Miss Price's Decision by Eliza Shearer - Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

I'm very happy to be welcoming Eliza Shearer back to the blog today. Eliza visited us previously with her book, Miss Darcy's Beaux, which focused on the sister of Pride & Prejudice's Mr Darcy, but also included characters from other Austen novels such as Persuasion and Mansfield Park. This latest book, Miss Price's Decision relates to Miss Susan Price, sister of Fanny Price from Mansfield Park. Both books are stand-alone, so you don't need to have read the first to dive into the second.

I am so happy that a book has been written featuring Mansfield Park characters. Firstly, because I like to see books other than P&P get some love, and secondly, I am particularly happy that Susan Price gets to be the main character, because I struggled to like Fanny Price when I read Mansfield Park until she went to Portsmouth, widened her views and became a more compassionate character, thanks to her appreciation of Susan's efforts to improve herself.

Like Miss Darcy's Beaux, Miss Price's Decision also features characters from other Austen novels, and Eliza Shearer has brought us an excerpt that gives us a peep at some of these characters. Let's look at the blurb and then I'll hand over to Eliza for a guest post and excerpt. She's also brought an ebook giveaway!

Book Description

Pretty, talented and hungry for adventure, young Susan Price is secretly thrilled when the poor health of Lady Bertram, her aunt and protector, forces a departure from sedate Mansfield Park. London and Bath offer a world of possibilities and new friendships, such as the Allens and Miss Moreland, or Mr Bingley and his mysterious friend, Mr Darcy. However, with momentous decisions on the horizon, new enemies that threaten her place in the Bertram household and an unexpected encounter from her Portsmouth past, will Susan's self-belief and unlikely allies be enough to secure her happiness?

Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

Thanks Ceri for your hospitality! I am delighted to present to you my latest book in the Austeniana series: Miss Price’s Decision.

The protagonist is Susan Price, Fanny’s younger, more spirited sister. As with Miss Darcy's Beaux, the story features favourite Austen characters from different novels, in this case Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. Even a certain Mr Darcy makes an appearance...

The story begins when, after five years in sedate Mansfield Park as a companion to Lady Bertram, her ladyship’s poor health forces a visit to a famed doctor in London. Susan is secretly delighted; she has been longing for change and adventure and she sees the journey as an opportunity to see more of the world.

In town, Sir Thomas, Lady Bertram and Susan stay with Julia, now Mrs Yates, and her husband, now an up-and-coming politician with a glittering social life. One night, the Yates throw a party and Susan secretly escapes her nursemaid duties to observe the arrival of the guests. You may recognise some of them! I hope you enjoy it.

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Miss Price’s Decision - Chapter 4 (excerpt)

Through the thick drops of rain I saw the first carriages and coachmen in livery approach the house. The entrance to the Yates’ house soon became a hive of footmen and servants holding umbrellas, stoically protecting their masters from the relentless rain. I had hoped to observe the ladies’ gowns as they made their way into the house, but all that I managed to glimpse through the smeared glass were patchy blobs of colour. I considered opening the window, but the rain was coming down with such violence that I feared that water would enter the room.

Unable to repress my curiosity, I tiptoed towards the door and opened it, taking care not to make any noise. I shouldn’t have worried. The sound of lively conversation coming up the stairs was enough to drown the thunder outside. I approached the bannister of the staircase and, protected by the shadows of the second floor, which was in relative darkness compared to the brightly lit entrance and hallway, I crouched and looked down.

The front door was wide open, allowing a cold and blustery wind into the house. A dozen ladies and gentlemen were congregating in the hallway, like busy bees hovering over spring blooms. They formed an irregular line of sorts while waiting to be greeted by the hosts. My cousin Julia, beautifully attired in pale grey satin, her neck glittering with diamonds and her cheeks frozen in a permanent smile, looked the perfect society hostess. Mr Yates, whom I had not seen since Fanny’s wedding, was by her side. He was tall and sported rather extravagant hair, much longer and more dishevelled than was the norm amongst the higher classes. I suspected that it was a London fashion that had not yet reached the provinces. My privileged position allowed me to see that, beneath the pomade and studied unruliness of Mr Yates’ locks, his natural hairline was receding and baldness was beginning to spread from the crown of his head.

Another head amongst the many present in the hallway caught my eye, that of a woman with bright red hair whom I recognised as the lady I had seen in the gardens that afternoon. She was wearing a very fine turquoise silk dress and a feathered headgear that looked very expensive, and was clinging onto the arm of the dark and handsome gentleman that had caught me watching them from my aunt’s bedchamber. Although she was behaving as if they were on very intimate terms, his countenance appeared to tell a different story.  The couple and their friends, three more gentlemen and another lady, were soon in front of Mr and Mrs Yates. I took a few steps down the staircase, many more than it was sensible, to hear their exchange.

“Darcy, Cole, Bingley, it is a pleasure to see you!”

Mr Yates' cries were perfectly audible from where I was located.

“Yates,” nodded the tall man with the jet black locks, and so did the second gentleman, who had mousy hair, grey eyes and the deep tan of men just arrived from the East or the West Indies. Their friend, who had a much more expressive air and a similar colouring to the lady that had initially caught my attention, took Mr Yates’ hand and shook it with enthusiasm.

“Upon my word, Yates, you have found yourself a fine place! Did you know that we are staying just around the corner? In fact, we were taking a walk in this very square only this afternoon, were we not, Caroline? You remember my sister, Yates.”

“Of course I do! Miss Bingley, it is a pleasure to see you again after all these years. Allow me to introduce my wife, Mrs Yates.”

 As the ladies exchanged pleasantries I observed the men. They made an odd quartet. Mr Darcy had a proud air, as if he wished to be elsewhere, while Mr Bingley, so forthcoming and genial, was quite the opposite. My cousin’s husband, Mr Yates, was as vain and superficial as I remembered. As for Mr Cole, although his skin was as dark as if he had spent three years at sea, he did not have the air of a sailor.

“I must say, it is jolly good to see us all together once more. It feels like yesterday that we were fellow students in Cambridge, and now one of us is already married!” said Mr Bingley.

“Judging from a certain intelligence that has recently reached me, you will be next,” said Mr Cole with a smile, patting Bingley on the shoulder. “My sources are never wrong, old boy.”

Mr Bingley coloured like a schoolboy and Miss Bingley looked visibly uncomfortable, but it was Mr Darcy’s response that surprised me the most. His back stiffened, and he looked down onto the floor while holding his one free arm behind his back. He immediately reminded me of my youngest brother Tom when he knew that he had misbehaved. But in a matter of seconds, the party disappeared from my view, joining the other guests in the front drawing room. Another group took their place, but my calves were burning. I carefully retreated towards the wall, away from the bannister, and stood up slowly so as to stretch my legs.

Outside, the rain had stopped and the wind had picked up, twisting the headdresses of a couple of ladies who were still waiting to enter the house. I felt a pang of frustration. I would have liked to join the guests downstairs. Sadly, it was not to be. I stifled a yawn, slipped inside Lady Bertram’s bedchamber and closed the door. The window seat was more comfortable than the cot in the attic, and soon the noise from the dozens of conversations became a muffled murmur and I fell asleep.

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Author Bio

Eliza Shearer has been a Jane Austen fan for as long as she can remember, regularly convincing family and friends to join in on pilgrimages to Austen-related sites and events. She is the author of the Austeniana series of Austen-inspired variations, which include Miss Darcy’s Beaux and Miss Price’s Decision.

Having lived in different countries, Eliza is fluent in several languages and now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with her husband, two children, and tortie cat. Eliza is very partial to satin slippers, but like her namesake Elizabeth Bennet, she has never cared much for cards.

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Buy Links

This book is available to buy now on ebook - Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Add to Goodreads Shelf

Giveaway Time!

Eliza Shearer is kindly giving away an ebook of Miss Price's Decision to one of you. To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post by the end of the day worldwide on Thursday 24 October.

Please note: I love to read your comments, but a few blog visitors have reported difficulties in commenting while using the Safari browser. If you are unable to comment, please try using another web browser, such as Google Chrome, or please contact me and I will add your comment for you :)

Blog Tour Schedule

Eliza Shearer is visiting a few blogs on this tour. Details of the other posts are in the graphic below so that you know where to visit next :)

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