Today I have the pleasure of hosting a stop on the blog tour for Sue Barr's 'Caroline, Pride & Prejudice Continued… Book One'. This story takes a look at what Miss Bingley may have done after realising that Mr Darcy, her brightest hope for an excellent marriage, was lost to her. I know Miss Bingley is often cast as a villain, but canon Miss Bingley. although a bit of a social climber, actually wasn't that bad, so I'm interested to see what treatment she gets in this story.
Whatever happened to Caroline Bingley after her brother and unrequited love interest married a Bennet sister? Join me in this story of redemptive love and the healing of broken dreams.
Caroline Bingley, beyond frustrated with her brother, Charles and Mr. Darcy both proposing to the Bennet sisters, dreads their upcoming nuptials. For three years, her sole focus has been on attaining a marriage proposal from one Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, only to be foiled by a country miss with ‘fine eyes’. Adrift and not sure of her place in life, she meets the mysterious and devastatingly handsome Lord Nathan, who equally vexes and intrigues her.
Lord Nathan Kerr, third in line to a Dukedom, had a well-earned reputation as a Rake. He cast all that and his noble title aside to become Mr. Darcy’s vicar in Kympton, finding contentment in leading his small flock and doing the Lord’s work. His plan for a quiet, country life is thrown into upheaval when he meets the fiery Miss Bingley. Can he reconcile his rising desire for the spoiled miss with how a vicar’s wife ‘should’ behave?
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Good morning, Ceri, and thank you for inviting me to share this vignette post for my latest release, Caroline, Pride & Prejudice Continued… Book One. I am here today to share a scene where we witness a heartbroken Caroline after she learns about Darcy's engagement to Miss Bennet. I can’t wait to see what your readers think of this vignette!
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She sank onto the settee, her hand to her chest as it constricted with an unknown pain. For the past year she’d subtly hinted to a chosen few of Darcy’s fondness of her and how she expected him to come up to scratch in the near future. That he would marry her, Elizabeth Bennet…
She broke off the thought, yet her mind refused to heed her desires, racing in a multitude of directions, all of which led back to the fact that attendance at the wedding was mandatory. Crushed dreams or not, she had to present a pleasant face or risk becoming the laughing stock of the ton. It was only after Louisa went to speak with Cook about the evening meal that Caroline paced the front parlor, alone with her thoughts.
What was it about the men in her life that they became addlepated over a few plain country misses? Had they no sense at all? She blew out a frustrated breath and continued to pace.
She’d argued with her sister that although they would attend the wedding, there would be no convivial visits during Christmas. Louisa, the viper, pointed out they’d have to attend any and all christenings as Charles always wanted a houseful of children. At that statement she almost brought back up her tea.
She stopped pacing and clenched her fingers into a tight fist. Why hadn’t Darcy kept Charles away from Jane, and more disturbing, why had he proposed to Elizabeth Bennet? If only Darcy and Charles had taken her with them, then neither would be marrying into that odious family.
Of that, she was positive.
She pivoted from the window and sat on the settee near the fireplace. Her foot bumped something beneath the small couch and she pulled out the pillow she’d been stitching. Tension snaked through her body at the sight of her pitiful attempt to capture Pemberley in needlepoint.
She nearly tossed the unfinished reminder of her failure into the fireplace, instead, all her anger, frustration, all her tattered hopes and dreams coalesced into a fit of fury and she tore the pillow to shreds with her bare hands. Minutes later, fingernails broken and fingertips bruised, she threw the mangled mess to the floor. Great gasps racked her chest as she fell to the floor and sobbed.
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Sue Barr resides in beautiful Southwestern Ontario with her retired Air Force hubby, two sons and their families. She’s also an indentured servant to three cats and has been known to rescue a kitten or two, or three…in an attempt to keep her ‘cat-lady-in-training’ status current. Although, she has deviated from appointed path and rescued a few dogs as well.
Sue is a member of Romance Writers of America and their affiliate chapter, Love, Hope and Faith as well as American Christian Fiction Writers.
For more information about her other books, visit her website: http://www.suebarrauthor.com/
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'Caroline, Pride & Prejudice Continued... Book One' is available to buy now:
This book is also available
through Amazon’s KindleUnlimited
Giveaway Time!
My thanks to Sue Barr, for this vignette, which I like for showing Caroline as a person with shades of grey rather than just a black and white portrait of a villainess! Thanks too to Claudine, from Just Jane 1813 for arranging this blog tour.
Blog Tour Schedule
Please check out the other stops on the blog tour, for reviews, guest posts, excerpts, and other chances to win a copy of the book for yourself:
March 12 / My Jane Austen Book Club/Launch Post & Giveaway
March 13/ From Pemberley to Milton/ Book Review & Excerpt & Giveaway
March 14/ More Agreeably Engaged/Author Spotlight & Giveaway
March 16/ Just Jane 1813/ Guest Post & Giveaway
March 17/ Babblings of a Bookworm/ Vignette Post & Giveaway
March 18/ My Love for Jane Austen/ Excerpt Post & Giveaway
March 19/ Margie’s Must Reads Excerpt Post & Giveaway
March 20/ Austenesque Reviews/ Guest Post & Giveaway
March 21/ My Vices and Weaknesses/ Book Review & Giveaway
March 22 / Savvy Verse & Wit/ Guest Post & Giveaway
March 23 /Diary of an Eccentric/Book Review & Giveaway
March 24/ So Little Time…/ Excerpt Post & Giveaway
March 25/ Obsessed with Mr. Darcy/ Book Review & Giveaway
March 26/ Of Pens & Pages/ Book Review & Giveaway
What a moving piece. I really feel for the loss of Caroline's dreams. I always try to remember that she's not the villain that fanfiction often portrays, and she would have had real hopes with Mr. Darcy. Heck, they were snark buddies. Thanks for the vignette, Sue, and for hosting this, Ceri!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't like to see Caroline portrayed as a villain. I don't like her, but she falls far short of villain in my opinion.
DeleteThank you for that insight, Suzan. When I approached this story, after reading many fan fiction stories where Caroline is often portrayed in parody as a villain. Everybody loves to dig at the open wound of her hurt pride. However, I knew there had to be another side to her. A side she protected ferociously for fear of being ridiculed. This was the Caroline that called to me in the night, whispering, "Write my story."
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see the other side of Caroline, Sue, as the side we are shown in P&P is very proud and social climbing. we don't get to see the softer side of her, and whether she could let that side out.
DeletePoor Caroline, I am presuming she regrets the status she would have had more so than the man
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Vesper, I think her tears are for wasted time and blasted ambition rather than anything else.
DeleteThat's a rather touching vignette, Sue. You can really feel her pain and disappointment. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI found it unexpectedly touching too Anji!
DeleteAt this stage of the book Caroline is absolutely only focused on losing status. Can I reveal another small spoiler? Later on in the story, Lord Nathan challenges her, asking if she'd ever looked on Darcy as a man. Does she know his favorite color. His favorite food. He makes her think about the WHY of her quest for Darcy.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd always assumed that she was trying to get a proposal out of Darcy because she was trying to capitalise on her brother's friendship with him, as it brought her into close contact with D. for weeks at a time. It'd be a good opportunity considering he is rich and of a good family.
DeleteOh noessss! That was hard to read. I know she wouldn't want pity though. Look forward to seeing the rest of Caroline's story. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree Sophia, such a proud lady would be at pains to prevent inciting pity from others.
DeleteSuch a moving excerpt,I think it a fair portrayal of how disillusioned she must feel now that her dreams and heartfelt wishes have been for naught.
ReplyDeleteAm delighted that she's going to meet Lord Narhan-not sure how she'll react when she realises he's Darcy's vicar at Kympton but I'm sure,in him,she'll have met her match!
Looking forward to reading this.
Thanks to all for the giveaway.
It'd be good to see Caroline meet her match, wouldn't it!
DeleteInteresting twist that the hero, now a vicar, is a former rake. The excerpts are quite good, look forward to the whole story.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that an interesting idea, a complete 180 degree turnaround.
DeleteI always relish a good meltdown for Caroline Bingley.
ReplyDeleteYes, although I felt a little sorry for her here, which is a bit less satisfying on the one hand, but on the other hand, it's good to see her as more than a two-dimensional baddie. Thanks for commenting, Betty!
DeleteLooks like a great Caroline story. I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. :)
It's a pretty cover, isn't it. Thanks for commenting, Kate!
DeleteThanks for the giveaway. I could feel the anguish. Now, I am intrigued in Caroline's story.
ReplyDeleteI find myself intrigued too, Shelley! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI enjoyed the short vignette. I didn't expect that she would sob in private. In my opinion, she doesn't love Mr Darcy as how a woman loves a man but as a means to attain a higher status in society. It could be that she didn't know how to face the ton after the object of her fancy chose to marry another.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Luthien. I think she was definitely disappointed and angry, but more at losing her prize than at losing somebody she cared for.
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