Hi readers! I’m delighted to have author Paige Badgett as my guest today!  👏🏼

Did you see she just released a new book last week? 😮

A Pride and Prejudice prequel about Lady Catherine titled – The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh!!! 👒

I’m so into this – you just know Lady Catherine has been through it – something formative and significant happened in her past… 🤔

Paige is here to share an excerpt from The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  📖

We hope you enjoy! 🙌🏼

Thank you for welcoming me to your blog again, Meredith. I’m honored to share my new release, The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, with you and your readers. In Pride and Prejudice, Lady Catherine claims that a betrothal between her daughter Anne and our dear Mr. Darcy was the favorite wish of her and her sister, Anne. The Lady Catherine we all know is relentless in her belief that the engagement is a certainty. And while her abrasive candor backfires in canon, we are left with no answers regarding the veracity of Lady Catherine’s claims.

It was speculation about this betrothal that led me to the idea of my second novel. Did Lady Catherine and her sister Anne truly make a marriage pact of sorts? Was this betrothal made over their cradles a figment of Lady Catherine’s imagination, or was it a promise lost to history?

In this book, you’ll find a swoon-worthy romance, with relatable coming-of-age themes, and the origins of Lady Catherine’s villainy. And, I hope, you’ll discover a new way to look at one of literature’s dearest anti-heroes. I really enjoyed spending time with a young Lady Catherine in this book—and I hope you will find something to love about her too.

I’m happy to share the book’s description and an excerpt from Lady Catherine’s first meeting with Sir Lewis de Bourgh. Enjoy!

~ Book Description ~

Rigid to a fault, Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam has her future all planned and is eager to begin her new life as a married woman. One short week changes everything, including the betrayal of one close to her. Being sensible, expertly behaved, and managing her exacting expectations has gotten her nowhere. She is ready to determine her own future—perhaps even acting against the caution that has guided her throughout life.

A match borne from ignorance threatens to bring scandal upon Catherine, and one reckless act binds her to a prospect she could never have predicted. Will Catherine save her reputation and still find herself a husband?

Half villain-origin story, half coming of age, this tale transports readers to a consequential precipice in Catherine’s life. One where she discovers her voice and begins to understand the needs of her own heart—and how fragile that heart may be—transforming her into the antagonist readers know and loathe in Jane Austen’s cherished Pride and Prejudice.

~ Excerpt from The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh ~

The snow had changed over to a driving rain that turned the lane into a treacherous mud pit, with deep ruts in the drive where the carriages had pulled in front of the house. The harried, muddied servants moved quickly through the muck and rain, hurrying to do their duties so they too might sup and find warmth by a fire inside the house.

Rather than return to the dining room, Catherine stepped out onto the front terrace. Under the awning, she tipped her face to the sky to give thanks for the safe arrival of her aunt, Lady Rosamund. She felt a twinge of confidence that this was just what she needed to feel courageous once again. The steady pounding of the rain and cool breeze seemed to energize Catherine. That is, until the wind pushed the rain sideways for a moment, drenching the front of her gown and drowning her newly found peace of mind.

A deep chuckle caught her attention across the yard, where a tall muscular man was barking orders to all the servants. Her eyes met his, and he returned his attention to the servants.

The man was covered in mud from head to toe, his wool riding coat soaked through. His once cream breeches were splattered by the road, making Catherine pull back in horror. Poor Lady Rosamund! The storm must have given her such a fright.

Her aunt’s man continued pointing to various servants, directing their movements as they attempted to push one of the carriages out of a deep rut in the drive. When they were unable to budge the conveyance, the man joined the other men at the back of the carriage to help. Digging his tall boots into the slush and muck, they finally pushed the carriage out of the rut.

With that momentum, the horses were finally able to move. At length, the two carriages were directed around to the back of the house, along with a party of cold, grimy servants who walked alongside them.

Soaked from head to toe now, Catherine knew she should return inside, but she was mesmerized by the sheer will it had taken to free the carriage and horses.

Her aunt’s man watched the carriages disappear around the back of the house and turned to smile at Catherine. How proud he must be to have finally released the carriage from its hold in the ground. Catherine nodded in acknowledgement. What did she know about his type of work?

The man began approaching, climbing the steps to the terrace at the front of the house.

Catherine took a few steps back in confusion and looked around for the housekeeper to direct the man, but she was entirely alone.

“My lady, I presume?” he smiled as he reached the top of the steps. His mahogany brown hair was dishevelled, and she guessed that the abomination in his hands was a tricorn hat that was well past its time. Catherine almost laughed at his audacity, climbing the front steps of the house like he lived there.

“Have you lost your way, sir?” She finally found her voice.

His eyebrows pinched in confusion. “Pardon?”

“I am not certain what you are accustomed to, but at Oakley, the servants do not carry their mud into the house through the front doors.”

This seemed to amuse him and irritated her more.

“The servants’ entrance is around back, as you very well know,” Catherine declared.

Understanding dawned on his face. He was well and truly caught.

The unknown man smirked and tipped his head in a mock bow, chuckling as he turned back into the rain to return down the steps. No matter how much she respected her aunt for her liberality, Oakley was grounded in tradition. And as such, their servants were not welcome to enter through the front door—no matter the heroics this man might have performed to ensure Lady Rosamund arrived safely that night.

She did not like his manner, nor the way he turned back to stare at her before reaching the ground. The attention was peculiar and unwanted, certainly.

“Tell me your name. I shall have a word with your mistress.” She smirked right back. Two could play these games, and Lady Catherine dearly loved to win.

“You may call me Lewis.”

He smiled, grinning ear to ear in an absurd manner while the rain picked up speed and drenched him right there at the bottom of the terrace.

“I shall call you nothing,” Catherine chided back.

Ooh…I love this type of first encounter! Sparks already. I cannot wait for Lady C to learn the truth. 

And I’m so eager to see how my perception and sympathies for Lady C change with this story.

Congrats, Paige! We wish you all the best on your new release The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh!

 

~~~

Connect with Paige

Facebook    ❧    Website    ❧    Instagram

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Paige brings with her two PAPERBACK copies of The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh for me to give away to TWO lucky readers.

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

• This giveaway is open US residents. Thank you, Paige!
• This giveaway ends May 26th