Happy 15th Birthday to “The Darcys of Pemberley” – Excerpt and Giveaway

Wow! My first (and still most popular) darling literary child is 15 years old today! In some ways, it seems like only yesterday, but how much my world has changed since then! It’s still a bit surreal to me that I’m a published author with thousands of readers. And it all began with The Darcys of Pemberley.

You should know that when I started writing the story in 2004, I had absolutely no idea if I could do it, and I didn’t even know that such a thing as Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) existed. I just knew that I wanted more Jane Austen – more Pride and Prejudice in particular.

What would happen after the wedding, I wondered. How would Darcy and Elizabeth deal with the first major crisis in their marriage? Did Georgiana have a secret love? What kind of trouble would Wickham cause next? And would Lady Catherine ever get her comeuppance? My inquiring mind needed to know!

So one day, mostly for my own entertainment, I sat down at the computer to try to answer those questions. I hoped to create what I desperately wanted myself: a faithful sequel to Pride and Prejudice.  And the rest, as they say, is history. Fourteen more books have followed, all built on the success of The Darcys of Pemberley.

So that’s what I’m celebrating! And since TDoP wouldn’t have been such a success without YOU, my lovely readers, I invite you to join me in lifting a toast, at least metaphorically.  Instead of offering you champagne, though, I’m giving away 5 audio codes (your choice of my books).

But first, I thought you might enjoy reading this scene. There’s absolutely nothing graphic in the book, but I did enjoy adding some playful innuendo here and there between the now-married (and-expecting, at this point) Darcy and Elizabeth:

The Darcys stayed the night at Heatheridge.  As they prepared for bed, Elizabeth revisited the subject.  “What interesting ideas you expressed about fatherhood this afternoon, husband.  I was quite surprised by them.”

“Why should you be?  I did not relate anything the least bit shocking or even out of the common way.  As far as I can ascertain, the vast majority of men leave the tending of their small children entirely to the female sex.  Even my own excellent father, from what I remember, had little use for me until I was old enough to ride and shoot.  He had even less time for my sister.  Yet I would never be persuaded that we were neglected or unloved,” Darcy said defensively.

“No, of course not.”  After pause for reflection, Elizabeth continued in a more playful tone.  “It does no good, however, to tell me what ‘common’ men, or even ‘most’ men consider normal and reasonable practice, because I could never think of you in those terms.  I hold you to a higher standard.  I have long since learnt that everything about you, Mr. Darcy, is entirely exceptional,” she said, running an appreciative hand and lingering eye over some of his especially fine attributes.

This having the desired effect, he gathered her into his arms.  “You have the most charming way, Mrs. Darcy, of transforming any discordance between us into an invitation to something infinitely more agreeable.  The result is that I can never seem to remember what we quarreled about.”

“It is terribly clever of me, you must admit.  I wonder if I am the first woman to discover this secret to total harmony in marriage.”

As her outstanding husband proceeded to accept her invitation, Elizabeth was momentarily diverted by the thought that, despite apparent indifference toward their own infants, men seem to have no lack of interest in the activity that leads to their existence.

I hope you enjoyed this little excerpt – for the first time or maybe the second. Now leave a comment below to be entered to win one of 5 audio codes I’m giving away here to celebrate The Darcys of Pemberley‘s 15th birthday. I’d love to know if you’ve read the book and when, or if you’ve somehow missed it before but would like to read it now. Check back at Austen Variations for a new post on August 4th to see if you’ve won, and thank you for reading! It’s been my delight and privilege to share my stories with you for the last 15 years.