Please join us today in celebration of Mr. Darcy’s Secret, a new Pride and Prejudice continuation by author Jane Odiwe. Known for her historical accuracy and witty humor, Jane is the author of two previous Austen-inspired novels, Lydia Bennet’s Story and Willoughby’s Return. This is her first Pride and Prejudice-inspired novel.
Welcome Jane…
Thank you, Laurel Ann, for inviting me as a guest onto your blog today to talk about Mr. Darcy’s Secret. I am thrilled to be here!
When I started writing my novel, although I knew that I wanted to write about Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship, I also knew that I wanted very much to tell Georgiana’s story. If you remember from Pride and Prejudice, poor Georgiana almost suffered the same fate as Lydia did with Mr. Wickham. Georgiana fell for the latter’s charms, and even consented to an elopement. Fortunately for her, Mr. Darcy arrived on the scene to forestall Wickham’s plans to gain Georgiana’s money, as well as her heart. Georgiana is seen very much as the victim, especially when we learn that she is quiet, accomplished, and shy. In Mr. Darcy’s Secret, I wanted to see if Georgiana might be brought out of herself. I’d wondered if her shyness resulted from her experience with Wickham. After all, if she’d suffered a painful experience like that, learning that men outside her close circle were not to be trusted, perhaps that might account for some of her timidity. Once bitten, twice shy, is the saying that comes to mind.
As with all my books, I like to take the heroines on a journey, so I’m afraid it’s not plain sailing for Georgiana all the way. However, I wanted to find happiness for this amiable heroine even if she is torn for a while between duty and desire. Here’s a little extract; I hope you enjoy it.
Mr. Thomas Butler, the son of Mrs. Gardiner’s friend is one of the new landscape gardeners. When he is invited to draw up some plans at Pemberley for a new feature in the grounds, Georgiana is keen to take a peep at him from a distance, but feels far too shy to be introduced again.
Georgiana knew that Tom Butler had arrived, for she had been watching for him after breakfast from the safety of her sitting room, which afforded a splendid view of the drive and the little bridge crossing the stream, over which all visitors must come. She was thinking about how she might start another drawing on a completely new subject and considering how unnecessary it was to go and introduce herself to Mr Butler again. After all, he was here to do some work for her brother and he would be completely taken up with that. Georgiana positioned two vases of varying heights with a Chinese bowl into a suitable arrangement and was just sharpening her pencil with the knife she used specially for the purpose when there came a rapid knock upon her door.
It was Lizzy looking most harried. “Oh, Georgiana, I am in a panic. Will you help me? I had completely forgotten that I promised Mrs Gardiner that I would take her to see the market and shops in Matlock whilst she is here. It is market day today and there will not be an opportunity to go again before the Christmas festivities begin. She was so looking forward to going with the idea of looking for small gifts for the children.”
“Oh, Lizzy, I know what you are about to say. Please do not ask me!”
“Please, Georgiana, you have only to take Mr Butler to the upper slopes where we walked and then you may leave him. I beg you; no one else will do. I feel it looks bad enough that I am not going to be here to do the honours, but at least with you, the other mistress of the house, I shall not feel quite as if I have neglected my duties so much. Please say you will help me.”
Mrs Darcy’s expression was such that it was quite beyond Georgiana’s power to refuse her; indeed, she felt she could never refuse anything Elizabeth asked of her. Lizzy was so kind, always behaving like the sister she had never had. How could she decline such an appeal to be of assistance?
“Very well, Lizzy, I do it because I love you, my dearest sister, but I have to tell you that every inclination in my body is against it.”
“Thank you, my dearest girl,” said Lizzy, not stopping to assuage Georgiana’s feelings further with any more platitudes. “Come, make haste, there is not a moment to lose. I’ve left the poor man in the library looking at a stack of your sketches. I told him I would be back in seconds.”
“Oh, Lizzy, how could you show him my poor sketches?” cried Georgiana.
“Listen, not only are they remarkable drawings, but also you will have something to talk about, so you need not feel so shy,” added Lizzy, taking her sister’s hand and almost pulling her out of the room.
Mrs Darcy left Georgiana at the library door, running away before the latter had a chance to change her mind. With her heart hammering, Georgiana observed Mr Butler through the open door. He was sitting at a table by the window and so engrossed with the drawings before him that he was unconscious of her presence. Dressed very smartly in a dark blue coat, and with his hair falling in fair tendrils against his collar, he made a pleasing picture. His long fingers seemed almost to caress the paper, so gently did he turn the pages. Georgiana watched his hands and noted not only his movements, but also his quiet strength. “He does have an expression of kindness,” she thought…
© Jane Odiwe, Mr. Darcy’s Secret, Sourcebooks, February 2011
Jane Odiwe is the author of Effusions of Fancy, Lydia Bennet’s Story, Willoughby’s Return and Mr Darcy’s Secret – all Austen-inspired books. She a member of the Jane Austen Society, the Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelist’s Association. In addition to her many writing talents, Jane is an accomplished artist. She lives with her family in North London and Bath, England. You can visit her on her website Austen Effusions and her blog Jane Austen Sequels.
Grand Giveaway of Mr. Darcy’s Secret
Thanks Jane for sharing this excerpt from Mr. Darcy’s Secret. It is a glorious, romantic and humorous ride to the Lake District with the Darcys. Please check out my review and enter a chance to win one of five copies available by leaving a comment by midnight March 9, 2010 PT sharing what intrigues you about this new novel or what you enjoy most about Jane Odiwe’s writing. Winners to be announced on Thursday, March 10, 2010. Shipment to US and Canadian addresses only.
Further reading
© 2007 – 2011 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose
Laurel Ann (Austenprose)
Virginia Claire
Christina B.
RegencyRomantic
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
shelleydewees
Br. Paul Byrd, OP
Aia A. Hussein
Lucy Warriner
Lisa Galek
I would like to be the recipient of one of the five giveaway books as I am an avid Austen fan and enjoy reading the continuation novels. I have read Jane Odives’s two other Austen inspired books: Lydia Bennet’s Story, Willoughby’s Return and enjoy her Jane Austen voice.
Am excited to Jan’es first Pride and Prejudice-inspired novel. Looking forward to adding Mr Darcy’s Secret to the library.
Enjoyed this post.
Falise
Sounds wonderful! This makes me more excited to read the book – definitely on my wish list!
Anything about P and P intrigues me, and this book sounds great!!!
This book sounds like a lot of fun. :) I’m going to have to put in a request for it at my library!
Count me in! I love anything having to do with Mr. Darcy and Lizzie and I’m especially intrigued by the idea that Mr. Darcy may not be the only one with secrets in this novel. Can’t wait to read it!
Oh wow, talk about an interesting sequel! By the end of P&P, we feel – like Lizzie – that we have discovered Mr Darcy’s true self … wow-oh-wow … Totally intrigued. Also very interested in this budding potential romance for Georgianna – always have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for her :)
This book sounds fabulous– here lately I can’t seem to get enough of Pride and Prejudice! Thanks for sharing the excerpt! I look forward to trying your great- sounding books! :-)
Ooh, this sounds interesting! I’m not usually a fan of P&P spin-off novels, but this one sounds really good. Thanks for the information. :)
I’ve found that the authors of P&P continuations, in my opinion, don’t quite ‘get’ Darcy or Elizabeth and I steer clear of those books.
If Georgiana is a main character of this novel, then I will have to read it. I think it’s a shame that there are so few Austen inspired novels written about secondary characters.
I’ve been wanting to read Willoughby’s Return for some time now and will do for the Sense and Sensibility Bicentennial Challege. But I didn’t know about Lydia Bennet’s Story. I’ll have to check into that one as well.
Inspiring confidence in a shy character is a wonderful plot idea. Maybe someone should try something similar with that other shy (and somewhat sickly) character in P&P, Lady Catherine’s Anne?
I would love to read one of the books, this is a new author I haven’t read before!
You mentioned in your review about a cache of secret love letters – that sounds truly intriguing. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love Jane’s wit and her abiltiy to project the characteristics of the characters in the same manner Austen did! I loved reading Lydia’s Story and Willoughby’s Return! I look forward to reading Mr. Darcy’s Secret!
Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog, Laurel Ann, and thank you all for your lovely comments about my book!
I love reading the continuing stories of our favorite characters from P&P. I always wondered if Georgiana’s shyness was real or imagined because she had been so sheltered at Pemberley. It looks like she’s growing up in Jane Odiwe’s new novel. How fun! Can’t wait to read it.
Please enter me in this giveaway! I love the idea that Darcy has a secret and I would love to find out what it is. :) I am reading Lydia Bennet’s Story and so far I really like Jane Odiwe’s writing style.
I like the idea of pulling Georgiana out of her victim status and into a strong, capable young woman. I liked it so much I used it myself in my own (sadly) as-yet-unpublished P&P sequel! Isn’t it fun that two writers can start with the same premise, and yet the results thier imaginations produce will be completely different? I guess the main thing is that we never get enough Jane Austen!
I’m so excited for this one! I just adored Willoughby’s Return and I can’t wait to see Jane work her magic on the P&P characters!
Please enter me in the contest. I must know the secrets of Mr.Darcy.
I sound like Lady Catherine!
I won a copy of Mr. Darcy’s Secret on Jane’s blog, and it is wonderful. This is absolutely the best Austenesque novel I’ve read all year. To whoever wins, you are incredibly lucky. To those who don’t, go buy it. You won’t regret it.
I would love to be considered for the giveaway! I love your clever premise that Darcy may be hiding something & the marriage to Lizzy may be wrought with challenges, but I do hope it all turns out Happily Ever After! I am a Janeite through and through!! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book, I must read it!
Oh, could I be entered, please. I’m always on the look out for the next Austenesque novel. What is Darcy’s secret?
would so love to read this book.Please enter my name in the draw!
I absolutely love Jane’s illustrations, as well as her writing style. And don’t we all want to know what the secret is?
I love that Georgiana gets her own story! The excerpt makes me want to read more!
I love love love when authors write about Georgiana. She’s such a great character and there is so much one can do with her character! Definitely looking forward to reading this!
I’m excited that a secondary character gets the focus. I can’t wait to read Georgiana Darcy’s story!
I’m intrigued to see how Georgiana acts when in the present of a man she is clearly attracted to. Her describing his hands turn the page is enough to catch my attention. We’re talking about innocent Georgiana looking at a hand that’s attached to a man! This is a story that hasn’t been told and just by the small passage we were able to read I already want to know more.
Jane’s books are a joy forever. I am so intrigued by her latest work. I can’t wait to read it!
I’m interested to see a continuation of Georgiana’s story because I think she’s an intriguing character and I’d love to see her lead her own story.
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