Blog Tour: Lover's Knot by Jenetta James - with giveaway!

I am thrilled today to be part of the blog tour for Jenetta James' release, Lover's Knot. My thanks also goes to Claudine Pepe for inviting me to take part.

A great love. A perplexing murder. Netherfield Park — a house of secrets.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is in a tangle. Captivated by Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a girl of no fortune and few connections. Embroiled in an infamous murder in the home of his friend, Charles Bingley. He is being tested in every way. Fearing for Elizabeth’s safety, Darcy moves to protect her in the only way he knows but is thwarted. Thus, he is forced to turn detective. Can he overcome his pride for the sake of Elizabeth? Can he, with a broken heart, fathom the villainy that has invaded their lives? Is there even a chance for love born of such strife?

Lover’s Knot is a romantic Pride & Prejudice variation, with a bit of mystery thrown in.

Lover’s Knot - excerpt 5 taken from Chapter 2

My friend having departed, I make for his library. Opening the great oak door onto the leather lined, flame-flickered space within, I am astonished to see Miss Elizabeth look up from a seat by the fire. The orange light dances on her face and falls softly on the fabric of her gown. She holds in her small hands a book, half read. The white flesh of her left foot, glows before me. I recall the feeling of her arm beneath my hand only the previous evening and feel myself pinned to the door. I have, in my life, seen more than the bare flesh of a woman’s foot. And yet this sight suspends me. After a moment of seeming hesitation, she shifts the fabric of her gown to conceal the wink of flesh, smiles slightly and bids me good morning. The ordinary formality of her manner, brings me back to myself.

“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. May I?”

I take up a book, discovered the previous day, and as she nods, sit on the chaise neighbouring her chair. Here we remain, in silence, for some time. Her proximity reminds me of the long night, just passed in reveries of her. I begin to feel rather hot. This cannot continue.

“Miss Elizabeth, may I enquire what you are reading?”

“Certainly, Mr. Darcy. I am enjoying ‘Evelina’ by Frances Burney. Have you read it?”

“I have. It is a classic, as is ‘Cecelia’. Do you read novels generally?”

“I suppose I do, although not exclusively. I also read histories. I have even been known to experiment with philosophies. I try to read as widely as I am able, Mr. Darcy.”

“Inside and out?”

She looks up and her eyes spark like matches. “Yes.” She laughs, and I feel suddenly lighter, having drawn that response from her. “But not today.” She inclines her head towards the window, currently lashed by the rain. The water forms a hazy impenetrable skin on the glass. “My sister sleeps and for some relief, I read here rather than in her chamber. I hope that I have not invaded your own sanctuary?”

“Certainly not, Miss Elizabeth.” I wish to say more, but words desert me. Her shiny curls turn back to the page and the moment is lost. I stare, unseeing, at my own page and grow impatient for progress.

“Miss Elizabeth, I hope that you are not too distressed by the events of last evening? You are quite safe now. The house is very well guarded, and Mr. Bingley is for Longbourn to your father.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am quite well.” She looks solemn. “I observed Mr. Bingley’s carriage departing from Jane’s window. But I did not know his destination. I am worried, sir, that my sister is not yet well enough to return home.”

“I do not believe that is the purpose of his visit. The magistrate, Mr. Allwood, arrived this morning Miss Elizabeth. And he… well, he is likely to wish to speak with you.”

“I see. Of course.” With this, she stares into the burning glow of the fire. “Mr. Allwood is known as a formidable man in this part of the country, Mr. Darcy. And somewhat of an enigma. Should I quake at my questioning, do you think?”

“I hope not. Do you quake at anything?”

“I assure you, I do. I quake at events such as that last evening.”

“Of course. I did not mean to be flippant. As to Mr. Allwood, I imagine your interview with him shall be of short duration, as of course, it should be.”

“Should it?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“Why?” At this question, I am incredulous. “Because you are a gentleman’s daughter and you have had horror enough. You were in an unfortunate place at an unfortunate time and are an innocent who can have no information apart from that already known. I accept that he must speak to you. But he ought to be circumspect about what he may learn. And frankly, my view is that he should leave you and Miss Bennet and the ladies of the house in peace.”

“Do you think that the ladies should be excused from truth telling then, Mr. Darcy?”

“I did not say that.”

“You suggested it though. I cannot agree, I am afraid. My own analysis is that a terrible crime has been committed, and we must all assist. I cannot say that I should be questioned less critically or less thoroughly because I am a gentleman’s daughter.”

The lightness that had warmed me before is gone from her face. My mind races to keep up with her changing attitude.

“It is not about the obligation to tell the truth, Miss Elizabeth. That rests on you as it rests on us all. And you shall no doubt dispatch it fully, as shall I. It is not that. It is about you and Miss Bennet, as innocent bystanders with very little information, being treated as respectfully as possible.”

“I thank you for your solicitousness, Mr. Darcy, and for the steps that you and Mr. Bingley have taken to ensure the safety of the house. But I ought also to be clear with you. I am not the sort of young lady who requires to be sheltered like a rare orchid in a sharp breeze. I have no pretensions to the sort of femininity that consists in closing my eyes to the truth or to the moral compass that compels us all.”

Her eyes glow fiercely, drawing me closer. Without knowing it, I have moved and find myself on the edge of the chaise, leaning towards her, searching for words. At that moment, the door opens, and a maid bobs a curtsy.

“Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet has arrived. He is waiting for you in the drawing room.”

A smile breaks across her face and she stands. As she leaves the room in the maid’s wake, she says, “Goodbye, Mr. Darcy,” without even looking back.

In her absence, I cannot simply sit. On my feet, I pace the room for some time, considering the rain-drenched carriage outside the window and recall the lightness of her figure as she had departed. I can make no sense of my time with her. She has a way of assuming opinions I do not possess, of catching my words erroneously. At the same time, we have been alone in this room, by the fire, among the pages. And she has looked me squarely in the face, as a person who may have known me all my life might. She does not demure from challenge as some ladies would. She smiles and even laughs. I cling to the memory of that laugh and the knowledge that I, alone, elicited it.

Jenetta James is a mother, writer, lawyer and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practices full-time as a barrister. Over the years, she has lived in France, Hungary, and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing, and playing with Lego. She has written, Suddenly Mrs. Darcy and The Elizabeth Papers as well as contributed short stories to both The Darcy Monologues and Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues.

Purchase Link:
Amazon / This book is free through KindleUnlimited

Contact Links:
Jenetta James Facebook Page

Jenetta James Twitter Page

GIVEAWAY

Jenetta has selected a lovely giveaway package where one lucky winner will receive a Pride & Prejudice scarf, a Kindle cover and paperback copies of all five of her JAFF books.

Terms and conditions:

Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once each day and by commenting daily on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented.

The winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My thanks again goes to Jenetta for this great extract! My thanks also to Claudine for setting up this tour.

I wish Jenetta all the best with this release as well as any stories in the future!

Lover’s Knot Tour Schedule

March 29My Jane Austen Book Club/ Guest Post & Giveaway

March 30 Savvy Verse & Wit / Guest Post & Giveaway

March 31 Liz's Reading Life / Book Review & Giveaway

April 1My Vices and Weaknesses/  Excerpt Post & Giveaway

April 2Of Pens and Pages / Book Review & Giveaway

April 3So Little Time/  Guest Post & Giveaway

April 4  Austenesque Reviews/ Author Interview & Giveaway

April 5From Pemberley to Milton/  Excerpt Post & Giveaway

April 6Babblings of a Bookworm/  Book Review & Giveaway

April 7More Agreeably Engaged/ Book Review & Giveaway

April 8My Love for Jane Austen/ Guest Post & Giveaway

April 9Diary of an Eccentric/  Guest Post & Giveaway

April 10Laughing with Lizzie/  Excerpt Post & Giveaway

April 11 Margie’s Must Reads/ Book Review & Giveaway

April 12 Just Jane 1813/ Author Interview & Giveaway