companionship grows into a firm friendship with the Bennets, as all three find love in a mysterious, derelict castle.
The excerpt I am sharing today details Jane’s unlikely presence in Kent; she arrives just three days after the deaths of both Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins, after her surprising reaction to inheriting Longbourn causes her mother to banish her former favorite from home...
“Miss Bennet,” Anne said smoothly, “I am
delighted to number you amongst us. I have heard nothing but glowing reports of
you from Lizzy, and anyone so beloved by such a fine sister must be well worth
meeting.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Anne noticed
that she had caught Darcy’s attention, and he was looking their way despite Sir
William’s lengthy discourse. Elizabeth appeared to perceive it as well, and
said rather loudly, “Anyone might know how highly I esteem my sister, and
anyone who knows Jane can well believe she deserves it.”
An innocuous enough speech, but for the
telling shift of Elizabeth’s eyes toward Darcy, who in turn knit his brow and
turned away. Anne smiled to herself, knowing she must wait to satisfy her
curiosity – perhaps another opportunity to ply Elizabeth with spirits might
soon present itself. Aloud, she made a conciliatory remark assuring Miss Bennet
of her welcome. There was a strange tension between the Bennet sisters that
Anne could not understand; she was increasingly wishing she might puzzle it
out. “I had understood you to be in London recently, Miss Bennet,” Anne
observed.
“I was, Miss de Bourgh. I have been there
these three months, but when my mother and father arrived from Longbourn
yesterday, I offered to accompany Papa into Kent, as my three other sisters are
rather enough for my uncle’s house.”
Anne noticed a curious glance pass between
Elizabeth and her father, while Miss Bennet appeared suddenly interested in the
floor. There was some little intrigue about, and she was surrounded by terrible
liars – how vastly more entertaining the parsonage was than Rosings Park!
After a few more minutes of pleasantries,
they were approached by Percy and Charlotte. “You have my condolences for the
loss of your cousin,” Percy told the Bennets. “I understand he was a man of
great humility, who valued peace and domestic felicity.”
Charlotte nodded calmly, her eyes downcast,
but Elizabeth began to cough, and leaned into her sister to steady herself.
Miss Bennet nodded sadly and made a convincing show of offering comfort, but
both of the sisters cast a wary glance at Anne, who gave a sly wink.
Percy rested one hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder
and another on Charlotte’s, promising they would be in his prayers. Mr. Bennet
seemed to struggle in maintaining his countenance, and though Anne was near
laughter herself, she was also struck by the notion that Percy was almost
handsome. He was not so tall and broad as his brothers, and rather bookish, but
he had improved in looks since last they met. She supposed he might be the best
of dismal options if she were forced – but no, she would not be forced.
“I had hoped, Mrs. Collins,” Percy said,
“That I might have a look at your husband’s notes – perhaps borrow a few of his
religious books? I am only recently ordained. I would not trouble you – I might
look everything over at Rosings this afternoon.”
“Of course. His study is just this way,”
Charlotte said. “You may take anything you like – that is, if there is anything
useful; you are welcome to his books and papers.”
Anne exchanged another look of mirth with
Elizabeth, and could not resist laughing aloud this time, as Percy and
Charlotte left the room. Darcy moved that way next, flanked by Sir William
Lucas. Her cousin gave a very civil bow, but now he seemed to avoid Elizabeth’s
gaze. “How do you do, Mr. Bennet, Miss Bennet?”
Sir William gave them not an instant to reply
before he said, “I have just been talking with Mr. Darcy – I mentioned that you and Jane mean to take rooms at the inn, Thomas, as we should all be far too
snug here, and what do you think? Mr. Darcy has invited you to stay at Rosings
Park!”
Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows with sardonic
surprise, and looked from Darcy to Elizabeth, who had gone white as a sheet.
“Certainly that is not necessary,” she stammered.
Anne hardly knew what her cousin was about,
but for once her family’s machinations seemed to be working in her favor, and
she took to the scheme at once. “But of course it is,” she insisted. “Poor
Charlotte need not trouble herself – not that you are a bother, Miss Bennet,
Mr. Bennet. But we have nearly fifty rooms at Rosings, as if we could ever use
half of them, dull as we have ever been! It should be my pleasure to
accommodate you, for Lizzy has been such a dear friend. I shall brook no
refusal!” Anne smiled devilishly as she tried out one of her mother’s
haughtiest phrases.
Mr. Bennet’s eyes were full of amusement, and
with an air of affected contemplation he replied, “I think it is what Mr.
Collins would want. Is that not so, eh, Lizzy?”
Anne quickly realized that her new friend did
not share her pleasure in the prospect of them all being very cozy together at
Rosings, and she felt no little panic. There was something altogether off about
Elizabeth today – something to do with her sister, or perhaps even Darcy –
perhaps, she considered, even both. She was certainly looking forward to dinner
far more than she otherwise might have done.
Strong Objections to the Lady is available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited now, with a paperback soon to follow. 'Til then, I hope you enjoyed this excerpt! I will be sharing more excerpts throughout my blog tour, and there is an e-book giveaway you can enter by clicking here: Rafflecopter! You can also follow me on Facebook Jayne Bamber for more updates.
