Hi readers! Did you know Jayne Bamber released a Mansfield Park and Pride and Prejudice variation mash-up last month? 

Yes, she did! No April Fool’s here! Jayne Bamber’s new book is titled A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings, and it sounds like so much fun! 🤩

Can you imagine these characters meeting and interacting with each other? What friendships or romantic intrigues might form? What amusements will these characters explore? 🎭

Jayne is here to share an excerpt from A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings. We hope you enjoy! 🤗

It’s great to be back at Austenesque Reviews with another new release to share! A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings is my tenth Austen variation, and this time I have blended Pride & Prejudice with Mansfield Park. I know the latter is nobody’s favorite Austen work, which made it all the more fun to play around with in this mashup. Though a familiarity with Mansfield Park isn’t strictly necessary to enjoy this book, those who have read it or watched the film and felt dissatisfied with the HEA will find some unique romantic pairings in my re-telling. While the milksop Fanny Price doesn’t make an appearance in this tale, the reformed Crawford siblings both find love after first taking a hard look at themselves, just as Mr. Darcy must do.

Darcy’s romance with Lizzy is at the forefront of this variation, with a love triangle for Jane as a secondary story, as well as redemption for the Crawford siblings. With such an ensemble cast, there is plenty of mirth, match-making, mischief, and mayhem!

There is one element of Mansfield Park which I especially enjoy – the theatrical. I have a soft spot for the rakes, especially when they are reformable – and who wouldn’t want to play dress up and flirt with Henry Crawford? Or recite suggestive verses with Mr. Darcy? Even my own Austen crush, Colonel Fitzwilliam (though retired from the army in this variation) has a part to play when the tedium at Netherfield takes a Shakespearean turn, and I’m excited to share an excerpt of how it all comes about!

To set the scene, Mary and Henry Crawford, though cousins to the Bennets, are guests of Mr. Bingley’s at Netherfield, where Jane & Lizzy Bennet, Edmund Bertram, Sir William Lucas, and Bingley’s aunt Lady Susan Vernon have all become stranded due to inclement weather. Naturally, Mr. Darcy has just rescued Elizabeth dramatically from some rain-related peril, so it’s time for them to play-act as lovers….

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“I have many fond recollections of our time at Mansfield,” Henry mused. “Shakespeare puts me in mind of another charming memory – when we all had the idea of putting on a play. Sir Thomas’s safe return and happy reunion with his family must have been better than any other outcome, but how well I liked the idea of play-acting! I believe I fancied myself quite the orator, and meant to apply myself to learning all my speeches.”

Mary scowled at her brother for mentioning what had been a point of contention between herself and Edmund at the time. But as he continued, she began to understand his intentions and could not dislike what he meant by it.

When he pressed her, Mary admitted her own disappointment that the scheme had been abandoned, though their choice in play was by no means the most agreeable part of the plan. “I daresay Shakespeare might have been a safer choice,” she said with a laugh. “Perhaps then we might have carried on with the scheme, for who could oppose such celebrated wit? If he is good enough for a queen, I daresay there can be no objection.”

Elizabeth and Jane had plenty to say on the subject – enough to tempt Mr. Darcy and Edmund from their chess game, and even to engage Mr. Bingley’s attention as his interest in cards began to wane.

No one could be sure whose idea it had actually been to make up a performance of The Twelfth Night while the weather kept them all together at Netherfield. Once the idea had taken root, nearly everyone was in agreement, and there were endless arguments in favor of the scheme. That Mr. Darcy as well as his sister and cousin each had a copy on hand seemed providential; Mr. Bingley was sure there was at least one other in the Netherfield library, and so it would be easy for them to share and rehearse. Lady Susan and Sir William were perfectly acceptable chaperones, and they saw nothing amiss in a little scheme for amusing themselves under unusual circumstances.

The strongest point in favor of the plan came from Mr. Fitzwilliam, who had become quite animated in persuading his cousin that a play was just the thing. “We have our twins – Miss Crawford and Miss Elizabeth are quite identical, are they not? They shall make the perfect Sebastian and Viola.”

Mary and Elizabeth instantly deferred to one another, both offering to take the role of Sebastian, while Jane declared she was sure she would make a mess of so many speeches, no matter how small a role she was enticed with. The only other objections came from Mr. Darcy, naturally, and his faithful assistant Miss Bingley.

Mr. Fitzwilliam astonished everyone with the fervency of his arguments in favor of the Shakespearean scheme. “Shakespeare is a part of an Englishman’s constitution. His thoughts and beauties are so spread abroad that one touches them everywhere; one is intimate with him by instinct. No man of any brain can open at a good part one of his plays without falling into the flow of his meaning immediately.”

They were all stunned silent by Mr. Fitzwilliam’s unexpected eloquence; he began to look rather sheepish at his own impassioned appeal, coughed once, and then said in a more playful tone, “Come, Darcy, do you not wish me to be happy? Would you deny our companions such amusement? Look, we will let you be Orsino.” Here he looked about as if appealing for the consensus of their little company. “Do you not all approve? There is no other role so worthy of Darcy’s dignity – he shall make a most redoubtable Duke Orsino.”

This only strengthened Mary’s resolve to have her own way. “And we have our Viola here,” she said, gesturing to her cousin. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy exchanged a look that Mary found delightfully telling; they each put up a little more protest, but appeared perfectly willing to be coaxed.

“Please,” Mary whispered to Elizabeth. “I should rather play it safe and be Sebastian. I dare not ask which of the gentlemen here should wish the pleasure of making love to me.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth as if she meant to raise some further objection, but she glanced between Mary, Mr. Bingley, and Edmund, and then back to Mary’s beseeching countenance. Elizabeth raised her eyes to the heavens and then heaved her shoulders as she relented.

Mr. Fitzwilliam had begun to speak with energy as he worked on his cousin. “Come, Darcy – you can be as high and mighty as you like if you play the Duke. After all – some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” He struck an exaggerated pose, and Mary applauded him warmly.

“Nobody could play Malvolio as you do, sir,” she cried, considering his usual solemnity, which already rendered him quite ridiculous in her estimation.

“Nobody else shall,” he quipped, grinning brightly at Mary and giving a deep bow of his head.

“And Miss Bingley must be Lady Olivia, naturally,” Mary said, thinking of Mr. Fitzwilliam’s absurdly stoic courtship of that grand lady. It was perfect, and better still, it was hilariously irreverent of her to have thought of it. “Miss Bingley, should you not like to be courted by Mr. Darcy?”

Miss Bingley had already found faults enough in the scheme to fuss over, but she began now to agree warmly with the idea, betraying her ignorance of how the play ended. Elizabeth gave Mary a little pinch on the arm, though she knew not whether it was for her impertinence, or because she had obliged Elizabeth to receive Miss Bingley’s addresses as scripted for them.

Miss Darcy had come to sit with Mary and her cousins, offering Mary her copy of the book. “I do not think my brother would like me to play-act,” she said softly. “And as Jane does not intend to participate either, I shall keep her company as your audience.”

“We do all need an audience at times, is it not so?”

“Georgiana may prefer not to see her audience, if she must have one,” Elizabeth said. “I hear you are quite accomplished on the pianoforte – perhaps you might play for us in between acts.”

The girl’s eyes lit at this notion, inspiring a look of ardent admiration from her brother, for the woman who had contrived such a way to make his sister feel included. Mary quickly agreed with the future Mrs. Darcy – some musical accompaniment was just the thing.

 Mary next examined the list of dramatis personae. “But who shall be Maria? Jane would never suit such a saucy role – will you not indulge us, Lady Susan? I am sure you speak prettily enough for it.”

Lady Susan began to demur with more of her usual stuff and nonsense about being a virtuous widow and caring nothing for her own pleasures, when Henry declared he would play the part of Sir Toby Belch. “Who shall my conspirators be? I am ready to debauch myself in as vulgar a manner as I can contrive.” He swatted playfully at Mr. Fitzwilliam, calling him a knave and laughing heartily.

Lady Susan was, unsurprisingly, prevailed upon to play Maria with hardly any more persuasion required, and Mary had a great deal to say – or mutter under her breath – to her brother on that score.

“Who shall be our Antonio?” Henry peered down at the book that Mr. Fitzwilliam extended to him, and a wicked and calculating grin spread over his face. “Better still, who is to be Sir Andrew, and have the singular joy of dueling these fair twins here?”

“If Sir Andrew is the better role, I should be much obliged,” Mr. Bingley said, just as Edmund began to wave them off and insist he would not act. Mary looked between the two gentlemen, and then down at the page before her. Antonio was the character that would have the most to do with her own, Sebastian – and this was the last role left, which nobody wanted.

Mary turned to address Edmund with some little asperity that he should once again jeopardize their felicity with his priggishness. “Perhaps you might be tempted to play Feste the fool – he dons the garb of a priest at the end, if my memory serves.”

“To engage in deception,” Edmund countered.

“I had thought to play the fool,” Sir William offered with a booming laugh. “But I shall play Antonio instead, if Mr. Bertram does not like it, though I cannot imagine why he should prefer to be a fool over a dashing pirate!”

Mary managed to school her countenance after betraying the barest hint of distaste at the notion of doing so many scenes with the old knight; she was sure she would be wretched enough pretending to marry Miss Bingley.

“Perhaps you might play Antonio the pirate,” Mary said to Mr. Bingley. “He is not as silly as Sir Andrew, and if I recall correctly, he rescues Sebastian from the shipwreck. Neither you nor I have had our fair share in the day’s gallant rescues yet.”

Mr. Bingley colored for a moment, giving Mary a bashful smile. “I do not mind being silly, Miss Crawford, but if you wish me to – ”

She was sure he was about to accede to her wishes – and she did wish to act with him above anybody – when Lady Susan interrupted him with a confident smirk. “You must be Sir Andrew, my nephew, for then you shall be in league with Henry and me.” Lady Susan knew Mary was no friend to her schemes, and it seemed the feeling was mutual.

Mary had no wish to make a spectacle of herself by pressing the matter; she resigned herself to taking the least enjoyment in a scheme which had nearly been entirely her own devising. “No matter – I am sure Sir William would make an excellent pirate.” She suppressed a swelling sense of rejection and forced a smile, then flicked her gaze to Edmund before whispering, “Please.”

Edmund peered at her with something inscrutable and finally gave a little nod of his head. “I should prefer to be Antonio, Sir William, if you are still willing to play the fool.”

The group had finally reached an agreement and everyone was happy enough with their roles to begin rehearsing directly. Mary teased Mr. Bingley that as Sir Andrew he would have to fight her in a duel, and then she moved to sit at Edmund’s side. “Shall we begin our rehearsing? I daresay this storm is just the thing to help me imagine I have been shipwrecked.”

Edmund smiled distractedly, his eyes landing on something behind her, and Mary turned around to follow his gaze. Miss Darcy had moved to the pianoforte and was showing Jane a few pieces of music – but Jane did not look well at all. How well Henry knew her! The rain must really have made her ill, for she was very pale and standing seemed a chore for her.

Mary searched the room for Henry, who had already been claimed by Lady Susan. Mary let out a low groan as she realized that the pair of them were playing characters that would wed at the end, and she only had herself to thank for being unable to resist the insinuation of Lady Susan’s deviousness.

Edmund abandoned Mary in her distraction, and crossed the room just in time to catch Jane as she staggered backward. “Oh, dear – forgive me – I do not feel well at all,” she murmured.

Elizabeth took instant notice of her sister and hurried to Jane’s side just as Mr. Darcy returned from retrieving his own copy of the play. He stopped short as he extended the book to Elizabeth with a smile. She paid no heed to him – Mary thought it a shame that just as the man began to finally behave as if he was in possession of human feelings, he should be so summarily dismissed. But she had not fully forgiven his insult at the assembly, and so Mary could not object to his being made to suffer a little.

She could not like Jane’s suffering, however; she reached her cousin just after Elizabeth, and Henry followed close behind her, suggesting Jane might not like to be crowded at such a moment.

Mary observed that Jane’s brow was sweaty – she ought to move away from the fireplace. Elizabeth urged her sister to retire for the evening, and Jane agreed that her bed sounded like the most pleasant option at present. Edmund and Henry were both at the ready to carry her up, but Elizabeth shooed them both away – after stealing a glance at Mr. Darcy and then flushing crimson, Elizabeth insisted she would accompany her sister upstairs.

I hope this excerpt has piqued your interest, dear readers! A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings is available now on Kindle and paperback, and I will soon have a new project in the works – follow me on Facebook/Instagram for more updates!

My interest is very much piqued, Jayne! This sounds like an amazing accidental house party, and I want to be a part of it! 😛

I cannot wait to see how these characters continue to interact with each other. I wonder if this home theatrical will be as stirring as the one in Mansfield Park. It sounds like there might be the potential for some new romantic developments! 🥰

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Jayne is kindly offering an ebook giveaway of A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings, in conjunction with her visit today!

 

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, question, or some love for Jayne below and fill out the rafflecopter form.

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• This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Jayne!
• This giveaway will end April 6th!