In my novel Conviction, I strive to stay true to Jane Austen’s historical time period and characters. But for this blog post, I’m making a frivolous departure from decorum and plopping poor Georgiana Darcy into the midst of the Dating Game. Here she has the chance to ask questions of three contestants, all original characters in my novel. I hope you enjoy this lighthearted scene.

Host: Please welcome our three contestants. Bachelor # 1, please tell me your name and where you’re from.

#1: I am the parliamentarian Mr. Niles Davidson. I am an MP. I spend most of my time in London, because it is the seat of Parliament.

Host: You’re not by any chance a member of Parliament, are you? Okay, Bachelor #2?

#2: Major Arthur Talbot. London originally.

#3: Jacob. I mean, Jacob Markwood. I mean Mr. Jacob Markwood. Well, many call me the Reverend Jacob Markwood, but I’m really not all that comfortable with titles like that. I grew up in the West Indies.

Host: Now that we’ve met our contestants, let’s bring out our lovely bachelorette. Miss Georgiana Darcy hails from Derbyshire and spends three-quarters of the year at her brother’s estate of Pemberley. The rest of the year she refines her accomplishments in London. Georgiana, if you’re ready to play the Dating Game, go ahead and ask your first question.

Georgiana: Bachelor # 1, what do you do for a living?

#1: I am a member of Parliament who serves with dignity and honor in our nation’s most prized institution, striving ever and always to govern wisely and justly those benighted masses who know not their own good.

Georgiana: 

Uh…ok. Bachelor # 2?

#2: I serve in the military. At the moment, I’m training the new recruits and trying to turn these boys into men. But I’m really more interested in hearing about your pursuits than talking about mine. I wish the game allowed me to ask questions of you instead.

Georgiana: Thank you. Bachelor #3? Same question.

#3: I’m a vicar. My father wanted me to be a politician and an abolitionist, but…it just wasn’t for me, personally. I was blessed, truly, to have been given a parsonage by a gentleman who had no reason to be so generous with me.

#1: I will not be cowed by an overprotective elder sibling. I react nonchalantly and with the dignity that befits a man of Parliament.

Georgiana: Bachelor #2?

#2: I remark on the make and model of the gun and compliment his taste in firearms.

Georgiana: Bachelor #3? How do you react?

#3: Cautiously.

Georgiana: Bachelor #1, describe your dream date.

#1: I would take you to the theatre in London, where you would be assured of a choice seat because of my honorable position as a Member of Parliament.

Georgiana: Bachelor #2?

#2: We would mount our horses and ride out into the country, perhaps engaging in a playful race, at which I suspect you would best me because of your much time in the country side. We would stop somewhere in a delightful grove, where I would arrange a picnic for us of all of your favorite foods, and we would enjoy a time of harmless flirtation and light conversation.

Georgiana: How romantic. Bachelor #3?

#3: Well, I…it isn’t something I had really thought about…I…anywhere you would like to go, I suppose. If I were to take you on a date, I would of course want to please you, and so going anywhere you like, and doing whatever you like, would be ideal.

Georgiana: Bachelor # 1, who is your favorite poet?

#1: Poetry is far too frivolous a pursuit for a man such as myself. I prefer to read the writings of great political philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.

Georgiana: How…uh…interesting. #2?

#2: Though I admire many poets, I would not hesitate to name William Shakespeare as my favorite. His love sonnets are quite moving.

Georgiana: He’s one of my favorites too. #3?

Host: Okay, Georgiana. That’s enough questions. It’s time to choose. Who will it be? Bachelor #1, #2, or #3?

And here the Dating Game ends. To find out whom she chooses, and how she reaches that decision, you’ll have to read Conviction!