When a man’s honor is at stake, what is he willing to risk for the woman he loves?
After a disastrous marriage proposal and the delivery of an illuminating letter, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet hope never to lay eyes on one another again. When a chance meeting in Hunsford immediately throws them in each other’s way, Darcy realizes his behavior needs correcting, and Elizabeth starts to appreciate his redeeming qualities. But is it enough to forgive the past and overcome their prejudices?
Jane and Bingley’s possible reconciliation and Lydia’s ill-conceived trip to Brighton pose their own challenges for two people struggling to find their way to love. When scandalous news threatens their chance at happiness, will Darcy and Elizabeth’s new bond be shattered, or will their growing affection hold steadfast?
Hello to all! What do you think of this blurb? It is not giving a lot of insight but it is making clear that there are quite a few problems that Elizabeth and Darcy may overcome before… a happy ending?
I am glad to welcome Heather Moll to the blog and to introduce you to her and her first book: His Choice of a Wife. On the JAFF world and, obviously in Pride and Prejudice, the choice of a wife is key and we know the struggle that Mr Darcy has with himself when he realises he is in love with Elizabeth Bennet.
I am also interested on Jane and Charles and how big their role is. We know Lydia is almost always a pain but I hope Jane and Bingley end up together.
Let’s discover a bit more about the author:
Heather Moll is an avid reader with a B.A. in European history and a M.A. in library science, so it is astonishing that she did not discover Jane Austen until her late-twenties. Making up for lost time, she devoured all of Austen’s novels, her letters, and unpublished works, joined JASNA, and spent far too much time researching the Regency era. She is thrilled to have found fellow Janeites and the JAFF community, if only to prove that her interests aren’t so strange after all. Heather is a former librarian turned stay-at-home mother who struggles to find time for all of the important things, like reading and writing.
You can follow her and contact her on:
Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Vignette
Hello Ana and thank you for welcoming me to My Vices and My Weaknesses today! I’m sharing a vignette from His Choice of a Wife. This was a scene between Darcy and Lady Catherine in London that was cut from the final version because it didn’t move the story forward. In the final version, their conflict is only referenced as an exchange of letters. This cut scene is a more heated altercation but didn’t have any impact on the plot. Still, who doesn’t love a good Lady Catherine set-down?
“You need not announce me, step back! I know where to find him.”
Darcy had been indulging in the memory of Elizabeth’s lips on his neck, with his feet propped up on his desk, and was so startled he nearly fell from his chair. He had not noticed the arrival of a carriage, but there was no mistaking the overbearing, booming voice that intruded into hissolitude. The door swung open and Lady Catherine entered with an air more than usually ungracious and sat down without saying a word.
He rose to greet his aunt and tried to disguise his dismay, on both her manner of barging into his home and the fact that she had called at all.
“Good afternoon, madam. I trust you are in good health. I admit that I had quite forgotten that you were to be in town in June.”
“You can be at no loss, Darcy, to know why I come.”
“You are mistaken; I cannot account for seeing you here.”
“Darcy,” replied her Ladyship, in an angry tone, “your most alarming letter reached me last night. It had been sent to Rosings Park and that must explain why it has only come to me now. You have made an offer of marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Had I heard it from anyone else I would have supposed it a scandalous falsehood!”
“Lady Catherine,” said Darcy, coloring with astonishment and disdain, “it is no falsehood. I have made her an offer of marriage and am pleased to have been accepted.”
“Do you still retain the use of your reason? What arts and allurements has she used to make you forget what you owe yourself and all your family? How is it that she has drawn you in?”
He paced as he attempted to rein in his emotions. That she would charge into his home and disparage his intended’s reputation was not to be borne! He had anticipated Lady Catherine’s disapproval, but he had never dreamed she would accuse Elizabeth of seducing him.
“Do you truly believe that I offered to marry her in a moment of infatuation?”
“What about Anne? You are engaged to my daughter!”
“No, madam, I am happily engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Darcy attempted to placate her. “It might have been a favorite wish of my mother and you, but I am not destined for my cousin. I am neither by honor nor inclination confined to Anne and I have made my choice.”
“Do not expect to be noticed by your family or friends, Darcy, should you willfully act against the inclinations of all and marry this girl. You will be censured, slighted, and despised by everyone connected with you.”
“I doubt that but, if it were so, with Miss Bennet as my wife I shall have such an extraordinary source of happiness that I would have no cause to repine!”
“You would let the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune divide you from uniting our respective houses?”
“Miss Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman and I will have you remember that, madam.”
“True, but what of her mother? Who are her uncles and aunts?”
“Since I do not object to them, they can be nothing to you!” Darcy found his patience wearing thin.
After some hesitation she replied, “You must find a way to withdraw from this engagement. I shall convince this girl to release you. I expect Miss Bennet to be a reasonable woman, and she would show me gratitude for my attentions last spring. I will set off at once and make my sentiments known to her.”
If Darcy had been angry before, this declaration made his blood boil. He swiftly approached Lady Catherine with his jaw clenched as he towered over her. “You will do no such thing!” His aunt leaned away from him in her chair, her eyes wide with shock. “You have widely mistaken my character if you think I can be worked on by such pretensions as these. Had Miss Bennet not accepted my hand it would not have made me then wish to bestow it on Anne. I doubt that my family will resent me for acting in a manner which will constitute my happiness.”
“I am exceedingly angry that you have allowed this, this lady of easy virtue to draw you in! Did she offer you a bit of muslin on the sly? I cannot imagine any other possible means for which you would throw off your duty and your honor. You need not marry her if that be the case; let her be your mistress and take Anne to be your wife.”
“I want you to leave,” Darcy said in an icily quiet voice.
“I beg your pardon, Darcy, what did you say to me?” Lady Catherine’s jaw hung open.
“You have been ordered to remove yourself from my home. You have insulted both my betrothed and me in every possible method and I shall no longer suffer your interference in my affairs.” Darcy strode to the door of his library and threw open the door. He ordered the footman in the vestibule to call his aunt’s carriage. Lady Catherine rose from her chair in silent indignation and Darcy led her from the library. “You might wait outside, for I have nothing further to say to you,” and he swiftly shut the door behind her.
Thank you, Heather for sharing this scene with us. It is a pity that it is cut from the final edition but we are able to enjoy it here. I really like when Lady Catherine has an argument about Darcy’s choice of a bride. I simply imagine her almost hyperventilating!!
By the way, Elizabeth kissing Darcy’s neck?!? That sounds like a very happy ending to me *hehehe*
Would you like to buy this book now as you cannot wait how this relationship is going to develop? You can do it on the links below, remember to check if there is the ebook or the paperback edition depending on what you want (not both formats are available on every link).
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon DE Bookdepository
Blog Tour Schedule
This is the last stop of this lovely tour, I recommend you to visit previous stops to enjoy much more of His Choice of a Wife.
July 25th More Agreeably Engaged
July 26th Babblings of a Bookworm
July 27th My Love for Jane Austen
July 28th Half Agony, Half Hope
July 29th Austenesque Reviews
July 30th From Pemberley to Milton
July 31st Savvy Verse & Wit
August 1st Darcyholic Diversions
August 2nd Diary of an Eccentric
August 3rd Margie’s Must Reads
August 4th My Jane Austen Book Club
August 5th So Little Time…
August 6th My Vices and Weaknesses
Meryton Press is giving away to eight winners, 8 ebooks of Heather Moll’s His Choice of a Wife. Click the link below and follow instructions. Good luck!
Elizabeth kissing Darcy’s neck? That sounds scandalous. I wonder what lead her to kiss his neck. Can’t wait to find out.
Anyway, I like that Darcy stood up for himself and his beloved and threw his aunt out from his library. I bet Lady Catherine didn’t see that coming.
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I like a determined Darcy, too. And if he listened to Lady Catherine, he wouldn’t get any more neck kisses from Elizabeth. No wonder he threw her out 🙂 Thanks you for all you your support this blog tour 🙂
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I loved that scene. Thank you for sharing it. Darcy throwing Lady Catherine out and ordering her from his house. A taste of her own medicine. An unanticipated result of her tirade.
And I cannot wait to find out why Elizabeth so wantonly kissed Daddy’s neck.
I am looking forward to reading this book. Congratulations on its release.
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I’m glad you enjoyed reading the scene. Who doesn’t love Lady Catherine being told what to do for a change? I hope you enjoy the book. Thanks for your support during the blog tour Deborah Anne!
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Thank you so much for hosting me today Ana! You got the only vignette of the entire blog tour and I hope you and your readers got a kick out of it 🙂
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It’s my pleasure, Heather. I really liked the scene and I’m looking forward to reading your book 🙂
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That must have been somewhat of a shock for Lady Catherine
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Quite the shock but she had it coming. Thanks Vesper!
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Indeed!
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Too bad this had to be cut from the book, but I’m glad we got a chance to read it here. It was a delicious set-down! Lady Catherine didn’t see that one coming in her obliviousness to Darcy’s feelings. How fun to see Darcy ordering her from his house and shutting the door behind her! What a rude interrupting of Darcy’s more pleasant thoughts…a kiss on the neck…hmmm!?! Thank you, Heather and Ana, for the delightful post today.
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It had to go, but I’m glad I had the chance to share it here. Thank you Janet!
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I wish this was still in the book!
I like the idea of Elizabeth kissing Darcy’s neck!
Lady Catherine deserved the set down she got and I’m so glad Darcy gave it then threw her out! Fabulous!
I’m sorry I haven’t had chance to read this yet but it will be included in my next book buying spree!
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I believe the neck-kissing is still there. Sadly, this conversation is not there.
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With this Lady Catherine scene gone there was more room for Darcy and Elizabeth smooching scenes. Fair trade, right? I hope you end up liking the book Glynis!
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Oh Heather, I’ve just finished reading this book and I loved it (especially the neck kissing 🙂 🙂 )
I was smitten from Darcy and Elizabeth both doing their best to let the other know their feelings had changed in the parsonage!
I’ve left a five star review on Amazon UK. Well deserved thank you. I look forward to your next book 🙂
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This was such a treat to wake up to, Glynis! Thank you thank you thank you 🙂
I appreciate you reviewing and recommending!
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WOW, how exciting! I too, would like to know more about Elizabeth kissing Darcy’s neck. Evidently the betrothal is going well. And Lady Catherine is indeed Lady C–too outspoken, but Darcy handled it well. Now to see what the book has to offer… Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you!
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Hello! To enter the giveaway, click the link on the post and follow the instructions, please.
The link that reads “Rafflecopter – His Choice of a wife”
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I had no idea Elizabeth kissing Darcy’s neck would be such a tease! Best of luck in the giveaway!
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Thanks to Heather and Ana for this fun vignette! Part of the reason these types of scenes are so satisfying is because in Canon, we see Darcy being mostly mute around his aunt and seldom contradicting her.
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It’s such fun to see Darcy take the actions we wished we had seen him take in canon, and telling off Lady Catherine is always a good time! Thanks for reading Kelly!
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Loved the excerpt! I hope I get lucky!!
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Thanks for reading the excerpt. Best of luck in the giveaway!
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I had been following your tou to read excerpts from your story.
Loved the blending of this original parts into this variation.Instead of EB , FD was the one who ttered the words…Nice. Thank you for these excerpts and the chance to win the book
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You’ve been such a great participant during this blog tour! I’ve enjoyed your comments. Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway.
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Really glad I came across this new book on my husband’s FB feed. Looks great!
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I’m happy you found it 🙂 your husband shows great taste too!
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I’m so pleased that you found it! And your husband had fabulous taste in both spouse and books! Thanks for reading 🙂
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It’s a shame this scene was cut as I always love Darcy standing up to Lady Catherine.
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I love him telling her off, too. One of the sacrifices to word count and keeping the story moving forward. It did leave space for more Darcy and Elizabeth page time, though! Thanks for all of your support this blog tour 🙂
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I can see Lady Catherine making these statements. Darcy’s expressions are harder. I guess I need to imagine his face when he looks at Wickham.
Loved the scene.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. I like a Darcy who won’t let anyone talk trash about his girl 😉
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Enjoyed the excerpt
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Thanks so much! Good luck in the giveaway!
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