Hi dear friends! It is a busy and exciting week at Austenesque Reviews! Today I am happy to welcome author Christine Combe! Christine’s Austenesque offerings include The Correction of Folly and Choice and Consequence. And today she is here to celebrate her newest release The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy. Woot woot! What an original premise – I love outside of canon stories like this one that change the history or circumstances of these characters.

Today Christine is sharing an excerpt from The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy. We hope you enjoy! 🤗

Greetings, fellow Austenians! I’m so excited to be visiting Austenesque Reviews for the first time. Today I’m here to brag about my newest release, The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy.

~ Book Description ~

When Elizabeth Bennet moves with her widowed sister and niece to an estate in Derbyshire, she does not expect to find herself captivated by the mysterious steward of Pemberley. Though cautioned not to spend more time in his company than she ought, Elizabeth finds she cannot stay away from him.

Fitzwilliam Darcy’s father lost half the family fortune to a pair of swindlers and the rest to gaming and investments that gave no returns. He knows he is no good for the daughter of a baronet, but he falls for the lively Elizabeth in spite of every reason he should not.

When the two determine their mutual attraction cannot be denied, Darcy decides to accept the challenge of re-entering society more for the sake of Elizabeth’s reputation than his own. Because both know it won’t be easy for him to regain the good opinion of the ton, Darcy goes to his noble relations to seek their assistance and Elizabeth joins him in London to support his efforts.

Of course, the expectation of whispers and snobbery is scant preparation for facing down the harshest critic of them all: one’s own family.

~~~

In this new story, circumstances are vastly different for ODC: Elizabeth and her sisters are the daughters of a baronet, and Darcy has no fortune. But as always, the stars align and one of literature’s most beloved couples unite, determined to take on the world together!

I’m doing something different from previous posts on the tour with the excerpt and sharing a snippet from the last chapter instead of one of the early chapters. Why? Because the subject matter is delicate, and I want to make sure people know how I—and in turn, the characters in this story—feel about it. If you have the book on your Kindle but have not read it all yet, and don’t want the spoiler, I advise you to skip down to the comments so you can enter the contest for an ebook copy.

Now, you know from the blurb that Darcy is down on his luck in this story. In this scene, he finds out what the thieving Wickhams did with his father’s money. The Alexander you meet here and the Robert he refers to are Darcy’s uncles on his father’s side.

~ Excerpt from The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy ~

(SPOILER ALERT! This excerpt comes from later in the book)

“Did you ever find the Wickhams? Did they tell you anything of what happened to my father’s money?” Darcy asked.

“I have long wondered how they managed to take so much as they did,” said Fitzwilliam.

Alexander’s expression changed to one of regret and he bit his lip. “I deeply regret to inform you that Robert is the reason Albert Wickham was able to take so much.”

Four shocked faces stared back at him.

“Oh, my brother was unaware that I knew,” he continued, “for I did not even know it myself until I tracked Albert down in Antigua.”

“Antigua!” cried Elizabeth. “Dare I even ask what he was doing down there?”

“Getting richer,” was the reply. “He acquired a sugar plantation with his share of my brother’s money, and with his knowledge of managing an estate enabled it to prosper.”

Alexander looked to his nephew. “By and by, Fitzwilliam, you are now the owner of said plantation.”

Darcy’s astonishment could not be greater. “However did you manage that?”

“I held a gun to his head,” Alexander replied matter-of-factly. “Probably not entirely necessary, given he was ill with dysentery and about as weak as a newborn babe, but I admit I rather liked that he was afraid of me. As it was, the fool had no will, so it was only a matter of his drafting a document declaring you his partner and sole inheritor, which I and two others signed as witnesses. I daresay he didn’t expect to die within a week.”

Jane gasped softly as Darcy exchanged a look with Fitzwilliam. “Alexander, you didn’t…”

Alexander laughed. “No indeed—was the dysentery did that! All that was necessary for me to get what I wanted was to frighten him out of his wits and make him believe I would. The plantation does a clear four thousand a year above cost, which would be a very respectable income were it not earned by slave labor.”

“Indeed, sir,” said Elizabeth. “Four thousand per annum would be quite enough to maintain Pemberley without assistance from our families, and though I am aware there are many who earn their fortunes by such means, I really cannot abide it.”

“Nor can I, Elizabeth; I shall have to do something about that,” said Darcy, who then looked once more at his uncle. “What has Robert to do with the theft of my father’s money?”

Alexander sighed. “As he was writing the note I mentioned—which is in my bag, and I’ll show it to you in a moment—Albert said he didn’t steal from George entirely alone. I asked him what he meant, and he said that Robert had once called at Pemberley just as George was giving him another blank note to fill in and take to the bank. Robert later accosted him and said that if he wanted a real score there was a way to do it, though afterward, he’d have to disappear.”

Darcy blinked. “You’re saying it was Robert that convinced him to take the hundred thousand?”

His uncle nodded. “I thought at first it was but a Canterbury tale meant to deflect the blame for his unfaithfulness and treachery, but when I consider how angry Robert was in the days following the discovery of the theft, I’m rather inclined to believe Albert. Robert’s fury about our brother being an easily duped fool was a blind to cover the fact that he’d been double-crossed. Making certain all the attention was on George quite perfectly prevented anyone from even suspecting he had anything to do with it.”

Standing suddenly, Darcy paced away and muttered oaths under his breath. It was a minute or two before he could rein in his temper enough to face the others. “And what of Wickham the younger? Did you ever manage to locate him?”

Alexander nodded. “Found that little wretch in America, living as dissolutely as I’d expected of him. The only smart thing he did was to follow his father’s example and purchase land, and enough slaves to do the work required to maintain it for him. The rest of his share he was gambling away and spending on booze and bits of muslin. Oh, and not doing a damn thing to support the by-blows I discovered scattered along his trail.”

Theodore snorted derisively. “More slaves and a slew of illegitimate children. Why am I not surprised?”

“Where is he now?” Darcy asked.

“As dead as his father,” Alexander replied. “Unfortunately, he wasn’t as easily intimidated as Albert and was spoony enough to challenge me to a duel—the practice is not yet illegal there, and one day we drew pistols at dawn. Little Wicky lost.”

Darcy scoffed and shook his head in disgust; not because his uncle had dueled the younger Wickham, but because the latter had been stupid enough to challenge a commodore of the King’s Navy in the first place.

“What became of the wretch’s property?” asked Fitzwilliam.

The deed is in abeyance until it can be proved Wickham had no legitimate heirs or relatives who can claim it. When it is discovered there are none, as I expect, I intend to see to it the property comes to my nephew. You’ve now a hand in the cotton industry as well, Fitzwilliam, unless you’re of a mind to sell the place once it is yours.”

Darcy turned to him. “I will make that decision when the time comes,” he said. “You are certain of the property in Antigua being legally my own?”

Alexander nodded, then frowned. “I believe so, though certainly a solicitor may be required to settle any legal matters.”

“My father’s man knows property law,” Fitzwilliam said then. “You could take the document to him early next week, I am sure.”

Darcy nodded. “I think it wise to consult with an attorney regarding both properties before considering this nightmare at an end. Abolition is a just and noble cause that I fully support, and I’ll not regain what was lost at the expense of other human beings. If I a way can be found to manage both properties without the use of slaves, I will be happy to have them.”

He then looked to his uncle and said, “Thank you, Alexander. What you have done for me when you were under no obligation to make things right—”

Alexander stood and moved toward him as he said, “On the contrary, Fitzwilliam, it was indeed my responsibility. With your father dead, our brother disinclined, and yourself so determined to remain at Pemberley, I could do nothing else. You are my family, and family connections are always worth preserving. I only wish it had not taken me so long to pay off before I could see to the restoration of your fortune.”

“Nonetheless, I thank you,” said Darcy.

Elizabeth stood and moved to his side. “As do I,” said she. “I am further gratified to know that there is at least one more Darcy in the world who is of such remarkable character.”

Alexander grinned at her. “I am happy to be of service to you, madam.”

After Darcy reviewed the document Alexander had procured and Fitzwilliam saw that he was settled into a guest room, Darcy carried out his promise of finishing the Christmas story for the girls. Later, he settled into bed with Elizabeth lighter of heart than he had been in six years.

The next day saw the exchange of small gifts between the family, and on Boxing Day, Fitzwilliam called on several of his tenants to present them with gifts Anne had wanted to give them before she declined. Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana, Angelique, and Antoinette spent time getting acquainted with their uncle, and Jane looked after her children.

It was decided that all of the Darcys would depart Rosings the following week when it was time to take Alexander’s document to be examined by Lord Disley’s solicitor. Many embraces and kisses and tears were exchanged between Elizabeth, Jane, and Margaret the day they took their leave, and Darcy promised he would arrange for the new Mrs. Fitzwilliam’s belongs to be transported from Derbyshire to Kent at the first opportunity.

In London, John Knightley carefully examined the paper written by Albert Wickham and declared it as good as an official last will and testament—that there were multiple witnesses to its being written, he said, added to the credibility of the document and his legal authority to pursue the drafting of official papers on Darcy’s behalf. He was also eager for the challenge of “doing battle” with the American legal system for control of the estate of George Wickham, once he learned the truth of how both properties had been obtained (minus certain salacious parts of the recent history).

When Darcy further informed him that he had no wish to own slaves, Knightley promised he would look into the slavery laws of both the Empire and America to determine the procedures for freeing them on both plantations and what difficulties they might encounter in doing so. He cautioned Darcy that it was likely to take some time and that he was almost guaranteed to lose a great deal of money, but Darcy was adamant that he had no desire to profit from slave labor.

Well done, Mr. Darcy! It looks like quite a reversal of fortunes has taken place. I’m glad to know it all turns out well. I look forward to following the windy and rocky path Darcy and Elizabeth traversed to get here! 📖

***

~ About Christine ~

Christine, like many a JAFF author before her, is a long-time admirer of Jane Austen’s work, and she hopes that her alternate versions are as enjoyable as the originals. She has plans to one day visit England and take a tour of all the grand country estates which have featured in film adaptations, and often dreams of owning one. Christine lives in Ohio and is already at work on her next book.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Today Christine brings with her ONE ebook copy of The Reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy for me to give away to ONE lucky reader! 

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

• This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Christine!
• This giveaway ends August 14th.