Hi friends!! It was only six months ago that author MJ Stratton was here celebrating her first release – The Redemption of Lydia Bennet. And now she is back to celebrate the release of her second book – From Another Perspective! Which is a Pride and Prejudice variation that shares the thoughts and points-of-views of some secondary and peripheral characters. I love this idea! I wonder what these new eyes and ears might reveal! 👀

MJ is here today to share an excerpt of  Anne de Bourgh’s point-of-view from From Another Perspective! We hope you enjoy! 🙌🏼

Miss Anne de Bourgh was bundled from head to foot to keep out the pleasant spring breeze as she trundled along in her phaeton with Mrs. Jenkinson sitting beside her. These little outings with her companion were something she looked forward to. It was not very often that she was able to escape Rosings and her mother.

Anne suppressed a sigh. Her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, knew what she wanted and got it without too much trouble. Her mother was overbearing and even more overprotective. Anne had been cosseted and pampered from the time she was born, having been born more than a month early and dreadfully tiny, according to her mother. Lady Catherine had been terrified of losing her daughter, and so the cycle of overprotectiveness had begun.

Anne was still quite sickly, having never gained the stamina of other children her age. She tired easily, and often found that bright light gave her headaches. Many foods she ate bothered her stomach, and as such her diet was very limited. This drove her mother to distraction. Lady Catherine believed that the food served at any event was a reflection on the household and Anne’s limited diet in no way displayed Lady Catherine’s prestige. Anne was forced to partake of the rich and opulent food her mother served at least once a day, which seemed rather contrary to serving her mother’s overprotective instincts.

Anne directed her phaeton toward the parsonage, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Collins’ guests. Visitors were so rare at Rosings. Anne was very pleased with Mrs. Collins’ company and applauded Mr. Collins in his choice of wife. Miss de Bourgh found Mrs. Collins to be sensible and intelligent. The lady tempered the worst of her husband’s loquaciousness, a fact that Anne was incredibly grateful for. An evening in the company of Mr. Collins often resulted in a headache of the accutest kind for Anne.

As she approached the parsonage she saw Mr. Collins turn toward the house and call out. Before her phaeton had arrived at Mr. Collins’ gate, Mrs. Collins joined her husband at the lane and waited for her arrival.

“What a pleasant morning, my dear Miss de Bourgh!” Mr. Collins said. “It is eminently suitable for a lady such as yourself to enjoy all that God has created on this fine spring day!”

The day was rather fine for the time of year, though the wind blew much more than normal, Anne thought. Instead of saying what she wished, she nodded her head in acknowledgement of Mr. Collins’ absurd statement.

“I hope that your lady mother is in good health,” the parson said.

Good grief, he had seen her just the day prior. Mr. Collins made time to attend Lady Catherine at least twice a week. Anne once again bit her tongue, smiled, and nodded in reply.

“I hope that we may introduce you to our guests over the course of their stay at the parsonage,” Collins said. “My sister Mariah is most anxious to meet your exalted mother, and yourself of course. My cousin, Miss Elizabeth, is scarcely more excited for the privilege of your condescension.”

If the man would breathe between statements, I might be able to get a word in here or there, she mused. “I thank you for your kind words,” she said instead. “My mother has given me leave to issue an invitation for you and your guests to dine with us at Rosings–”

Mr. Collins cut her off before she could finish issuing the invitation. “What condescension! What notice! I can scarcely believe such a boon has been granted, and so soon after the arrival of my cousin and sister. You must thank your mother for me, Miss de Bourgh. Perhaps I myself shall attend her and issue my feelings of gratitude.”

When Mr. Collins paused to breathe, Anne jumped back in. “Yes, well, please do join us this evening for supper. Mother shall expect you at five o’clock.”

While Mr. Collins again expressed his thanks, Mrs. Collins began to guide her husband back to the parsonage and Anne snapped the reins to continue her ponies along their way. They were some distance away when Mrs. Jenkinson sighed loudly.

Anne turned to look at her companion in puzzlement. “Shall I prepare your headache powders before the evening commences, Miss de Bourgh? Mr. Collins seems more… loquacious than normal today.”

Anne chuckled merrily at Mrs. Jenkinson’s observations. “You are not wrong, Jenks,” she said affectionately. “I believe Mr. Collins seeks to show his cousin just what she has given up in refusing his generous proposal.”

Mr. Collins had made no secret of his cousin’s actions to her mother, and Lady Catherine had had much to say about the young miss’s presumption in refusing such an offer of marriage. Poor Miss Elizabeth would be cross examined brutally tonight.

“I am rather looking forward to making the acquaintance of the parsonage guests,” Anne admitted. “I know so few people and it is always a treat to meet new characters to study. Besides, any woman brave enough to throw away an offer of security must be worth knowing.”

Mrs. Jenkinson nodded sagely at Anne’s words and the pair rode the rest of the way back to Rosings in contemplative silence.

That evening proved as diverting as Anne had expected. A light rain had begun to fall that afternoon and Lady Catherine had insisted that Anne be bundled in one of her thickest shawls and placed by the fire for the majority of the evening, save the meal. This prevented Anne from interacting much with the parsonage guests, but she observed much from her station by the fire.

Her mother, of course, quizzed Miss Bennet on her upbringing. Miss Bennet answered every question with a skill at deflecting that Anne had scarcely witnessed. Lady Catherine appeared frustrated at many of Miss Bennet’s responses, a fact that Anne found highly amusing.

When the party returned to the parsonage, transported by one of Lady Catherine’s carriages, Anne was subject to her mother’s views on the infamous Miss Bennet.

“I believe I must applaud Mr. Collins on his choice in wife,” she said. “Miss Bennet is far too impertinent and intelligent for a man of Mr. Collins’ ilk. She would have made him miserable.”

Anne thought it rather astute of her mother to notice such a thing, but she also suspected her mother would have been displeased with Miss Bennet as mistress of the parsonage, for the lady did not give the impression that she might be easily directed in any way.

“It is rather unfortunate for her that her father’s estate is entailed away,” Lady Catherine continued. “I suppose that accounts for her mother’s decision to have the younger sisters out before the elder girls have married. She must be desperate for her daughters to be well settled.”

Anne was required to say nothing, simply to acknowledge that she heard her mother in some way. Anne had liked what she had seen of Miss Bennet and wished to know her better. She resolved to encourage her mother to invite the party from the parsonage as often as possible.

Anne retired earlier than she was normally wont to so that she might write a letter to her cousin, Georgiana.

 

My Dearest Georgie,

We have had some new guests to dine this evening. Mr. Collins has lately married to a lovely lady from Hertfordshire. Mrs. Charlotte Collins, Miss Lucas as was, is genteel and kind. She tempers her husband’s more verbose behavior beautifully and I find I can bear Mr. Collins’ company with more equanimity when she is near.

Her guests at the parsonage include her much younger sister, Mariah Lucas, and her life long friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Lucas is silent while in Mama’s presence, which is hardly surprising. Miss Lucas does not seem to have a forceful personality and as such is easily intimidated by my mother. Miss Bennet, on the other hand, is witty and lively, and parried my mother’s invasiveness with a skill I have rarely seen employed successfully. I do hope I may come to know her better over the course of her stay. She is to be a guest at the parsonage nearly to the middle of April. Such a long time for a visit!

How are you progressing in your studies, my dear cousin? I am eager to be in your company again so that I might hear you play. Perhaps during the summer months, when you wish to escape the heat of town?

Please write to me as soon as may be.

Your affectionate cousin,

Anne

 

The guests from the parsonage dined at Rosings two to three times a week. Anne was greatly pleased with their company, though she was prevented from saying much due to her mother’s need to dominate the conversation. She learned that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was a talented pianoforte player, despite her self-professed lack of desire to practice. Her playing was light and unaffected, and full of emotion. Such qualities more than made up for her lack of technical proficiency. Anne was rather embarrassed when her mother invited Miss Bennet to return to Rosings to practice and offered Mrs. Jenkinson’s chambers as the perfect practice location, despite Rosings having three unused music rooms.

Miss Bennet continued to parry Lady Catherine’s nosy comments with calm cheerfulness, though  Anne could tell such encounters were beginning to weigh on their guest.

It was on the twenty-third of March that a new diversion arrived at Rosings. Anne was rather vexed at first when her cousins Darcy and Fitzwilliam arrived unannounced and early for their annual visit to Rosings. Darcy ought to know by now that such actions would be easily misconstrued by her mother as a sign of marked favoritism.

The meaning of Darcy’s departure from their well established routine became clear when the parsonage party came to dine. Anne noticed immediately the almost hungry and possessive look in her cousin’s eyes. Darcy fancied Miss Bennet! Oh, this was delicious. Anne watched her mother closely to see if the great lady saw any hint of what Anne did. Lady Catherine only ever saw what she wished to see, and she did not wish to see Darcy’s interest in Miss Bennet. Darcy was safe from his aunt’s scrutiny for now.

Anne was watching her cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, banter playfully with Miss Bennet when the latter was ordered to the instrument by Lady Catherine. The great lady prefaced her demand by reminding Miss Bennet of her magnanimous offer for the young lady to practice in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room, for Miss Bennet would be in no one’s way in that part of the house. The colonel, dear man that he was, offered to turn pages and Lady Catherine waved him away to do just that. Her cousin Darcy followed the pair shortly thereafter.

Anne was close enough to the instrument to hear the rather amusing conversation taking place. Her estimation of Miss Bennet grew as she listened intently.

“Do you mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? I will not be alarmed. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me,” Miss Bennet said.

Of that Anne had no doubt. The lady was indomitable.

“I know you find great enjoyment in expressing opinions that are not your own,” Darcy replied.

Anne could hear the smile in his voice, even as she could see the staid, controlled look on his face.

“Your cousin would teach you not to believe a word I say, Colonel!” Miss Bennet replied. “It is ungenerous of him, is it not?”

Anne quite agreed.

“It is indeed, Darcy!” the Colonel said.

“Impolitic, too,” Miss Bennet said, “for it provokes me to retaliate, and say somewhat of his behavior in Hertfordshire, which may shock his relations.”

Oh? Anne thought.. Do tell! Darcy could be a trial and Anne was dying to know how he behaved among strangers.

“I am not afraid of you,” Darcy said.

Her cousin the colonel was not nearly so dismissive of Miss Bennet’s lighthearted threat. “What have you to accuse him of?” the Colonel said. “I should dearly love to know how he behaves among strangers.” Anne smiled at how in line she and her cousin’s thoughts were.

“The first time I ever saw him,” Miss Bennet said, “Mr. Darcy was at a ball, where he danced only four dances, though gentleman were scarce and more than one lady was in want of a partner. I am sorry to pain you, but so it was.”

Anne smiled softly as her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam voiced the thoughts in her head once again.

“I can well believe it!” he declared.

Darcy played with his cufflinks and shifted his weight from one foot to another somewhat awkwardly. “I find,” said he, “that I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers.”

Miss Bennet smiled. “Shall we ask him why,” she said, “a man of sense and education who has lived in the world should be ill-qualified to recommend himself to strangers?”

She had him there. Anne watched her cousin with some amusement as he squirmed slightly before answering.

“I have not the talent that others possess of conversing easily with those I have never met.”

Of course, the witty Miss Bennet had a reply. “I do not play this instrument so well as I should wish to,” she said saucily. “But I have always supposed that to be my own fault, because I would not take the trouble of practicing.”

A hit! A palpable hit! Miss Bennet was delightful!

“You are perfectly right,” Darcy said in return. “You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you could find anything wanting. We, neither of us perform to strangers.”

Anne snickered lightly, hiding her amusement in her handkerchief. It was here that Lady Catherine decided she had been excluded from the conversation long enough.

“What are you talking of? I must have my share in the conversation!”

With that, the playful conversation between Darcy and Miss Bennet was ended. Anne went to bed highly amused. Darcy, she was certain, admired the clever young lady from Hertfordshire. This was pleasing news to Anne, for it meant that she may finally be free of her mother’s expectations that she marry her cousin.

I love seeing how sharp and observant Anne is! She knows her cousin well. I wonder if she will put this information to use… 🤔

Thank you so much for sharing, MJ! All the best with your release of From Another Perspective!

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~ Book Description ~

The events of Pride and Prejudice are well known by those familiar with Jane Austen’s work, but what would we see if the minor characters told the story? What were Mrs. Hill’s thoughts on the heir to Longbourn? How did Anne de Bourgh feel about her cousin’s fascination with the guests at the parsonage? Did Mrs. Younge willingly help Mr. Darcy find Wickham? From Another Perspective follows the events of Pride and Prejudice as seen through the eyes of some of the lesser players found in the novel, along with some others of the author’s own creation.

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~ About MJ ~

MJ Stratton is a teacher turned writer. She lives in rural Utah with her husband and three children. MJ has written for years and finally published her first book last September. Her love from Jane Austen began at a young age when she read Pride and Prejudice. Lost in Austen was the first Austenesque fiction she encountered and has been in love ever since. Along with writing, MJ loves to sew, cook, grow her garden, and tend her chickens.

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~ GIVEAWAY TIME! ~

MJ Stratton is generously giving away  1️⃣ ebook of From Another Perspective in conjunction with this blog visit!!  Woot woot!  

To enter this lovely and generous giveaway, leave a comment, question, or some love for MJ! 💕