A Lady's Reputation Blog Tour ~ Excerpt & Giveaway!

Hello, friends! I'm thrilled to be part of the A Lady's Reputation Blog Tour! Amy D'Orazio had stopped by with a lovely excerpt to share with you! Also, to celebrate the release of A Lady's Reputation, Quills & Quartos Publishing is having an excellent giveaway! Details are at the bottom of the page!

A Lady's Reputation
by A. D'Orazio

Book information:  

“Mr Darcy, I am eager to hear your explanation for the fact that quite a few people believe we are engaged.” 

It starts with a bit of well-meant advice. Colonel Fitzwilliam suggests to his cousin Darcy that, before he proposes to Elizabeth Bennet in Kent, perhaps he ought to discuss his plans with their families first.  

What neither man could have predicted however was that Lord Matlock would write the news to his sister or Viscount Saye would overhear, and tell his friends, or that his friends might slip a little and let their friends know as well. The news spreads just as quickly through Hertfordshire once Mrs Bennet opens the express Mr Bennet receives from Mr Darcy, and in a matter of days, it seems like everyone knows that Mr Darcy has proposed marriage to Elizabeth Bennet.  

Everyone, that is, except Elizabeth herself.  

Her refusal is quick and definite—until matters of reputation, hers as well as Jane’s, are considered. Then Mr Darcy makes another offer: summer at Pemberley, so that Jane can be reunited with Mr Bingley and so that he can prove to Elizabeth he is not what she thinks of him. Falling in love with him is naturally impossible…but once she knows the man he truly is, will she be able to help herself?

Excerpt:

The Gardiners received the express from Mr Collins at approximately the same time as they received the subject of it. All were gathered in the drawing room when Elizabeth appeared, and if they were surprised by her arrival, they were kind enough to put it aside to see to her comfort. 

Hugs and exclamations of greeting went all around while Elizabeth apologised for her precipitous appearance. “Has Mr Collins afforded you an explanation of the matter?”

Mr Gardiner said, “He did, and I must say—”

“Engaged to Mr Darcy! What a notion! Nevertheless, I should not have provoked Lady Catherine as I did. I would have done much better to tell her I was not engaged to Mr Darcy!” Elizabeth smiled her thanks at a servant who handed her a glass of wine. “This is all my fault.”

There was clear discomfort on Mr Gardiner’s face as he hesitantly enquired, “So, you are…not…engaged to Mr Darcy?”

“Of course not!” Elizabeth laughed. “Had I been accused of flying, it could hardly be less likely.”

Her aunt and uncle regarded her with a mixture of both puzzlement and uneasiness on their faces. Jane, at their side, twisted her hands anxiously. 

Clearing his throat, Mr Gardiner handed her a letter. “Read this letter from your father. We have reason to suspect its contents.”

Elizabeth took it from him and, after one last look at Jane, unfolded and read it.


My dear Lizzy, 

I was most curious several days ago to receive a request to call from none other than Mr Darcy, but my surprise was quickly made into utter astonishment when he informed me that he had come to request my permission to marry you. 

You did not tell me Mr Darcy was in Kent during your visit, and I wish now you had. I might then have been better prepared to address his assertions that you had furthered your acquaintance and have grown attached to one another. His sentiments were a far cry from his insult of you last autumn, and I could only accept his word on how his esteem of you had grown. I must assume yours did likewise.

In any case, I have given him my consent and my blessing. Indeed, he is the sort of man I would not like to refuse anything once he had condescended to ask for it. I applaud Mr Darcy for recognising in you the treasure he seeks.

With my best wishes and eagerness to see you returned home, 

T. Bennet


Elizabeth read the letter three times through before raising her eyes from the paper. She looked at Jane and said faintly, “This is a joke, I am sure. Papa is playing one of his silly tricks on me and will likely be awaiting my response with glee.”

“If it is a joke,” Mr Gardiner said, “then it is at my expense as well. Here is my letter.” 


Edward, 

It seems I am to lose a daughter, and my favourite no less. I was most surprised today to receive a request for Lizzy’s hand from Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, a very distinguished and wealthy gentleman from Derbyshire. Margaret might know of his family from her days in that county. 

He is a good man and will treat her well. They did not begin their acquaintance on the best footing but apparently have resolved their differences. You may expect his call when Lizzy returns to London on Saturday. I am eager to hear your report of how he enjoys Gracechurch Street as, I daresay, it is a new experience for him to find himself so far from Mayfair. 

I am sure you can imagine your sister’s response to the news. There are one or two families in Hertfordshire who do not yet know of Lizzy’s impending greatness, but I am sure by the time this note reaches you, Fanny will have rectified that situation. 

T. Bennet


Elizabeth touched a hand to her forehead. “I cannot imagine what induced Mr Darcy to go to Hertfordshire and speak to my father. Perhaps my father misunderstood or…” She was unable to summon any other likely explanation. 

“Well, you must have courted in Kent,” Jane said, with all of the optimism inherent to her character. “Perhaps you did not realise his intentions, but—”

“Are you saying I was courted without my knowledge? That will not do, not even for you.” Elizabeth laughed weakly, but it turned into an angry sound even as she did it. “And clearly his family knows something of it as well!” Elizabeth’s provocation gained momentum with each word spoken, her cheeks feeling heated and flushed. “Lady Catherine received a letter from her brother, the Earl of Matlock, after which she came to the parsonage to berate me! How well I understand her distress now, though it must pale in comparison to my own.”

Book Links

Buy: Amazon US • Amazon UK
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FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon US. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

About the Author

Amy D’Orazio is a long-time devotee of Jane

Austen and fiction related to her characters. She began writing her own little stories to amuse herself during hours spent at sports practices and the like and soon discovered a passion for it. By far, however, the thing she loves most is the connections she has made with readers and other writers of Austenesque fiction. 

Amy currently lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and daughters, as well as three Jack Russell terriers who often make appearances (in a human form) in her book.


Amy’s other releases include “A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity” and the “The Best Part of Love,” a Readers Choice Gold Medal Winner for 2017. She has also contributed short stories to “Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues,” “Rational Creatures: Stirrings of Feminism in the Hearts of Jane Austen's Fine Ladies” and “Yuletide: A Jane Austen-inspired Collection of Stories.” 

Connect with Amy D'Orazio

Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads Author Page

Tour Schedule

August 5 - Austenesque Reviews
August 6 - Diary of an Eccentric
August 7 - Margie's Must Reads
August 8 - My Jane Austen Book Club
August 9 - My Love For Jane Austen
August 12 - So Little Time...
August 13 - My Vices & Weakness
August 14 - Babblings of a Bookworm
August 15 - From Pemberley to Milton

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Quills & Quartos Publishing is giving away one $50 Amazon gift card to one enthusiastic follower of this Blog Tour! You get one point for ever blog stop you visit and leave a comment. See the Tour Schedule above! 

• You get one point for ever blog stop you visit and leave a comment.
• Open Internationally!
• Last day to enter is August 18th! 

Good luck! 

Congratulations to Amy D'Orazio on the publication of her new book, A Lady's Reputation!

Many thanks to Christina Boyd for organizing and including me on this book tour!

And a big thanks to Quills & Quartos Publishing for this excellent giveaway! 

So, friends, what did you think of that excerpt? Elizabeth is in quite a spot! To find everyone thinks she is engaged to Mr Darcy! I can't wait to see how this plays out!