Over the past two years, I’ve prided myself on the fact that I’ve been able to juggle my Author Duties with my Mom Duties, and keep everything in a nice, cohesive balance. Unfortunately, I dropped the ball yesterday…and not only did it bounce down the driveway and across the road, but over the fence and into the neighbor’s yard as well.

All had been going well until this morning, when I checked one of my email accounts and realized I’d completely missed my blog day. I sincerely thought my day to blog was August 18th and not the 14th. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for getting the wires so crossed, and being so tardy with my post.

In lieu of a regular post, I decided to offer a short excerpt from my upcoming novel instead. I hope you enjoy it.

Over the course of the next se’nnight, Elizabeth was allotted very little time in her daily routine for any activity beyond the preparations required of her for Jane’s wedding and her subsequent trip to London. Though she had never before looked upon a visit to the modiste with quite the same enthusiasm as her sisters—save perhaps Mary, who had always preferred books to satin and bows—Elizabeth now found herself eager for each tedious excursion into Meryton. Her presence in the village shop spared her the possible discomfort of meeting with Mr. Darcy in her mother’s parlour, should he happen to accompany Mr. Bingley on one of his daily sojourns to Longbourn.

Though she knew that some interaction with the gentleman could not be avoided—church services and dinner parties, for example—Elizabeth believed the likelihood of a more meaningful exchange occurring between them in such a public venue was slim. By nature, the master of Pemberley was a very private man, and, although he had sought her out while she was alone in the deserted back hall of the Grey Goose the night of the assembly, Elizabeth could not imagine he would dare to behave in a similar fashion in the midst of a crowded drawing room under the close scrutiny of her family, friends, and countless curious neighbours.

Their mutual connection to Mr. Bingley had already thrown them together on several occasions, and though Elizabeth noticed Darcy’s eyes were often fixed upon her, he had not spoken to her of anything more consequential than the weather since the night of his return. With each successive encounter, however, Elizabeth’s agitation intensified. To make matters worse, Mrs. Bennet, for reasons her second eldest daughter could not ascertain, had suddenly begun to sing Elizabeth’s praises to anyone and everyone in the neighbourhood who would listen, usually within earshot of Mr. Ellis, Mr. Crowell, and, to complete her daughter’s  mortification, Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth attempted to curb her mother’s effusiveness, as did Jane and Bingley, but there appeared to be no deterring the mistress of Longbourn from her current course. As Mr. Bennet offered no help reining in his wife, there was little for Elizabeth to do but suffer in silence and bear it as best she could.

Thank you so much for reading.

Best,

Susan

Susan Adriani

Susan Adriani is the author of The Truth About Mr. Darcy.

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