Austen in August: The Night Sky Over Pemberley

One thing that always strikes me when I read Jane Austen’s works is how limited the opportunities for amusement really were. After all, our world is one of constant amusement— we can travel nearly anywhere, watch almost anything, read millions of books, play a game with someone we’ve never met. Endless possibilities! Compare that to a young woman living in rural England in 1811 and you have… a walk. Talking to you mother, sisters, or close neighbors. Reading one of the three books your father bought this year. Maybe another walk? No wonder gossip ran rampant! It was fun! It’s always a challenge to those of us who love to write Austenesque fiction: what should we have our characters do? Where can they go, and what will they do when they get there?

In my recent release, A Lady’s Reputation, most of the action takes place at Pemberley, and that decision came about because of an article I read on the renovations to Chatsworth. I saw the pictures and immediately thought that I wanted to have Darcy and Elizabeth have a picnic on the roof at Pemberley. 

Darcy pulled Elizabeth to her feet, leading her a bit farther across the roof to enjoy the view he so wanted her to see. The crescent moon lent an almost spectral quality to his land, which was unfurled beneath her like an enchanted map. The stream wound its way prettily through the fields and around the park, and the farms that dotted the landscape at regular intervals looked neat and charming. Darcy pointed out various landmarks: the town of Lambton, the river, and the trout pond. A sense of awe stole over her, thinking of the responsibility he bore for all she saw. It is a magical kingdom, and it is his kingdom. It filled her with still greater wonder to consider he had wished to share it with her. He was master of all she surveyed and wanted her to be its mistress, to join with him in the care of this land and these people

It’s a mushy scene for sure but also a pivotal one because it’s the point at which Elizabeth finally realizes she’s in love with him.  (Also the scene of their (spoiler alert) first kiss! 

When I posted the original version of this story, one of the conversations which arose was imagining what exactly they might have seen as they looked at the sky. Not being any sort of astronomer, I made a few completely incorrect guesses…fortunately I had one sharp reader, Steve, who came to my rescue and showed me an extremely cool web site where you can see exactly what the night sky would have looked like on any certain date… including July 1812!

Hopefully I am not the only one who finds it sort of cool to imagine the scene D&E had — but hey, if you’re not there for the astronomy, come for the mush! Darcy’s cousins surely found it enticing… 

“I am exceedingly disappointed that I have never considered the roof myself,” Saye interjected. “I can only imagine how delightful it must be to feel the fresh air on your—”

“Stay off my roof, Saye.”

“What? Darcy, that is ungenerous.”

“You have your own roof.”

“Matlock House? A dreadful pitched thing. What woman wants to be amorous when she fears she might slide off a roof to her death?” 

In honor of the Austen in August event I will send one commenter a signed paperback of A Lady’s Reputation. 

“Mr. Darcy, I am eager to hear your explanation for the fact that quite a few people believe we are engaged.”

It starts with a bit of well-meant advice. Colonel Fitzwilliam suggests to his cousin Darcy that, before he proposes to Elizabeth Bennet in Kent, perhaps he ought to discuss his plans with their families first. 

What neither man could have predicted however was that Lord Matlock would write the news to his sister, or that Viscount Saye would overhear and tell his friends, or that his friends might slip a little and let their friends know as well. The news spreads just as quickly through Hertfordshire once Mrs Bennet opens the express Mr Bennet receives from Mr Darcy, and in a matter of days, it seems like everyone knows that Mr Darcy has proposed marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. 

Everyone, that is, except Elizabeth herself. 

Her refusal is quick and definite—until matters of reputation, hers as well as Jane’s, are considered. Then Mr Darcy makes another offer: summer at Pemberley so that Jane can be reunited with Mr Bingley and so that he can prove to Elizabeth he is not what she thinks of him. Falling in love with him is naturally impossible…but once she knows the man he truly is, will she be able to help herself?