The Truth About Family Audiobook Announcement

I am delighted to announce that the audiobook for The Truth About Family is now available! The wonderful Stevie Zimmerman narrated it, so you know it sounds amazing. You can find it at Audible.

To celebrate, I thought I’d share a scene that is not in the book. I have a fair bit of material I cut from the story, including scenes from Darcy and Elizabeth’s childhood, and that is what I reached into for today. I hope you enjoy this glimpse of Elizabeth’s first experience at Pemberley.

They were met at Pemberley by a very old man who Lady Romsley called Carter. Elizabeth could not help staring at him. His orange livery was very ugly, and she wanted to ask him what it was like to be a butler, but Lady Romsley pulled her further into the house.

When they enter a drawing room, Lady Romsley said, “Catherine. I did not know you would be here.”

“I came as soon as my sister wrote to me about this ridiculous scheme of yours.” Lady Catherine’s voice filled the room when she spoke.

Lady Romsley exchanged polite greetings with Lady Catherine, another lady, two gentlemen, a girl who was older than Jane, and a boy of about the same age. Elizabeth listened carefully as Lady Romsley told her everyone’s name and hoped she remembered them. It was difficult to concentrate when they were all staring at her.

“So that is the child,” said Lady Anne, who was the most elegant lady Elizabeth had ever seen. She was as beautiful as Mama and much prettier than Lady Catherine, who looked as though she smelt something terrible. Elizabeth offered Lady Anne a small smile and curtseyed again—she had curtseyed at least five times since entering the room and hoped it was enough—but the lady only looked away.

“She is a plain little thing,” said Lady Catherine.

“What a horrible gown,” Miss Anne de Bourgh said. “I would never wear such a thing, not even if no one would see me in it.”

“It is good enough for one such as her. It is important to have the distinction of rank preserved,” Lady Catherine stated. “You are the granddaughter of an earl. She is nobody.”

“Catherine!” Lady Romsley exclaimed.

Elizabeth bit the inside of her lip so that she would not cry. It was a horrible thing to say, and she did not like Lady Catherine. She sounded too much like Mama, and while Elizabeth knew she had to love her mother, she did not have to love Lady Catherine.

Lady Anne said, “She must learn her place, Mother. She may have been permitted to come to Pemberley—at your insistence—but she is not one of the family.”

The three ladies exchanged other words that Elizabeth did not entirely understand. As they spoke, she stood as still as possible while examining the gentlemen and boy. Sir Lewis had gone into another part of the room and held an enormous glass of wine. Mr Darcy talked with his son. The boy, whose name she did not remember, gave her a small smile before turning his attention back to his father. It made her feel a little better.

“No one is thinking about the children’s marriage prospects, Catherine,” Lady Romsley said. “Fitzwilliam is just twelve.”

“Anne and I have agreed that her son and my daughter—”

“Shall choose for themselves when they are old enough to think about marriage,” Mr Darcy said. “At least my son will. You are free to direct your daughter as you like.”

“Mr Darc—” Lady Anne started to say, but her husband cut her off with a curt shake of his head.

“Send the girl to the nursery. She looks ready to fall over. You are tired, are you not, and hungry?” Mr Darcy asked Elizabeth.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” She curtseyed again.

Nurse was summoned, and Elizabeth soon found herself in clean clothes, her hands and face washed, and with a thick piece of very delicious bread, spread with butter and apple jam, to eat. After that, she agreed that she would like to lie down simply so that she would not have to talk to anyone for a while.

That’s it for today! I just might be back in a few weeks with more excerpts from their childhoods.

A huge thank you to everyone for being so welcoming to my latest story. <3

Lucy