NEWS I Met Mr Darcy Via Luton released in trade paperback 5/9/16. See details below.
To celebrate the release of the hard copy of Via Luton, I am giving away a hardcopy and Kindle version of my next book, Time's Up, which should be released before Christmas, to the first person to solve the acrostic at the back of Via Luton. Please send your entries in by the review pages for Via Luton on fanfiction, and don't forget you must be logged in so that I can PM you to claim your prize.
CONTENTS
Ch 1-4 first 4 chapters of Via Luton - the original story
Ch 5 epilogue of Via Luton - was chapter 71. Only here on fanfiction.
Ch 6- Ruth's story - work in progress
Via Luton was published for the Kindle under the title "I Met Mr Darcy Via Luton" on 9th Feb, 2016. A trade paperback was released on the 5th Sept, 2016 for sale on Amazon in the US and Europe. Readers from other countries can purchase it through Createspace. I have also enrolled it in the Matchbook program; so if you buy the paperback you can purchase the Kindle version as well for only a little extra. For my Australian readers, I'm working on getting it printed here but that's going to take a little longer. Thanks to my amazing cover artist who did such a wonderful job producing the original cover inspired by the photo of Nina Dobrev in her crinoline. It looks even better in hardcopy than on my iPad.
As is common practice, I have retained the first few chapters of Via Luton as a stub on fanfiction (chapters 1-4). You can, of course, read a little bit more for free by downloading the sample from Amazon, as per their usual policy for books published on the Kindle. In addition, I did not include the epilogue in the Kindle version, which was originally published on fanfiction as chapter 71, as the story finished neatly at the end of chapter 70. It is included here as chapter 5. That way if I ever write a sequel to VL I can conveniently nuke the epilogue online. Anyway, I managed to amuse one Australian with the epilogue, (I'm talking about you mdg99), so for the moment, it remains.
However, as a latecomer to fanfiction myself, I know it's frustrating to come across a potentially interesting story after it's been published only to find the withered stalk remaining. So I decided to publish an outtake from VL here once I took the main story down, so you've got something complete to read: not the original flower but at least a complete bud. The outtake starts at chapter 6.
As a supplement to the outtake I have collected a set of "illustrations" on Pinterest on "Via Luton updates" board. The pins are in reverse order because Pinterest dictates it must be that way: most recent pins go first. Therefore I cannot put it in the correct order until I am finished.
The original 4 Via Luton boards remain on Pinterest in forward order as "Via Luton I-IV" with pictures illustrating the original 71 chapters in the order they appear in the story. This forms a kind of weird synopsis of the story which you might wish to view to help you decide if with you wish to continue. It also is a pictorial index of sorts. I have also used it as an easy reference for some of the more obscure things in the story: more fun than footnotes :)
Fred
Via Luton Chapter 1
"Mr Bennet, Mr Bennet, good news! Netherfield Park is let at last!"
Mr Bennet looked up from his newspaper as his wife hurried in. She had just returned from a trip to Meryton with her younger daughters.
He got up to retreat to the library, casting an apologetic look at his elder daughters who sat together over their stitchery in the sunny window seat.
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."
"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
"How so? How can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."
She turned to her elder daughters.
"Now Jane and Lizzy you must go to your Aunt Philips in Luton and buy yourself some new things to impress Mr Bingley!"
Lizzy and Jane had been invited to spend a week in Luton with their Aunt Phillips during her recent visit. She had married a Meryton attorney, who had recently inherited a much larger establishment in Luton. She had spent a week at Longbourn, lauding her new metropolis. With a population of five thousand, Luton was far larger than the market town of Meryton, and was well known for its hats. Aunt Phillips had arrived with the most amazing straw bonnet as a gift for their mother, and upon leaving had invited her two elder nieces to join her for a shopping holiday at their convenience. Lizzy and Jane's youngest sisters, Kitty and Lydia, were not happy.
With an exchange of letters it was settled.
The morning of their departure for Luton was cloudy.
"I believe it's going to rain," said Mr Bennet as he surveyed the heavens.
"Nonsense," said Mrs Bennet. "It will clear as soon as the sun gets a little higher in the sky."
The trunk having already been loaded, the ladies kissed their parents, climbed into the carriage, and waved a cheery goodbye. They had only gone two miles past Meryton when, with a heartrending crash, they found themselves tumbling over each other. They landed with a jolt as the carriage came to rest on its side.
"Oh dear!" cried Jane. "I believe the wheel is broken!"
Righting herself, Lizzy stooped in the cramped space, and after jiggling the handle, successfully opened the door upwards, allowing her to stand and poke her head out. John the coachman had managed to jump free and was trying to grab the horses' heads.
"Are they injured, John?" asked Lizzy when he finally got them in hand.
"Not badly, Ma'am. I'll have a better look once I've got 'em free. Are you and Miss Jane okay?"
"Yes John, we are both well," said Lizzy looking for a convenient foothold. She hoisted herself onto her elbows and then her palms, scrambled on top of the carriage and, gathering her skirts around her, jumped off onto the ground. She then replaced John at the horses' heads while he carefully freed them from the tangled traces.
"Looks like Nelly strained her hock, Ma'am," said John inspecting the damage.
It was at this point that Lizzy noted that Jane had not followed her out of the carriage and she went back to lend her a hand. Climbing back onto the body she peered in through the door.
"Jane, are you alright?"
"No, Lizzy I've hurt my ankle."
"Oh dear! Is it broken?"
"Possibly just a sprain," said Jane as she finished winding her handkerchief round her foot and tied it. But upon attempting to stand she found she could put no weight on it.
Meanwhile, John was surveying the damage to the carriage. "The back axle has split Miss Eliza. I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere today, or for the next week I'd wager. I'll have to go back for the gig. You two wait here with the carriage, it shouldn't take me more than an hour."
Then turning to Lizzy he asked, "Do you think we should try to get Miss Jane out before I go?"
Lizzy looked up at the sky which seemed in imminent danger of a cloudburst. "Perhaps she's better off where she is at the moment. I may have to climb back inside myself."
John nodded, then lead Napoleon to a convenient milestone to help him mount: no easy feat on a carthorse with no saddle. Mr Bennet had sardonically named the large horse after the Little General's defeat and exile to Elba. Nonetheless John managed to mount tolerably well, if inelegantly. Nelly was grazing nearby. She would not be going far with her injured hock.
Shortly after John departed cross country, it began to sprinkle. Lizzy managed to unstrap their trunk and wrestle it open. She removed their dressing gowns, and had begun to drape them over the carriage windows for shelter, when she glanced towards Netherfield and noticed the smoke issuing from the chimney.
"Jane, we are very close to Netherfield. The servants must already be present. I shall walk over and ask for help. Two of us can carry you back to the house and we can shelter there more comfortably until John returns."
"Oh Lizzy, we have not been introduced to the new tenant. It would not do to be imposing upon them!" cried Jane.
"Nonsense, the family are not due for another fortnight, it is likely just Mr and Mrs Fletcher getting the place ready for habitation. I shall be right back."
As Lizzy walked up the drive, she realised the fire had been lit in the south wing, which housed the master's apartments, rather than the east wing, which housed the kitchens; so she walked round to the French doors that opened from the library to the terrace.
On peering inside she was surprised to see, not Mr Fletcher, but two gentlemen leaning on the mantelpiece before a roaring fire. Before she could even rap on the glass, both gentleman had turned towards her, and one of them strode to open the door.
"Good day!" he said with a merry smile on his face. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Oh dear!" said Lizzy. "Are you the new tenants? I had hoped to find Mr Fletcher."
"Mr Fletcher has gone into town with his wife to fetch provisions. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Indeed," said Lizzy, "I'm so sorry to importune you, but my carriage has had an accident in front of your gates! My sister and I were hoping to shelter here until my coachman returns with the gig."
"Of course, you must do so!" said the gentleman. "May I introduce myself? I'm Charles Bingley, at your service," and he gave a deep bow.
Lizzy curtsied. "I am Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn."
"And your sister?" asked Mr Bingley peering around her.
"My sister Jane is still in the carriage. She is slightly injured."
"Then we must make haste! Darcy, we have a damsel to rescue!"
At this point, the other gentleman stepped forward from the mantel.
"Allow me to introduce my friend," said Bingley, "Fitzwilliam Darcy."
Mr Darcy was taller and darker than his friend, quite imposing really. As Lizzy looked at his face, she was struck by his grim expression. Unlike his companion, he didn't look friendly at all. He gave a shallow bow.
"Well, lead the way, Miss Bennet," said Mr Bingley, "It looks like it might start to pour any minute."
Elizabeth hurriedly led the way back down the drive, with the two gentlemen easily keeping pace with their long strides.
"A carriage accident by the front gates," murmured Darcy in his friend's ear, "A likely tale!"
"You are way too cynical, Darcy," murmured Bingley in reply.
However once the high road was gained, the broken carriage was testament to Miss Elizabeth's story.
Elizabeth had almost climbed on top of the carriage once more when Mr Bingley vaulted onto it and hauled open the door.
"Jane," cried Elizabeth, "Mr Bingley has come to help you!"
Jane blushed deep red. Standing over her was the handsomest man she had ever seen. Indeed if he had not been wearing top boots and a waistcoat she might have mistaken him for an angel.
"Miss Bennet, are you badly injured?"
Jane blushed again. "It is my ankle sir. I cannot stand unassisted, and certainly cannot climb out of this carriage."
"Would you allow me to assist you?"
Jane nodded mutely.
Bingley lowered himself into the carriage and after cautiously clasping Jane in his arms managed to raise her to the carriage side. Elizabeth arranged Jane's skirts and helped her to the edge of the carriage, while Mr Bingley pulled himself up and vaulted to the ground.
Grasping Jane once more in his arms, Bingley clasped her to his chest and proceeded to walk off in the direction of Netherfield.
"You can't carry her like that!" protested Darcy. "You'll do yourself an injury!"
"I'm perfectly fine," said Bingley blithely continuing towards the house. Indeed Jane had somehow managed to mould herself around him so as to lessen the weight on his arms.
Elizabeth gathered the damp dressing gowns and stuffed them into the top of the trunk. She had no sooner closed the lid than the heavens opened up.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy's midnight black coat of superfine and brilliantly polished topboots. He was a tall and well proportioned gentleman, who certainly looked very strong, but his clothes proclaimed that he never carried anything out of necessity. For some reason this made her very angry.
"Mr Darcy," she said rather boldly. "Would you mind taking the other end of this trunk?"
By the scowl on his face Mr Darcy clearly did mind. Nonetheless he picked up his end and they trudged back to the house.