Release Party for A Debt to be Paid

Some stories begin with a question.

For A Debt to be Paid, mine was a quiet what if that would not let me go.

Scrooge—specifically Albert Finney’s Scrooge in Scrooge (1970)—has always been my favorite portrayal of Dickens’s infamous miser. There is something achingly human in that version, something that makes his redemption feel both earned and miraculous. But as I rewatched it one winter, a darker thought intruded.

What if Scrooge was not redeemed?
What if he could not be redeemed?

Scrooge is, after all, a usurer—a money lender who profits from the desperation of others. I began to wonder what such a man might look like without the capacity for self-reflection or remorse. What if his charm masked something colder? What if his need for control outweighed any capacity for love?

From that single question, my villain was born. I gave him Scrooge’s profession, placed him firmly within the Regency world of Pride and Prejudice, and began to build a story around the consequences of his power—particularly when it intersects with a young woman who is intelligent, perceptive, and far more in tune to his villainy than he ever anticipates.

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About the Story

At fifteen, Elizabeth Bennet is intelligent, perceptive, and doted upon by her father. Life in Hertfordshire is peaceful—until the arrival of Mr. Damian Fiennes, the new master of Netherfield Park. Though outwardly charming, something about him unsettles Elizabeth. She does her utmost to avoid him, yet the spirited young girl captivates Mr. Fiennes, and he is determined to possess her.

When a series of manipulations ensnares both Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet, father and daughter find themselves trapped in a perilous situation—and with only one means of preserving their family’s good name, Elizabeth must marry the very man she mistrusts. With no other option, she consents, sacrificing her freedom to safeguard her family’s honor.

Disillusioned by the shallow flirtations of London society, Darcy encounters a remarkable young woman unlike any he has known—intelligent, graceful—and married. Mrs. Elizabeth Fiennes captivates him at once. Warned away by his cousin, who has heard dark tales of the lady’s husband, Darcy does not see her for some time.

When fate reunites them, both are grieving in their own way, and a quiet, powerful bond begins to form. Elizabeth is now a widow, and Darcy sees happiness in his grasp.

Yet as swiftly as his feelings deepen, she vanishes.

Their paths cross once more when Darcy arrives in Hertfordshire with Mr. Bingley. Haunted still by the shadows of her past, Elizabeth guards her heart. Determined not to lose her again, Darcy sets out to win it—but freeing her from the ghosts of all she has endured may be the greatest challenge he has ever faced.

A Debt to be Paid is a medium-angst, forced-marriage Pride and Prejudice variation.

Note: Non-graphic instances of narcissistic manipulation and abuse are present in this book.

Read now:
https://mybook.to/ADebttobePaid

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A Word About the Foreword (Please Don’t Skip It)

I know—many readers skip the foreword. I do too, more often than I should. But for A Debt to be Paid, I want to gently encourage you to read it.

The story you are about to enter deals with a particular kind of antagonist—one whose damage is subtle, cumulative, and deeply personal. To that end, I wanted to offer readers a framework before the first chapter even begins. I put it below!

“The narcissist is so preoccupied with himself that he has little capacity for love or empathy.”
— Erich Fromm

Narcissism is a term we now use to describe a distinct and deeply damaging pattern of personality—one defined by self-absorption, entitlement, manipulation, and an inability or unwillingness to genuinely care for others. Modern psychology identifies narcissism as a personality structure driven by fragile self-esteem that must be constantly protected by grandiosity, control, and exploitation.

A narcissist lives in a world constructed around their own needs and desires; those around them exist not as full individuals, but as props, audience members, or tools.

Although the term narcissism did not exist during the Regency era, the behavior certainly did. People of that time lacked the vocabulary to name it, but they recognized the type. Such a person might have been described as vain, self-important, conceited, or excessively proud. Their cruelty might have been labeled ungentlemanly or unfeeling—yet the underlying dynamics were the same.

Understanding narcissism through a modern lens allows us to see patterns that might otherwise appear merely unpleasant or confusing. What seems like arrogance may in fact be control. What seems like charm may be calculation. And the damage left behind often lingers long after the person responsible has moved on.

This foreword exists to offer that clarity—so readers may recognize these traits as they unfold on the page, and better understand the cost they exact from those who endure them.

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Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of A Debt to be Paid, I’m giving away one ebook copy to a reader who comments on this blog post.

—Giveaway closes: January 14
—How to enter: Leave a comment below
—Prize: One ebook copy of A Debt to be Paid

Thank you, as always, for reading, for trusting me with Elizabeth’s story, and for walking with her through both the darkness and the healing that follows.

— MJ Stratton