Blog Tour: No Cause to Repine by Rose Fairbanks - with giveaway!

Today I am pleased to be part of the blog tour for the lovely Rose Fairbanks's release, No Cause to Repine. And there is a giveaway, which I will tell you about at the end of this post!

 

"A misinterpreted accident threatens Elizabeth Bennet's reputation and her fate seems sealed as Fitzwilliam Darcy's wife. While the bride is resigned, the gentleman could hardly be happier until betrayals and schemes threaten to take the matter entirely out of their hands. Overcoming the plots before them will take all the patience, perseverance and collaboration they can muster, but a partnership requires truth. Self-discovery and trust await Jane Austen's most beloved and willfully blind couple as they attempt to master their own destiny in life and love."

 

 

 

 

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This is a portion of a letter from Darcy to Elizabeth as they are separated for a time during their engagement. Due to the conflicts in the story, they must actually keep their engagement a secret. It took several weeks, and a few letters, to get to this point but Mr. Darcy is finally able to woo Elizabeth! I think he does a pretty good job!

*****

It is much easier to explain when I realised the deep, abiding love I felt for you. I had accompanied Bingley to yet another ball. I had left Hertfordshire determined to forget you and had resigned myself to a marriage of duty and with little affection. Too soon, I realised what I believed was mere infatuation was the stirrings of love. For weeks, I compared every young lady to you, but none of them met your standard. In the midst of this ball, while I danced with some lady I do not recall, I thought instead of dancing with you at Netherfield. I began to imagine marriage to you, a future with you. I had been careful not to ponder the thought before. But finally, I admitted to myself that I did not wish to deny myself true happiness and gave a loose rein to my fancy and indulged my imagination. I knew then I could never marry another, for you pierce my soul.

I know a young lady who once jested that poetry drives away love, that it is not the food of love; but rather everything nourishes a fine, stout, healthy love. I laughed at the jest then, but now I perceive truth in it, for I find that even our trials nourish my love for you.

Today, I find myself captivated by memories of your eyes. The poets cannot do them justice, but even still, these words are all I have:

If I could write the beauty of your eyes

And in fresh numbers number all your graces,

The age to come would say ‘This poet lies:

Such heavenly touches ne’er touch’d earthly faces.’

 

Drink to me, only with thine eyes,

   And I will pledge with mine;

Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

   And I’ll not look for wine.

The thirst, that from the soul doth rise,        

   Doth ask a drink divine:

But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,

   I would not change for thine.

 

And to remind you of my constancy:  

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve’s like the melodie

That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I:

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:

I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve

And fare thee well, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

 

Yours in passionate fidelity and adoration,

F. Darcy

 

Elizabeth felt as though she could scarcely breathe after reading the depth of Darcy’s regard and admiration. After allowing a few moments to compose herself, she began to leaf through book. She soon came to the conclusion that Darcy recorded the lines in this journal while thinking of her over the course of their acquaintance. She perused his letter again and realised the loneliness from which he must have suffered. He appeared to have much of his mother’s personality, and she died when he was still young. The age difference between Darcy and Georgiana made Elizabeth wonder if his small family had faced other tragedies before the demise of their parents.

She perceived that she still had much unravelling to do to understand Darcy better, as he seemed unwilling to speak on the misfortunes he had faced. Nevertheless, she found his letter left her quite at peace. How fortunate this letter would arrive today, just as she found herself frustrated by their separation and jealous of his dance partners! As she closed her eyes and drifted off to a well-deserved slumber, she could imagine his rich baritone whispering his words of love as he held her tightly in his arms.

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 ***GIVEAWAY***  

 

As I mentioned above, I am very lucky to be able to offer a giveaway of an ebook copy of No Cause to Repine, and this is open internationally. 

To enter please leave a comment below and include your email address so that I can contact the randomly selected winner.

The giveaway will end on the 6th of June, and I will be in contact with the winner!




Good luck! My thanks again goes to Rose for the giveaway and the lovely extract!

I wish Rose all the best with any stories in the future!



Your affectionate friend,