The Truth About Family Excerpt

Happy New Year!

Thank you all for the warm welcome you gave to my first post on The Truth About Family, my new book, which is out next week (book, e-book, KU; the audiobook is will be out soonish, I hope). If you missed the cover reveal and bonus material I posted last month, you can find it here. As well, you can read the first three chapters at Book Funnel.

Today, I have an excerpt from just a little further into the book. We are now in August 1811, and the earl and countess of Romsley have arranged for Elizabeth to go to stay with Lady Anne at Pemberley. The Fitzwilliams, Darcys, and de Bourghs will have one of their annual reunions in September, and Elizabeth anticipates Darcy returning to Derbyshire before the others arrive.

All I can say is oh-oh. Heehee. Enjoy!

Lady Anne received her [Elizabeth] in a small drawing room and only nodded in response to Elizabeth’s curtsey and enquiry about her health. Elizabeth’s initial fascination with Lady Anne had abated with age and the woman’s indifference to her, but she retained the vestiges of a desire to please the older woman. She supposed it was a response to her perpetual air of sadness and the tight, controlled way she held herself.

“You will want to change out of your travelling clothes,” Lady Anne said, not quite meeting Elizabeth’s eye.

“Shall I join you when—”

“That is not necessary. I have letters to write and shall see you at dinner.”

Surprised at Lady Anne’s manner, which was brusquer than usual, Elizabeth could only say, “Very well,” before going to her bedchamber to change.

Dinner was largely silent, and Lady Anne retired after drinking a cup of tea. With no reason to remain in the drawing room, Elizabeth went to her bedchamber to read.

***

The following day, a Sunday, began by attending church. Breakfast was again silent, but Elizabeth felt the weight of Lady Anne’s gaze on her throughout, which left her struggling not to squirm. Since her hostess had no need for her after the meal, Elizabeth went for a walk. Her feet led her through the grove, along the stream, and eventually, to Mr Darcy’s final resting place. She placed a bouquet of wildflowers beside the headstone and whispered a prayer.

There was a wooden bench nearby, and Elizabeth took a rest. She removed her straw bonnet and used it to fan her face. The sky was cloudless, and the sun was strong. The only sound she heard was faint birdsong. The peaceful setting was a contrast to her sorrowful thoughts of Mr Darcy and his final days.

She had come to Pemberley a week before his death after an express from Lady Anne arrived at Romsley Hall, informing them he was gravely ill and begging Lord Romsley to come at once. The earl and countess were away visiting one of his political allies, leaving only Elizabeth to receive the summons. She would not let Lady Anne suffer alone and rushed to Pemberley, where she did what she could for her and Darcy, once he arrived from town.

I hope I provided you with some comfort. I believe I helped Darcy, but whether or not Lady Anne benefited from my presence at that awful time, I do not know.

At length, Elizabeth ambled back to the manor, stopping by the stables on the way to see that Nutmeg had settled in.

Stroking the horse’s long brown nose, she said, “We shall go out tomorrow morning. What do you think of that, girl? You enjoy galloping across Pemberley as much as I do.”

The ladies did not meet again until dinner, after which—in what was almost as much an order as a request—Lady Anne had Elizabeth play the pianoforte. She said nothing, but Elizabeth was aware of her stares as she sat at the instrument. She would give a great deal to know just once what the woman was thinking.

The clock chimed ten, and Lady Anne stood. “I shall retire.”

Also rising, Elizabeth said, “I intend to ride before breakfast unless you need me?”

Again, Lady Anne studied her. This time, her expression was almost hesitant.

After a pause, Elizabeth surreptitiously sighed. “I wish you a good night, madam.”

Lady Anne did not reply but turned and left the room.

***

Before Elizabeth was even out of bed the next day, a servant knocked at the door to her bedchamber. Herriot answered and repeated the message to her.

“Lady Anne says you are to dress and go to her immediately. She is waiting for you in the green drawing room.”

Elizabeth leapt out of bed, alarmed by the unexpected summons and pulled at the ribbon securing her hair. “Quickly. Any gown will do.”

Her heart racing, Elizabeth flew down the stairs a short while later, praying it was not dreadful news but unable to imagine what else it could be.

Lady Anne, her complexion pale, was pacing when Elizabeth joined her. She held something in her hands, and Elizabeth was confused when she recognised her pelisse, bonnet, and reticule, which Lady Anne thrust at her.

“You are leaving. At once.”

“Leaving? I-I do not understand.” Her chest ached from the pounding of her heart.

“Yes, leaving. Make haste.”

Lady Anne walked to the door. Dazed, Elizabeth trailed behind her, her steps faltering when they exited the house, and she saw a waiting carriage. The door was open, and one of the grooms stood beside it.

“You are going to Rosings Park.”

“No!” Elizabeth gasped. “I will not!”

“Get in the carriage, Elizabeth.” Never had Lady Anne’s voice been so frigid. Never had she sounded so much like her elder sister.

“If you do not want me here, I will return to Romsley.”

Lady Anne hissed, “You will do no such thing! You will go to Rosings. My sister awaits you, and my coachman will carry you nowhere else. I will not have you here. Never again.”

It took a few minutes, but Elizabeth realised that unless she wanted to be physically thrown into the carriage or was prepared to walk back to Romsley Hall, there was no choice but to ascend the steps, particularly after a burly footman escorted a dazed, frightened-looking Herriot to the carriage. Pemberley’s steward, Mr Holt, was already within.

“Lady Anne asked me to accompany you,” he explained as the coach began to move. “It is just for a few weeks, Miss Bennet, until Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh come to Pemberley. Then you will be back with your friends.”

Elizabeth forced her voice to be steady. “I see. Did Lady Anne say why her sister desires my presence?”

“She did not, and naturally, I did not enquire.”

Sitting beside her, Herriot began to shake. Elizabeth worried the footman had treated her roughly, and she would ask later when they were alone. Elizabeth felt the sting of angry tears, but she would not give in with Mr Holt as a witness and when her maid needed her strength.

She took Herriot’s hand. “It will all work out for the best. Never you mind.”

So, do you think it will work out, or do you think Lady Catherine might have something ghastly in store for Elizabeth?

I’ll be back with one more excerpt next Monday to celebrate launch day. The Truth About Family is available for pre-order at Amazon.Thanks for reading!