Happy Friday, friends! I am so glad to be getting close to the weekend! Aren’t you?
I am also excited to start my weekend off by learning more about this fabulous new release from Meryton Press called Silver Buckles – which sounds absolutely lovely! Grace Gibson has stopped by Austenesque Reviews to share an enticing excerpt from her Pride and Prejudice variation, Silver Buckles. We hope you enjoy!
What a beautiful blog you have created, Meredith! Thank you so much for hosting me and giving me a chance to introduce my Meryton Press debut novel, Silver Buckles, to your readers.
After claiming she is not handsome enough to tempt him and refusing to dance with Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton assembly, Mr. Darcy realizes she overheard him. As a gentleman, he must apologize, and he does so with little humility, ending with a curt invitation to Elizabeth to stand up with him. With the gentleman extending his hand and attracting a great deal of attention in the process, she can hardly refuse without making a scene.
Elizabeth’s Story…
I took my place in the line of dancers with Mr. Darcy. Egad, the man was insufferable, but this was the most fun I had had in ages! He looked pinched and irritated, but to be fair, he made a very elegant partner. How could I resist teasing him just a little?
“You are not the only one in your party who does not enjoy a country dance, I think, sir,” I remarked as we swirled past Mr. Bingley’s two sisters and his brother-in-law. The three of them stared at us with expressions of dismay.
My partner offered a tight, mirthless smile. I thought he might be silent for the rest of the dance, but then he abruptly replied, “I cannot imagine why they do not rejoice at being jostled, observed, and discussed like fairground curiosities.”
I laughed at him.
“You,” he said pointedly, “enjoy this vulgar romp, do you?”
“I am not above my company.”
He seemed to ruminate as the steps of the dance separated us, but when he once again took up my hand, he was ready with a most provoking rejoinder.
“What is that noise?” he asked plaintively.
We had just rounded the corner of the room where my mother loudly held court. I sensed we were to take the buttons off our foils and fence in earnest now.
“Oh!” I replied brightly, “that is my mother. I am dancing with the richest man in Derbyshire, and she is planning our wedding.”
This startled a bark of laughter from Mr. Darcy-of-ten-thousand-a-year. “And just how do you plan to secure me, Miss—forgive me, I do not recall which of the dozen unmarried Bennet sisters I have the pleasure of entertaining.”
“I am Miss Elizabeth, sir. Our hovel is just over three miles from the palace of Netherfield. You might see me pulling turnips from the garden if you pass that way tomorrow.”
For the first time, Mr. Darcy looked at me in earnest. I did not get the impression he was entirely displeased with what he saw, so I pressed my advantage. “But you really should not laugh at my teasing, sir.”
“Why not?” he asked with a tiny frown.
“Because your friends seem quite put out that you are enjoying yourself. I believe, if they raise their noses any higher in the air, we shall see right into their skulls.”
“They are above their company,” the deplorable man replied as though he offered a reasonable defense for snobbery.
“Oh? They are saints and angels, then? My word, how fortunate we heathens of Hertfordshire are tonight.”
My partner visibly relaxed, and a genuine smile flashed toward me for the briefest second. “Well,” he admitted, “I believe Mr. Hurst is a saint. He is forever in their company, yet he bears up regardless.”
“I see the saint is taking Communion now,” I replied with a twinkling laugh. As one, we turned to watch him at the refreshments table, drinking down the contents of a glass in one gulp and reaching for a second.
“Yes, he is devoted to his bread and wine.” We watched in amusement as he piled his plate high with shaved ham and local cheeses.
“And his hair shirt?”
“He is married to it,” my partner replied.
It was my turn to laugh aloud. If I continued in this vein, I would be no better than my sister Lydia who, at this juncture, was roaring at something John Lucas was telling her. My unladylike whoop of laughter caused Mr. Bingley’s sisters to look, if it were possible, even more outraged than before.
Upon rejoining after the chaine anglaise had temporarily separated us, Mr. Darcy followed my gaze, which was still aimed at Mr. Bingley’s sisters, and he said in a musing way, “Ah. As I suspected.”
“What is as you suspected, sir?”
“Their noses are held so high I can clearly see their skulls are indeed hollow as gourds,” he replied quietly and close to my ear.
“Angels are not known for their intelligence,” I explained sweetly.
“No,” he replied with a smile. Was he admiring my intelligence?
Sadly, the strains of the dance were ending, and with surprising reluctance, I followed Mr. Darcy off the floor.
Could it be that Darcy and Elizabeth are about to start a reluctant flirtation? If you would like to find out more, visit Donadee’s Corner tomorrow!
~~~
Oh that is a charming beginning for our dear couple! I always love it when they banter – especially when Darcy is pleasantly surprised by Elizabeth’s wit and intelligence! Thank you so much for sharing this enticing scene, Grace! I cannot wait to see how their relationship progresses from here! 🎩💕
~ Book Description ~
She staggered a great man. He was reeling. She was overwhelmed.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, standing irritably at the edge of the Meryton assembly, declines to dance with Elizabeth Bennet. In a mood of revulsion, he rejects her without concern of being overheard. Country pretensions are always in need of squashing, and what better way to make clear he would not partner anyone outside his party? However, when he looks over at her, she does not appear humbled at all. She is secretly laughing at him!
Elizabeth is perversely delighted to encounter such an outrageous snob as Mr. Darcy. When he approaches her with a stiff, graceless apology, she coolly brushes him off, believing that, like most annoyances, he will go away when properly snubbed. But no! The man then puts out his hand and, not wishing to create a scene, compels her to stand up with him.
They go through the steps of the dance mutually disdainful and intent upon wounding each other. But by the time the musicians end their tune, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have traded barbs with such accuracy, they are unaccountably amused and engaged. Will this most inconvenient flirtation drive them apart—or, like silver buckles, are they a matched pair?
~ Connect with Grace ~
~ About Grace ~
In addition to mosaic art, which I create at Studio Luminaria, my home-based glass shop in El Paso, Texas, I enjoy writing regency romance and Pride and Prejudice< variations for pleasure.
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Meryton Press is generously giving away 8 ebook editions of Silver Buckles in conjunction with this blog tour!! Woot woot!
Commenting on this post and entering through the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Meryton Press!
- This giveaway ends October 29th!
Thank you to Janet Taylor, Meryton Press, and Grace Gibson for making this blog tour possible!
Be sure to check out the rest of this tour!
Thank you this warm welcome, Meredith. I am so happy to be here today!
I am looking forward to reading this story. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you and good luck!
This sounds delightful! Thank you for sharing your excerpt!
I am glad you thought so, Cassandra. Thank you for stopping by today!
I do love the cover and the gown. Thank you for offering a bit of your story.
I agree, Nancy. Janet Taylor made such a fabulous cover for this book!
Can’t wait to read this one! If I weren’t in the middle of another series, I’d be in the middle of it already. It sounds like everything one could want in a JAFF variation. I adore good banter ❤️
Hello Mary! Thank you so much for your comment and I hope you enjoy the book when you finish the series you are currently enjoying.
Got the book the instant it came out & love it.
I am excited to hear that, Beatrice! Thank you for stopping by and for your feedback.
This sounds like it will be exceptionally entertaining! Love that banter!
I hope you enjoy the book, Katie, and wish you luck on the giveaway. Thank you!
Great excerpt. Can’t wait to read more!
Hi Amy! A few more excerpts will appear on my next blog stop, Donadee’s Corner. I hope to see you there. Thank you for visiting this beautiful page today!
This looks like it will be a great book to read. I love the cover and the sample of bantering was delightful!
Hello Jan! I also love that cover, designed by Janet Taylor. How lucky am I to get such a wrapper? I hope you will enjoy the book. Thank you!
Hello Jan! I agree Janet Taylor designed such a beautiful cover. I appreciate your comments so much.
This should be a very fun book to read!
I do hope you will enjoy it, Xena. Thank you!
Oh wonderful! I so love this banter between them! This is definitely high on my list as I do so love to laugh!
Thank you for sharing this fabulous excerpt!
Darcy and Elizabeth might give you a few chuckles in this variation – I love to laugh too! Thank you for visiting and commenting today, Glynis.
This looks like a book I will enjoy. I look forward to reading it.
I do hope you enjoy it, Lynn, and good luck on the giveaway!
There were some good quips in that excerpt! I especially enjoyed ““And his hair shirt?” “He is married to it,” my partner replied.
You made me smile when I read your comment, Ginna. Poor Mr. Hurst! Thank you so much for visiting today!
Oh, that was an awesome peek into the book. Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win a copy!
You are so welcome Cyndy! Good luck and hope to see you at Donadee’s Corner tomorrow.
Thank you for hosting Grace Gibson today, Meredith! It’s always great to visit your blog. Hope you and your Mr. Bingley are well. 🙂
This was a delightful excerpt, Grace. The banter between Darcy and Lizzy is such fun. I love your book and know I will be reading it again. Thank you for sharing your writing skills with us.
Janet, that gorgeous cover you made will get raves for the life of this book – thank you for supporting me on this blog tour!
Thank you, Meredith and Grace! This was a refreshing and charming excerpt, Grace!
Thank you, Kelly!
What a dance. Loved their verbal sparring.
Nice to see you here today and thank you for commenting. There are a few more excerpts still to come if you would like to join me at Donadee’s Corner tomorrow.
I’ve started reading this, and it’s wonderful so far!
Oh Brigid, that’s so great to hear – thank you!
Carrying the excerpt through the blog tour and giving us hints with the banter is a clever way to draw in readers, Grace. I’m hooked. Sounds like you’re having a blast on the blog tour, yet I’ll still wish you well on the remainder of your travels through the JAFF world. Thanks, Meredith, for hosting.
I am so grateful for your well-wishes, Suzan. I am having fun on this blog tour but having Janet Taylor hold my hand the whole way has helped!
I will read this in the future, although my TBR list is really starting to overwhelm me.
I am so happy to have Silver Buckles make your TBR list, Jen – I hope you will enjoy it!
What a fun excerpt! I can’t wait to read more!
Hi Pam! I am so glad you liked the excerpt. Good luck to you on the giveaway!
Thank you Meredith for hosting. Loving the excerpt. I was laughing out loud when Mr. Darcy said what is that noise! With Elizabeth’s response was just too funny. When I do enter a church again…maybe in two years… I am sure to have a smile on my face when I take communion. Loving the banter between them. Thank you for this chance in this giveaway. Stay safe everyone.
What a lovely comment, Shelley! I am smiling to imagine you taking communion. Meanwhile, stay safe and thank you for stopping by.
Now this is an intriguing start to the relationship. She thinks she’s punishing him by laughing and denying him because of his snobbery, he thinks he’s punishing her by forcing her to dance even though he himself didn’t want to in the first place. Then they trade wit until they’re making each other laugh, I do love it. Can’t wait to read this one!
You are so right, Christina! That is exactly what is happening. Thank you so much for that observation and good luck on the giveaway!
lovely excerpt.
denise
Thank you, Denise!
Love this intriguing twist on “the insult” and their reactions to each other’s snarky comments. I am looking forward to reading the rest of it.
I am happy to hear that – thank you so much!
Oh my.. …that was a wonderful banter.. I am so excited to read therest of the story. Thank you so much for sharing.
So nice of you to follow me on this blog tour – I really appreciate your comments. Thank you!
OMG! I have laughed my head off. I love a D&E when they are like this. What a hoot! I am late reading my posts so I’ve already use the raftlecopter today and it wouldn’t let me post again. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow. I LOVE this banter between ODC. I may have to borrow it from KU, hopefully win a copy, and/or buy a copy because I have to read this. Thanks, Meredith for hosting [hello to your Mr. Bingley]. Thanks to Meryton Press for the generous giveaway, and thanks to our author, Grace Gibson for the delightful [and witty] dance scene. Oh, I LOVE those stain glass designs in the background of your picture. Lovely… simply lovely.
Oh I love the idea of Lizzy using her mother to get under Darcy’s skin…and a Darcy that then takes it and turns it back against her. This is going to be a book to read at home so no one thinks you are crazy for randomly laughing out loud in public….but that would be a good way to get people to follow the whole social distance rule. 🙂
I just finished this book and loved it! So many authors tell us that Elizabeth is witty, but I liked how this one actually showed it. It made me laugh so many times. Great fun.
I enjoyed the excerpt – Love a sassy Lizzy!
I love that ODC get to actually converse at their first meeting. Their banter throughout the dance is sparkling and fun. Sounds like a great way to lighten our reading time.
What a fun scene, thank you for sharing it.
Absolutely one of the best give and take between Lizzy and Darcy I’ve read in a long time. Well done! I wish you all the best in the launch of your book.