Happy Friday, friends! I’m happy to start the weekend by welcoming back Sue Barr to Austenesque Reviews! Did you see that Sue Barr recently released her fifth Austenesque novel? In addition to her Pride and Prejudice Continued…. trilogy and Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone, Sue’s newest release, Pride and Perception, sounds terrific! 

Sue is here to share an enticing excerpt from Pride and Perception. We hope you enjoy! 🥰

Thank you so much for having me here today, Meredith. My latest release, Pride and Perception, began with a ‘what if’ premise of Elizabeth knowing about the other terrible insult Darcy spouted in the company of the Bingley siblings. In original canon, we don’t learn about it until mentioned by Caroline Bingley in Chapter III of Volume III (Chapter 45), wherein she says:

“I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we all were to find that she was a reputed beauty; and I particularly recollect your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, ‘She a beauty! — I should as soon call her mother a wit’ But afterwards she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time.”

In my story, Elizabeth overheard this insult early in the game and it further sets her mind against the whole Netherfield party.

Today, I’m sharing an excerpt from the Netherfield Ball. Elizabeth, after talking it over with Jane, she decided, if the opportunity arose, to make Mr. Darcy aware of Mr. Wickham attempt to spread rumors.

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By this time Darcy had approached to claim her hand. Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place in the set. They stood for some time without speaking a word and she began to imagine their silence would last through both dances and into supper. Against her will, her lip curled into a smile at the thought. She was immediately reminded of a time when she’d come across him in the library when stranded at Netherfield and he’d not said one word to her the entire time she was in the room with him. At least a half hour had passed in that fashion.

Her perverse sense of humor demanded that she force him to have some form of conversation with her.

“Miss Bingley has done a wonderful job with the decorations.”

“Yes, she had been quite diligent in her duties.”

After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time.

“It is your turn to say something, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.”

He smiled and said, “Whatever you wish me to say, I will do so.”

“You are being evasive, Mr. Darcy, but I forgive you because you saved me from my cousin.”

“Thank you for your consideration and I could not stand by and watch your cousin abuse you so.”

“You have a very firm idea of justice and if I remember one of our conversations, you told me that once your good opinion is lost, it is lost forever.”

“I did say that, but you are well within the parameters of my good opinion, Miss Elizabeth, so have no fear, we can safely enjoy our dances.” She made no answer and they were again silent till they had gone down the dance, and he spoke again. “Do you and your sisters often walk to Meryton?”

“Yes, it is one of my younger sister’s favorite pastime as they are not yet out in society. When you last saw us, we had made a new acquaintance.”

The effect was immediate. A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features, but he said not a word. Elizabeth, not knowing how to broach the subject of Mr. Wickham’s complaints, also remained silent. At length, Darcy spoke, and in a constrained manner said, “Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends – whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain.”

“I am well aware that he has lost your friendship and is free in his voicing dislike of you and your sister−”

Mr. Darcy grabbed her arm and moved with amazing speed off the dance floor and down the deserted hall which led to the study and family parlor.

“Mr. Darcy, let go of my arm. Where are you taking me?”

“Someplace where we can speak in private.”

He maintained his grip and continued to drag her down the hall, veering through the open door to the study. He propelled Lizzy into the room and she whirled around and watched in horror as he swung the door behind him. She reached out with her hand as if to stop it from closing.

“Don’t close the door so hard…” she cried out as the door hit the frame with a thud and a familiar click could be heard, “…it becomes stuck when you do,” she finished on a whisper.

“What did you say?” he ground out.

“The door. It becomes stuck if closed too hard.”

“I don’t care about the door; I care only of what Wickham said about my sister.”

“Whether you believe me or not, this conversation could have taken place on the edges of the ballroom.”

“Anything to do with Wickham and my sister will never be aired in public where large ears and even larger mouths will take the tale and spread it about like last year’s manure.”

“I have no intention of spreading−”

Both stopped talking when they heard the distinct voice of Miss Bingley calling out his name. It was soon obvious she was getting closer to the study door.

“We cannot be found together!”

For the first time Elizabeth found humor in the situation because Mr. Darcy sounded almost frantic. She briefly wondered if he’d try to hide under the desk and had to cover her mouth so she wouldn’t squeak out a giggle at the mental image of him folding his large frame beneath the furniture.

“Bloody hell!”

She couldn’t help it; her mouth fell open at his curse.

“Mr. Darcy!” she practically hissed, “I will forgive you for dragging me down the hall like some cave man who needs to assert his masculinity, but I will not have you speak in such a degrading manner in my presence.”

“My apologies, Miss Elizabeth, I am feeling quite discomposed,” he whispered. “How is it that she has discovered us so soon?”

“We both know Miss Bingley would never stay in the ball room for any length of time if you were not there.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You are not an ignorant man. There is no way you are blind to her most tightly held wish.”

“I am not sure to what you are alluding.”

“Please, it is well known that Miss Bingley sees herself as the next mistress of Pemberley and you have been dancing around her affections for quite some time. You push the envelope of propriety by staying with her brother for extended lengths, and surely you, as someone who has graced the ballrooms of many a fine home, knows how society sees behavior such as yours.”

“I would never offer for Miss Bingley and Charles knows this.”

“Yes, but does Miss Bingley?”

The door knob rattled and Miss Bingley called out, “Mr. Darcy. Are you in there?” The knob rattled again.

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth stared at each other. Finally, she broke the silence and whispered, “Are you going to answer? The door can only be opened from that side when it sticks.”

“You will be compromised if she finds us in here alone. Maybe she will leave and seek us elsewhere.”

“You are putting off the inevitable.” Lizzy had no intention of telling him of the secret passage from the study to the master bedchamber. She rather enjoyed seeing him twist in the wind like a limp ribbon.

“Very well.”

He tugged at his waistcoat and turned toward the study door. Lizzy silently approached the left side of the fireplace and just as he said, “I am in here, Miss Bingley,” she pressed the panel that housed the spring door and slipped into the narrow stairwell, the panel closing on its own accord.

Oooh! Elizabeth is a clever minx! I love it! And drat Miss Bingley for interrupting them! 😠

Congrats on your new release, Sue! It sounds fantastic! I love all the clever and unique twists you are exploring in this variation! 🙌🏼

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~ Book Description ~

What if…

-The entail on Longbourn had been broken?

-The Bennets owned Netherfield Park?

-Jane Bennet had firm opinions?

-Lizzy overheard the second derogatory comment Darcy made about her beauty? After the Bennets had dined at Netherfield Park, he said, “Her a beauty? I should as soon call her mother a wit.”

This is a story where we explore all these beautiful what ifs.

** Pride and Perception is available through Kindle Unlimited until June 7 when it will be distributed to other fine digital retailers. **

~ About the Author ~

Sue Barr resides beautiful Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband, three cats and one rescue kitty who adopted the Barr family this past winter. She stays outside and parks her little body by the patio door every morning for ‘breakfast.’

When not writing, Sue enjoys reading – like, who doesn’t?? – baking and cooking. Since she retired from a local police service as a Human Resource Admin, she’s delved into the world of canning and preserving her own food, making as much as possible from scratch, (the mayonnaise did not turn out as planned…), and spoiling her grandchildren. Even during these trying times, she feels so very, very blessed.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

In conjunction with her visit, Sue is giving away 1️⃣ ebook copy of Pride and Perception to 1️⃣ lucky winner!!

  To enter this giveaway leave a comment, a question, or some love for Sue below!

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Sue!
• This giveaway ends April 23rd.