New Plot Bunny

 First - I AM working on A Rose By Any Other Name, but as most of you know, I absolutely must - MUST - have more than one oar in the water... *sigh* It's how my brain works. Anyhoo, I had a delicious plot bunny hop into my brain the other day, and before I knew it, almost three chapters sprang to life. To give you a taste, I'm sharing the scene that prompted Thumper to invade my brain. This work is currently untitled.


“Come, Darcy, I must have you dance.”

“You must?”

“Absolutely. I cannot be the only gentleman from our party who escorts these ladies around the room in time to music.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome woman in the room.”

“Yes, she is a tasty bit of muslin.”

“Do not.”

“Do not, what?”

“Do not dally with these ladies. This is a small, backwater town, not the ballrooms of London.”

“I will be careful. I have no intention of getting caught in the parson’s trap. I mean to learn the business of estate management, find a good estate to purchase, and maybe also find an acceptable wife.”

“Netherfield is a good enough estate to learn the basics, but I caution you about your other two points. It is easy to get caught up in the allure of a beautiful woman, and your sister expects you to marry well. Her future is tied to your success.”

“My sister wishes for her future to be tied to you.”

“That will never happen. If you do not make it clear to her, I shall.”

“I will speak to her – again. Now, about dancing. I still insist you must dance.” Mr. Bingley gave a hasty glance at who was situated near them. “I say, there is a pleasant enough looking young lady sitting behind us. Shall I ask my partner to make our introductions?”

Mr. Darcy glanced over his shoulder, then faced forward again.

“Her? Your sense of humour is in fine form tonight, Bingley. She is barely tolerable for someone of my consequence and lineage. It would be a punishment to stand up with her – Ow!”

***

Elizabeth Bennet did not know who she was more disgusted by. Mr. Bingley, or Mr. Darcy. Finally, she had had enough. She stood and stalked toward the two men. As she passed by, she pretended to stumble and, grateful for the little wooden heel affixed to her slipper, stomped hard on Mr. Darcy’s dancing slipper.

“Oh, I beg your pardon. How clumsy of me,” she exclaimed, straightening her posture. “May I get you some ice for your foot?”

“No, thank you, Madam. I require nothing from you.”

“Then, I shall bid you and your friend a good evening.”

With that, Elizabeth crossed to the middle of the dance floor where her eldest sister still awaited her absent dance partner, Mr. Bingley. Snagging Jane’s hand in hers, she dragged her off the floor toward the lady’s retiring room, an upset Mrs. Bennet not too far behind.

“Elizabeth, why did you force your sister to abandon Mr. Bingley? He is not only handsome, but has an income of five thousand a year!”

“He may have five thousand pounds a year, but in value as a gentleman, his worth is not even two pence.”

“What are you talking about? Everyone says he is the most amiable man.”

“Do you recall Mr. Nolan’s message last Sunday about wolves in sheep’s clothing? His message may have been planned for parents of young ladies regarding the upcoming militia encampment this winter, but after listening to the conversation between the amiable Mr. Bingley and the dour Mr. Darcy, I believe our Lord intended us to hear this message about those who now reside at Netherfield Park.”

“What did you hear?” Jane asked.

“I do not wish to hurt you, but it is better you know the truth.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “Mr. Bingley said you were a tasty bit of muslin; however, he has no intention of getting caught in the parson’s trap, because he needs to find an appropriate wife who will not only raise his status but also aid his sister in finding a suitable husband.”

Jane’s face paled as Mrs. Bennet’s colour rose.

“You are, at the very least, a gentleman’s daughter!” Mrs. Bennet huffed out. “I am of a mind to write your mother’s sister, and inform her how her tenants are behaving.”

“Mamma, we all agreed to keep our relations secret. Jane and I enjoy the anonymity that Meryton provides. Besides, once I reach my majority, the truth shall come out.”

“I still think I should write your aunt. As the Queen’s first lady-in-waiting, she could put a little outside pressure on these gentlemen to behave.”

“Aunt Florence has more important things on her calendar. She does not need to add, rescue my only nieces from a pair of scoundrels.”

Mamma laughed, just as Elizabeth had hoped.

“Elizabeth Marie Rose Bennet, there are times you sound so much like your own mother, it makes me realize that even after eighteen years, I miss her.”

“From what you and Papa have said, she was a good friend.”

“That she was, and she never turned her nose up at me for being a solicitor’s daughter.” Mrs. Bennet pursed her lips. “I still think something should be done. You and Jane are distant cousins of the Queen. If Her Majesty knew—”

“No, Mamma. I do not want our prestigious cousin informed. She has so much drama in her life, what with her husband’s ill health and her son’s questionable behaviour. We shall leave her alone and come Christmas, enjoy a pleasant tea with her and Aunt Florence.”

“You are too good, Lizzy.”

“I am not. I am a woman who wants to be loved for myself, as does Jane.”

“That is true,” Jane finally added to the conversation. “I will admit, I thought Mr. Bingley was an amiable gentleman, but now that I know the truth of it, I shall treat him as an indifferent acquaintance.”

Just then, Elizabeth grinned.

“What? Why do you smile so widely?” Jane asked.

“I was imagining what Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy will do when, or if, they ever learn of our antecedents.”

“Do you think they will be upset that they had not courted the favour of some bona-fide royals in their midst?”

“I do, even if our maternal grandfather is monarch of a miniscule country.”

“I remember the first time your mother told me of her family. I was so scared; I physically shook in her presence. Your mother – God rest her soul – took my hand and squeezed, saying, Fanny, I put my stockings on one leg at a time. I have days when my hair is unmanageable and nothing goes my way. I am simply a woman who married for love.”

“I have no memories of her,” Elizabeth mused out loud.

“I have some, but they are vague and blurred by time,” Jane said quietly.

“That is why I speak openly of her,” Mamma soothed. “She was my friend, and when she knew she had so little time left before she passed, she encouraged your Papa and me to carefully consider marriage. Mainly because the two of you were so very young, and she knew I had great respect for your father. She was not wrong. Your dear mother was very wise.”




Life Update

 

Where to start?

This past April (2025) I became quite ill, not knowing why or how to deal with this great unknown. May 10th saw me admitted to the emergency ward before being whisked to the eighth-floor surgical ward. After seventeen days in the hospital, I returned home with the diagnosis of Diverticulitis and eight inches of my large intestine removed along with the 'stricture' my body had built, creating a full blockage of my colon. We now know the blockage was 'completed' back on April 8th, so for a full month no nutrients were absorbed by my body and no waste was being emptied. I was malnourished and full of stuff no one wants to be full of.

The good news is that as of this date, June 13, 2025, I am on the road to recovery. I will have to watch my diet in order not to inflame my upper and lower intestinal tract, but I think that's a good thing. We all should eat more healthily - yes?

Now, onto my writing.

When I fell ill, I was working on 'A Rose by Any Other Name'. Sadly, my writing had fallen by the wayside. I'd felt too ill to work on anything, and my self-appointed release date of May 19th came and went with me in the hospital. This past week saw me going over what is already written, smoothing out some of the timeline issues, and making bullet point notes on future scenes. This book will not be set for publication any time soon, but I would like to have it ready before Christmas. Cross your fingers with me that this happens.

In other news, I have contracted voice actor Harry Frost to read 'An Unwitting Compromise'. He is slated to begin recording in October, so... I might have a new audiobook releasing at the same time as 'Rose'. Wouldn't that be fun?

Friday with Friends ~ Amanda Kai

I am very happy to have Amanda on the blog today. I rarely tell my readers to peruse the WHOLE post, but I would be remiss if I did not encourage you to do that very thing. No spoilers! Read for yourself to find out why.

Without further ado, I give you Amanda Kai.

P.S.: I adored the excerpt...

~~~ooo0ooo~~~

Thanks so much for inviting me here today, Sue! I’m pleased to call you my friend and to be included in your Friday with Friends feature. 

Today, I’m sharing about my upcoming Pride and Prejudice variation “Sudden Awakenings”, which debuts on November 1, 2024. This is the third book in The Other Paths Collection of standalone Pride and Prejudice variations, each set in its own universe and featuring a different path to Happily Ever After for Darcy and Elizabeth.

Blurb:

What could be worse than awakening in the bed of the man you hate?

Elizabeth Bennet, haunted by a family history of sleepwalking, has spent her life navigating the challenges and eccentricities of her condition. 

A sudden encounter during a sleepwalking episode forces her and Mr. Darcy into a marriage of convenience. As they navigate their newfound relationship, their initial prejudices give way to unexpected feelings. 

However, Darcy's formidable aunt, Lady Catherine, opposes the match and schemes to break them apart. Can Elizabeth and Darcy overcome the obstacles placed before them and awaken to the realization of the love between them? 

This clean, heartwarming romance will leave you captivated and yearning for more. A unique Pride and Prejudice variation culminating in a happily ever after for Our Dear Couple.

Excerpt:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that sleepwalking runs in families. If both parents are afflicted, odds are two to one that their children will also suffer from some form of somnambulism or other troubled slumbers. It was a great misfortune then, that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, of Longbourn in Hertfordshire, both suffered such a disorder at some time in their lives. 

Mr. Bennet outgrew the condition in his youth, and therefore never thought to mention it to his wife during their courtship. 

Mrs. Bennet’s sleepwalking proclivities were well known to her family at the time of her marriage, but her persistent denial of it and her family’s reluctance to speak of it, lest it frighten away her eligible suitor, enabled her condition to be kept secret. This carefully-crafted silence remained unbroken until one fateful night, not long after her marriage, when Mrs. Bennet, lost in her throes of slumber, ambled down to the larder, ate up all the jellies that were prepared for an upcoming dinner party, and returned to bed. 

Naturally, she denied having done so, insisting there was a thief among the servants. Mr. Bennet could not have believed it himself, but the hall boy, who had fallen asleep by the fire in the kitchen, reported he had awakened to see her gobbling up the freshly-made jellies, which, in turn, caused Mr. Bennet to recall that he himself had woken slightly when Mrs. Bennet returned to bed, and that she had peculiarly smelled of strawberries.

 Their children, with the exception of the eldest, also inherited their parents’ somnambulism. Though the three youngest daughters all outgrew their nocturnal perambulations before their tenth birthdays, Miss Elizabeth Bennet remained afflicted. Even at the mature age of twenty, she would, from time to time, rise from her slumber during the night and wander the house, performing various tasks, all the while remaining completely unconscious of her actions. 

Preventative measures had been taken to ensure her safety. They kept the kitchen knives locked away, the doors and windows secured, and a bell attached to each door to alert them if someone tried to leave the house during the night. Despite these measures, there were occasionally incidents which caused a stir at Longbourn. The occasional misplaced object or a peculiar nighttime disturbance were often a source of amusement, and at times exasperation, for members of the Bennet family.

On one such occasion, shortly before Michaelmas, the household had not been asleep for more than a few hours when one of the bells rang, alerting Mr. Bennet that somebody had managed to open a door. He glanced next to him to ensure that his wife still remained abed, her gentle snores undisturbed by this alarm. Concluding that it must be his daughter then, he rose from his bed and went down the stairs. His other daughters, also awakened by the sounds, followed him. 

“Is it Lizzy?” Lydia asked, her soft slippers padding on the polished floorboards. “Has she gone out of doors?”

“It would appear so,” Mr. Bennet answered. “Fetch your shoes, girls, in case you are needed.” 

They obeyed their father. It was not the first time they had needed to go in search of their sister.

By this time, Mr. Hill had also arisen and made his appearance in the hall. Helping his master into a dressing gown and boots, he offered him a lantern and the pair set out in search of Elizabeth. 

“She cannot have gone far, sir,” the old butler said. “I will check the gardens if you will check the barns.”

Mr. Bennet nodded, and they separated. Pulling his dressing gown tighter to ward off the cool night air, he tramped through the dewy grass towards the side yards where the barns lay. A faint luminescence gleamed from the doorway of the barn where the livestock were kept.Inside the barn, Elizabeth stood beside the pigpen, feeding an apple to a large pig. Her eyes were glazed over in a trance, and she did not appear to notice the happy snuffles of the animal nibbling from her hand. Mr. Bennet moved towards her slowly so as not to alarm her. A pungent aroma assailed his nostrils. The foul odors of the pigpen ought to be enough to wake anyone, he mused. Yet Elizabeth did not stir. 

Lydia and Kitty, ever the impetuous ones, rushed in, still in their nightdresses, each with a dressing gown hastily thrown over it. 

“Lizzy! What are you doing?” Kitty cried, grabbing her sister’s arm away from the pig and causing the remainder of the apple to drop to the ground outside the pen. The pig grunted, trying to get at it with his nose through the slats in his pen.

Lydia jumped back with a shriek, narrowly avoiding stepping in a pile of refuse. 

“Hush! Do not wake her,” Mr. Bennet cautioned. “She may become frightened if she awakens here. She is in no immediate danger. Let us lead her back to her bed.” He knew from experience that waking a sleepwalker often caused more harm than good, as the distress sometimes made them lash out in fear, potentially injuring themselves or others, before they could become fully aware of their surroundings. 

Gently, he took his daughter’s shoulders and began guiding her in the direction of the house. “It is time to go to bed, Lizzy,” he whispered. Elizabeth nodded, her feet following the path that she was led on, her eyes unblinking. They brought her safely into the confines of the house, sat her on her bed and watched as she instinctively laid down, her eyes slowly shutting. 

Jane drew the covers over her and kissed her forehead.“I daresay she will not remember this in the morning,” she murmured, before climbing back into bed next to Elizabeth. 

“If my experience tells me anything, no, she will not,” Mr. Bennet agreed.

Buy Link:

You can preorder Sudden Awakenings on Amazon, soon to be on Kindle Unlimited. Available November 1, 2024

About the Author:



Amanda Kai’s love of period dramas and classic literature inspires her historical and contemporary romances. She is the author of several stories inspired by Jane Austen, including Not In Want of a Wife, Elizabeth’s Secret Admirer, and Swipe Right for Mr. Darcy. Prior to becoming an author, Amanda enjoyed a career as a professional harpist, and danced ballet for twenty years. When she’s not diving into the realm of her imagination, Amanda lives out her own happily ever after in Texas with her husband and three children.




Game:

Let’s play “Would you rather”, Jane Austen style. Put your answers in the comments!

Would you rather…

1.      Marry Mr. Collins or marry Mr. Wickham?

2.      Take a holiday in Lyme or in Bath?

3.      Live in a tiny cottage or a haunted abbey?

4.      Have tea with Lady Catherine de Bourgh or with Mrs. Elton?

5.      Sail the world with Captain Wentworth or read poetry daily with Colonel Brandon?

6.      Dance at a ball with Mr. Knightey or with Mr. Tilney?

7.      Listen for a whole evening to Mrs. Jennings or Miss Bates?

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Sudden Awakenings, Amanda is giving away some fabulous prizes. Click here to enter. Giveaway ends Dec. 1, 2024.