“A Dutiful Son” by Kelly Miller, excerpt + giveaway

What will Fitzwilliam Darcy do when his beloved father stands between him and happiness?

Darcy has always emulated his wise and honourable father, George Darcy. But following a sinister act of betrayal by a former family friend, his father rejects his most benevolent principles.

When Georgiana forms a friendship with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy convinces his father to allow the association to continue. However, Elizabeth soon presents a thorny problem: she entices Darcy as no other lady has before, and with his father’s current outlook, he would not approve of her as a daughter-in-law.

Still, Darcy’s problem may resolve in time: his father, after getting to know Elizabeth, is certain to recognise her many admirable qualities and change his mind. But what if he does not?

In this Pride & Prejudice Regency variation, Fitzwilliam Darcy is caught between the influences of love and duty. Which of these will wield the greatest power?

It sounds so angsty already!! Do you think Mr Darcy father will be so tough? and who this “family friend” may be? Any guesses? 😉

Hello all! I hope you are well.

I am enjoying this book already and even if I have just started I want to know more!

I am glad to welcome again Kelly Miller who is sharing some insight on her latest novel: A Dutiful Son.

Award-winning author Kelly Miller is a native Californian and Anglophile, who made her first visit to England in 2019. When not pondering a plot point or a turn of phrase, she can be found playing the piano, singing, or walking her dogs. Kelly Miller resides in Silicon Valley with her husband, daughter, and their pets.

You can follow her on: Blog Twitter Instagram Facebook

A Dutiful Son is her sixth book published by Meryton Press. The first five are:

Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley, a Pride and Prejudice Regency romantic sequel with a touch of fantasy.

Mr. Darcy’s Perfect Match, a Pride and Prejudice Regency romantic variation.

Accusing Mr. Darcy, a Pride and Prejudice Regency romantic mystery.

A Consuming Love, a Pride and Prejudice Regency novella.

Captive Hearts, a Persuasion Regency variation.

I recommend you to check these books! I have read most of them and I believe you may enjoy them a lot! The links on them go to Amazon UK but you can easily then check on your specific Amazon link.

Yes, you also have the link to A Dutiful Son, but I am leacing a few more of this book below:

Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon ES Amazon DE

You may think that I have shared the links to buy it too soon. However, I think you may change your mind when you read the excerpt Kelly is sharing with us. It is pretty cute, even if I think that Elizabeth is perhaps too direct.

Thank you so much for having me today, Ana. I’m happy to be here with an excerpt from “A Dutiful Son,” my Regency “Pride & Prejudice” variation. In this scene, from Chapter 2 in the book, Fitzwilliam Darcy dances with Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton assembly. The excerpt is in Darcy’s point of view.

He led Miss Elizabeth into position for the third set with a heightened sense of anticipation. What method would she employ to entice him?

“You have done me a tremendous service by engaging me in this set.” Miss Elizabeth spoke just before stepping away to take a turn with the gentleman to Darcy’s left.

The mere seconds it took for her to return to him seemed to elapse in slow motion. “What do you mean?”

“The rain this morning prevented me from taking my customary walk. Since I missed out on that bit of exercise, I am particularly eager to dance tonight. However, the ladies far outnumber the gentleman on this occasion. I had expected to sit out a dance or two, but now I am certain to dance every set.”

“Why is that?”

“My neighbours will wish to seek my opinion of the much-anticipated wealthy friend of Mr. Bingley.”

“I see.” His heart raced. The possibility of her approval loomed before him like an elusive treasure. “And what will you tell them?”

She arched an eyebrow. “I should not wish to make my conclusions apace. After all, the set has just begun.”

The prudent course would be to change the subject, but his desire to hear her opinion of him displaced any other consideration. “You must have formed a first impression, at least.”

Miss Elizabeth tipped her head at an angle. “Very well. In all likelihood, I shall report that you are”—she flitted away for a few interminable seconds to complete a fleuret step—“an amiable, perceptive, and kind-hearted gentleman, if a bit reserved, who will be a welcome addition to the area.”

He closed his lips against a burgeoning smile. “Thank you. That is far more than I should expect for an initial perception. How did you come to this determination?”

Her smile took on a tender cast. “Well, you danced with my dear friend Charlotte…um…Miss Lucas. That alone speaks in your favour.”

“Mr. Bingley danced with her too.”

“He did, and my neighbours already have a favourable opinion of him. However, you did something that Mr. Bingley did not. While dancing with her, you gave my friend your complete attention.”

“My friend did not pay her the same courtesy?”

“Mr. Bingley divided his focus between Miss Lucas and my sister Jane, who danced nearby with Mr. Lucas.”

Yes, that sounded like Bingley. “Do you have any further evidence to support your findings?”

“Evidence?” She flashed a grin. “No, but I have learnt to trust my intuition. Your deportment denotes confidence and authority, yet your eyes possess a sentient quality. My guess is that, while you are accustomed to wielding a fair amount of power, you possess a benevolent nature.”

Darcy grew warmer than the physical activity of the dance could have produced. Miss Elizabeth had bestowed upon him the rare compliment that had naught to do with his appearance, his intelligence, his standing, or any skill he possessed.

Her smile faltered. “I hope I have not offended you. At times, my manner strays perilously close to impertinence.”

“No, not at all. I hope I never give you cause to change your initial assessment.”

“I hope not as well”—her lips curved into a cheeky smile—“for I dislike being proven wrong.”

His dance with Miss Elizabeth presented a peculiar experience. Her movements, guileless smiles, and luminous eyes conveyed her delight in the activity, making an entrancing display. Their stream of witty conversation kept him talking for the entire half hour, yet it never seemed like a chore. On the contrary, words flowed off his tongue as though he had known her for years.

Like Miss Lucas before her, Miss Elizabeth never broached the subjects of his estate or his connexions. Instead, she led him into discussions of such topics as childhood games he used to enjoy, the dog breeds that made the best companions, and recent books they had each read.

Darcy froze in a momentary state of bewilderment when the musicians played the final notes of the dance. A set had never elapsed with such speed. It would have been no trial on his part to continue their conversation, but he had no sooner thanked Miss Elizabeth for the dance when she curtseyed and glided off, disappearing into the crowd.

Another remarkable aspect of his dance with Miss Elizabeth became evident as the evening wore on. That singular experience boosted his vigour, enabling him to sail through his subsequent dances with relative ease. In fact, in addition to those sets he had already garnered, he sought and obtained places on the dance cards of three other local ladies.

I love her first impression of him 😀 Has anyone else imagined Darcy like puffing with pride after that great description?

Short but good blog tour, starting with yesterday’s post. Do not miss any of them 🙂

October 18 – My Jane Austen Book Club

October 19 – My Vices and Weaknesses

October 20 – From Pemberley to Milton

October 21 – Babblings of a Bookworm

October 24 – Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

Meryton Press iis giving away one ebook for one winner on this blog tour post. I will select the winner between the comments. The giveaway is international and it is open until the 23rd of October 2022 at 23:59 CET.

Comment on the book, or on the excerpt. What do you expect from A Dutiful Son? Have you read any book by Kelly Miller?