His Choice of a Wife by Heather Moll - Blog Tour - Excerpt and Giveaway

Today I'm welcoming debut author Heather Moll to Babblings of a Bookworm as part of her blog tour. Heather has written a Pride & Prejudice variation, His Choice of a Wife, and she has come here to share an excerpt with us, and give us the opportunity to enter the blog tour giveaway. Let's take a look at the blurb and then hand over to Heather.

Book Description

When a man’s honor is at stake, what is he willing to risk for the woman he loves?

After a disastrous marriage proposal and the delivery of an illuminating letter, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet hope never to lay eyes on one another again. When a chance meeting in Hunsford immediately throws them in each other’s way, Darcy realizes his behavior needs correcting, and Elizabeth starts to appreciate his redeeming qualities. But is it enough to forgive the past and overcome their prejudices?

Jane and Bingley’s possible reconciliation and Lydia’s ill-conceived trip to Brighton pose their own challenges for two people struggling to find their way to love. When scandalous news threatens their chance at happiness, will Darcy and Elizabeth’s new bond be shattered, or will their growing affection hold steadfast?


Guest Post / Excerpt

Thank you, Ceri, for hosting me today! I’m very pleased to share this tidbit with your readers and give them a chance to read something from an early chapter in His Choice of a Wife. This begins after Darcy has ridden to Longbourn to see if he has any hope of earning Elizabeth’s affections after what passed between them in Kent and in London. In this exchange, Darcy has gone back to town, and the officers are dining at Longbourn. Elizabeth has a tense conversation with Mr. Wickham…

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Wickham appraised her with a calculating countenance that could not hide his agitation. He bit his bottom lip and tapped his foot feverishly. Elizabeth attempted to see beyond him to determine whether Jane was on her way back, but he abruptly leant back into his chair and crossed his legs in front of her, his arm on the back of her chair and his legs preventing her from standing.

“I heard an interesting report from Denny and Pratt last week, and I have been anxious to speak of it to you.”

Elizabeth gave a slight inclination of her head but said nothing. “They were returning from Meryton by way of Lucas Lodge, and both men say they saw you walking on the arm of none other than Mr. Darcy, having an intimate tête-à-tête! They thought he might have even kissed your hand. They were adamant although I told them that they could not have suggested a more unlikely couple. After all, Mr. Bingley and his party have been removed from the neighborhood for six months.” Here Wickham lowered his voice, and Elizabeth could not mistake his contempt. “So do now tell me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, how could it be that Fitzwilliam Darcy lent you his arm to stroll about Hertfordshire?”

Elizabeth remembered Mr. Darcy’s letter and his assertion that Wickham had followed Georgiana to Ramsgate by design, induced by both fortune and revenge. A shiver of revulsion ran down her spine. Could he be so angry about my knowing the truth that he tries to exact revenge upon me? She now knew Wickham to be a man without scruples, but surely he was not dangerous and desperate? She was too poor to be an object of prey, after all, and she held too much disgust for him to continue their acquaintance, let alone be duped by his lies. He could have no power over her.

“Are you asking that I account for my whereabouts?” She affected an air of indifference. “Such a responsibility falls to my father.”

Wickham scoffed. “Yes, Mr. Bennet is alert to his family’s cares and concerns.” Elizabeth blushed with shame; it was well known in their neighborhood that Mr. Bennet was a careless father. “I mean no offense. I am...surprised that you would choose to pass your time with a man whose foul misconduct has caused me such suffering. You yourself have on many occasions said how little you can tolerate Darcy, for he does so despise his fellow creatures in general.”

“Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth began slowly, “Mr. Darcy improves on further acquaintance. At Rosings I had the opportunity of knowing him better, and I now understand his true nature.”

Wickham’s complexion heightened and his eyes narrowed as he, for a moment, sat silent. He exhaled loudly and nodded then said slowly in a low voice, “To whom, may I ask, do you owe this newfound information? Perhaps the good colonel?”

“My knowledge of Mr. Darcy and the quality of his character comes from the gentleman himself.” Her patience was wearing thin, and she was in no humor to indulge Wickham. There was little doubt in her mind that he understood her to know the truth behind his connections to the Darcy family, but he did not appear embarrassed, only angry. Elizabeth wished he would be gone.

“I can imagine few inducements that would drive a man as private and reserved as Darcy to discuss his intimate dealings with one wholly unconnected to him.” He paused and allowed his gaze to linger over her in a manner that could only be described as lecherous. “Or perhaps you are not as unconnected to Darcy as you would have me believe?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in affront, but before she could reply, Wickham rose and left to give the other ladies their share of his attentions. Elizabeth was unsettled, and she desired never to meet him again. 

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Ewwww! Isn't he awful!

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Author Bio

Heather Moll is an avid reader with a B.A. in European history and a M.A. in library science, so it is astonishing that she did not discover Jane Austen until her late-twenties. Making up for lost time, she devoured all of Austen’s novels, her letters, and unpublished works, joined JASNA, and spent far too much time researching the Regency era. She is thrilled to have found fellow Janeites and the JAFF community, if only to prove that her interests aren’t so strange after all. Heather is a former librarian turned stay-at-home mother who struggles to find time for all of the important things, like reading and writing.

Connect with Heather - Facebook - Twitter - Amazon US Author Page -  Goodreads

Buy Links

His Choice of a Wife is available to buy now!

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Goodreads

Giveaway Time

Meryton Press is giving away 8 eBooks of Heather Moll’s His Choice of a Wife! To enter, please use the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much to Heather, for visiting here with the blog tour, to Janet Taylor, for arranging the tour, and to Meryton Press, for the giveaway. I wish you all the best of luck!

Blog Tour Schedule

July 25 More Agreeably Engaged

July 26 Babblings of a Bookworm

July 27 My Love for Jane Austen

July 28 Half Agony, Half Hope

July 29 Austenesque Reviews

July 30 From Pemberley to Milton

July 31 Savvy Verse & Wit

Aug. 1 Darcyholic Diversions

Aug. 2 Diary of an Eccentric

Aug. 3 Margie’s Must Reads

Aug. 5 So Little Time…

Aug. 6 My Vices and Weaknesses

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