.png)
Lory Lilian at My Jane Austen Book Club
Maria Grazia, thanks so much for having me. It is such a great pleasure to be here! While I have visited, read and enjoyed your blog many times over the years, this is my first blogpost and I am thrilled about it.
Story quote from Lory Lilian’s story, The
Gallery of Second Chances
A year ago, Elizabeth had left behind Pemberley, Mr Darcy and all her hopes. Now, she was returning with her soul burdened by a gratitude she had no chance of expressing and the sorrow of a lost happiness.
Blurb from In the Path of Jane Austen:
Travels and Tales
Author bio
Lory Lilian fell in
love with Jane Austen’s work over forty years ago. After discovering the world
of Austenesque books, Lory was further charmed, so she switched from her over
twenty-five years’ career in business to being a full-time writer. She has published
twenty-two bestselling Austenesque books over two decades and is plotting
several others.
Over the years, she’s
made many like-minded friends through her writing. Pride and Prejudice remains
Lory’s favourite novel, especially because of the 1995 BBC/A&E production.
Lory lives in Romania,
and has a wonderful daughter of whom she is exceedingly proud, plus several
pets that she adores.
Excerpt from Gallery of Second Chances
Here is an excerpt from Lory Lilian’s story
within the anthology, The Gallery of Second Chances.
When
dinner was over, Elizabeth chose a convenient moment to approach Mr Darcy.
“Would
you please meet me in the gallery tonight? Later on, after everybody is asleep.
There is something of great importance I must speak to you about.”
“Of
course,” he answered, puzzled. “Would you not rather speak now? We can go to
the library for a few minutes.”
“No…I
insist,” she said, and he nodded again.
An
hour later, while Elizabeth counted the minutes with increasing anxiety, the
party finally retired for the night. Her patience was further tested as Lydia
continued to chat for a while before she finally fell asleep.
Elizabeth
carefully stepped out of her chamber, closing the door behind her. Would she
find the strength to break her heart into pieces?
She
found Mr Darcy in the gallery, waiting, gazing out of the window. She walked
towards him, her heart heavy, each step weakening her knees even more.
“I
am so sorry…” she said quietly. “I do not know how to apologise…”
“There
is no need for you to apologise. How is your sister?”
“Finally
asleep. And Miss Darcy? Have you spoken to her?”
“I
have. She was a little distressed, but not by your sister. She feared Wickham
might come here too. I assured her that would not happen.”
“I
am so sorry,” Elizabeth said again. “I knew Lydia was silly and weak-minded,
but I never expected her to dare to come to Pemberley. She does whatever her
husband says and cannot be made to see reason. But how did Wickham dare to come
to Derbyshire and then send Lydia to your house? He came deliberately to
torment Miss Darcy — and you. I am certain of that!”
“I
cannot argue with you,” Mr Darcy replied with reasonable composure. “He
probably convinced her to dine and sleep here tonight so he could play cards
and drink with old friends. That has been his habit for the last ten years. And
he probably sent his wife to extort some money from the Bingleys.”
“Dreadful,
shameless, horrible man! I shall never forgive myself for trusting him and
accusing you based on his deceitful claims!”
Tears
of anger and frustration had formed in the corners of her eyes, and she wiped
them angrily.
“Fitzwilliam,
I was thinking…perhaps we have been too hasty with our engagement. We should
have considered more carefully what it would mean for you and for Miss Darcy to
be associated with George Wickham, with my family. I was selfish in that I
allowed my wishes to harm you both.”
“Elizabeth,
what are you saying? Come, sit for a moment and let us talk calmly.”
He
gently pushed her towards the two chairs arranged either side of a small table
by the window. The moon and the stars gave the room a gentle glow.
The
gallery, once so dear to Elizabeth, seemed suddenly too large, too
intimidating, too cold.
Mr
Darcy took her hands over the table and brought them to his lips.
“How
can you say we were hasty with our engagement when it was at least a year late?
How can you believe that the association with Wickham — as embarrassing as it
might be — can compare to my love for you?”
“I
do not doubt your love for me, nor your desire for our union. But in a few
months, in a few years, how will you bear to be considered Wickham’s brother?”
“I
shall bear it, I am sure. Just as I bore watching him receive my father’s
undeserved attention. But unlike those times, Wickham will never be allowed to
set foot at Pemberley, nor near Georgiana. I shall have a conversation with him
tomorrow morning and warn him.”
“This
is worse, Fitzwilliam, because now he does not even trouble himself enough to
conceal his shameless character. He is repaying your generosity with
undisguised impertinence. And he will behave even worse, will seek more
advantages when he finds out about our engagement! He will brag in society
about being your brother. And once we are married, we might happen upon him
either at Longbourn or at the Bingleys’ estate. I expect no decency on his
side.”
Her
voice had become heavy with restrained tears. He kissed her hands again.
“Elizabeth,
I know too well what to expect from Wickham, but I also expect you not to
surrender to his schemes so easily. You cannot possibly imagine I would allow
him — or anyone — to ruin our engagement. I hope you will fight for it as hard
as I shall.”
Contact Info for Ms. Lilian
Buy Link for In the Path of Jane
Austen: Travels and Tales
https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0FQ6HZSGG
Blog Tour Schedule
October 6, 2025: Lory Lilian is at My
Jane Austen Book Club
October 7: Kelly Miller is at My
JAFF Obsession
October 8: Suzan Lauder is at My
Vices and Weaknesses
October 9: Heather Moll is with Sophia
Rose
October 10: Riana Everly is at Interests
of a Jane Austen Girl
October 11, 2025: Carol Bowes is at From
Pemberley to Milton
No comments:
Post a Comment