Hello, Maria Grazia! It’s so good to
visit with you again at My Jane Austen Book Club. I’m really excited to share with you my latest project, Fine Eyes and Pert Opinions. This has
been an odd project for me—I started it, handwritten in 2014 and then set it
aside when something shiny and urgent crossed my path. Recently I found the old
notebooks and realized I had to finish to tale. I didn’t know how it ended and
I just had to find out!
In
Fine Eyes and Pert Opinions Vicar’s
daughter, Elizabeth has grown up in the shades of Pemberley, a great friend to
Darcy and his sister Georgiana. A baronet’s elegant daughter distracts Darcy
from his duties, leaving the Darcy family on the brink of disaster. Elizabeth
holds the key to their restoration, but she has fled Pemberley, unable to
tolerate another day there. Will Darcy relinquish his pride and prejudice to
seek out a woman below his notice before his family is irreparably ruined?
Here’s a peek inside:
***
Most
days, Elizabeth could keep herself occupied and remind herself of the blessings
she and her family enjoyed. But days like today reminded her far too much of
what had been lost—and almost lost—since autumn cast its bony grip upon the
vicarage. Best not dwell upon those grey thoughts. They were too quick to make
themselves at home in one’s mind, only to overstay their welcome.
She
made her way along the dirty village street, the skirts of her dusky pink
walking dress picking up a coating of dust as they swished around her legs.
Spring, with its fresh smells and gentle warm breezes, had finally come to the
little hamlet of Lambton, driving away the vestiges of a long, dark winter.
Bits of new green—a very particular shade, quite different from the old
established green of hardy plants—dotted the edges of the road. Birds chirped
and twittered from unseen perches, their songs dappling the fresh afternoon air
with musical notes unique to the season. Reminders that life continued on were
a good thing.
Finished
with her morning calls, she left the cobblestone street in favor of the dirt
footpath that led into Pemberley’s woods. The deep shade of arching hardwoods
embraced her. The loam’s perfume and the insects’ twitters soon screened out
all traces of Lambton. Yes, this was what she needed.
The
ladies she had called upon had been kind when they remembered Mama—and well
they should be, for she had been a gentle, kind, and gracious soul—but the pain
of loss was still so fresh.
Still,
today was the start of the seventh month since her passing, a time to set
mourning aside. So many memories floated too close to the surface, though. The
day would be better spent keeping to herself, quietly remembering … and
grieving.
Mama
would not have approved, insisting it was more important to celebrate with the
living than to consider the dead. What better way to honor her memory than to
do just that? At least, that was what Papa had said.
If
only her feelings would cooperate with those directions. Would it be so bad to
take a respite here in the woods that always soothed her soul?
Perhaps
she should try to appear active. Some moments to practice her archery might
suit. If questioned, she could explain that she was honoring Uncle and Aunt
Gardiner’s gift of a membership to the Derbyshire Archery Club by preparing for
their next meeting. That might be just the thing.
The
footpath forked; the right side led to Pemberley, the left toward the vicarage.
A familiar tall dark form approached from the right.
Long purposeful strides, brow furrowed, mouth drawn into something most mistook
as a frown. Something troubled Mr. Darcy.
“Good
day, Miss Elizabeth.” He tipped his hat and bowed from his shoulders—an odd mix
of formal and familiar.
He
had been calling her Miss Elizabeth from the moment they had met—what was it,
ten years ago now?—when Father had taken the living at Kympton. He would hardly
call her anything else now.
She
curtsied. “Good day, Mr. Darcy.”
“Am
I intruding? You are walking alone. I know, sometimes …”
“It
is six months to the day of my mother’s passing.”
“Forgive
me, I should have recalled. I must be intruding, so I will go. You cannot want
company now.” He was always so polite, so proper, but his deep brown eyes
seemed crestfallen.
“Pray,
do not. I think perhaps—perhaps too much solitude might not be a good thing for
me today. I am walking to the vicarage—”
“Might
I walk with you then?” They set off together down the left-hand path, their
steps falling into a comfortable harmony as they often did when they walked
together.
“It
seems you have something on your mind. Pray tell, would you like to talk about
it?”
He
clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the path they walked. A sunbeam
filtered through the canopy, highlighting his classically handsome profile. She
was right; something weighed on him. “It has been a long time since you have
called upon Georgiana.”
“I
am sorry for that, but we have been in mourning—”
“I
meant no criticism. You have had other concerns. In that time, though, she has
quarreled with Mrs. Younge. The situation escalated to the point where I was
forced to dismiss her. Georgiana is without a companion at present. This is the
third—no, the fourth companion—who has quit or had to be dismissed in eighteen
months.”
Actually,
it was the fifth, but Mrs. Allen had only remained for a week and a day. No
point in reminding him of that.
“She
needs another companion, but I am at a loss how to find one suitable. I had
hoped to ask your assistance.”
“I
should think that one of your aunts might be a far more appropriate source of
help. Their connections in good society might be very useful.”
“They
supplied the last three companions.”
She
gripped her hands behind her back. That should help conceal her true thoughts.
“So, you want to seek help from another quarter?”
“Do
not toy with me, I know that tone of your voice. You do not approve.” Did he
just roll his eyes at her? “If you do not want to help me, I will find other
means. You need only say so.”
“Do
you really want to hear another one of my pert opinions, as you called them the
last time that I offered a sentiment you did not like?”
“It
was not that I did not like it. I thought—and still do think—you were in
error.”
Stubborn,
arrogant man. Just because he had attended university did not mean he knew
everything! “If you take the time to do some reading on the matter, you will
find I am correct. Those creatures we saw in the garden last summer were indeed
moths—hawk-moths to be precise—not humming birds.”
“You
are quite mistaken. I am entirely certain—”
“You
are an expert in all the natural sciences?”
“I
am not accustomed to arguing such matters with young ladies.”
“Because
most are too stupid or insipid to hold on to a controversial point of view.”
Her fists clenched—now was not the time to reiterate her arguments.
“Another
of your pert opinions.” He glanced at her, just a hint of amusement in his
eyes, a tiny dimple forming on his left cheek. “Tell me your views on acquiring
another companion for my sister.”
Why
did he have to ask that? “Miss Darcy has had a long history of difficulty with
governesses and companions.”
“And
school masters, do not forget those.”
“Those
as well. To have so many unfortunate experiences at just sixteen, that is very
difficult for a girl.”
“It
is not easy on those around her, either.” He harrumphed. “To have her tutors
call her stupid and willful was no easy thing. Had my father been alive—”
She lifted an open
hand. There was no need to discuss what Old Mr. Darcy’s reaction might have
been. “It is a mercy for all of you that he did not live to see it happen. I am
certain.
Maria Grace
About the Book
Darcy
is at his wits end.
As
guardian to his younger sister, he wants her to become a properly accomplished
woman--she is coming out soon, after all. But Georgiana steadfastly refuses
despite the encouragement of Elizabeth Bennet, long time Darcy family friend. Darcy invites a few guests to Pemberley in
the hopes of encouraging Georgiana's improvement with a taste of society.
Unexpected
additions to the party prove dangerously distracting, leaving the Darcy family
on the brink of disaster. Elizabeth holds the key to their restoration, but she
has fled Pemberley, unable to tolerate another day in the Darcys' company.
Will Darcy relinquish his pride and prejudice to
seek out a woman below his notice before his family is irreparably ruined?
About the Author
Five-time BRAG Medallion Honoree,
Maria Grace has her PhD in Educational Psychology and is a 16-year veteran of
the university classroom where she taught courses in human growth and
development, learning, test development and counseling.
None of which have
anything to do with her undergraduate studies in economics/sociology/managerial
studies/behavior sciences.
She pretends to be a mild-mannered writer/cat-lady,
but most of her vacations require helmets and waivers or historical costumes,
usually not at the same time.
She writes gas lamp fantasy,
historical romance and non-fiction to help justify her research addiction. Her
books are available at all major online booksellers.
She can be contacted at author.MariaGrace@gmail.com Facebook Twitter Pinterest
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Maria Grace is hosting a giveaway on her blog. Check it out!
Maria Grace is hosting a giveaway on her blog. Check it out!
3 comments:
Love that Elizabeth seems to be the one that saves the day.
Sounds very interesting. I love a spirited Elizabeth - and a different take to the usually mild-mannered, shy Georgiana! This one is going on my TBR list.
Now this is different a Vicar Mr Bennet. Lizzy already friends with the Darcys. Sounds like FD and EB could be childhood sweethearts.
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