Friday 6 October 2017

BARBARA SILKSTONE, MY FAIR LIZZY - EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

The fun things you discover while creating a new adventure for Darcy and Lizzy! It was important to my new release, a mashup of Pride and Prejudice and Pygmalion, that Lizzy talk with a cockney accent. But how could I do that to our darling girl? And how much of her quirky speech pattern would the reader enjoy? I hope I hit a near perfect balance as the tale begins with Lizzy speaking in cockney only to blend into proper English.


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A Regency tale ~ Lizzy Bennet, a sassy London shop girl is instantly attracted to Fitzwilliam Darcy, the arrogant, handsome visitor to the Bennets’ struggling Covent Garden flower shop. Darcy insists on purchasing Lizzy’s lucky orchid as a gift for his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Will Lizzy sell her family’s much needed good fortune to the haughty know it all?


Complications arise when Darcy accepts Bingley’s wager to make a sophisticated lady out of the humble flower girl. Can Lizzy endure Darcy’s mentoring in order to save the Bennet family’s flower shop? Will Caroline Bingley tolerate Darcy’s peppery new student? Will Wickham finally bring about Darcy’s ruination?

This is a light-hearted tale of a headstrong, London lass (Lizzy) whose drive to achieve more than life has handed her compels her to accept the position of pawn in a wager between two friends, (Darcy and Bingley). Gumption meets true love.
 A fun read for all those who have ever enjoyed George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion
                                    
 Barbara Silkstone
Read an Excerpt from My Fair Lizzy

Opening the library door, Darcy and Bingley discovered the Bennet sisters in the foyer about to leave the house. “This was a mistake,” Lizzy said. “We must get back to our flower shop. Thank you for your time, Mr. Darcy.” She turned to Bingley and with a firmness in her voice said, “Thank you for trying. We will walk. Good day.”

“No, no! Please.” Bingley entreated. “I must apologize. We did not intend to be so long. Please return to the parlor and let us further our plans.”

Lizzy looked up at Darcy and perceived an odd gleam in his eye. She still carried a deep yearning to better herself, and so decided to hear them out; after all, she and Jane had come this far. They returned to the parlor accompanied by both men.

“Won’t you please be seated again?” Darcy stood aside, offering Lizzy the very armchair she had only just vacated.


“Don’t mind if I do,” she said, catching sight of her muddy tracks, now tripled. Blushing furiously, she tucked her feet under her chair, and set about hearing their plan.

Darcy caught himself enjoying her presence, despite her dirty appearance and the almost overwhelming scent of flowers that rose from both ladies. He found he enjoyed Miss Lizzy Bennet’s innocent vanity and consequential air.

“You could greatly benefit from my tutelage, Miss Bennet,” he said, finding that, once wearing the mantle of a professor it was easier for him to speak to the spunky lady.

“I will review the terms of our understanding so there is no confusion. We could easily start your lessons today but for the sake of both our reputations, I must speak to your father about your living in my town house during your tutelage.”

“Stay here?” Lizzy looked from Darcy to Bingley to Jane. With her hand clutching the opening of her spencer, protectively, she said, “I’m not agreein’ to stayin’ here. I will come to take your lessons and do my best, but I’m not livin’ here! No sir! What kind of girl do you think I am?”

Jumping to her feet, Lizzy bumped the table next to her chair. The porcelain miniatures sitting on top wobbled but did not fall. Turning to her sister, she honked, “Jane, we’re going. We’ve a shop to tend!”
~~~
If you enjoy the occasional Pride and Prejudice mashup, please so try


                                           





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15 comments:

Vesper said...

Of all the English accents cockney is one of my hates. Hopefully there is not too much as I dislike reading books which are written in the vernacular as it can be difficult to read and make sense of what they are saying, and this is from an English female.

Unknown said...

Sounds delightful, would lvoe to read it!

darcybennett said...

Enjoyed the excerpt. I love the idea of a pygmalion-P&P mashup and the premise of Mr. Darcy teaching Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing!

Eva said...

Why has no one thought of this before. It is a perfect "mash up". Thank you for the excerpt. Both Lizzy and Darcy are still in character.

Ginna said...

This is gonna be a good one!

Unknown said...

Definitely looking forward to this one.

Unknown said...

Definitely looking forward to this one.

Sonja said...

Love Regency stories and the book looks so beautiful! I like that it's a mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Pygmalion. Can't imagine how fun that's gonna be to read!

Barbara Silkstone said...

Thank you all for your kind comments.
Rest assured Vesper, I was very, very careful limit the cockney to tiny touches...just enough to add a little flavor. I know exactly what you mean about books written in the vernacular. There is just a smidge to get the point across. (Besides Lizzy was uncomfortable with her accent and I did not wish to embarrass her.)

Lizzy does use it once, later on, to tease Darcy. He takes her taunting in a good natured way.

Unknown said...

This is a nice blog to implement adventures; keep on creating a blog like this always-:)

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Lúthien84 said...

Of all P&P stories that I have read, I think this is the lowest Elizabeth Bennet has sunk in Regency society. Nevertheless I am looking forward to reading this variation.

Barbara Silkstone said...

Luthien, Not even a lowly beginning can keep a our heroine down. She shall prevail with Darcy's help.
Cheers!

Jo's Daughter said...

Oh this sounds like a great story ! Really enjoyed the excerpt :)

Barbara Silkstone said...

Jo's Daughter,
Thank you! I'm so pleased you enjoyed the excerpt.

Dung said...

I'm looking forward to reading it. I loved the movie think it's an interesting P&P mashup. Thanks for sharing the excerpt.