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Friday 13 May 2022

Born to be a Heroine by Christine Combe - Except

Book cover: Born to be a Heroine by Christine Combe
Today I’m happy to be welcoming Christine Combe to the blog with her new book, Born to be a Heroine. You may recognise this as a Northanger Abbey reference, but this is a Pride & Prejudice variation. Let’s look at the blurb and then I’ll pass over to Christine for an excerpt from Born to be a Heroine. 

Book Description

When Elizabeth Bennet meets the new residents of Netherfield at Meryton’s monthly assembly, she does not expect to make a fast friend in the perpetually cheerful Catherine Morland -- nor does she expect the surprise of being asked to dance by the proud and haughty Mr. Darcy.

Fitzwilliam Darcy doesn’t care to dance unless he is particularly acquainted with his partner, so no one is more surprised than he when not only does he accept the challenge presented to him by Miss Morland, but he also asks the playful Miss Bennet for a dance as well.

Catherine Morland joined Mrs. Allen in accepting the invitation of Mr. Bingley, great nephew of Mr. Allen, to visit Netherfield for the simple pleasure of making new acquaintances and seeing a new place. She is most delighted to have found in Elizabeth Bennet and her elder sister Jane the kind of dependable friendship she found in Eleanor Tilney.

When an old nemesis of Darcy’s comes to town, trouble quickly brews in which both Elizabeth and Catherine become entangled. While one young lady battles the workings of her heart, the other is caught in a compromise which could damage her respectability in society. Each is forced to look deep inside herself to discover the strength that proves she was born to be a heroine.

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Excerpt from Born to be a Heroine, Introduced by Christine Combe

Thank you for having me again, Ceri. I’m so excited to be visiting Babblings of a Bookworm today to talk about my latest Austenesque novel, Born to be a Heroine. This new story is a Pride and Prejudice tale with a few Northanger Abbey characters thrown in!

Book Description  When Elizabeth Bennet meets the new residents of Netherfield at Meryton’s monthly assembly, she does not expect to make a fast friend in the perpetually cheerful Catherine Morland -- nor does she expect the surprise of being asked to dance by the proud and haughty Mr. Darcy.  Fitzwilliam Darcy doesn’t care to dance unless he is particularly acquainted with his partner, so no one is more surprised than he when not only does he accept the challenge presented to him by Miss Morland, but he also asks the playful Miss Bennet for a dance as well.  Catherine Morland joined Mrs. Allen in accepting the invitation of Mr. Bingley, great nephew of Mr. Allen, to visit Netherfield for the simple pleasure of making new acquaintances and seeing a new place. She is most delighted to have found in Elizabeth Bennet and her elder sister Jane the kind of dependable friendship she found in Eleanor Tilney.  When an old nemesis of Darcy’s comes to town, trouble quickly brews in which both Elizabeth and Catherine become entangled. While one young lady battles the workings of her heart, the other is caught in a compromise which could damage her respectability in society. Each is forced to look deep inside herself to discover the strength that proves she was born to be a heroine.


Now that I’ve piqued your interest with the blurb, how about a look at chapter 2?

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Book cover: Born to be a Heroine by Christine Combe
The two gentlemen and Mrs. Allen laughed and shook their heads, though as the next set was about to start, their attention was drawn to their chosen partners. Elizabeth and Jane accepted the arms that were held out to them and went to join the other couples.

While they waited for the dance to begin, Elizabeth roamed her gaze over her partner as surreptitiously as she could. He was taller than herself, with large, expressive eyes and a mop of curly dark hair. His figure was well formed and he wore his fashionable jacket well, but it was his posture and his expression that captured her attention most.

It was as if he both wanted and did not want to be there.

Not wanting their time together to be awkward, Elizabeth asked him, “Is this your first visit to Hertfordshire, Mr. Morland?”

He nodded. “It is, yes. Mrs. Allen and my sister were invited by Mr. Bingley to come for a visit, as he thought Mrs. Allen might appreciate the distraction.”

Elizabeth lifted an eyebrow. “Only they?”

Morland grinned sheepishly. “Technically speaking, yes. But ever since my sister came into her inheritance, I’ve felt rather…protective of her. Well, I have always looked out for her, of course, but now that she’s so rich…”

His voice trailed off and it was clear that he’d not meant to reveal so much. Elizabeth could sympathize with trying to keep things to oneself, but if Miss Morland had a fortune…

“Sir, I fear that whatever the amount of her dowry,” she began slowly, “your sister will be the object of desire in the eyes of men and of jealousy in the eyes of other young women—and the mothers trying to marry them off.”

Morland snorted softly, then bowed to her curtsey as the dance began. “That’s what I’m afraid of, Miss Elizabeth. Especially that first part.”

They moved apart and were unable to speak for a few moments due to the moves of the dance, and when they came together again, Elizabeth asked, “You fear she will be prey to fortune hunters? Your father must be a wealthy man indeed if he can so well endow the number of daughters he has.”

Her partner laughed. “My family are not rich at all, Miss Elizabeth,” said he. “There are ten of us, after all—twelve when you include my mother and father. No, my father is simply a very respected clergyman with more than one very good living. All four of my sisters were to have three thousand each upon their marriage, but since Cathy was named Mr. Allen’s heir, she has since said that Father should divide her portion equally amongst our sisters.”

The dance separated them again, though when they were next together, Elizabeth naturally took up the conversation where they had left off. “Your sister is very generous. Mrs. Allen’s husband must have left her a great deal of money if she is so willing to part with three thousand pounds.”

“Have you an idea of Mr. Bingley’s fortune, Miss Elizabeth?”

“Not that I purposely sought the information, but yes, Mr. Morland, I do. The size of a gentleman’s fortune is often bandied about when he is new to a neighborhood, especially by the mothers who have daughters to see well-settled.” She cocked her head to the side and eyed him with one eyebrow lifted. “Why do you ask?”

Mr. Morland scowled briefly. “Then I’ve no doubt my sister’s will soon be as well,” he said. “In that case, I may as well tell you as not, for you’re sure to hear of it anyway.”

“Hear what, sir?” Elizabeth asked.

“Why, that the fortune Catherine inherited is equal to Mr. Bingley’s.”

For the first time in all her life, Elizabeth was so distracted she missed the cue to move on her next turn—it was not until Mr. Morland moved ahead of her that she realized she’d been woolgathering. She performed the required steps and turns automatically, her mind still very much amazed by what she had heard.

A few minutes later the dance ended, and still Elizabeth had not gathered her thoughts together enough to speak. For a man to be in command of five thousand a year was common enough, but for a woman to be so was unheard of! At least, she had never personally met such a lady.

Her musings were interrupted by the approach of the subject of them—and with her was Mr. Darcy. Jane and Mr. Bingley came upon them from the opposite direction, and Miss Morland smiled triumphantly.

“Do you see, Mr. Bingley? I told you I would get Mr. Darcy for a partner,” she said.

Bingley laughed, then performed the office of introducing his friend to the Bennet sisters. “Were you not standing together before my eyes, I should not believe you,” he replied to Miss Morland. “Tell me, how did you convince him to dance?”

“I simply told him that you were quite sure he would not dance, and that I had determined to prove you wrong.”

Elizabeth found herself suddenly enraptured by the face of the gentleman in question as Mr. Darcy smiled, revealing the most endearing pair of dimples.

“Having heard this,” said he, taking up the narrative, “I could not in good conscience allow Miss Morland to lose your challenge by my usual taciturn refusal.”

“Certainly not, sir—that would be scandalously ungentlemanly of you,” Elizabeth heard herself say.

Darcy’s brow furrowed as he turned his gaze to her, but before he could speak, Miss Morland said, “Oh, indeed it would, Miss Elizabeth! So you can imagine how very much I appreciate Mr. Darcy not allowing me to stand before him looking foolish.”

“I can imagine how much, Miss Morland, but he could still have made you look very foolish if Mr. Darcy did not actually know how to dance,” quipped Elizabeth.

“Lizzy!” said Jane with a gasp.

“I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, that I am well educated in the common dances,” Mr. Darcy said archly.

“Oh, indeed he is!” chirped Miss Morland. “I can assure you as well, Mr. Darcy is a very graceful dancer.”

Elizabeth smiled at her cheerful disposition. “Well, I shall have to take your word for it, or try to catch a glimpse of you during the next dance.”

Even as she spoke, the caller was announcing the second dance of the set. The pairs of partners moved to take their place in line, and for a time Elizabeth’s attention was once again commanded by her partner. James Morland was also well educated in the common dances, and the glimpses she stole of his sister and Mr. Darcy said that neither had been exaggerating.

“You are examining the competition, I see,” said Morland. “A poor clergyman’s son like me hasn’t a chance in the world with rich men like Darcy and Bingley around.”

“I merely looked to see if Mr. Darcy’s claim was true, that is all,” said Elizabeth. “Though even were I so inclined, such a man as he would hardly take notice of me. As a gentleman’s daughter I may be Mr. Darcy’s equal, but without a fortune to make him richer, I would not be handsome enough to tempt such a man. My father’s income, you see, is enough to make us comfortable while he lives but not enough to secure men of consideration in the world for his daughters’ husbands, nor to maintain us when he is gone as his estate is entailed. And I’ve no one to leave me a grand fortune as was done for your sister. In that manner, she has great advantage.”

Mr. Morland scoffed. “You mean to say that she’s more attractive because of her inheritance.”

“It is the simple truth, Mr. Morland. Even my sister Jane, who is obviously a great beauty, has little chance with such a man.” Elizabeth sighed. “Having an independent fortune—or so I assume it to be from what you have said—means Miss Morland will have her choice of suitors, and for both your sakes I do hope there will be no fortune hunters to try and swindle her out of it. I commend you for your desire to see her protected from the like. Being independent, she has the liberty of taking her time to choose a husband. My sisters and I have only a little beauty and our charms to recommend us.”

Morland smiled. “And what charms you possess, Miss Elizabeth,” said he. “Ready wit and a brilliant smile go a long way with some gentlemen, I can assure you. And I can sympathize with your plight, to an extent.”

“Oh? Pray tell, sir,” Elizabeth prompted.

“I recently learned that I am to have a living of a four hundred pounds a year,” Morland replied. “There are few young women willing to marry a poor clergyman.”

“You are to be a clergyman?”

He nodded. “I am. I have been studying at Oxford, but as a result of the Clergy Ordination Act of 1801, I cannot take orders for another two years.”

“What do you intend to do in the meantime? Will you search for a wife willing to live on four hundred a year?”

Mr. Morland’s expression darkened. “I thought I had already found such a woman, but… I was wrong. She wanted to be rich, and I could never make her so.”

“I am very sorry to hear it, Mr. Morland,” Elizabeth replied sincerely.

Morland drew a breath and blew it out. “’Tis of little matter—as Cathy would say, I am better off, knowing her true nature now instead of learning it after we married. But to answer your question, I intend to assist my father in carrying out his duties in whatever ways I am able, that by the time I am of age to be ordained, I shall be fully educated in the profession for which I am intended.”

“It is a noble course you have set for yourself, Mr. Morland,” said Elizabeth with a smile. “And I am sure you will yet find a young lady willing to marry a man of only four hundred a year, for when one considers the average yearly salary of a housemaid, four hundred is no trifle.”

Mr. Morland returned her smile. “You are very kind to say so, Miss Elizabeth. And really, I shall eventually have eight hundred a year, for my father told me there is also an estate of at least equal value to the living that I am assured of as a future inheritance.”

“And a sure eight hundred a year was not enough for this girl you spoke of?” asked Elizabeth. Her partner nodded, and she scoffed derisively. “Then she is a fool, and you most assuredly are better off, sir. Eight hundred pounds a year may not equal your sister’s newly inherited five thousand, but it is not to be laughed at. If I may be so bold, sir, your plan to learn all you can about your intended profession is an intelligent one. Concentration on improving yourself will surely reward you with your heart’s desire in due time.”

Her partner studied her countenance earnestly for a long moment, then he smiled. “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. You really are very kind.”

A few moments later the second dance of their set ended, and Elizabeth was prepared to join her sister Mary, and perhaps also Charlotte, for a round of sitting out the next set to watch others enjoying themselves. She and James Morland were again approached by Miss Morland and Mr. Darcy, the former saying cheerfully, “I have convinced Mr. Darcy he should dance again!”

“Did you really?” asked Bingley as he came upon them with Jane on his arm. “And who shall your partner be this time, Darcy?”

Elizabeth was greatly surprised when Mr. Darcy turned his gaze to her. “I should be very much obliged if Miss Elizabeth would do me the honor.”

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Well now… What has Catherine Morland gotten started here? Find out by checking out the book on Amazon, where Born to be a Heroine is available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover!

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About the Author

Christine, like many a JAFF author before her, is a long-time admirer of Jane Austen’s work, and she hopes that her alternate versions are as enjoyable as the originals. She has plans to one day visit England and take a tour of all the grand country estates which have featured in film adaptations, and often dreams of owning one. Christine lives in Ohio and is already at work on her next book.

Links:

Blog: All That They Desire / Facebook: (1) Christine Combe | Facebook

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Book cover: Born to be a Heroine by Christine Combe
Buy Links 

Born to be a Heroine is available to buy now in Hardback, Paperback, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.  

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Blog tour schedule: Born to be a Heroine by Christine Combe

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2 comments:

  1. Good for Catherine! Darcy dancing with Elizabeth? No insult? Excellent. Definitely a big plus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's an interesting beginning isn't it!

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