Throw Back Thursday

A new feature at Austen Variations is our Throwback Thursday, which began a few weeks ago.

As I thought about which of my older books to write about for my first Throwback Thursday, I had considered my first book, “Assumed Engagement,” which I actually wrote in 2001, but since I wrote a little about it during Jane in January when we all wrote on our inspiration, I decided to start with another.

“Master Under Good Regulation” was about the fourth book that I wrote. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is the story of “Pride and Prejudice” told from Mr. Darcy’s dog’s point of view.

I chose this book to begin with because of how personal it is to me and all the special things that came about as I wrote it and after I had finished it.

Reggie is Mr. Darcy’s English Springer Spaniel. We are introduced to him when a young Fitzwilliam Darcy, aged 15, and his father go out to pick a dog out from a litter. When he asks his father how does he know which dog to choose, the older man gives him this advice, “Son, narrow your selection down to a few dogs of the finest breeding and then choose the one that you feel in your heart,” and here, the young man’s father repeatedly tapped his finger against his son’s chest, “is the right one for you.”

He finally chooses one, and when asked why he liked that one, he answers, “His eyes, Father… look at his eyes. I can see he is most intelligent. They are quite fine. Do you not agree?” So they bring home Sir Reginald Ascott Hamilton Darcy, whom they nickname Reggie.

Reggie has a lot more intuition and understanding than his master has. I have often thought of Mr. Darcy as being somewhat clueless, as he has no idea how he comes across to people, especially to Elizabeth, how to behave around someone he is attracted to, and most of all, he is unaware of Elizabeth’s true feelings for him. They certainly weren’t what he was expecting. When I decided to write this book, I felt Mr. Darcy needed some nudging in some of these areas from his dog. Of course, Reggie doesn’t ‘talk’ to him – it’s not that kind of book. But he can groan, moan, growl… well, you get the picture. The book, however, is in first person – or should I say first dog. The book is written from Reggie’s point of view.

This story is canon – I sat with an open copy of P&P as I wrote it, but I have inserted additional scenes, in the years before P&P begins and in the silent months during P&P when we don’t get to see what Darcy is doing.

When I wrote this story, I was posting it online, on the Jane Austen websites and my own. On my website, I posted a cute picture of an English Springer Spaniel puppy that I had found on the internet. But on the day I posted the final chapter, I scoured the internet for the perfect picture of a grown ESS. And I could not believe what I found.

I discovered a website of paintings by a man named Larry Chandler, who painted sporting dogs. Among his works was a beautiful painting of an English Springer Spaniel that he had titled, “Reggie.” I could not believe it! I quickly sent of an email to him, asking if I could use that picture on my website, what it was for, and included a link to it. I received an OK from him to use it within about 10 minutes. I was ecstatic!

When I began publishing my stories, I knew I wanted to use his painting for the cover, and sent off an email asking permission. They were charging $25 for prints, so I offered to pay that much to use the cover. I had no idea whether he would accept that.

It was a while before I heard back, and when I did, I was greatly saddened. It was from his wife, who said he had died a few weeks before. But she went on to say that since he had given me permission to use his painting on my website, she would give me permission for the cover of the book! I sent her the $25 as well as a copy of the book. I often wonder whether she read it.

After writing that book about this well-behaved influential English Springer Spaniel, I had grown so fond of Reggie, that I wanted one of my own. I published the book in 2006, and finally, in 2010, we got our Reggie. This again, was an amazing story.

I had seen on the local news where a puppy mill had been raided and the puppies had been taken to a shelter in a little town about twenty minutes away. I thought I had seen an English Springer Spaniel on the news, and despite having about 10 inches of snow, I talked my husband into driving up the next day. When we got there, it was very crowded (which was a good thing for the dogs), but I didn’t see an ESS. I asked at the front desk if they knew whether any had come in, and the gal went and got a guy who was probably in charge.

He came up to me and asked, “Are you the one looking for an English Springer Spaniel?” When I said yes, he said they didn’t have one, but a smaller town about 20 miles away had found one out in the fields. He called over there, gave the phone to me, I talked to the guy at the shelter, and the next thing we knew, we were headed over.

This little dog was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. She was a female, unlike in the book, but we figured we could still call her Reggie, for her real name would be Regina. We really wanted her! (My husband affectionately calls her Regina Sophina Katrina!)

Because it was a small town, they let us take the dog home to see how well it did with our four cats. He took our phone number in case the owners did show up. They had about 5 more days to do so, and then if they didn’t, we could officially adopt her. As we were walking away with Reggie, my husband said, “I’m surprised you gave him our real phone number!” When he called, the night before the last day, I waited with bated breath for what he was going to say. He told us she was ours. He didn’t even ask for any payment for her.

Well, our little Reggie hasn’t turned out to be as well-behaved, smart, and easy as Darcy’s Reggie. She is a bolter, and has disappeared for hours on end. (A few years ago we put a gps tracker on her collar so we’d know where she is!) Because she can easily jump over a 4 or 5 foot fence, she has often escaped. She also has a great fear of gunshots (we live in the country), lightning, and fireworks, but overall, she has been great – even getting along with the cats.

A few years ago, my husband bought me one of the prints of Reggie by Larry Chandler. Here is a picture of me with all of my Reggie dogs!

Here is an excerpt from “Master Under Good Regulation” when Elizabeth is staying at Netherfield. Remember, this is written from Reggie’s POV.

That evening I was hopeful for another opportunity to staunchly display my approval for Miss Elizabeth by faithfully remaining by her side. She finally entered the drawing room with some needlework in hand. My master was writing a letter to his sister, though I suspect its progress was somewhat impeded by Miss Bingley annoying him with repeated attempts to praise his style or request that he include her words of praise to Georgiana in his missive.

Again Miss Elizabeth appeared quite amused by Miss Bingley’s relentless commendations to my master, either of his sister or of his writing and on the evenness of his lines. And again, as last night Miss Elizabeth set her employment down to fix her attention on the diverting conversation.

But rather than moving closer to the party, this time she remained seated, and I took advantage of that by nuzzling up to her. May I be so bold as to say that my charm worked its magic, and she soon began scratching my head as she listened to the conversation.

When at length my master finally attended to my whereabouts, he froze as his eyes travelled down her arm to where her hand was running through the fur on my head, taking up the curls gently around her fingers. I looked up at Miss Elizabeth with admiration in my eyes, only to see contempt in hers as she beheld my master’s stern gaze. She let out a quiet huff and I noticed that my master seemed no longer able to attend to his letter.

And then a little bit later,

Miss Elizabeth again turned her attentions back to the top of my head and stroked down my neck and back as she listened to the sisters. I enjoyed Miss Elizabeth’s ministrations to my head almost as much as I enjoyed watching the comportment of my master. That he was greatly suffering whilst watching me

receive such pleasuring attentions was most apparent, at least to me.I believed the evening to be another exercise of futility as there appeared to be very little improvement in her regard and very little expression of his. When Miss Elizabeth glanced at him and discovered him staring, she pursed her lips tightly and let out that little breath of air that I unfortunately took to mean she was quite displeased.

How I wished my master would allow all his feelings of regard to be expressed upon his face! Instead, he bore a rather severe demeanour as he struggled to maintain his control when it came to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. My master was, at the moment, not under good regulation, something I knew to be an uncharacteristic prospect.

I think you can see why this book is very special to me. If you have never read it, and love P&P as well as dogs, I hope you will give it a try! If you comment below, you will be entered into a drawing to receive either a paperback (US only) or ebook of Master Under Good Regulation. You have until Saturday, March 30 to be entered, I will draw the name on Sunday, and announce the winner here and on our facebook group on Monday, April 1.

Congratulations to Rosa, winner of a copy of Master Under Good Regulation!