Weekend Writing Warriors

Has another week gone by already? I hope that in the midst of writing and reading you are all getting a chance to enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

This snippet is from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy, my P and P variation which was released on September 18.

This bit is from Mr. Darcy's POV. Enjoy! 

By all logical thought, he ought to have been engaged to Miss Bingley who was genteel and accomplished. Her family, though not of the same status as his, was respectable, and her fortune was not insignificant. Additionally, a marriage with her would have delighted his dear friend Bingley and would have increased the likelihood that Bingley would return the favor and marry his own dear sister, Georgiana, creating a significant and powerful alliance between their two families.

However, if Mr. Darcy had learned anything in recent months it was that love and logic rarely occurred together.

If truth be told, he had been shocked to his very core when he found himself in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He struggled, but his feelings would not be repressed. His admiration and love for her were most ardent.

He looked down at her delicate features, the fine eyes brightened by the exercise of walking the three miles from Longbourn to Netherfield, and his admiration and love grew even more fervent.

Logical thought, and Miss Bingley, be hanged. 

Please visit all the other Weekend Writing Warriors. You can find them here.  

After a year of misunderstandings, misconceptions and missed opportunities, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy have finally opened their hearts to each other and will soon be wed.

However, the path to the altar is no smoother than the path to engagement. When the loquacious Mrs. Bennet causes a scene in a London dressmaker’s shop it becomes clear to Lizzy Bennet that she will never be able to rein in her family’s improper and embarrassing behavior.

Although she has learned to live with the humiliation caused by her relatives, particularly her sister Lydia’s elopement with the scurrilous Mr. Wickham, Lizzy realizes the dire consequences of inflicting them upon Mr. Darcy and his vulnerable younger sister, Georgiana.

Mr. Darcy’s words from long ago reverberate in her brain: The situation of your mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly, betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father.

Will Elizabeth’s sense of duty, combined with her profound love for Mr. Darcy, force her to call off the wedding in order to spare him, and his sister, the disgrace of a lifetime association with the Bennet family? Or will love find a way to prevail?

A Snippet from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy

Sorry I've been MIA for several weeks (yikes, almost two months) but I had to actually write and edit the book. Go figure.

I've already shared a number of snippets but since it was months ago I think I'll start back at the beginning and work my way forward.

Here, Lizzy is sent to settle an argument between her father and Mr. Darcy who have disagreed over the marriage settlement.

“But, this man,” he pointed at Mr. Darcy yet again, “refuses to accept anything.” Lizzy wondered at the restraint her intended showed because a lesser man who dared to point at Mr. Darcy not once, but twice, might have found his finger snapped off at the joint.

Before she could voice her surprise, Mr. Darcy responded to the accusation. “I am simply being practical, sir; my income is more than sufficient to provide funds for the care of my future wife.” Despite his anger, a smile formed on his mouth when he said ‘wife’ and his eyes softened as they looked to the subject of his affection. “But you, sir, have a wife and two other daughters to provide for, not to mention the likelihood that your youngest will need financial assistance for the balance of her marriage and beyond.”

“Is it not shameful enough that I am obliged to you for the expense of one daughter’s marriage and the living of her husband, but you expect me to allow you the full measure of support for my most beloved daughter as well? It cannot be.”

Will these two work out their differences? Will Mrs. Bennet ever learn to keep her mouth shut? Stay tuned. 

Betrothed to Mr. Darcy will be available September 18 from Lazy Day Publishing. 

Be sure to visit all the other Weekend Writing Warriors  and the fine folks at Snippet Sunday on Facebook. 

Mr. Darcy Gets Frisky

Welcome Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday Fans. And welcome to anyone else who just happened to get here by some other means. 

One of the fun things about writing a book set in the Regency era is that everything was so restrained (or at least in Jane Austen's world). In this snippet, Mr. Darcy is getting bold. 

Seeing that all the other inhabitants of the room were happily occupied, Mr. Darcy took the opportunity to steer his fiancée toward a pair of chairs in a  quiet corner for private conversation, or as private as decorum would allow for a couple who were not yet married.

“The arrival of my sister and cousin signal that our wedding day is nearly here.”

Elizabeth blushed and looked up at him from under her lashes, but did not reply.

Darcy glanced around the room and once assured that they were unobserved slipped her hand into his and rubbed soft circles into the sensitive skin at the top of her hand with his thumb.

“As much as I am glad to see my sister and Colonel Fitzwilliam,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I am over-joyed to think that in a few days’ time you will be my bride.” He felt his own pulse quicken when he said the word “bride”.

Although she had neither spoken nor retrieved her hand from his, Darcy could see the faint pulse in Elizabeth’s fair throat throbbing and her chest rose rapidly with shallow breathing, which indicated she was not unaffected by his words. 

This is from my current WIP Betrothed to Mr. Darcy. 

Please be sure to visit Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday for more samples from great writers. 

A Chat Between Gentlemen

Welcome Back! I've decided to move away from Mrs. Bennet. This week we are listening in on a conversation between Mr. Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy during a carriage ride to Longbourn for dinner with the Bennet Family. It is fun to imagine the ribbing Mr. Darcy probably got from his two closest friends. 

“She certainly has the ability to bring out the best in others,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “In fact,” he gave Mr. Darcy a mocking look, “I have heard that the most stoic among us has been known to smile and even laugh aloud under her charms.”

“My heavens, yes ” Mr.  Bingley said. “He has been so much more tolerable to live with this past fortnight. He was grouchy as a bear and prickly as a porcupine, but the affections of Miss Elizabeth Bennet have changed him and I, for one, am grateful to her.”

“We all owe Miss Elizabeth Bennet a debt of gratitude,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, barely containing a laugh at his cousin’s discomfiture. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy was not a man accustomed to being the object of ribbing, no matter how light-hearted or well-intentioned.  Before the subject of this banter could compose an appropriate retort, the carriage mercifully arrived at Longbourn. 

Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday participants. 

Even More Mrs. Bennet

Once I got started with the Mrs. Bennet snippets, I just couldn't stop. Maybe because her outrageous statements work so well for an eight sentence sample. 

“Oh dear, Lizzy---the circles under your eyes are hideous. I certainly hope that Mr. Darcy does not see you looking such a fright. How you managed to get a man like Mr. Darcy, who has ten thousand a year, is beyond me, but it certainly cannot be due to your eyes because they are droopy and red.” 

“Why thank you for noticing, Mama. As I plan to go for a solitary walk this morning I will hope the fresh air and exercise will remedy the situation and since I shall be alone, I will not inflict my unsightly appearance on others.” Or my foul mood.

“Then be gone with you and be quiet about it. I should most certainly hate for you to wake Jane for we cannot have her beauty diminished as well.”   

Thanks for stopping by! This snippet is from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy, my current WIP. Betrothed to Mr. Darcy takes place in the weeks between the time Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy become engaged and their actual marriage. Once the two families gather in preparation for the nuptials, the improprieties of the Bennet family are on full display, causing Elizabeth to question the wisdom of inflicting her family on Mr. Darcy and his sister, Georgiana. Will they make it to the alter? 

Please be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors and the Snippet Sunday Facebook Page. 

Mrs. Bennet Puts Her Foot In Her Mouth

Welcome back Weekend Writing Warriors and Sunday Snippet fans. We've had a couple of fun scenes with Mrs. Bennet, but this week, she puts her foot in her mouth and causes a great deal of upset for bride to be Elizabeth Bennet. 

This snippet from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy, brings us to the crux of Lizzy Bennet's dilemma. You see, George Wickham once attempted to elope with Miss Darcy and if word of such a thing were to get out into polite society, her future would not look bright. Wickham then went on to seduce (and marry) Lizzy's sister, Lydia. Now, by marrying Mr. Darcy, Lizzy faces the prospect of forcing Miss Darcy to be 1. an in law of Mr. Wickham's and 2. subject to the mention of his name more than would ever happen in her world now that he has gone. 

Mrs. Bennet, unaware of any of these past events, innocently sets off quite a kerfuffle. 

 “Oh my, I believe you know our dear Mr. Wickham. Well, then you know what a charming and handsome man he is. My Lydia is fortunate indeed to have a husband such as him.”

Miss Darcy simply stared at Mrs. Bennet, her bottom lip quivering, though she managed to prevent a reaction which was likely to be discernible to anyone other than those who knew her best.

Mrs. Bennet, after an entire evening of moderated conversation could hold back no longer, particularly as the topic related to her favorite subjects, marriage and her daughter Lydia. “What a proud day it was when Lydia and her fine husband in his red coat arrived here at our home. But now they have gone off for who knows how long and I shan’t see her or dear Wickham. I had hoped they could be here for Jane and Lizzy’s weddings, but Wickham is needed by the militia for I am sure he performs important duties and cannot be easily spared.” 

Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors here. 

Just Can't Get Enough of Mrs. Bennet

Welcome Back!

Last week's post with Mrs. Bennet was so much fun, I decided to add more from that scene. This comes from my WIP Betrothed to Mr. Darcy. You can find last week's snippet here. 

From an upstairs window at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Mary are continuing to observe the arrival of the Darcys and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty are particularly interested in Colonel Fitzwilliam. 

“Mama, he looked right at me,” Kitty exclaimed.

“Of course he did. Now let me look at you before you go and meet him.” Mrs. Bennet  tugged a bit here and pushed a bit there to magically create a bosom where little had been before.

Mary observed the process and said, “Illusions of beauty are quickly shattered. True beauty lies in the virtuous soul of a young lady.”

“Oh shut up!” Kitty and Mrs. Bennet chorused. 

Please be sure to visit all the other Weekend Writing Warriors here. 

Weekend Writing Warriors----Let's Spend Some Time With Mrs. Bennet

I dropped the ball by not including a snippet from Mrs. Bennet last week in honor of Mother's Day, but don't worry, she's here this week! 

This bit is from Betrothed To Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty are watching the arrival of the Darcys and Colonel Fitzwilliam from an upstairs window of Longbourn. 

“Mama, he is a younger son. He will never inherit his father’s title.” Kitty admired herself in a full-length mirror. “What is the point if he will never be an Earl?”

“He is an officer. A colonel! And what’s more,” Mrs. Bennet pulled Kitty away from the looking glass to tuck a piece of her daughter’s errant hair back into place, “you don’t know but that his older brother might be in poor health or could meet with a horrible accident.”

“Mama,” Kitty was all amazement, “what a thing to say!”

“Oh fiddlesticks! It’s not as though I said that I wished he would die. I simply mentioned the possibility. ” 

Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors here. 

WeWriWa More from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy

Thanks for stopping by! We're moving on from the discussion about the marriage settlement. This scene takes place a couple days later when Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth and Miss Darcy are discussing Elizabeth's move to Pemberley. 

“Why yes, very much. I fear I may miss walking these familiar paths once I move to Derbyshire.”

“But will you not enjoy exploring new paths at Pemberley?” Miss Darcy asked.

“Yes,” Elizabeth said, “I am sure I will find much to enjoy at Pemberley as well.”

“I look forward to showing you all the pleasures of Pemberley.” The tone of Mr. Darcy’s voice was unfamiliar to her and the feelings it evoked were equally foreign.

Elizabeth, who had taken a bite of toast, found that her throat had closed up and she had difficulty swallowing. An unladylike gulp of tea resolved the matter, though it did nothing to calm the slamming of her heart against her chest. 

Please visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors here. 

Another 8 From Betrothed to Mr. Darcy---More From the Marriage Settlement Discussion

As we saw last week, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet are in disagreement about the marriage settlement. After diffusing the two men's tempers, Elizabeth asks to speak with Mr. Darcy alone. When Elizabeth objects to the amount of money Mr. Darcy plans to bestow upon her, the following discussion takes place: 

Darcy retrieved the document from her and set it on her father’s desk before taking her hands in his. “My dear Elizabeth, have you no notion of the value of Pemberley and the Darcy estate?”

“I care not for such things and well you know it.” She pulled her hands away from his and turned to pace the room.

“Whether you care about pecuniary matters or not, you are soon to become the mistress of Pemberley and,” he paused to gather his emotions, “my wife. Did you not think that I would provide handsomely for your needs?”

“It seems,” Elizabeth stopped pacing and faced Mr. Darcy “that everyone else was sufficiently concerned with your finances that I did not give it much consideration. It was not your wealth that caused me to wish to be your wife.”

“Though your tour of Pemberley did not dissuade you from the notion,” Mr. Darcy teased.

“Oh, you are abominable. Do be serious. My father’s pride has been wounded. You must allow him to contribute to my future.” 

Thanks for stopping by!

Please visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors. You can find them here. 

8 More Sentences from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy

I'm back for a second week of Weekend Writing Warriors. Thanks for stopping by.

This snippet is from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy, a Pride and Prejudice variation that I am writing. In this scene, Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy are arguing over the terms of the marriage settlement. Elizabeth arrives to find her two favorite men shouting at each other across her father's desk.

“But, this man” he pointed at Darcy yet again. Lizzy wondered at the restraint her intended showed because a lesser man who dared to point at Mr. Darcy not once, but twice, might have found his finger snapped off at the joint, “refuses to accept anything.”

Before she could voice her surprise, Mr. Darcy responded to the accusation. “I am simply being practical, sir. My income is more than sufficient to provide funds for the care of my future wife,” despite his anger, a smile formed on his mouth when he said ‘wife’ and his eyes softened as they looked to the object of his affection, “But you, sir, have a wife and two other daughters to provide for, not to mention the likelihood that your youngest will need financial assistance for the balance of her marriage and beyond.”

“Is it not shameful enough that I am obliged to you for the expense of one daughter’s marriage and the living of her husband but you expect me to allow you the full measure of support for my most beloved daughter as well? It cannot be.”

Betrothed to Mr. Darcy follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy during the period of time between their betrothal and marriage. In addition to the usual stresses associated with planning a wedding, Elizabeth Bennet is forced to confront the impact that her family's behavior and reputation will have on not just Mr. Darcy, but his sister, Georgiana, as well. Will she set aside her desire to be his bride in order to protect the Darcy name and reputation? 

Be sure to visit all the other Weekend Writing Warriors Here. 

#8Sunday From Betrothed To Mr. Darcy

Welcome! This is my first time to participate in Weekend Writing Warriors. Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. 

This snippet is from my current Work In Progress, Betrothed to Mr. Darcy. 

Their mother, evidently aroused by the sounds of them entering, rushed to the top of the stairs to shout to her daughter, “Lizzy! You must stop them. I know that your father will fight Mr. Darcy and will be killed and then what shall happen to us? Mr. Collins and his dreadful wife Charlotte will take possession of our home and turn us out into the cold.”

“Mama,” Elizabeth gathered all her good humor to respond to her mother, “I am sure that the two of them will not come to blows. Please calm yourself and I will investigate.”

“My nerves. Oh my nerves. As if planning weddings and wedding clothes for two daughters wasn’t enough to tear my nerves to shreds, now your father has angered Mr. Darcy and even if Mr. Darcy does not fight him, he may well decide not to marry you. Oh, I knew it was too much to hope that a man with ten thousand a year would marry you, Elizabeth.”

Betrothed to Mr. Darcy follows Elizabeth Bennet as she prepares to marry Mr. Darcy. Despite her fervent wish to become his bride, Lizzy's sense of duty causes her to doubt the wisdom of forcing the Darcys to become associated with the vulgarity and silliness of the Bennet family. 

Visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors here.