"Will a mysterious note from the past doom the love of Jane Austen’s most beloved couple?
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A Peculiar Connection begins near the close of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Bent on preventing the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh declares that any union between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth would be “a sin against Heaven itself!” Her shocking revelation, along with a cryptic message written over twenty years earlier, thrusts the couple into a whirlwind of heartbreak and disbelief.
Could a deserted mansion in Derbyshire or a small church hidden in the wood hold the key to solving the puzzle? And why is Elizabeth inexplicably drawn to the portrait of three young boys in Pemberley’s gallery?
Determined to confirm or refute Lady Catherine’s accusation, Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to embark upon a twisted trail into bygone days and family secrets. All the while, they must endure the exquisite torture of denying the indisputable desire that still hovers between them."
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A PECULIAR CONNECTION
EXCERPT
From Chapter
Five: At Pemberley…
“Sir? Will you answer my question and also tell me
where we are going?”
“In
good time, Elizabeth.”
The
attics proved to be Mr. Darcy’s destination.
An extravagant amount of objects filled the room we entered, from boxes
stacked to the ceiling to dressmakers’ forms to countless trunks covered in
dust and cobwebs. He pushed aside an
assortment of rubbish from a chair, pulled a trunk close by, and indicated I
should sit.
“I
promised you a search for the woman who gave you birth, so let us commence.”
He
placed a valise on a small table nearby and motioned for me to have a seat and
open it. When I hesitated, he grabbed an
old rag and wiped down the chair.
“Forgive me. I failed to allow
for the dirt. I shall order a thorough
cleaning first thing on the morrow.”
Hours
later, our hands and clothing were coated in dirt. I had sneezed repeatedly and blown my nose
until I felt certain it was now swollen to twice its normal size, yet we had
found nothing of enlightenment. Both of
us had combed through letters, journals, accounts, various mementos, and relics
that meant nothing to us but must have been precious indeed to the Darcy
ancestors.
I
blew at a stray lock of hair that had loosened and persisted in falling over my
left eye. Wiping my hands on the dirty
cloth, I allowed a sigh to escape. It
seemed an impossible task. Why had we
ever thought to engage in this undertaking?
Just then, I felt Mr. Darcy’s hand under my chin.
“You
look an absolute fright.” He tucked the
unruly curl behind my ear. After pulling
forth his handkerchief, he began to rub my forehead. “What a great amount of dirt you have on your
face! You could not look worse if you
had swept the chimneys.”
“Your
own attire, sir, is nothing of which to boast.
Are you turning prematurely grey or donning a wig made of cobwebs?” I began to squirm as he rubbed harder and
playfully slapped away his hand. “Leave
my dirt where it is, and see to your own.”
He
ignored my plea, turned my face upward, and attacked the smudges again. “Do not be impertinent. I am attempting to clean the mess you have
made.”
“I
made? Who brought me up here, I might
ask? And you, sir, really should look to
your own interests. Your clothes are
downright foul.” I began to swipe at the
dust on his shoulders but succeeded only in causing us both to sneeze.
“You
are right, Elizabeth. We must leave this
place. Why, your petticoats are six
inches deep in dirt, at least.” He spoke
in a mocking tone, and we both began to laugh. “How disgusting we are! Come, let us give up for today and repair to
our chambers.”
I
continued to giggle as I followed him to the door, and we climbed down the
stairs. It struck me that we had been
more at ease with each other in the attic than at any time since we had been
told we were brother and sister.
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Author Bio:
After leaving a long career in the world
of business, Jan Hahn began writing stories based on Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice in 2002. Her first novel, An Arranged Marriage, was published
in 2011 by Meryton Press and won Best Indie Novel from Austen Prose that year.
Her second novel, The Journey, was selected by Austen Prose as one of the
Top Five Austen Inspired Historical Novels of 2012, and it won the Favorite
Pride and Prejudice Variation/Alternate Path award from Austenesque.
In 2014, Austen Prose listed Ms. Hahn’s third novel, The Secret
Betrothal, among the Best Austenesque Historical Novels. She is a member of
JASNA and lives in Texas.
Visit Jan on Facebook or at Meryton Press
Author Links:
My thanks again goes to Jan Hahn for this cute extract, and to Jakki for setting up this tour!
I wish Jan all the best with this release as well as any stories in the future! I can't wait to read it!
Your affectionate friend,
Thank you very much for sharing this new delightful excerpt from A Peculiar Connection!
ReplyDeleteI think I have never read a P&P variation where Darcy and Elizabeth would be told they are blood related, so I am very intrigued about such plot, which I presume should be full of scenes with our beloved characters spending together much of their time.
I too cannot wait to read this new book by Jan Hahn!:)
It sounds different and unique doesn't it!
DeleteBrother and sister? Can't wait to read
ReplyDeleteme neither!
DeleteSuch a creative and unique twist to the story!
ReplyDeleteI know! it sounds great doesn't it!
DeleteSuch an interesting concept and twist to the original plot!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait!
DeleteLearning they are brother and sister is a crushing concept for Darcy and Elizabeth. Not only do they have to learn to relate as siblings, but they have to do something with the romantic love they feel for each other. Thanks for all your comments!
ReplyDeleteYes, I cannot wait to read how they cope with it!
Delete