Hi readers! Happy Friday! Just a few months ago, author MJ Stratton was visiting to celebrate her release of From Another Perspective. And today she is back to celebrate her newest book about Louisa Hurst! Yes, you heard that correctly! What a rarity, right? Louisa is almost a tertiary character that we barely spend time with in most variations. I love the idea of her having her own story! 📗

MJ is here to share an excerpt from A Far Better Prospect! We hope you enjoy! 🤗

~ Excerpt from A Far Better Prospect~

October 15, 1811

“You are an arrogant beast, Darcy,” Bingley said hotly. “She heard you! How could you say such a horrible thing, and in public, no less?”

“If she heard me, she ought not to have been listening in on the conversations of others,” Mr. Darcy replied.

Louisa came upon her brother berating Mr. Darcy for some unknown offense. Mr. Darcy’s reply reminded Louisa of all the times she had overheard conversations not meant for her ears. Too often she heard unpleasant things, and often those unpleasant things were being discussed indiscreetly, where anyone might happen by.

“That is ridiculous!” her brother retorted. “Miss Elizabeth is the daughter of a gentleman. A lady, Darcy. I have never heard you even speak so of Caroline, and she is but the annoying daughter of a tradesman.”

“Even were my words out of line, we have no certainty that the lady overheard me,” Darcy insisted. He was rubbing the side of his head, a sure sign that he had a headache.

“You are my guest, and your behavior reflects on me,” seethed Bingley.

“Then you had much better spend your words instructing your sister,” Darcy snapped. “Miss Bingley has offended half the room with her behavior.”

“And you have offended the other half,” Bingley clapped back. “Very well, I shall leave you to your scowling. Louisa, may you have better luck with him.”

Darcy whirled around and saw Louisa standing there. She raised her eyebrows at him before saying innocently, “You promised me a dance, Mr. Darcy. I have it on good authority that the next one will be the slowest tonight.”

“You are quite right,” he replied politely. “Shall we?”

Mr. Darcy led her to the floor and the first movements of the dance were performed in silence.

“My brother seemed rather put out at you just now, Mr. Darcy,” Louisa ventured to say, her voice tentative and soft.

“Yes,” came the reply. Mr. Darcy said nothing else.

Louisa decided to probe a little further. “I rarely see him in such a pique, unless Caroline has done something atrocious.”

Mr. Darcy’s head snapped toward her; he had a slightly appalled look on his face that Louisa found excessively diverting.

“Is that so?” he said finally.

“Yes,” Louisa confirmed. “Thankfully, Charles is not afraid to call to attention Caroline’s more trying behaviors. Many brothers would simply ignore her.”

“I have noticed that Bingley is not afraid to speak his mind,” Mr. Darcy agreed.

“Especially,” emphasized Louisa, “when he feels that someone has behaved poorly, or committed a wrong.”

Mr. Darcy had the decency to look somewhat guilty. He was silent for a time as they moved through the dance before he spoke again.

“Perhaps you might help me understand how to make my way back into your brother’s good graces?” he ventured to ask.

“That would depend on the nature of your offense,” Louisa replied. “If, for example, you had cheated at cards, he might see fit to thrash you at Gentleman Jack’s and call that fair. If you stole money, he would see it restored. Tell me, sir, what manner of offense did you commit against my brother?”

“He believes I have insulted a lady and that my behavior reflects upon him,” Mr. Darcy said, barely loud enough for Louisa’s ears.

“And you disagree?” Louisa probed.

“I do not believe the lady heard my ill-humored comments,” Darcy replied.

“If she did not hear you, does it lessen the dishonor of your words?” Louisa asked.

Darcy seemed to contemplate her words. “No, I suppose it does not,” he answered finally.

She fell silent, hoping her words were enough to push Darcy in the right direction. Louisa did not know what he had said, but it had left Charles rather upset.

She glanced around the room. Charles was standing near the refreshment table, speaking with the tall blond Bennet girl they had been introduced to. Jane. That was her name. One of Jane’s sisters stood with them. Charles seemed to be saying something that the other sister, the shorter, dark haired one found humorous. She was chuckling and shaking her head. Hmm…

The remainder of the dance proceeded in silence. Louisa left Mr. Darcy to his thoughts through the rest of the movements. She was quite tired, having danced most of the dances. Mr. Hurst had disappeared almost immediately, despite having hovered near her constantly for the past few weeks. Louisa was glad of the reprieve.

Caroline nearly accosted Mr. Darcy as he came off the dance floor, no doubt to claim her own set with him. Mr. Darcy spoke with her for a moment before making his way toward Charles and the two Bennet sisters.

Louisa was curious and made her way toward them as well. When she was within earshot, she settled herself in a chair to listen in, grimacing as she remembered her earlier memories of what befalls those who eavesdrop.

“Bingley,” Mr. Darcy said as he neared the small group. “Will you do me the honor of introducing me to your friends?”

Charles spoke as if his teeth. “Certainly, Darcy. This is Miss Bennet and her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Elizabeth Bennet has just granted me the honor of a set. I shall dance the next with her.”

“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said by way of greeting. “Miss Elizabeth, if you are agreeable, would you be willing to dance the next with me and the following with my friend? I am engaged to dance with Miss Bingley following the next set.”

“I am agreeable, if you consent,” Charles said, his voice sounding slightly less tight.

“Then I accept,” Miss Elizabeth replied.

Louisa thought she heard a bit of steel behind her words.

“Perhaps I shall find Caroline and beg her to stand up with me,” Charles intoned. “Miss Bennet, will you save the last for me?”

“I will,” came a sweet, quiet voice. “I thank you, Mr. Bingley.”

Charles strode off to find Caroline, and Miss Bennet’s next partner came to claim her, leaving Mr. Darcy standing with Miss Elizabeth. Louisa waited with baited breath for his next move.

~~~~~~

Elizabeth stood next to Mr. Darcy, feeling rather awkward. He had not offered her his arm to move to the dance floor, where the other couples in the set were lining up. Instead, he made as if to speak multiple times before closing his mouth. Finally, he seemed to find his words.

“I believe I owe you an apology for my intemperate words earlier,” he said. “I am sorry you heard what I said in a fit of pique.”

Elizabeth felt her temper rise. “I suppose I ought to accept your paltry offering and have done with it,” she said with cheer she did not feel, “but I cannot.”

Mr. Darcy wrinkled his brow in confusion. He opened his mouth to speak again when the musicians struck a chord. Instead, he held out his arm. Elizabeth took it and he led her to the floor.

The dance was lively, leaving little room for discourse and Elizabeth was thankful when it was over. Mr. Darcy guided her to the table for a drink and made another bumbling attempt at an apology.

“I do not understand your earlier statement,” he said. “I have said I am sorry for my words.”

“In fact, you have not,” Elizabeth replied. She curtseyed and said, “Mr. Darcy,” before departing, leaving the arrogant man gaping behind her.

Having finally found Charlotte amidst the hubbub of the room, Elizabeth pulled her aside and told all. Sensible Charlotte would help sooth her injured feelings.

“Oh, my dear friend,” Charlotte said, patting Elizabeth’s hand. “It was rather badly done of him, was it not?”

“And that farce of an apology!” Elizabeth cried. “He is not sorry for what he said; he is sorry that I overheard it. I must conclude that he does believe me to be only tolerable.”

“If he was searching for someone only tolerable and often slighted by other men, he was looking in the wrong direction,” Charlotte said in a self-deprecating way.

“Nonsense, Lottie,” Elizabeth cried. “I find you to be everything lovely.”

“That is because you are my best friend,” Charlotte cajoled. “We both know that I am a plain sort of girl. At nearly twenty-seven, it seems unlikely that I shall ever marry.”

“That is because you have yet to find a man that appreciates all of your excellent qualities,” Elizabeth retorted.

“And I am unlikely to do so here,” Charlotte agreed. “My father can ill afford to give me a season in town, and with Maria now out, there are few funds left for me.”

“Someday you shall meet a man that falls in love with you in a trice and sweeps you off your feet,” Elizabeth said seriously. “He shall press for a quick engagement, whisking you off to some far away place to live in a lovely, ivy covered cottage, where you shall tend his house and have his seven children.”

Charlotte laughed merrily. “Oh, Eliza, you do know how to cheer me up. Thank you.”

Elizabeth passed the rest of the assembly mingling with her neighbors and surreptitiously watching the man who had insulted her. She found Mr. Darcy’s expression while dancing with Miss Bingley to be rather comical. The gentleman wore a stony expression and the lady batted her eyes a great deal as they danced.

Mr. Bingley’s other sister had danced nearly every dance before claiming fatigue and sitting near a wall. Elizabeth thought her quite rude, for she said little and did not make an effort to seek introductions. It was with some chagrin that Elizabeth noticed her hand placed on a swell about her middle that her seated position had emphasized.

Having been introduced to the lady at the beginning of the evening, Elizabeth made her way over, curiosity driving her steps.

“Mrs. Hurst?” she said. “I believe I have remembered your name correctly.”

“Indeed, you have,” the lady replied. Her voice was quiet and gentle, not unlike Jane’s was.

“May I join you?” Elizabeth asked.

“Certainly,” Mrs. Hurst replied. “I find that I have not the energy to dance any more tonight.”

“Might I bring you anything?” Elizabeth asked. “Do you need a drink or perhaps something from the refreshment table?”

“Thank you, no,” Mrs. Hurst replied. “Charles –  that is, my brother Mr. Bingley has provided me with what I need.”

“Then perhaps some pleasant conversation?” Elizabeth asked.

“Oh, I would never say no to that,” Mrs. Hurst chuckled. “Tell me, which sister are you? I remember being introduced to several of you.”

If Mrs. Hurst’s face had held the haughty expression of her sister’s, Elizabeth might have suspected she was poking fun. But in her eyes Elizabeth only saw sincerity, and so she answered in kind.

“I am Elizabeth,” she said. “My elder sister Jane is just there, dancing with one of the local gentlemen. My next younger sister is Mary. She is off to your left, her nose buried in a book. Mary does not like balls. And over there in the corner are my two youngest sisters. Catherine, or Kitty as we call her, is the shorter one, and the tall one is our youngest sister, Lydia.”

Kitty and Lydia were giggling and pointing at something across the room, and Elizabeth cringed at their lack of propriety. Mrs. Hurst said nothing about it.

“It must be quite the houseful, with four sisters,” the lady said. “I am several years older than Charles and Caroline. I was in school and then out before Caroline was sixteen. We never shared late night talks or stole each other’s clothes. At least, not when we were younger.”

A pinched look crossed the lady’s face before it melted into the complacent expression she had been wearing all evening. How odd.

“Lydia is very adept at appropriating items that do not belong to her,” Elizabeth said lightly. “The ribbon she wears was purloined from Kitty’s closet. My sister was most displeased when Mama insisted she let Lydia wear it tonight.”

“My mother would have acted much the same, I am afraid,” Mrs. Hurst said before her mouth snapped shut suddenly. The lady’s eyes had widened as if she realized she might have said something wrong. Then the complacent look was back.

“Do forgive me,” she said to Elizabeth. “I am overtired, I think. Spouting nonsense to a new acquaintance.”

“Oh, think nothing of it,” Elizabeth assured her. “Our conversation has been delightful.”

She changed the subject, hoping that Mrs. Hurst would be more comfortable. “I could not help but notice your condition,” she said. “Might I ask when the happy day is expected?”

Mrs. Hurst’s face lit up with genuine pleasure, a look Elizabeth had not seen on her face the entire evening.

“We are expecting the babe in January,” she said happily. “It has been over four years since I married Mr. Hurst. I had begun to think we would never be so blessed.”

“Then I am pleased for you,” Elizabeth replied. “My aunt was forced to wait many years before they were blessed with children. And then her next three came in rapid succession. Four children she had, in just five years. Jane and I took turns visiting her when the children were younger.”

“Perhaps I, too, will have another baby in short order,” Mrs. Hurst returned.

The lady seemed rather thrilled at the idea and Elizabeth thought she detected a hint of melancholy surrounding her, despite her apparent pleasure at her delicate condition.

The second to last set ended then and Miss Bingley approached the pair. Elizabeth watched Mrs. Hurst’s face go from animated to the bland complying look she had sported much of the evening in but a second.

“Louisa, be a dear and fetch me a glass of punch,” Miss Bingley commanded. She towered over them, her nose in the air and a disdainful look on her face.

Elizabeth could barely contain her ire. Rather than argue, Mrs. Hurst stood up with some effort and made her way across the assembly hall to the refreshment table.

Miss Bingley turned to Elizabeth as soon as Mrs. Hurst was out of ear shot.

“Miss Elizabeth, is it?” she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Yes,” Elizabeth replied. “And you are Miss Bingley, if I remember correctly.”

“Of course I am,” the lady said haughtily. “There is only one Miss Bingley in attendance, therefore it should be simple to remember. Miss Bennets, on the other hand, seem to be in surplus supply. You have four sisters, do you not?”

“Yes, I do,” Elizabeth answered, struggling to keep her voice cheerful and not match the derision of her conversation partner.

“And you are all out at once?” Miss Bingley probed.

“Yes,” Elizabeth confirmed. “Rules in the country tend to be more relaxed in that regard.”

Miss Bingley sniffed and fell silent as Mrs. Hurst approached with her glass. She took it without thanking her sister. Mrs. Hurst sank back into the chair, a pinched look on her face as she rubbed her stomach.

The missing Mr. Hurst appeared at the moment and Elizabeth saw the alarm cross his face at his wife’s action.

“Louisa!” he said briskly. “Is the baby well?”

That was a funny way to put it, Elizabeth thought. Should his concern not be for his wife’s welfare?

A slightly panicked look crossed Mrs. Hurst’s face before it smoothed into the ‘mask’ as Elizabeth now saw it to be.

“I am well, my dear,” she said. “The baby is simply more active tonight.”

“I think it is time to return you to Netherfield,” Hurst insisted. “We do not wish to press our luck. Think of the baby.”

Elizabeth might have found his words endearing, had there not been unnamed undercurrents rippling among the group.

Mrs. Hurst did not object, but stood obediently and accepted her husband’s offered arm.

“You shall have to send the carriage back directly,” Miss Bingley snipped. “I am engaged for the last set. Charles is as well.” At this the lady’s nose curled in distaste.

So, Miss Bingley did not approve of her brother’s enthusiasm for their little gathering. Elizabeth would have to watch her closely to ensure they did not have a viper in their midst.

She bid Mr. and Mrs. Hurst a good night and curtseyed to Miss Bingley, moving off in search of her mother. As she strolled the perimeter of the room, Elizabeth noticed Mr. Darcy watching her, an unfathomable expression on his face.

“No doubt seeking to find more flaws in my tolerable appearance,” she muttered to herself.

The conclusion of the assembly came as a relief to Elizabeth, who found she was rather exhausted after the strange events of the evening. Her pride bruised and her curiosity at their new neighbors engaged, she gratefully climbed aboard their carriage and began the trek home to Longbourn.

Later that night as she burrowed under her blankets, Elizabeth contemplated the Netherfield residents and her own first impressions of the lot. Mr. Bingley was all that a gentleman ought to be; handsome, engaging, and kind. Of Mr. Hurst, she knew very little. He had spent his time in the card room, and while he seemed solicitous of his wife, something was not quite what it appeared. Mrs. Hurst was also a puzzle. The lady clearly wielded her vapid, complying, and complacent expression as a shield, and her panicked reaction to her husband was interesting. Of Mr. Darcy there was nothing else to be said. The man was arrogant and rude.

Finally, Miss Bingley. That lady seemed to believe herself above her company. Though dressed in the finest of apparel, Miss Bingley’s behavior that evening had been little better than Kitty or Lydia’s, though slightly more refined and polished. Perhaps there was hope for her sisters yet, Lizzy chuckled to herself. She closed her eyes and slipped into a deep sleep.

What an interesting twist to employ. I love Louisa’s and Elizabeth’s conversation together, and I appreciate how observant Elizabeth is to note several things about Louisa’s expression and emotions. I wonder if the two will become friends? I hope poor Louisa does indeed find a far better prospect in this tale!

~ Book Description ~

Louisa Bingley had never defied her mother in her life, until she found something she wished to fight for. In love with a man with close ties to trade, Louisa refuses to give him up when her mother demands it.

But Mrs. Bingley is not to be reckoned with and through despicable means manages to force her daughter into a much more ‘appropriate’ marriage to a gentleman named Mr. Hurst.

Married to a man she does not love, the newly wed Louisa Hurst must learn to navigate her husband’s expectations and demands while still holding on to the threads of herself. Through all of this she must also survive the malice of her younger sister Caroline, a responsibility thrust most unwillingly upon her.

Convinced contentment in life is all that she can expect, Louisa finds herself quite unexpectedly free to pursue her own happiness. But does she dare take the chance at allowing herself to feel again?

Along with Jane and Lizzy and all our favorites, Louisa Hurst gets her own happy ending in this Pride and Prejudice Vagary.

~~~

~ About MJ ~

MJ Stratton is a long-time lover of Jane Austen and her works, having been introduced
to Pride and Prejudice by a much beloved aunt at the age of 16. The subsequent discovery of
Austenesque fiction sealed her fate. After beta reading and editing for others for nearly a
decade, MJ started publishing her own work in 2022. MJ balances being a wife and mother with
writing, gardening, sewing, and many other favorite pastimes. She lives with her husband and
four children in the small, rural town where she grew up.

~~~

~ GIVEAWAY TIME! ~

MJ Stratton is generously giving away 3️⃣ ebook of A Far Better Prospect in conjunction with this blog visit!!  Woot woot!  

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