A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods by Brigid Huey - Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway

I have the pleasure of welcoming a new visitor to Babblings of a Bookworm today; Brigid Huey joins us for the blog tour for her debut novel, A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods. Publishers Meryton Press are also offering a giveaway!

Let's look at the blurb and then we can enjoy a lovely excerpt from the book :)

Book Description

A surprise meeting

A baby alone in the woods

And a second chance at love

Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to his beloved Pemberley with one thing on his mind ̶ to forget Elizabeth Bennet. Riding ahead of his party and racing a storm, he happens upon the very woman he wants to avoid. To his astonishment, she is holding a baby whose name and parentage are unknown.

Elizabeth Bennet never dreamed she had wandered into Pemberley’s Woods on her afternoon walk. But when she finds an infant alone in the storm, she turns to the last man in the world she wants to see ̶ and the only one who can help them both.

As the mystery of the baby’s identity intensifies, Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy to be quite the reverse of what she expected. But when the child’s family is discovered, will the truth bring them together, or tear them apart?

Excerpt from Brigid Huey's A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods

They rose as his party entered, and Darcy’s eyes found Elizabeth. She was as stunning as ever. Her dark curls were piled delicately atop her head, with a few pieces framing her delightful face. Her eyes met his for the briefest moment as she acknowledged his greeting. They were beautiful but troubled. The knowledge that she was still uncomfortable in his presence distressed him.

Schooling his features to mask his concern at her reception, he presented his sister first to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and then to Elizabeth.

“I am pleased to meet you at last, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “Your brother speaks of you often.”

”Thank you, Miss Bennet. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Georgiana replied softly.

“Mr. Bingley and his sisters arrived this morning,” Darcy said, distinctly uncomfortable now as Elizabeth eyed him with scrutiny. “When I told him we were to call, he was most eager to greet you.”

Elizabeth made no reply, and Darcy resisted the urge to pull at his cravat. The Gardiners smiled kindly though he thought he detected some awareness on the part of Mrs. Gardiner at the mention of Bingley’s name.

“He is waiting below. May I fetch him?”

“Yes, of course!” Elizabeth said, her features once again relaxing into the easy manner Darcy loved so well. He excused himself and retrieved Bingley.

“Miss Bennet!” Bingley cried as he entered the room a moment later “I was so pleased to hear that you were in Lambton. I trust you have been enjoying your trip thus far?”

Bingley was all eager smiles and politeness. He and Elizabeth fell into easy conversation, and for not the first time Darcy envied his friend’s pleasing manners.

He was gratified, however, that Elizabeth seemed determined to include Georgiana in the conversation despite his sister’s shy demeanor. He had not had time to inform Bingley of Daisy’s presence in the house, and Georgiana wisely did not bring her up, though he had no doubt that she very much wanted to.

Darcy took the opportunity to approach Mr. Gardiner, who was sitting beside his wife enjoying his tea.

“Mr. Gardiner,” Darcy said quietly, “might I share my progress regarding the child?”

“Certainly, sir,” came the reply, and the two gentlemen spent the next few minutes discussing Darcy’s search for Daisy’s family. Though fruitless heretofore, Darcy remained optimistic that information could be found if the right sources were used. It had only been a day since Elizabeth had found Daisy in the woods.

He could not prevent himself from frequently glancing in Elizabeth’s direction. She was speaking with Bingley in her usual open and artless way, yet he thought he detected a certain stiffness in her manner. It was no doubt his own presence that caused her to be uncomfortable—especially with Bingley accompanying him. He well understood how angry she still must be regarding Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet.

It was time, long past time, to tell Bingley the truth. He had tended to all Elizabeth’s reproofs save this one. With sudden clarity, Darcy realized that it was fear that had kept him silent for so long—fear that Jane Bennet had moved on, fear of Bingley’s righteous anger, and most of all, the fear of losing his dearest friend.

Resolved to right this wrong as soon as possible, he stood, causing his sister to stand also.

“Forgive me, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, but there is something of importance I must attend to.”

Bingley raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“It was a great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said warmly.

“Thank you,” Georgiana said. “And I was happy to meet you.”

“Let us all meet again very soon,” Darcy said with one last glance at Elizabeth. She met his gaze with a question in her eyes. He was glad of it. Curiosity was much more agreeable than dislike.

Author Bio

Brigid has been in love with Jane Austen since first seeing the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice as a young girl. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two kids, and spends her free time reading and writing. This is her first Pride and Prejudice variation, though many others live in her imagination.

Contact Info: Website / Facebook Author Page / Email / Instagram / Twitter

Buy Links

A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods is available to buy now, in both ebook and paperback!

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Add to Goodreads shelf

Giveaway Time!

Meryton Press is giving away 8 eBooks of Brigid Huey’s A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods. To enter, please use the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour Schedule

September 9 – So little time…

September 10 – Darcyholic Diversions

September 11 – Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

September 12 – Savvy Verse & Wit

September 13 – Babblings of a Bookworm

September 14 – My Love for Jane Austen

September 15 – My Life Journey

September 16 – Austenesque Reviews

September 17 – Half Agony, Half Hope

September 18 – Diary of an Eccentric

September 19 – From Pemberley to Milton

September 20 – My Jane Austen Book Club

September 21 – My Vices and Weaknesses

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