Giving Thanks by Jennifer Altman

Hello, friends and happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating tomorrow!

This Sunday, November 26th, marks the five-year anniversary of my debut novel, To Conquer Pride. So, I’m reaching back into the archives today to share a Thanksgiving themed excerpt from the book–one in which Elizabeth Bennet teaches Fitzwilliam Darcy to bake a pie! 🥧

Additionally, to celebrate my book anniversary, and to give thanks to all of YOU, the Kindle edition of To Conquer Pride is currently on sale for only $.99 from now until next Monday! So, if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet (or if you read in KU and would like to purchase your own copy), now would be a great time to snap it up. (Buy link is at the bottom of the post).

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the excerpt below. 

Excerpt

To Conquer Pride

“Fitzwilliam, I have been sent to fetch you. There is an urgent matter in the kitchens that requires your attention. You must come at once.”

Darcy pulled his gaze away from Georgiana’s flushed countenance and his forehead wrinkled. The kitchens? That area of the house was strictly his housekeeper’s domain. As a matter of fact, Darcy could not remember ever being summoned below stairs for a consultation, in all his time as master. “Is it not something Mrs. Reynolds can handle?” he asked.

Georgiana immediately shook her head. “No. I am afraid not.”

“Well, whatever it is, I am happy to discuss it, but I do not believe Mrs. West would welcome my presence in her kitchens. I shall send for her to attend me here.”

Darcy moved in the direction of the bell-pull, but to his surprise, Georgiana reached across the desk, staying his hand. “No, William, it cannot be discussed here. And it cannot wait. You must hurry.”

Still confused, but seeing his sister’s resolve, he allowed himself to be propelled out of the room and along the corridor to the back stairs. Following his sister’s steps, it occurred to him that he had not been in this part of the house in… actually he could not remember the last time he had been in this part of the house. Certainly, it had been years.

Feeling like an interloper, Darcy tentatively entered the kitchens on Georgiana’s heels—and froze.

The large room was empty save three people, but Darcy only had eyes for the one who stood directly before him, a crisp white apron covering her sprigged-muslin gown.

“Miss Bennet!” He looked around in confusion. “I hope you have not lost your way?”

A smile brightened Elizabeth’s features and her eyes sparkled with barely suppressed mirth. Behind him, Darcy could hear his sister’s throaty giggle.

“No, Mr. Darcy. I have not. But pray, do come in. We only have the use of the kitchens for a scant two hours before your staff must return to begin preparing for the evening meal, so there is little time to dawdle.”

Darcy stepped farther into the room, his questioning eyes darting to Mrs. Reynolds, who stood slightly to one side, but she only smiled and walked over to take a seat on one of the chairs that surrounded a long wooden table at the back of the room.

“Miss Bennet, I am afraid you find me at a loss. Might I ask you to enlighten me as to the purpose of this meeting?”

“Certainly, sir. I am going to instruct you on the proper preparation of a pie. Blackberry, to be exact,” she added, reaching for the basket of berries sitting on the nearby sideboard.

Darcy’s eyebrows lifted and Elizabeth’s smile broadened.

“I see,” he answered, causing Elizabeth to laugh with the exuberance of a girl half her age.

“I must confess that at first I had trouble devising a task upon which I could educate you, Mr. Darcy. However, I then remembered that you are not so practiced in the kitchen.” Her expression turned serious before she continued, “And I did promise most faithfully to bake for you one day. Do you not remember?”

Darcy swallowed, tugging at his neck-cloth which suddenly seemed far too tight. The memory of their time in the cottage’s small kitchen played out in his mind’s eye and he kept his gaze locked on hers when he answered. “Yes, Miss Bennet, I remember.”

They stood looking at each other for a long moment before Elizabeth stepped away, pulling an apron from one of the pegs along the wall. When she spoke again, her voice was light. “I suggest you remove your coat, sir. I would not wish to get into trouble with your valet.”

Darcy blinked back at her, struggling to process the shift in the conversation. “You want me to… That is, I assumed this would be a demonstration of some sort…” he stammered, but at the look on Elizabeth’s face he reached out his hand, his fingers closing around the rough cloth.

Elizabeth studied him before addressing Georgiana over her shoulder. “Miss Darcy, perhaps you can assist your brother with that apron. He seems unsure of how to utilize it.”

Snapping out of his shock, Darcy waved his sister aside before tugging off his coat and slipping the smock over his head. “That will not be necessary, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth offered a wry smile, reaching for his discarded coat and moving to hang it on a rack in the corner. Suddenly, Darcy remembered the pages of the book, secreted away in his pocket. What would she say if she found them? Would she realize where they had come from? But Elizabeth was already crossing back to where he stood, causing Darcy to release his breath. Tying the apron strings, his gaze darted to the back of the room. Besides Mrs. Reynolds, one of the kitchen maids lingered near the entrance to the pantry, her eyes wide.

Darcy rubbed his neck, glancing uneasily around the kitchen.

As if sensing his discomfort, Elizabeth looked up from her preparations, her gaze following his. “Oh, forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I hope you do not mind a small audience. Mrs. Reynolds wished to observe the process, and I am certain you know Sarah,” she added, nodding to the scullery maid. “She has volunteered to stand by in case we should require assistance.”

Elizabeth grinned up at him then, causing Darcy’s heart rate to escalate. To calm himself, he turned his attention to the young maid, noticing that she immediately dropped her gaze. In truth, he was not certain he had ever been introduced to the girl—Pemberley had a large staff, and he generally did not come in contact with those who worked below-stairs. Seeing the maid’s obvious discomfort at being in the presence of the master, even if he was standing before her in an apron and shirtsleeves, Darcy smiled, attempting to put her at ease. “I thank you, Sarah, for allowing us to invade your workspace. I hope we do not prove to be too much trouble.”

Darcy watched in amusement as the girl’s eyes formed round circles and a slight flush colored her cheeks. “Oh, no sir! ‘Tis no trouble!”

“Good. I am pleased to hear it.” Allowing his smile to remain, he turned to face Elizabeth. “Very well, Miss Bennet. I await your expert tutelage. What would you have me do?”

Elizabeth regarded him over the curve of her shoulder. “I suppose you might begin by sorting these berries,” she said, indicating the basket in front of him with a tilt of her chin. “Meanwhile, Miss Darcy and I will mix the ingredients for the crust.”

Darcy looked from the basket to the bowl in front of him. “Er… sort them? Pardon my ignorance, Miss Bennet, but can we not just pour the desired amount into the crust?”

Elizabeth cocked her head. “No, Mr. Darcy, we cannot.”

Stepping over to where he stood, she reached across his body, her fingers brushing his wrist as she began picking through the basket of fruit. Her proximity made Darcy’s stomach tumble. Steadying his breathing, he forced himself to focus on what she was saying.

“…and as you can see, some of these are not sufficiently ripe.” Elizabeth held up a pale blush-colored berry for his inspection. “Others have become slightly squashed in transport,” she continued, picking out another berry and showing it to him, before popping it into her mouth.

Darcy felt a smile twitching at his lips. “And is it also my job to consume all of those damaged berries, Miss Bennet?”

Elizabeth gazed back at him seriously. “You may do as you wish, Mr. Darcy. However, it is important to taste the fruit; otherwise you will not know how much sugar to use. Here,” she added, plucking a fat purple berry from the basket. For a moment Darcy stilled, thinking she intended to place it into his mouth, but instead she simply held it out to him. When he did not react immediately, she took his hand, turning it over before placing the berry lightly in his palm.

Darcy swallowed, lifting the fruit.

“Well?” Elizabeth asked as Darcy chewed.

“It is… very good.”

“Yes. But you will notice that it is also slightly tart, though it is fully ripe. That is due to the earliness of the season. In a month’s time, the fruit will be much sweeter. This is why you must taste and adjust the sugar accordingly.”

“I see.”

“Now, any of the berries that are not fit to use, you may put here, in this bowl. Oh, and you must not worry that they will go to waste. While I would not wish to make use of them in the pie, they are perfectly adequate for preserves or sauces.”

Darcy lifted his gaze, staring at her intently. “I assure you, Miss Bennet, I was not worried.”

Suddenly, Georgiana looked up from where she was slicing into a slab of butter, enthusiasm lighting her features. “William, perhaps if Mrs. West uses the leftovers to make preserves, we might put together baskets with fresh bread and bring them to the tenants. Do you not think that a fine idea?”

“Certainly not,” Darcy answered, and Georgiana’s smile faltered. “Really, Georgie,” Darcy continued, “would you have me give the tenants jam made from inferior berries? No, it cannot be done. We will simply have to eat the preserves ourselves, no matter how horrible they are.”

Georgiana’s mouth dropped open and she stared back at her brother, her eyes as wide as saucers. Out of the corner of his vision, Darcy could see Elizabeth biting back a laugh.

“I believe your brother is teasing you, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said, gently squeezing the girl’s shoulder. “Now, enough of this gadding about. Let us concentrate on our work, or we will never have this ready before the servants return to begin the dinner service.”

Thanks for reading! For those of you looking to take advantage of the anniversary book sale, you can purchase your own copy of To Conquer Pride here.

Wishing everyone celebrating a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.

Until next time.

JA