A Matter of Prudence: new book announcement!

Hello everyone!

I’m pleased to announce that I have a new book coming out soon in just about ten weeks. Woohoo! It is titled A Matter of Prudence, and it is a Pride and Prejudice variation. Let’s start with the blurb.

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He could hardly stop thinking of Elizabeth, and no longer tried to convince himself that he should.

 MR FITZWILLIAM DARCY IS DRAWN to Elizabeth Bennet from the day they met, captivated by her cleverness, her charm, and her good humour. While he initially sees only a friendship between them, his feelings for her soon grow more ardent, even while he tries to persuade himself she would be an unsuitable bride. At length, however, his pride and his prejudices must be laid aside; he knows that to be happy in marriage is more important.

ALAS JUST AS HE GROWS CERTAIN of his own heart and mind, a problem reveals itself. Mr William Collins, a cousin of the Bennets who has lived in Longbourn since his boyhood, returns to Hertfordshire. The fondness between Elizabeth and Mr Collins is clear and Darcy begins to fear there is an understanding between them. His fears are confirmed by Miss Caroline Bingley who warns him that the pair are on the brink of matrimony.

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WHEN he is visiting his aunt, Lady Catherine, changes everything. Deceptions are uncovered and friendships end, but is it too late for him and the woman he loves?

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I always like to share a bit of the background, so here goes! In A Matter of Prudence, I combined a couple of plot points I’ve had in mind for quite some time. First, I did something I do not generally do—I have our dear couple like each other from their initial meeting. (I suppose you could say that is true of my last novel, The Truth About Family, but in it E&D meet as children, so it isn’t quite the same.) That doesn’t mean they don’t face a few obstacles on their way to a happily ever after, of course. Second, in A Matter of Prudence, Mr Collins was brought to live at Longbourn as a child. His father died earlier than in canon, and since the Bennets had only daughters, Mr and Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins’s remaining relations agreed it would best if he grew up at the estate that would one day be his. You‘ll have to read the story to see if/how this changes his character and the Bennet family as a whole. And third, we come to the matter of the Bingleys… Let’s just say, I may have changed them just a wee bit. I would classify them as false friends, and they just might lie upon occasion.

Today, I’m sharing part of the first chapter with you. I’ll be back next month, on 27 June, for the cover reveal (spoiler: it’s gorgeous) and another excerpt. A Matter of Prudence is scheduled for release in all the usual formats on 7 August.

Chapter 1

“Bingley, it is good to see you,” Fitzwilliam Darcy said with genuine pleasure. He had been writing to his sister, who was presently in Worcestershire with their aunt and uncle, when the butler announced Charles Bingley’s arrival. It was an easy matter to set aside his task to spend half an hour or so visiting with his good friend.

Once they were seated and Darcy had poured a glass of wine for his guest, he said, “Your business did not keep you from town long.”

Bingley grinned. He seemed to be a perpetually happy man, which Darcy found refreshing, since he often felt weighed down by duty. That had been especially true this last month. Bingley’s good cheer had won him many friends, and Darcy was proud to be amongst them, even if he did wonder how they—who were so different in temperament—managed to maintain their connexion.

“I concluded it as quickly as possible. Really, it was done in so short a time, I am not entirely convinced it happened! You might say I was impulsive, but I leased an estate.”

Darcy took a moment to overcome his initial shock, which he did his best to mask. It was not his business to judge his friend, though he was often taken aback by how quickly Bingley leapt into new situations. “I know you were considering such a step, but I thought you had decided to put it off for a year or two.”

“So I had.” Bingley added emphasis to his statement by nodding vigorously. “But then I heard about this place. It is called Netherfield Park, and it is in Hertfordshire—an easy distance from town, which is what convinced me to go see it. It is delightful, and I saw no reason not to take it, thus I did.”

“Well, I offer my congratulations.” With effort, Darcy shook off his surprise. “You must excuse me. I had no expectation of hearing such a thing from you this afternoon. It is the second time you have surprised me of late.” The previous occasion had been when Bingley had taken a house in town, temporarily giving up his rooms at the Albany. His eldest sister and her husband had gone into the country to visit his family, and Miss Bingley, who usually lived with them, did not go with them for some reason Darcy could not recall. Bingley had decided to lease a town house and brought his sister to live with him. “Tell me about it. When do you take possession?”

“I said we could consider the agreement to start at Michaelmas, even though it has already passed. That is how excited I am about finding an estate.”

It was the second of October, making it a bit of an exaggeration to suggest he had made a great concession, but Darcy did not remark on it.

“The house is in good condition,” Bingley said, “and I intend to go down again in a week or two. I hope you will come with me. I should say us. Caroline will be there, of course, to keep house for me. I could use your assistance. You know this managing an estate business is unfamiliar to me.”

Bingley’s manner of speech displayed no anxiety about taking on this new role, or even any particular doubt that Darcy would accept his invitation. When he did not immediately respond, Bingley continued.

“You do not need to go to Pemberley, do you? You just arrived in town last week. Have you anything in particular keeping you here?”

Drawing out the first word, Darcy said, “No, and no. I shall be pleased to join you. Will you ask anyone else?” He was only in town because his uncle, the Earl of Romsley, insisted it would be better if he acted in accordance with his plans before the horrid events at Ramsgate. Darcy ought to do nothing that might raise suspicions, the earl argued, and Darcy had, with reluctance, agreed with him.

“Excellent! That is just what I hoped to hear. Louisa and Hurst will come a little later. They remain in the country another few weeks. I shall invite some friends. It will be nothing for them to come for a few days, given the easy distance to town. You are the one I particularly want there, and I hope you will stay for longer than a week or two!”

This elicited a brief smile. “Thank you, Bingley. I shall be glad to do whatever I can to assist you.”

“Excellent,” Bingley said again. “Caroline would be ecstatic if Miss Darcy came too.” He laughed and looked a little embarrassed, a trace of pink colouring his cheeks. “We both would be.”

“Unfortunately, she cannot. She is with my aunt and uncle in Worcestershire until we meet for Christmas.” It truly was regrettable in Darcy’s view. He thought it might do Georgiana good to be with a friend at such a difficult time. His preference was to keep his sister with him, or, if being at Romsley Hall was what she wanted, to stay there himself. In addition to his uncle’s argument, Lady Romsley all but forced him to leave, claiming his sister needed an affectionate aunt rather than either of her guardians—the other being Colonel Fitzwilliam, his cousin and the countess’s second son. Georgiana, according to the countess, was afraid they hated her. When Darcy had exclaimed that he never would, his aunt had said, “Of course not, but the poor girl does not believe it at the moment. She hates herself for what she did, almost eloping with that rascal, and, therefore, everyone else must too.”

Then again, Darcy thought, if Georgiana did go to Bingley’s new estate with him, she might be tempted to share more than she should. He did not wish anyone, the Bingleys most of all, to know about Ramsgate. They are everything good, but it might change how they view her…and me.

The smile fell from Bingley’s countenance momentarily. “Oh. That is disappointing. Well, we shall have a grand time regardless. I must get back to Caroline. She will have a million enquiries to make of me. You cannot imagine how enthusiastic she is to be the mistress of a country estate.” He drained his glass and stood.

You can preorder A Matter of Prudence at Amazon.

That’s it for today! Let me know what you think, and I’ll try to answer any questions—as long as I can do so without giving too much away! I hope you have a wonderful day.

<3 Lucy