Happy Monday, friends! I’m happy to start my week by welcoming author Christine Combe to Austenesque Reviews today. Last month Christine released her sixth Austenesque book – Three Brides for Three Cousins! 🙌🏼 Isn’t that so exciting?!

Christine is her to share an excerpt from Three Brides for Three Cousins, which sounds like a fun P&P variation involving a London Season, new friends, and multiple matches! (I just love the cover, don’t you?) We hope you enjoy this post!

Greetings, fellow Austenians! I’m so excited to be visiting Austenesque Reviews again to share a scene from my latest book, Three Brides for Three Cousins — I’m so grateful to Meredith for fitting me into her always busy blog schedule!

~ Book Description ~

Fitzwilliam Darcy’s twin cousins are ready for their debut in society, and one might think that would keep their mother—the Countess of Disley—well occupied. But even preparing her daughters for presentation to the Queen and their debut ball has not stopped Lady Disley’s plans to marry off her two sons and her nephew at last.

Elizabeth Bennet and her elder sister Jane are in London with their aunt and uncle at Gracechurch Street to enjoy some of the delights of the Season. They do not expect that meeting Mrs. Gardiner’s cousin from Derbyshire and the young lady to whom she is companion will lead to a reunion with the young man who wrote Jane some verses of poetry when she was 15 … or that he will be revealed to be a viscount.

Although sure this means the end of their new acquaintance with the shy Miss Darcy, Elizabeth and Jane are surprised when her brother lets the friendship continue. More than that, Lord Rowarth is forced to confess that his feelings for Jane remain strong, and his determination to defy convention and pursue a match with her unintentionally draws Elizabeth and Darcy to each other. Amidst supporting his brother’s attachment to one Bennet sister and encouraging his cousin Darcy’s growing feelings for the other, Colonel Theodore Fitzwilliam is enlisted by a duke’s daughter to help prevent her family’s ruination from scandal.

Family drama, misunderstandings, and the expectations of society are difficult waters to navigate. Can these three cousins get through it all to win the hearts of their chosen ladies and secure their own happiness?

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Now that you’re intrigued by the blurb (the hardest part of the book to write!), here’s a look at the start of chapter three.

~ Excerpt from Three Brides for Three Cousins ~

Elizabeth knocked lightly on the bedroom door even though she was sharing the room with Jane for the duration of their stay and did not need to. Still, Jane had been upset when she’d departed the parlor, and she desired to give her sister time to either collect herself or ask her to come back later, in which case she would grant her privacy.

“Come in.”

Elizabeth entered the room slowly and closed the door behind her with a soft snick. Jane was perched on the window seat with her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped around them. Moving to sit opposite her, she chose to remain silent and let her sister speak in her own time, though she longed to ask the questions burning in her mind.

Jane sighed as she lifted her head, which had been resting atop her knees. “I suppose you are come to ask why I left the parlor so suddenly.”

“I am curious, yes,” Elizabeth replied. “But much as I wish to know so that I may comfort you if I am able, if you do not wish to speak of it I will not press you.”

Her sister chuckled softly. “That is very kind of you to say, Lizzy, but I know you will not be satisfied until you have heard the whole of my sad little story.”

An aggravated sigh escaped her as she suddenly turned about and pushed to her feet, wringing her hands as she began to pace. “Do you remember that I stayed the whole summer with our aunt and uncle when I was fifteen?”

“Of course. Aunt Gardiner had just born her first child, and you came to be of use to her,” Elizabeth said.

Jane nodded. “I did, yes. But I was not always kept at home by my desire to be of service to Mrs. Gardiner. We went out fairly often to concerts, the theatre, shopping… All the things you and I will do with her this stay, I am sure.”

“You met someone that summer, I recollect,” Elizabeth prompted her.

Her sister nodded again. “Yes. A very handsome, charming young man—he worked in the stockroom at our uncle’s first warehouse. I don’t recall precisely how we met; I imagine he must have brought something to the front of the warehouse for a customer while I was there with our aunt. He was invited to dine with us a number of times—I recall that our uncle liked him very much—and we went for walks together with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner a few times. Do you know, Lizzy, that he wrote me some very pretty verses—at least, I thought they were pretty, though Mr. Fitzwilliam said they were rubbish.”

“So, it was the name that startled you,” Elizabeth observed. “Aunt Gardiner thought as much.”

Jane moved back to the window seat and sat down with a sigh. “I know it was silly of me, Lizzy, to have reacted as I did, but I’ve not heard that name in nearly eight years. I am sure it is only a coincidence that the Christian name of Miss Darcy’s brother is the same as that young man’s family name.”

Elizabeth moved closer and slipped her arm around Jane’s shoulders. “A coincidence it may well be, dearest, but that does not make your feelings any less valid. By your reaction, you must have thought very well of this Mr. Fitzwilliam.”

Jane looked to her with a wan smile. “I did, yes. Though he was several years older than I—six-and-twenty, I believe he was—he was so very gentlemanlike and so amiable that…that I began to hope he would make me an offer. I never told him how deep was my regard, of course. A young lady can do little more than smile at a man, you know, and even in that small action she must take care.”

“I remember Mamma was rather vexed on hearing that you’d been courted by a gentleman who went so far as to write you some verses, but never made you an offer,” said Elizabeth. “Even if he did work in trade with my uncle.”

At this Jane groaned. “I know! Oh, how I wish our aunt had not told her of it,” said she. “Mamma brought it up at least once a day for months after my return to Longbourn, which only served to pain me further.”

Elizabeth gave Jane’s shoulders a light squeeze. “Well, I am sure it is all as we suspect and merely a coincidence that the families have the same name. Fitzwilliam must be a common family name about the country, just as Bennet is. So please, do not distress yourself, sister. Let us instead focus on having made a very pleasant new acquaintance.”

Jane’s responding smile was forced, but at least she was trying to be cheerful. “You are right, Lizzy. Miss Darcy really was a very pleasant girl, though very shy, do you not think?”

“Oh, she was indeed, the poor thing,” Elizabeth agreed. “But she was very genteel and amiable, once she got to talking. Mary would certainly like her, as they play the same instrument. I hope that we may have the chance of hearing Miss Darcy play, that we might compare their skill.”

“Now Lizzy, you know that our sister works very hard at her playing,” Jane admonished.

Elizabeth grinned. “I know, but I do wish she weren’t so stiff and awkward at it—she is worse than me, and I never practice!”

“It is unfortunate that she has acquired so little proficiency for all her practicing,” Jane agreed. “I would suggest to her that she might try another instrument, but there are no teachers for anything but the harp and the pianoforte in Meryton, and Mary long ago professed a disinclination for the harp.”

“If only Mary could be prevailed upon to spend as long a visit with our aunt and uncle as we are now,” Elizabeth said. “I am sure there are musical instructors enough here in London that may be found who teach all variety of instruments suitable for gentle-born young ladies.”

“Oh, for certain! And I am sure our uncle could manage the expense, as his business does so well—or even our father could be convinced to cover the cost,” said Jane.

“I think Papa would be glad enough to pay for it so long as it got Mary out of the house and gave him peace and quiet at Longbourn.”

Jane shook her head disapprovingly. “Now Lizzy, do not be unkind.”

Elizabeth sighed. “You are right, I should not be so unjust. At least Mary tries, which is more than can be said for the rest of us.”

“True enough, though we all have our strengths, I should think,” said Jane. “You are well read, so you are intelligent and witty.”

“You are compassionate and kind, which makes you sweet and amiable,” said Elizabeth with a smile. “And you can embroider a handkerchief with the best of them.”

Jane smiled then, a small but genuine smile. “The one thing I am actually good at, besides being too apt to think well of everyone I meet.”

“Kitty and Lydia’s strengths are…” Elizabeth paused, knowing what she wished to say, but not wishing to offend her sister with another unkind remark.

“Kitty is good-natured, but too apt to be led by Lydia’s inclinations,” said Jane, far more kindly than Elizabeth would have described her sister. “Lydia is… she is the most lively of us.”

Unable to help herself, Elizabeth added, “And spoiled and loud and insipid. Kitty might possibly be correctable, but Lydia, I fear, never will be.”

Drawing a breath, she jumped up and turned to her sister with a smile. “But enough of them, we must cheer you up.”

“I am in better spirits, Lizzy, I promise you,” said Jane. “Really, it was foolish of me to become agitated over a silly coincidence.”

“That may be so, but it bothered you and I want to see you smile again. Let us go for a walk and refresh our minds as we exercise our bodies.”

Jane only stared for a moment, then she stood. “I think you have just the right idea, Lizzy. A walk will do me very well.”

Elizabeth grinned and moved to her sister’s side. Arm-in-arm, they quit the room together.

***

I hope that sneaky-peak intrigued you!

I’ll say it did! I am excited to explore more with this new premise. I wonder how Jane will react when she sees Mr. Fitzwilliam again. Especially with her heart being engaged so young. 💗

Three Brides for Three Cousins is now available in eBook at Amazon!

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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!!!

In conjunction with her visit, Christine is generously giving away 1 ebook edition of Three Brides for Three Cousins!  Woot woot!  

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

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Christine!
• This giveaway ends January 17th!