Please note: The giveaway mentioned in this post is closed.
I gave serious consideration to making an April Fool’s joke post this time, seeing as how I was scheduled for April 1st, but I decided against it. We should all be veeeerrrrryyyyyy happy. LOL
Instead, I’ll bring you a real post with a real giveaway.
Some of you may already know that I have been writing a story that I have only shared with my Patreon supporters up until now. Well, I have shared a few lines in the Longbourn Literary Society on Facebook, but other than that, I have kept quiet about it. I did this story as a “thank you” for the support of my Patrons. Now, the book is almost complete. It is out with readers right now; I should be getting feedback returned to me in the next couple of days. I do not have a firm publication date, but I hope to have the book live by April 15th.
The story is called Darcy’s Secret Marriage, and is one I have tried many times to begin, only to get stuck a few thousand words into it. This time, though, I managed to find a legitimate reason for Darcy to hide his marriage to Elizabeth, and for her to go along with it. I have no cover as yet, and no blurb. What I do have is a sample of it that I can share with you.
Below the sample will be details of the giveaway that goes with this post, so be sure to read to the end. 🙂
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Early summer, 1806
Twenty-year-old Fitzwilliam Darcy raced his stallion, Apollo, across the fields of Pemberley. Though he was exhilarated by the rush of wind and feel of the horse’s movement underneath his seat, his heart pounded in anticipation; he was on his way to meet his love, his Elizabeth. They had taken to walking together every morning, sometimes with his sister or cousins, sometimes with her eldest sister, and sometimes alone. He cherished this time with her and knew she felt the same.
A few minutes later, he slowed the animal down to a canter. He was approaching the turnoff to Lambton, and Apollo needed to cool down a bit, anyway. Looking around, Darcy searched for Elizabeth. He slowed the horse down further, to a trot and then a walk, his eyes darting to and fro. Just as a crease began to form between his brows, he saw her, alone, wandering up the road toward him, stopping now and then to sniff a flower or observe a bee. Pulling his steed to a stop a few feet away from her, Darcy dismounted and waited for her to approach, his gaze wandering over her form, from the chestnut curls peeping out from under her bonnet to her black half-boots, dusty from the mile-long walk from her aunt’s house.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet was visiting Mrs. Penelope Hayes at a neighboring estate, Rocky Hills, and had been in residence for the last six weeks. Darcy had been instantly smitten with the always-smiling, witty young lady. That she returned his feelings delighted him, and the two had, over the course of time, fallen deeply in love.
The Darcys were close neighbours with the Hayes family, their estates bordering each other, and were frequently in company together. As a result, Darcy and Elizabeth had spent much time together. They had discovered many similarities between them, and not a few differences. They had even clashed a few times, much to the dismay of their companions. Though he had known Elizabeth but a few weeks, Darcy knew he would propose.
There was only one problem: his mother. Though his father, Mr. George Darcy, was delighted with Elizabeth, Lady Anne Darcy was not so pleased. She wanted Darcy to marry her niece and namesake, Anne De Bourgh, but her husband had refused to allow her to arrange that marriage. Lady Anne was angry about his decision. She decided that, if her son were not permitted to marry his cousin, then he would marry a girl with a title and a huge fortune. Elizabeth Bennet had neither. The couple fought over it many times that summer, with Lady Anne demanding that her son be sent away. Eventually, Mr. Darcy reluctantly gave in, arranging not only a tour of the kingdom for Fitzwilliam, but also a stay beforehand in London with a friend of the family. Darcy and Elizabeth were suddenly torn apart, with no knowledge of where the other was.
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I hope that little tidbit whetted your appetite! 🙂
Please note: The giveaway mentioned in this post is closed.
Now for the giveaway information! I am giving away two (2) e-book copies of Darcy’s Secret Marriage. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. You have until 11:59 pm Eastern on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 to leave your comment. Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 14th.
Please note that prizes will not go out until formatting, etc. is complete.
Please note: The giveaway mentioned in this post is closed.
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