Greetings, dear readers! Did you see that the lovely Amy D’Orazio released a brand new book this week? Her latest Pride and Prejudice, which promises an attempted compromise and forced marriage scenario – So Material a Change – came out on Monday! 🎉

YAAAAASSSSSSS! I don’t know about you, but after loving every brilliant novel she has written (don’t ask me to choose a favorite – I think it is impossible!), I am so excited to start this one and see where these altered situations take our dear Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth! 💗

Amy is here today to share an oh beautiful and tender excerpt from her new release – So Material a Change! We hope you enjoy! 🙌🏼

~ Book Description ~

“If the thought of us being destined for one another is what caused you to laugh, then I shall laugh with you. Ours is more a story of mutual desperation than of love.”

MATRIMONY IS THE LAST THING on Elizabeth Bennet’s mind when she arrives at Netherfield Park to tend to her ill sister. When proud Mr Darcy acts rashly to thwart a compromise and tells her that the entire household believes they are engaged, she dismisses him outright and refuses his offer of marriage.

BUT MORE SURPRISES AWAIT her at Longbourn. Mr Collins is ready with an offer of marriage and it is not only her mother who thinks it a fine match; Mr Bennet is willing to press the point until Elizabeth makes clear such a connexion is impossible—because she has accepted an offer of marriage from Mr Darcy.

IT IS AN INAUSPICIOUS BEGINNING, an engagement neither desires, driven to by the machinations of others. Yet what begins as a forced alliance soon changes into something quite different. Will it be enough to lead them into love?

Thank you Meredith for hosting me today at Austenesque Reviews! It’s always a pleasure to be here and I am particularly privileged to be here today to celebrate my new released, So Material a Change. I hope you will all enjoy! This is a scene where Darcy and Elizabeth have both become (reluctantly) engaged and are attending the Netherfield Ball where the Bennets have behaved as per usual (badly) and Elizabeth is embarrassed.

~ Excerpt from So Material a Change ~

Elizabeth walked outside onto the terrace, heedless of the chill of the November air or the gusts of wind that stung her cheeks and arms. She would not cry. She simply refused to cry.

Why, oh why, did her family behave in such a way? It was so humiliating. How could her father just sit there, chatting away to Mr Goulding as if he had not a care in the world? How outlandishly would her mother and sisters need to act before he could bestir himself to intervene?

Looking back into the room from which she had come, she noticed Mr Darcy had entered, giving the appearance of looking for someone. No, no, she told him silently. Leave me be, I cannot face your satirical eye just now.

Almost as if he had heard her, he disappeared, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She would not have expected him to follow her into the cold in any case. Likely he just wished to be certain she was not off making a spectacle of herself somewhere as well, in keeping with the rest of the Bennet family.

Heaving a great sigh, she walked farther along the rail, that she might be completely hidden from view of the room. She stood overlooking the parterre, wishing she might somehow relieve herself of the heavy cloak of humiliation which her family never ceased to place upon her shoulders. Jane managed to smile through it, but Elizabeth always found herself burning with frustration and helplessness over it all.

She was so sure of her solitude she nearly shrieked when she felt the warmth of a thick, luxurious coat settle over her. She whirled about, looking up into Darcy’s countenance. From the look on Darcy’s face, it was impossible to determine what he might be thinking, finding her outside in the frigid November air. He said only, “It is very cold out here, Elizabeth, I would not wish you to become ill.”

He held out his handkerchief, and surprised, she realised her cheeks were damp with tears, despite her determination not to cry. She took the handkerchief gratefully.

“I did not know where your pelisse was, else I would have brought it. I hope my coat will suffice.”

Looking down at the ground below, she admitted, “My pelisse is of little use but to ornament my gown. Your coat is very warm.”

He reached out, adjusting the coat to sit more securely on her shoulders. “I must confess, I find the pelisse a somewhat baffling object. Ladies are much more likely to take a chill, yet men’s coats are always much thicker and more serviceable. Should it not be the other way around?”

“I believe it must be reflective of the fact that ladies are not meant to be out of doors.” Elizabeth smiled ruefully, giving him a brief glance. She had to admit, it felt quite nice to have his coat upon her arms. It was heavy and quite warm, and smelled of bergamot and spice, among other things. His scent. This is how he smells. It is pleasant.

He looked out at the scene she had been shedding tears over, seeing the lawn which rolled away from the house into the wood. The trees looked bare and forlorn from the terrace, the scant moonlight making them appear nearly menacing. Despite the warmth of his coat, she shivered, covering her sudden unease with a quick smile at him. “We should go inside. I would not have you ill either.”

“You need not worry for me.”

“Is that not the job of wives?” Elizabeth asked, forcing herself to be arch and teasing. “You must allow me to practise my wifely skills.”

Her effort earned her a chuckle. “I believe I must then practise the art of permitting someone to care for me. It is not something I am accustomed to, but I do believe I might enjoy it.” He took one finger then and traced it down her cheek.

She felt a blush in the wake of his fingertips, even as the air between them seemed to become charged with tension. Before she knew what he, or she, was about, Mr Darcy had taken her chin in his hand, tilted her face towards his own, and gently laid his lips against hers in a soft kiss.

She did not pull away, allowing him to kiss her a second time and then a third. By the fourth time, she stepped closer to him, and he slid his arms beneath the coat, wrapping them around her and pressing her against him. He began tracing his kisses down her neck, and she grew flustered, wondering whether anyone was watching them, or if they were, whether she should care.

She made some awkward little sound, and he understood her immediately, removing his lips from her skin but keeping her in his embrace. She could hear and feel his heart pounding, amazed by how comforting the sound was.

How long they stood thus, she knew not, but at length he murmured, “Shall we go in?” and she agreed with a surprising reluctance.

*swoon* Oh, I love the quiet gentleness of this scene. How little needs to be said and yet how so much is felt! How lovely to see Mr. Darcy provide comfort to Elizabeth! I like seeing the early ebbing of their reluctance and the emergence of some tenderness between them! 🤗 Thank you for sharing, Amy!

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Now Available in Audible Audiobook!

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

In conjunction with Amy’s lovely visit, Quills & Quartos is giving away 3️⃣ copies (winner’s choice of ebook or audiobook) of So Material a Change to 3️⃣ lucky readers of this blog.

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

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
• This giveaway ends October 22nd