It’s been a busy couple of weeks for The Price of Pride, with not one, but two, of the best reviews I’ve ever had. I’m all a-twitter, feeling like Mrs. Bennet clutching for her smelling salts! Ten thousand a year! A house in town! Two glowing five-star reviews! Here’s a quote from From Pemberley to Milton:
The Price of Pride is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read with intense and electrifying scenes between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. They have a long road to go through to find their happy ending, but the journey is just as incredible as the destination. This is certainly one book I will never forget. The angst, Darcy’s jealousy, Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship, the family dynamics, the secondary love stories, the passion for adventure, and the writing style were the components that made The Price of Pride one of my all-time favorite books. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves intense romances full of adventure and family devotion. If I could give this one 10 stars, I would. This book is PERFECT! – From Pemberley to Milton
And here’s one from Austenprose:
And now The Price of Pride is available as an audiobook, narrated by the amazing Elizabeth Klett! You can purchase it at Apple/iTunes, Google Play, Chirp, Kobo, Audible, and more. Shop around for the best price – Audible is the most expensive by far (and I have no control over that one, as they set the price), so I urge you to look elsewhere. 🙂
And what about a review of the audiobook? Yes, I have that too!
But I bet you want to know about Elizabeth Klett’s narration, right? Well, as always it was perfect! She has demonstrated once more how she is such a great articulator and did a great job with the pacing and differentiation of characters. – From Pemberley to Milton
But enough of The Price of Pride! You’re probably more interested in what’s coming next. Have you ever wondered what Darcy would be like if his parents were still alive, if he hadn’t taken on responsibility for Pemberley and Georgiana at age 22? How would he have filled his days with no responsibilities? Would he have become one of the young men about Town, caring only about amusing himself? Or would he find another interest?
My next story is a novella with my answer to that question. My Darcy fills his empty days with a passion for paleontology (a word that didn’t exist in 1812, but I’m using it as shorthand). Fossil collecting and natural history were growing in popularity in Regency England, although the famous fossil-hunter Mary Anning was only a pre-teen at the time. And, as it happens, there’s an old disused chalk pit at Longbourn where a very young Elizabeth had collected some fossils. Unfortunately for Darcy, fossils could also be controversial in the Regency, since the Church and the government insisted the world was only 6000 years old, and it’s criminal heresy to say otherwise. Darcy’s father wants him to give up his little hobby because of the potential scandal and criminal charges, and he certainly doesn’t want his son marrying a country miss with no connections or fortune. 
What do you think? Can you see Darcy as a paleontologist? What do you think he’d be up to while waiting to inherit Pemberley?
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fascinating job for Darcy.
Author
Glad you think so! It’s fascinating to read about the fossil collectors of the era, who were trying so hard to figure out what they meant.
Wow! Fascinating information. Only 6000 years old? Gosh! Sounds like a very unique take on P&P. Looking forward to it!
Author
Thanks! I’m having fun with it.
Oh, so you are really really doing it! Can’t wait! Always the ‘explorer’, another field this time!
And it seems that while both parents are alive, only Mr Darcy would protest against both pursuits: paleontology and Elizabeth!
Lady Anne would be encourageing him? So promising!!!
Only one question: when?
😉
Author
Yes, I’m doing it! Writing about Darcy’s scholarly interest in tropical botany in The Price of Pride reminded me of this story fragment, and I decided to revive it. When? I’ve no idea! I think it shouldn’t take too long, but I’ve been wrong before. 🙂
I can certainly believe that both Darcy and Elizabeth would be fascinated by fossils! I do hope he doesn’t listen to his father re his attraction to Elizabeth and that they are mutually drawn to each other?
Author
Yes, they’re both drawn to each other, though both aware from the start that his family expectations are a major obstacle. And it’s a struggle for Darcy, who does believe in family duty and respecting his father, but he makes his own decision. 🙂
Yes! I remember this fragment of a story! I just wasn’t aware of how ‘young’ the earth was considered in Regency times! The angst is just hovering over this one and whether or not Wickham will use this against him and/or Elizabeth or someone else will. Yes, those are two amazing reviews for Price of Pride and well deserved! Congratulations!
Author
Thanks, Carole! One of the problems with Darcy’s father still being alive is that means Wickham is still involved with the Darcys, and of course, he’s going to make trouble. You can always count on that. 🙂
I followed the story ‘The Price of Pride’ and I was so upset, I will have to calm down considerably before I can read it. If Wickham was real… I think I would personally hunt him down and do some serious damage to his little ego. Yep… that SBRB [scum-bag-rat-bastard] really did it up royally this time. Whew! I do look forward to reading it though.
Now, this next story with both parents still alive. Wow! I wonder if Lady Catherine will harangue her sister regarding the marriage of Darcy and Anne. Or will she be quiet on the subject? Surely, Lady Anne will not want the match with her namesake.
I’ve always wanted Darcy Sr to become aware and or see Wickham’s true behavior. Perhaps Lady Anne will. She would deal more closely with the consequences of his behavior with the young women in the community. How many will he leave high in the belly? Also, there would be debts that young Darcy would try to cover. Wouldn’t someone notice? I can’t imagine Wickham being discrete even in Lambton.
Looking forward to whatever you present to us. Blessings on the success of this launch and future work. Stay safe and healthy.
Loved The Price of Pride. It deserves all the rave reviews. Now…fossils…while I was in H.S. we joined a Moravian College bus tour to the Poconos to a site where the ice age had deposited stones with imprints of fossils. I found a large trilobite fossil and donated it to my high school. I am sure I would enjoy reading about ODC also hunting such…so good luck with your writing. I look forward to reading your next story.
First, I agree with those reviews of Price of Pride! I’ve been saving an Audible credit for it too, so I will be picking it up for my Audible library as soon as I can hit send to this post. Second, I seem to especially enjoy it when variations have one or more of Darcy’s parents still alive. I could definitely see him as a palaeontologist. He loves the outdoors and would be naturally inquisitive. He’s an educated man so would need something intelligent to do, and how much more detached from desperate debutantes and their matchmaking mammas could digging in the dirt be? Love the premise and can’t wait to read it!
This looks absolutely fascinating, Abigail–as your books always are!! 🙂
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
I can imagine Darcy being into something intellectual and solitary if he didn’t have to manage Pemberley and his sister. I can’t wait to read your take on the topic.