Hi friends!

I’m so thrilled to welcome author Amy George to Austenesque Reviews today! 🤩

Longtime and avid Austenesque readers might remember Amy as the author of lovely novellas such as – Second Impressions and The Sweetest Ruin – that came out back in the day. 📚

And now Amy is celebrating the release of her newest Austenesque work – His Dark Heart. 🖤

Which sounds like it is a Pride and Prejudice fairy tale with Mr. Darcy as somewhat of an anti-hero! 😮

Amy is here to share an excerpt from her new release – His Dark Heart. 🌟

We hope you enjoy!! 🤗

~ From the Author ~

This story was born from the idea of wanting to see Darcy as a wicked man and what true love would do to such a man. Out of all that I’ve written in the JAFF space, this is my own personal favorite. I love how the relationship between ODC buds and blossoms. In this scene, Elizabeth’s throne has arrived and she is less than pleased with its appearance. I love writing banter and I think Darcy & Elizabeth have such fun sniping at each other. It makes for great chemistry and an even greater love story.

~ Book Description ~

Witty and popular, Elizabeth Bennet looks forward to a bright future. She plans to marry her childhood sweetheart and live happily ever after.

Until Lord Darcy, Prince of Pemberley, attends an assembly and shows he has no manners or civility, and Elizabeth is forced to put him in his place.

Now the dark Lord Darcy is obsessed with the obstinate, headstrong girl and will do anything to have her, including the use of magic. But magic has a price, which will threaten the relationship Darcy conjured. Will it destroy this fragile couple, or will true love win in the end?

~ Excerpt from His Dark Heart ~

“Pardon me, Mistress, but the Master requests your presence in the Hall,” one of the maids said from the door.

Elizabeth nodded, and she and Jane made their way through the passages of Pemberley, with Samuel following a respectable distance behind. Somehow, Darcy had not caught wind of Elizabeth’s escape from the guard, and they had agreed it was better not to mention it further. The group reached the tunnel that connected the great house to the Hall and forged ahead, coming out behind the dais that held Darcy’s throne.

Three huge fireplaces all burned with great fires, but a chill remained in the air as the banner with the Darcy family seal fluttered lightly above. Except for business and the occasional reception, Elizabeth avoided this room like the plague. It was the place where she had seen Darcy as the man who had conquered her instead of the man who held her tenderly.

Over the last two weeks, she had noticed the distinction between the two men that seemed to reside within the same body. When others were present, he was the man she had met at the Assembly oh so very long ago: the cold, trying man with the iron will, but when there was no chance of others seeing him, he coddled her, smiled, even occasionally laughed with her and showed infinite patience. He was a conundrum, a puzzle that she was pained to have to solve, despite knowing that the resolution would have incredible results.

“My lord, ye sent for me?” she asked.

He was bent over a parchment, his steward hovering nearby. He looked up, his eyes briefly flashing warmth before they resumed their flinty stare. Curtly, he held out his hand and waved her over.

“Yes, my lord?” She asked once she beside him.

“Your throne has arrived, my lady.”

There, on the dais next to his large, gilded, intricately carved throne was a small, cushioned seat that barely compared. It was elegant to be sure, but it lacked the same command, the same power he seemed to present merely by existing. Of course, he outranked her and that was fine, but having become quite used to her high station, Elizabeth had to admit she was disappointed.

“That is it?”

Darcy looked at her sharply, most likely due to the disapproval in her tone. “Whatever do you mean?”

“It is a bit, I do not know, plain perhaps?”

“Plain?”

“Well, my lord, thy chair is so grand. I suppose I expected mine to be similar.”

* * *

Darcy cast his gaze about the room. Jane did not hide her smirk as she was prone to do when he was put on the spot, and his steward was busy looking everywhere but his direction. Footmen had been placed at random intervals throughout the room, and he could not dismiss them all without causing a scene.

“I am sorry you do not like it.”

“It will do,” she replied as though she had sensed his irritation. “It is not as though I spend a great deal of time here. Only the mornings when I tend to business.”

He crooked an eyebrow to let her know that he identified with that complaint too. With the skirmish between Hargrove and Foster, he had not had opportunity to explain certain things to her, especially once Hargrove was connected to the ambush and hanged for treason. It was the daily running of the realm of which he had neglected to inform her. His wife had done her best to learn by watching, but it was clear she had become frustrated and spent less and less time each morning in the Hall. Instead, she preferred to be out amongst the people: attending births, weddings, and funerals and visiting the poor. Elizabeth wanted to show that the people meant a great deal to her, and she had found a way, even when he had protested out of concern for her safety.

“Is that all, my lord?” Her eyes were wide, mocking him with her feigned innocent stare.

“Not quite, my lady. Will you accompany me?” He offered his arm, and he escorted her to one of the parlours where he proceeded to lock the door behind him.

“Am I to be scolded by the master of Pemberley for my impertinence?” The corner of her mouth curled in a wicked smirk.

“You cannot behave like that in front of our subjects,” he muttered while he tried in vain to ignore the sudden tightness of his breeches.

“Behave how? Like a spoiled child or a demanding princess? Ye have never deigned to inform me of my role, sir. Am I a princess in name only? Do I have duties other than keeping ye occupied in the bedchamber?”

He blew a breath of air out of his nose and tried to focus on his frustration to keep his arousal at bay. He was at fault, but he need not have her point it out to him. His mind was filled with worries enough without that discomfort. His concerns that he had gone soft had grown steadily. Had his people noticed his newfound lenience? With all that had happened in the last few days with regard to the traitors, he was once again ruling from a precarious spot.

Suddenly, Elizabeth’s mouth covered his. He held her face and pulled her back; his eyes crinkled.

“Ye looked concerned. Ye never look like that.”

“I am concerned,” he admitted. “The traitors have been punished, and I dread the repercussions.”

“Ye will survive it as ye have survived in the past.” Her voice and manner were so confident.

“In the past I did not have anyone else depending on my survival.”

“Are ye implying that living for me is a hindrance to your form of government?”

Guilty, he looked away, his thumbs caressing her cheeks gently.

“Ye did not take into account that thy life would change when ye married, did ye? Neither of us expected that things would change so drastically, but they have, and we must accept them. Rule, sir, as ye have always ruled: with ferocity and certainty, and know that I shall support ye.”

“Even if you do not agree with me?”

“Oh, ye shall know when I do not agree with ye.”

“I had very little doubt in my mind regarding that, actually.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her lips once again. The kiss was long and slow, each of them seeking comfort in the other as their lips were crushed together and their tongues tasted the exquisite sweetness. Neither of them were fully aware of how she came to be cradled in his arms or how they came to recline on the sofa, but when their mouths finally parted, Elizabeth was panting, and Darcy was unfastening ties to loosen her gown.

“Surely this is no way to rule a realm.” She was moaning even as he pushed his hand beneath her skirts.

🤴🏻 Mr. Darcy claimed Elizabeth as his bride?! Even though she had plans to marry her childhood sweetheart… Will they live happily ever after?

📖 I curious to see Mr. Darcy as both a prince and a little bit wicked – I’m curious how Elizabeth’s (and the readers’) feelings towards him will change in this different iteration of his character.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Amy is kindly offering 1️⃣ ebook of His Dark Heart in conjunction with her visit today!

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, question, or some love for Amy.

• This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Amy!
• This giveaway will end August 31st.