Hello, friends! I'm delighted to have Victoria Kincaid visiting here again! She has a new book out called When Charlotte Became Romantic, which sounds super fun! I can't wait to read this! I think Charlotte deserves a little romance, don't you? :)
Also, Victoria is giving away one e-copy of When Charlotte Became Romantic to one of my lucky readers! Details are at the bottom of the page.
Hello Candy and thank you for hosting me at your blog! Recently I released, When Charlotte Became Romantic, a story about what would happen if someone else sought Charlotte Lucas’s affections—after she had agreed to marry Collins. In P&P she famously declares that she is not romantic, unlike Elizabeth Bennet; but I always wondered if maybe she protested too much.
I thought it was possible that Charlotte had been romantic at some point in her life, and something had happened to make her renounce romance. I wondered if the right events might provoke a romantic reaction from her. So this is the story that examines those possibilities. Below is a summary and excerpt. Enjoy!
When Charlotte Became Romantic
by Victoria Kincaid
A Pride and Prejudice Variation
In the original Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet’s friend, Charlotte Lucas marries the silly and obsequious clergyman, Mr. Collins. But what if fate—and love—intervened?
Desperate to escape her parents’ constant criticism, Charlotte has accepted a proposal from Mr. Collins despite recognizing his stupid and selfish nature. But when a mysterious man from her past visits Meryton for the Christmas season, he arouses long-buried feelings and causes her to doubt her decision.
James Sinclair’s mistakes cost him a chance with Charlotte three years ago, and he is devastated to find her engaged to another man. Honor demands that he step aside, but his heart will not allow him to leave Meryton. Their mutual attraction deepens; however, breaking an engagement is not a simple matter and scandal looms. If they are to be happy, Charlotte and James must contend with her parents’ opposition, Lady Catherine’s nastiness, and dangerous figures from James’s past.
Charlotte had forsworn romance years ago; is it possible for her to become romantic again?
Excerpt
James soon found himself hurrying back into the hallway, hoping Charlotte had returned. However, the space was empty of all but Charlotte’s friend Elizabeth, who was contemplating a rather poorly executed painting of a country landscape.
Perhaps the friend might give him some intelligence about Charlotte’s betrothed; this Mr. Collins was her cousin. No doubt she would give a good report about him, but at least it would be something.
“Hello again, Miss—” The name came to him suddenly. “Bennet.”
She turned her head to give him a smile and then gestured back to the painting. “Mr. Sinclair, give me your honest opinion. Do you believe the artist suffers from a condition in which he can see nothing but the color brown or”—a corner of her mouth quirked up in a smile—“was brown the only color of paint in his palette?”
James could not help laughing at her pert remark before scrutinizing the painting, which was indeed exceedingly brown. The land, road, trees, and water were all rendered in varying shades of the color. “Perhaps brown is the least expensive color of paint?” he suggested. “I know little about art. However, I do discern a hint of blue in the sky.” He pointed at the painting.
Miss Elizabeth squinted at the area he indicated. “Ah, I see, the artist did splurge on some blue paint. How very bohemian of him.”
They both laughed.
In the following silence, she regarded him expectantly. “Miss Elizabeth, er…” He cleared his throat. “Might you tell me something of Miss Lucas’s betrothed? I consider her a friend and would like to know that she is well-settled.”
One of her eyebrows rose. “A friend who has not seen her in three years?”
James shifted his weight, uncomfortably aware that she could see right through his pretense. “I would have seen her since if it had been within my power.”
Miss Elizabeth continued to take his measure.
Her silence compelled him to say more. “What can you tell me of this fellow Collins? Does he love her? Is he a good sort of man?”
“I do not know him well, for all that he is my cousin. A disagreement between his father and mine kept our families separated for many years. But I think most people would agree that he is a moral and upstanding man,” she said slowly, weighing each word.
James took a moment to parse the oddly phrased response. “Is his situation in life good?”
This time the answer was quicker in coming. “Yes. He has a good position—a living at Hunsford Parsonage and the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who, I am given to understand, is quite elegant and owns a grand estate.” A quality in her voice suggested she was dubious of this characterization.
“He is an honorable man?”
Miss Elizabeth pressed her lips together. “Yes,” she said eventually. “As most people would define honor.”
How curious. This conversation was telling him as much about Miss Bennet as it was about Mr. Collins. “But not how you would define honor?”
She stared at the overly brown painting again. “I would suppose everyone’s definition of honor is different.”
That was an evasion, but James did not press her on it. “Does he love her?”
There was a very long pause as Miss Elizabeth chose her words carefully. “I am given to understand that he has expressed his love and admiration many times.”
That was not an answer.
“And what do you believe, Miss Elizabeth?” He observed her face intently.
She gave him a cool, appraising look. “Toward what purpose do these questions tend, Mr. Sinclair?”
He shifted his gaze to the stairs. She was perspicacious; how much had she already discerned? “I am merely concerned for my friend’s happiness.”
“The consensus in Meryton is that she has as fair a chance of happiness as most people do in the marital state.”
“Do you share that opinion?”
“Why are you asking me? Why is my opinion of special importance?”
“You are Miss Lucas’s particular friend; I would expect that you have good judgment.”
Miss Elizabeth caught and held his gaze. “And if Charlotte is not destined to be happy, what shall you do about it?”
James gaped; he was not equal to formulating an answer to such a blunt and unexpected question.
“Charlotte has taken steps to secure what she sees as the best possible future for herself,” Miss Bennet continued. “It might not be the choice you or I would make, but we cannot say for certain that it is not the right choice for her.”
She did not await a response but turned on her heel and marched through the doorway that led to the drawing room, leaving him with more questions and doubts than before.
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About the Author
Victoria Kincaid is the author of several popular Jane Austen variations, including The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth, Pride & Proposals, Mr. Darcy to the Rescue, When Mary Met the Colonel, and Darcy vs. Bennet. All of her books have been listed in Amazon’s Top 20 Bestselling Regency Romances. The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth was nominated for a Rone award, and Pride and Proposals was recognized as a top Austenesque novel for 2015 by Austenesque Reviews.
Victoria has a Ph.D. in English literature and has taught composition to unwilling college students. Today she teaches business writing to willing office professionals and tries to give voice to the demanding cast of characters in her head.
She lives in Virginia with an overly affectionate cat, an excessively energetic dog, two children who love to read, and a husband who fortunately is not jealous of Mr. Darcy. A lifelong Austen fan, Victoria has read more Jane Austen variations and sequels than she can count – and confesses to an extreme partiality for the Colin Firth miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice.
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* * * GIVEAWAY * * *
It's giveaway time! Victoria is giving away one e-copy of When Charlotte Became Romantic to one of my lucky readers! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below.
- One person will win an eCopy of When Charlotte Became Romantic.
- To enter, leave a comment below and include your e-mail with parentheses around (at) and (dot).
- The winner will be picked randomly.
- Open Internationally.
- The last day to enter the giveaway is Nov. 5th, 2019 by the end of the day.
Good luck!
Congratulations to Victoria Kincaid on the release of When Charlotte Became Romantic! Also, a big thanks for visiting here today and for generously giving away an e-copy to one of my readers!
So, friends, what did you think of James Sinclair in this excerpt? Obviously, Elizabeth couldn't tell him how she really feels about Mr. Collins!
