WIP Sneak Peek! by Jennifer Altman

Hello, friends! Happy autumn!

If you happened to read my last post, you may remember that I shared some fun facts about my current WIP (if you missed that post, you can read it HERE). So, today, I thought I would take the next step and share an actual excerpt from the book. 🙂

The following scenes occur early in the story. Darcy has recently arrived in London, having just escorted Georgiana from Ramsgate after her thwarted elopement with George Wickham. The opening scene takes place at Darcy House, where Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, have been conversing, before a visitor’s unexpected arrival.

I hope you enjoy.

(Note: This is a work in progress, and as such, has yet to go through final revisions and editing. It is possible that the published version may differ slightly from the excerpt posted below).

Excerpt

“Forgive me for disturbing you, sir,” Hastings, intoned, “but a Mr. Bingley is calling. Shall I tell him that you are not at home?”

Inwardly, Darcy groaned. Devil take it! He might have known Caroline Bingley would waste no time in telling her brother she had seen him here in Town. Well, there was nothing to be done for it now; he could not very well turn Bingley away.

“No. Pray, show him into the library. I shall join him directly.”

Hastings acknowledged the directive with a correct bow, retreating from the room and closing the door behind him.

Darcy watched as his cousin waited for the click of the latch before turning to him with a lifted brow.

“Well, this is news. An outsider, admitted to the hermitage? Who is this Bingley? Your solicitor or some such?”

“No,” Darcy responded tersely, “he is an old friend. We were at school together.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam reclined languidly in his chair, crossing his legs at the ankles, but his gaze remained as sharp as ever.

“At university? I do not recall you ever speaking of him. Truth be told, I did not think you had any friends, save Walsh and myself.”

Ignoring his cousin’s gibe, Darcy stood, moving to a nearby table and setting his glass down on the polished surface. When it became clear he had no intention of elaborating, Richard continued, “How did he know you were in Town? The knocker is not on the door.”

Darcy grimaced, lifting his gaze. “I had the misfortune of running into his sister when I was escorting Georgiana to Matlock House. I should have anticipated the fact that Bingley would call.”

“Well, if you are trying to avoid him, why not simply tell Hastings to say you were not at home?”

Darcy frowned. “I am not trying to avoid him, per se. Bingley is a good man. We were quite close for a while, before… In any case, we have maintained a correspondence. Last summer, he stayed at Pemberley for a few days, when he and his sisters were en route to some relations in Scarborough.”

Once again, Richard’s eyebrows rose. “You had guests? At Pemberley?”

“The visit only lasted a matter of days. Bingley wrote to ask if they might break their journey there, and I could not see how to avoid it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have kept him waiting long enough.”

Darcy turned towards the door, but before his fingers had even closed around the handle, his cousin spoke, already hard at his heels.

“Excellent! I shall accompany you. We would not wish to take any chances, after all. Besides, I think I should like to meet this Mr. Bingley.”

***

Several moments later, the two gentlemen entered the library, causing an enthusiastic Bingley to spring to his feet, leaping in Darcy’s direction and pumping his hand with a boyish grin.

“Darcy! Well met, old friend!”

“Bingley.” Darcy replied with quiet civility, but no less feeling. “It is good to see you again.”

Turning to his cousin, he proceeded to perform the necessary introductions, and the small party then made their way to a cluster of comfortable leather sofas near the fire.

“Well, I must say, this is a surprise!” Bingley began, as soon as they were seated. “When Caroline told me she had seen you, I thought she must have mistaken the matter; but then she has always had a remarkable memory when it comes to single gentlemen of good fortune.”

His friend paused to chuckle at his own remark before continuing with his usual exuberance, “I hope you do not mind me pushing in on you like this; Caroline insisted I call as soon as may be. In truth, I would have come sooner, but I have been in Surrey, looking at an Arabian I am thinking of purchasing. I have only just returned to Town myself.”

Darcy felt his lips tipping up into a smile at Bingley’s cheerful disposition. If outward appearances were to be believed, his friend still possessed the same easy, open manners and ductility of temper that ensured that he was liked wherever he went, and Darcy found himself wishing that circumstances had allowed him to maintain the friendship.

“No, I am glad you came,” Darcy replied, immediately realizing it was true. “My stay in Town will be of short duration, but it is always good to see old friends.”

“Well, I do hope you will be here long enough to dine with us. I am certain you have heard that my sister Louisa is recently married. Caroline and I are staying at my brother Hurst’s townhouse in Grosvenor Street.”

After extending his well wishes to the newly wed Mrs. Hurst, Darcy darted a brief glance at his cousin before replying, “I thank you for the invitation, but I am not certain that will be possible. As I mentioned, my stay is brief, and I have many demands on my time.”

“Oh, that is a pity,” Bingley answered, looking genuinely saddened by the news. “I know Caroline will be disappointed. Of course, it is not the fashionable time of year to be in Town, but there are some delightful diversions never the less. Why, only a fortnight ago I attended an assembly where I met the most enchanting young lady! Truly, Darcy, she was an angel! And I have good reason to believe…”

Darcy settled deeper into the cushions, allowing Bingley’s words wash over him as his friend continued to rhapsodize about the latest object of his affection. Although they had not been close in some years, it was evident that Bingley had not changed a whit where the fairer sex was concerned. Darcy was personally aware of at least half a dozen ‘angels’ his friend had paid court to since their university days. It was astounding that he had managed to avoid being leg-shackled long ago!

The sound of his cousin clearing his throat some moments later caused Darcy to startle, and he immediately sat straighter in his seat. Good God, what had he been thinking! He never should have allowed himself to become so distracted!

Attempting to still his racing heart, his gaze locked briefly with his cousin’s before he shifted it back in Bingley’s direction. His friend had finally stopped chattering and was now regarding him expectantly, however, nothing in his expression indicated that anything was amiss.

Releasing a shallow breath, Darcy smiled sheepishly in the other man’s direction.

“Pray, forgive me, Bingley; I am afraid I was woolgathering. What is it that you were you saying?”

Once again, Bingley drew breath to answer, but it was Richard who replied.

“Bingley was speaking of Lady Copley’s ball. He and the young lady he has just been telling us about will be in attendance, and he was wondering if he might see you there.”

“Ah, I am afraid not. Duty calls; I must return to Pemberley early next week.”

To Darcy’s consternation, Richard smirked back at him.

“How fortunate then that the ball is in two days’ time.”

Darcy shot his cousin a withering look, but Bingley did not appear to notice, continuing enthusiastically, “I hear it will be the event of the season! Of course, both my sisters and Hurst will be there, and I know Caroline, especially, would be very pleased to see you again.”

Inwardly, Darcy groaned, but Richard fairly beamed back at his friend.

“Wonderful! We shall both be delighted to attend.”

“Richard,” Darcy replied, his voice heavy with warning, “I believe you already know my feelings on the matter.”

Finally seeming to sense the tension in the room, Bingley looked back and forth between the two cousins, but Richard merely leaned in, saying conspiratorially, “Darcy has been eschewing all social engagements whilst in Town—too many match-making mamas with their eligible daughters in tow.” He shared a wink with Bingley, before turning back in Darcy’s direction. “But I must insist that you come. I shall be there to keep you out of trouble. I promise to stay by your side every moment.”

Darcy’s jaw tightened, but Bingley smiled broadly at the news.

“Well, then it is settled! We shall see each other at the ball!”

***

“I do not know why I let you talk me into this,” Darcy muttered two days later as their carriage lurched through the crowded London streets.

“Yes, you do,” his cousin replied with a satisfied grin. “It is important for you to be seen, for Georgiana’s sake, if not your own. People are beginning to talk.”

“Well they will certainly have something to talk about if this goes wrong!” Darcy spat back at him. “You shall have to take Georgiana abroad to find a husband, for I will be in bedlam.”

“Nonsense; all will be well. I have already told you, you need not dance. But it will be good for you to be seen while you are here. In any case, you have to start sometime. The longer you stay away, the more difficult it will be.”

To this, Darcy gave no answer, merely staring out the window at the passing carriages. He knew Richard was right, but that did not make the prospect of spending the evening being stared at like a sideshow curiosity any more palatable.

“What do they say about me?” he finally asked, turning away from the darkened glass.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You said people were beginning to talk. What do they say?”

“Oh, you know, just the usual,” Richard replied with a wave of his hand. “That you are a recluse; that you think yourself superior to the rest of polite society; that you are consumed by grief.”

Darcy frowned. Though he had been close to both his parents, his father had been gone for above five years now, and his mother had passed on three years before that. It hardly seemed likely that he would still be mourning their deaths. However, he supposed when it came to his avoidance of society, grief was a preferable explanation to some of the other alternatives.

“Nothing else? Nothing about Walsh, or…?”

Richard’s eyebrows lifted, and he slowly shook his head. “No. But you will not be able to bring him with you when you return for Georgiana’s season; it would be noticed. I shall request leave so that I can accompany you whenever you go out. No one will think anything of that; I am Georgiana’s second guardian, after all.”

Darcy sighed, sinking further into the plush squabs. “Perhaps I ought not to come at all. As you said, we share guardianship of Georgiana. You could be the one to escort her to all the necessary events…” His voice trailed off as his cousin stared at him incredulously.

“You cannot be serious. It is one thing for me to accompany you, but you are her nearest relation! How would we explain your absence?”

When Darcy did not answer, his cousin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Darcy, you promised you would see this through; you must make more of an effort. If you ask me, you have already left it too long. It was one thing the year or two following your father’s death. Back then, it was easy to make excuses—you were grieving; you had Georgiana to look after, and Pemberley to manage. But you have scarcely been seen in public these last five years. Georgiana will never make a suitable match if you have the reputation of being some sort of a recluse.”

“It is better than having anyone learn the truth,” Darcy said grimly. “Besides, Georgiana has a dowry of thirty thousand pounds; she will have no trouble finding a husband.”

“Is that what you want for her? A fortune hunter? Another George Wickham who will marry her for her money and then make her life a misery?”

“Of course not!” Darcy snapped, his countenance dark with anger. “Why do you think I am sitting in this carriage, even now!”

He turned away, drawing a ragged breath before fixing his cousin with a steely gaze.

“Very well. I shall keep my word. I will do everything in my power to see Georgiana settled. But mark my words: If we are successful in this, I shall leave England the moment she is married. And I will not be coming back.”

Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear what you think. I look forward to sharing more of the story as I get closer to publication.

Until next time!

JA