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.
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
I wish Jenetta all the best with this release as well as any stories in the future!
Lover’s
Knot Tour Schedule
Always wonderfull to have Lizzie laugh. Great to read how it affects Mr Darcy :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interaction between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in the excerpt. I hope they decide to solve this mystery together.
ReplyDeleteAnother blog said that it was more mystery than romance, while you say the opposite. I hope it is more of a mystery
ReplyDeleteWell I crave this book. I can not wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI love how Darcy was so affected by seeing Elizabeth's foot! I'm really looking forward to reading the whole book. Thank you for sharing this excerpt.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like they get along better in this story, whereas in canon, she couldn't stand him at this point.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great excerpt, your writing is really good! Looking forward to reading this book! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a delectable excerpt you provided, Jenetta. It reminded me of the Elizabeth that I know from canon. She is not afraid to speak her own mind and defend her opinions in the face of challenge.
ReplyDelete