Comfort and Joy- Excerpt and Cover Reveal

Don’t you think  our Jane would agree that there’s nothing like reading a wonderful holiday story for real comfort?  Curling up with a cup of warm tea or hot cocoa, snuggling under a blanket and getting lost in the world of Darcy and Elizabeth without overt interference by Mr. Wickham is how I long to spend my winter. To make these dreams of mine a reality, I’ve decided to put out another holiday novella starring not only our dear couple, but also the favorite darlings of my first novella, Miss Victoria and Emily Gardiner.

In my first holiday novella,  An Unexpected Merry Gentleman, Mr. Darcy is delighted by the spunk of the Gardiner girls. They and their family are guests of Mr. Bingley at Netherfield for unexpected reasons. With the spirit of Lizzy’s mini-me Emily, and the sedate propriety of Jane’s little twin Victoria, an enjoyable romp during a Meryton Christmas was had by all, as Pride was put under good regulation and both parties were no longer blinded by Prejudice.

Continuing with the innocence of children, we once again find ourselves on a holiday ramble with Emily and Victoria Gardiner. Yet, joining them this time is their swooning young friend Katie Joy, named partially in honor of JAFF author J. Dawn King.

While visiting Lambton with the Gardiners only two short weeks after Mr. Bingley has vacated Netherfield Park, the young ladies, save Jane, are on ‘an adventure’ in the Derbyshire countryside. When the weather turns, they have to face their fears of being stuck in the snow, or taking shelter in an abandoned cottage.

I hope you enjoy the following excerpt of ‘Comfort and Joy,’ available for pre-order on Amazon, November 12th.

…

They continued to plod through the woods, the four nearly frozen beings when providence smiled down upon them. Not twenty yards ahead, through the sleet and wind, stood an old cabin with the windows boarded.

“Oh, Lizzy. Do you think anyone is home?”

“I fear not. It looks abandoned, but it does not signify, for we are going inside, Emmy,” Elizabeth said knocking on the door. “Hello? Hello?” She rattled the handle, but no one answered her cries. Spotting a small alcove, she placed Victoria’s shaking body within it. “Emmy, Katie Joy. Come and sit with Vicky. I am going to go around the back and look for an open door or window.”

“But what if a highwayman comes?” Katie Joy shrieked in terror. “I do not want to be attacked by a highwayman!”

“A highwayman will not come, Katie. For if he did,” Emmy said balling up her fists and swinging in the air, “I would punch him in the nose.”

“You are the bravest friend I have!”

“Girls, there will be no highwayman and no punching anyone in the nose. Just stay here until I return.”

Lizzy ran to the back of the cabin and searched but could still find no way through the heavy boards into the house. However, on her way back, she spotted an outbuilding and hastened to scoop up Victoria and lead the girls to shelter.

They tore across the yard, and threw open the door, before closing it securely behind them, leaving the elements outside. The piles of hay in the back were a welcome sight as Elizabeth attempted to stop Victoria’s shivering.

Katie Joy and Emily were holding one another, both wiping tears from their eyes. “Now what do we do, Miss Lizzy? I cannot feel my toes.”

“I am sorry this is not the romantic adventure you dreamed of, Katie Joy.”

“No, this is nothing like the novels Nanny reads to me. For if it was, there would be a highwayman, and he would be handsome, and he would have rescued us and taken us to his warm cabin where there would be a fire and biscuits with warm chocolate. Instead, we are stuck in a freezing barn.” The young girl pounded her fists on her legs and stuck out her lower lip.

“I agree,” Emily said. “This is not fun. I want to go back to Lambton.”

“We will, girls, once the storm has passed.” Turning to Katie Joy, Elizabeth said, “I hope this helps you see novels are mere stories, and do not mirror real life. There are no highwaymen, biscuits or warm chocolate for us, but a stable and straw to fight off the chill. Later, I will try once again to find a way into the house, but for now, Emmy, you and Katie must go to the front stables for the next part of your adventure and find any horse blankets left in the stalls. I will do my best to get Victoria warm.”

“Horse blankets? Very unromantic to be sure.” A deep sigh came from the young girls as they stood, making their way down to the other end of the building, some thirty yards away. Elizabeth’s attention was once again directed at her dear little cousin, Victoria Jane Gardiner, as she rubbed the girl’s back and rocked her to and fro. I have recently nursed my own Jane back to health, and will do the same for you. “Do not worry, Tory. Lizzy will make it right.”

She felt the words were more to ease her own troubled heart, as no solution was presenting itself at the moment, nor was she certain it would.

Elizabeth huddled against Victoria, trying to warm her with her own body’s heat when there was a crash followed quickly by a scream from the front of the barn.

A man rode through the doors, his great beast startling Emily and Katie Joy. When he alighted from his horse, and leaned down to speak to them, Katie screamed again, and Emily pulled her arm back and punched him in the nose.

What a precocious little scamp, that Emily Elizabeth Gardiner is! And what about her friend, the swooning Katie Joy? I guarantee adventures will abound in this holiday novella.

And now to reveal the much anticipated cover…

Isn’t it darling? I love how the three little girls have distinct personalities, just like Victoria, Emily and Katie Joy.  Their dresses are so festive and they look as if they are ready to celebrate the season.

Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friends, and keep your eye out for ‘Comfort and Joy.’