Hi friends! Today I am thrilled to welcome back author, Lucy Marin, to Austenesque Reviews! 

As you may have seen, Lucy just celebrated the release of her newest Pride and Prejudice variation –Hawthorn and Silver Birch. 

It sounds like this variation takes us on a sojourn through Ireland and its enchanting beauties with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth and other friends! 🇮🇪

Lucy is here to share an excerpt from Hawthorn and Silver Birch – we hope you enjoy! 

~ Book Description ~

I assure you, what I want is to be where you are.

Hidden behind a hawthorn tree in Dublin’s Merrion Square, Elizabeth Bennet overhears a gentleman coldly calculating the requirements for his future wife: excellent connexions, a large dowry, and an earl’s daughter for a mother. His mercenary words make her blood boil—and ensure that when they’re formally introduced, she has already decided that Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is the last man she could ever admire

But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Thrown together for weeks in the Emerald Isle, Elizabeth discovers that the proud, disagreeable Mr. Darcy is far more compelling than she wishes him to be. Just when her heart begins to soften, he makes a devastating assumption about her circumstances that shatters any possibility of understanding between them.

Months later in England, Darcy appears at her door with apologies and explanations—and a confession that changes everything. But can Elizabeth trust a man who has wounded her twice? And can Darcy prove that the heart he once guarded so carefully now belongs entirely to her?

For readers who love their Darcy groveling, their Elizabeth fierce, and their romance sweeping—set against the magic and mystery of Ireland in the regency era.

~ Excerpt from Hawthorn and Silver Birch ~

Darcy did not object to visiting the Botanic Gardens. He had read about them and intended to make the drive at some point. Going with Mrs Ryde and Lord Halsley, who had agreed it was an appealing notion, was no hardship. But Darcy could not say the same regarding Elizabeth Bennet’s presence. It was inexplicable, but he felt as though some force was pushing him towards her; in that light, it was surely better that he stay as far from her as possible. When she had sung at the dinner party, he had been entrapped and enchanted. She had a lovely light, clear voice, and her joyful demeanour while at the pianoforte had made up for the minor mistakes she had made.

Why had she chosen The Last Rose of Summer? It was a mournful song and seemed incongruous to her. She was no last rose, dying in a dreary world! She is the first rose of summer, full of promise and warmth and beauty.

Darcy immediately berated himself for the thought, despite it being unbidden.

At present, they were strolling the grounds of the Botanic Gardens. There was limited time to visit—just three hours on two days of the week—and their party had arrived early so that they could take advantage of every minute. Bramwell escorted Mrs Ryde, Lord Halsley walked with a middle-aged couple who were neighbours to Darcy and Bramwell and had accompanied them today, which left him and Miss Bennet. He did not speak, and would not have known what to say even if he had wished to, and she did not seem to care. What did he make of that? It was a question he debated longer than he should. While it was just a couple of minutes, he ought to be doing as she was and taking in the gardens. At the start of June, the trees were lush with leaves, the flowers and shrubs green with splashes of colourful blossoms. Upon occasion, her gaze was to her right, which afforded him a view of her visage. Her eyes sparkled with interest, bright and round, and the corners of her lips were upturned. Several times, she broke out into a smile, presumably when she saw something that particularly delighted her. Darcy was convinced she took in every morsel of what she saw—except for him.

I am glad she is acting as though I am not here, he assured himself. And, again, he promised himself he would avoid her company in the future. It would not be difficult. She was sailing home shortly. Today might be the last time they were together. Once in England, he need never see her. While he would call on Mrs Ryde when they were both in London—it would only be proper, after all—her companion would either not be present or would sit to the side, remaining silent yet available to do her mistress’s bidding. How simple it would be to overlook Miss Bennet then! And, should she put herself forward, attempt to claim some friendship, Mrs Ryde would ensure she was reminded of her place. How they all acted when so far from home would not be the same as they did when in England, particularly not town, with the ever-watchful eyes of the ton upon them.

“Oh, it is lovely!”

She said the words in an awed whisper, startling Darcy, who turned to her. When her eyes briefly met his, her cheeks, already pink with the warmth of the day, darkened, and her expression became more reserved.

“I apologise, sir,” she said. “I did not mean to interrupt your reveries.”

“Not at all. May I enquire what caught your attention?” Why had he asked when it would only extend the exchange? He was meant to be keeping a barrier between them, one greater than the foot and a half that separated them.

She chuckled and looked embarrassed. “I doubt you would find it as charming as I did. We passed a tree, an old hawthorn, a moment ago, its trunk twisting and canopy large and shielding the ground. With the brilliant blue sky behind it, I could almost imagine faeries dancing and going about their day.” Again, she laughed. “You may call me silly and fanciful, and I shall agree with you. It has been so gratifying to hear the old stories and to learn how the Irish view the world, what their beliefs are, and how they differ from what I have been taught.”

If Darcy were more like Bramwell, he would insist on retracing their steps to see the tree for himself. But he would not even permit himself to look over his shoulder, however much an indescribable something in him wanted to. It was the same oddity that pushed him towards her, and he despised it. Their separation could not come soon enough; then, the strange force that infected him would be gone for good, preventing him from behaving in a stupid manner that might have consequences that would last his entire life, such as acting on his growing attraction to her. But he could not deny that it was what he wanted. The more time he spent with her, the more he wished her position in life was better, that it would be acceptable for them to become friends, and that he might discover whether what he sensed he felt for her might become something even greater. She would make an excellent wife. Quickly, he reprimanded himself. I mean that she will doubtless make some other man a good wife.

At length, he said, “I am glad you have profited from your time here.” He had too. Meeting her was a reminder that he had to guard himself, always remember to give precedence to his rational self, his duty, and responsibility. Part of that would be to seriously consider finding a wife. There was his cousin Anne, but his doubts about her had grown in recent weeks, and he could not envision ever marrying her, no matter how his relations might like it. There would be time enough for him to consider matrimony in the autumn, when he expected to be in London, and he dismissed the subject for the moment.

Oh dear! Mr. Darcy trying his hardest not to fall for Elizabeth…little does he know he is already gone! 😂

Sounds like this is a most delightful trip to take…my bags are packed! 📗

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!

In conjunction with this lovely blog tour, Quills and Quartos will be giving away  ebook copies of Hawthorn and Silver Birch to three lucky reader who comments on this post.

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

• This giveaway is open worldwide! Thank you, Quills and Quartos.
• This giveaway will end April 30th.

Hawthorn and Silver Birch is available in paperback and ebook!!