Hello everyone! Thanks for having
me, Maria Grazia! In addition to Darcy and Elizabeth battling their own hearts before
finding their happily ever after, Wickham presents a larger problem than usual
in Sufficient Encouragement. In this
excerpt, we see how he ends up in Hertfordshire.
Rose Fairbanks
A militia officer who looked familiar
walked into the shop and made a purchase. Settling at a table near him, he
asked, “Pardon me, are you done with the paper?”
In closer
light, Wickham easily recognised the man. “Denny?”
“Wickham!” he returned while putting forth
his hand for a friendly shake.
“How have you been, Denny?”
“Well
enough. I joined the militia recently.”
“I can see. I suppose you have found the
heiresses as difficult to woo as I have.”
“I do not have your luck at the tables
after the lonely wives and widows leave Town to sustain me.”
Wickham grinned. “Nor do you have my
charm.”
“The uniform does well enough without me
having to say too much.”
“Is that so?”
Denny nodded eagerly. “Indeed. We are
regimented now in Hertfordshire. There are several young ladies who are simply
wild to meet officers. You should sign up; we need new recruits.”
“I would make a terrible soldier. Besides,
I am working on a project.”
“A new heiress has come of age? When last
I saw you, the plan was to seduce…what was the name? Miss Danby?”
“Darcy,” Wickham corrected and inwardly
seethed.
Denny perked up. “There is a Mr. Darcy
currently in Meryton.”
“The Darcy I know would hardly spend time
in such a place.”
“He would not care for it?”
“Not unless there are people of fortune
and rank.”
“Then it may be the same Darcy after all.
I would have little cause to meet with him, but he’s all the households can
talk about, and not with favour.”
Wickham could hardly hold back his smile.
It did sound like Darcy, but that would simply be too good to be true.
Denny continued, “If it weren’t for his
friend Mr. Bingley, I think they may have driven him out with pitchforks by
now.”
Wickham laughed outright. “Denny! What
tidings you bring me.”
“Now, hold on. If you are thinking of a
way to make money off him, I want to be in on the deal, too.”
Wickham paused for a minute. He disliked
sharing in his triumphs, but he could ill afford to be miserly. Besides, they
were friends for years. He knew the value of that. “Of course, my friend.”
Denny grinned. “So what has that quick
mind of yours formed already?”
Wickham shook his head at the compliment
and leaned in a bit closer. A few ideas came to mind, but before settling on one, he knew he needed to know more about
Darcy’s present circumstances. Why was he in Hertfordshire at all?
Denny reported that Darcy had been there
for several weeks now, and Wickham suspected that
unless he had severely changed his habits, the friendship of Bingley alone
could not be the draw. After all, he was supposed to have been with Bingley in
Town for many weeks while his sister was in Ramsgate last June.
One thing he could easily count on,
though. Darcy may dislike his presence in the area, but he knew Darcy was too
proud to publicly shame him or show weakness
and leave merely because of him. On the other hand, Darcy may wish to return to
his idyllic existence in his lavish townhouse and his pretty little sister at
any moment. Wickham’s conquest would need to begin immediately.
We are all fools in love…
Some say a lady’s imagination is very rapid.
Such is the case when Elizabeth Bennet overhears that Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy
admires her eyes. She thinks nothing for herself, but immediately considers her
dearest sister’s growing attachment to Mr. Darcy’s friend. If Elizabeth spurns
such a wealthy—and proud—gentleman, he might do everything in his power to
separate his friend from her sister.
Raised in a world of expectations and pedigree,
Darcy knows Elizabeth Bennet can offer him nothing of material value. As his
attraction for her grows, he becomes increasingly convinced his feelings are
nonsensical. Still, he might forsake it all if only he had true encouragement.
Misunderstandings lead to betrayals and the couple
soon learns falling in love takes courage but staying in love requires
forgiveness. Traversing from the groves of Hertfordshire to the drawing rooms
of London to the complexity and danger of Luddite revolts in Yorkshire, Sufficient Encouragement follows Darcy
and Elizabeth’s journey of love and forgiveness.
*This story contains a scene of nonexplicit
sexual violence.
About
the When Love Blooms Series
“Love is like a flower, for it is well worth the toil to
cultivate it.” She shrugged her shoulders, “Love is beautiful.”
Take a stroll in the garden of love and enjoy
the unique blooms of the intersecting lives of the Bennet, Darcy, Fitzwilliam,
de Bourgh and Bingley families. Sufficient
Encouragement follows Darcy and Elizabeth as they fight to save their love
from an unexpected frost while Jane and Bingley’s love grows strong roots. The
companion story, Renewed Hope, adds
depth to the bouquet with the love stories of Darcy’s cousins and Miss Bingley.
The third book in the series, Extraordinary
Devotion, follows Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage while their younger
sisters experience a London Season.
About
the Author
Rose
proudly admits her Darcy obsession and addictions to reading, chocolate, and
sweet tea. Always in the mood for a healthy debate, she also dearly loves to
laugh. Having completed a BA in history in 2008, she plans to complete her
master’s studies...someday. At the moment, having a career combining her
life-long interest in history and research with her love for Jane Austen and
the Regency Era consumes all of her professional time. When not writing or
reading, Rose runs after her two young children, ignores housework, and
profusely thanks her husband for doing all the dishes and laundry.
You
can connect with Rose on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and her blog: http://rosefairbanks.com
Sufficient Encouragement Blog
Tour Schedule
4/16:
Excerpt & Giveaway at Stories
from the Past
4/17:
Excerpt at My Jane Austen Book Club
4/18:
Excerpt & Review at The
Ardent Reader
4/19:
Excerpt & Giveaway at Diary
of an Eccentric
4/20:
Interview & Giveaway at Austenesque
Reviews
4/21:
Review at Half Agony, Half Hope
4/22:
Guest Post at Babblings of a Bookworm
4/25:
Review at Just Jane 1813
4/26:
Guest Post at More
Agreeably Engaged
4/28:
Guest Post & Review at From Pemberley to Milton
4/29: Guest post at My
Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice
5 comments:
So Wickham has not kept quiet about Miss Darcy then
Thanks for commenting!
He hasn't told Denny that she agreed to an elopement--that would be admitting to a failure--but Denny knows that Wickham was hoping to woo her. But only that she was a young heiress and Denny would like to do the same thing. Denny doesn't know about Wickham's feud with Darcy. Wickham is smart enough to know when to keep his mouth shut...usually.
This looks great. I would love to read this!
This book sounds intriguing.
love the excerpt
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