Hello Jakki! Thank you so much for the invitation for guest posting on Leatherbound Reviews. It’s an honor for Friendship of a Special Kind,
my first published story, to be listed amongst such nice JAFF books.
Here in Rio de Janeiro,
we are all about Carnival nowadays. February is that magic time of the year
when we check the 500 street parties’ schedule before getting out of the house
in order to choose which ones we’ll follow (intentionally or caught up in a
gigantic traffic jam). There are people in costumes and feathered masks
everywhere. You can hear samba all the time, and it’s impossible not to have
fun. Really! If you’ve never spent Carnival in Rio, you should be planning to.
If you already have, you know what I’m talking about, right?
It gets me thinking
how Mr. Darcy and Lizzy would choose to enjoy Carnival… Mmmm… The Bennett
sisters would form a group of… wonder women!
Mr. Darcy would dress up as… nothing. He would never indulge in such a savage
festivity!
As you can see, I’m a
hopeless Pride and Prejudice addict.
I see Mr. Darcy and Lizzy in everything. Even when my baby son, a three years
old Wickham who is always involved in some mischief, is watching the Disney
Channel, I get a glimpse of a TV show discussing Austen’s masterpiece (The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, season
33, episode 2). And last Friday, when my hubs and I celebrated our sixteenth
anniversary, I was lecturing about ‘The power of P&P fan fiction’ at the
Brazilian Jane Austen Society. Yeah, I'm that
much of a Darcy lover.
It took me a while to
gather courage to write though. I’m a Brazilian architect on the verge of
facing the big 40 (OMG!) and always
thought that my whole life was of a perpetual Darcy lover, not writer. I always admired how Lizzy was spirited
and brave, the way she sent the rich snob away, and then admitted her mistakes.
Only after more than six
years into Mr. Darcy’s fandom, I found myself in need of putting down on paper
a particular scene that looped in my head constantly. It was a hot meeting when
Lizzy outsmarted Darcy and he (obviously) fell for her as an aftermath. This
scene grew with my confidence and I added a development, and then another, and
suddenly Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, and the entire P&P bunch talked to me nonstop.
There are some parts
of my book that I honestly don’t recall finding words to express what was
happening. It was like I was writing what Lizzy and Darcy were dictating to me.
The result of this? A full story, 41 chapters long, lots of fluff and a little angst, fun to read, seasoned with Brazilian zest and hot scenes that tell of Darcy’s struggle to
persuade Lizzy Bennett to forget the scars of her destroyed marriage and agree
to be his.
Friendship of a Special Kind is not a sequel, but an inspired story- a modern
and full of Pride and Prejudice’s
standards. I wanted to write a story that I always liked to read when searching
a good JAFF. Here, Lizzy is a thirty-two year old widow after Mr. Collins’s demise,
and she finds herself scared of another serious relationship fearing another
unhappy marriage. Darcy is a thirty eight years old single millionaire who
spends his life as a workaholic and dodging the attempts of gold diggers.
When they meet in
Meryton, he is attracted to her pleasant figure, unintentional flirtation, and
sharp tongue. When Lizzy escapes him, Darcy seeks her out through her friends.
Lizzy decides that if a hot guy such as Darcy is making an effort to reach out
for her, she could as well have some fun- absolutely no strings attached, no
phone numbers, or any other contacts exchange. But she wasn’t counting on
Darcy’s will and - believing himself righteous - he hacks into her smart phone
and steals all her contacts.
Here is a glimpse of
how he reaches out to her after she snobs him.
*****
After their hot
afternoon together, Lizzy leaves Darcy in his room and returns to the 4th of
July party at Netherfield farm. There she finds her friends and departs
hurriedly to deal with a medical emergency at the city, a few miles from
Netherfield.
Darcy returns to the
party a few minutes later intent on finding Lizzy and enticing her to spend
some more hot hours with him, possibly the whole night, but is disappointed to
find out she left without saying goodbye - a thing she never planned to do.
The next day he hears
gossip about her life and learns that her friend’s father who had a heart
attack needed to be transferred from Meryton to Boston, so he decides this is
the perfect occasion to make contact again since his texts from the previous
day weren’t fruitful at all. He sends her another text message:
---
William Darcy to Lizzy
Bennett:
“You need a ride to Boston. Get packed, I’m
arriving downtown to pick you up in fifteen.”
…
It
was twenty five minutes later when she answered:
Lizzy Bennett to William Darcy:
“No need 4 ur
condescension, sir. Already home.”
By
then, Darcy was settled at the square cafe waiting for her to give directions
to her parents’ home to pick her up. When he got the message he went furious
and called her back on impulse.
Lizzy
snorted at his handsome and sexy face that flashed on her phone’s screen. ‘Huh!
Insufferable!’ But took the call anyway.
“Hello?”
Lizzy said petulantly.
“Condescending?
Why? You needed to transport a sick man over a two hundred miles’ drive and I
rent a comfortable car.” Darcy answered annoyed. He was making an effort to be
helpful and attentive to her, and it seemed Lizzy wasn’t pleased with it.
“Please!
You didn’t even offer, you ordered. His doctor arranged for an ambulance. And
hello back!” Lizzy spat.
“Hello.”
Darcy said self-conscious. “And I did offer. Twice, yesterday.” He added bitterly.
She
was silent for a second and he was sure she remembered the texting.
“Yeah,
you did.” Lizzy said softly, feeling foolish for the snapping.
“When
Mrs. Hill told me your friend’s father needed to be transferred to Boston I
thought I could help.” Darcy
patiently explained and added smugly. “And no need to apologize, Darling.”
“I’m
sorry. I jump to conclusions sometimes...” Lizzy said bashful.
“And
get defensive.” Darcy wouldn’t say but thought to himself: “You’re used to defend yourself alone, aren’t you, Darling?”
“That’s
me. Won’t apologize for that.” Lizzy was actually defensive, and remembered the
mystery of how Darcy had her number. “Maybe you should.” She spat.
“Excuse
me, what?” Darcy asked, confused.
“I
don’t remember giving you my phone number.”
Lizzy said sternly and he was silent. “And Dennie swears she didn’t
either. Not to mention the pic.” She
added.
Darcy
didn’t say anything. He was very confused. “Is
this part of her flirt? Didn’t she leave her phone for me to look into?”
“Look,
Will, I’m tired.” She said flatly. “We’ve been through very stressful hours
since yesterday. And I’m a bit busy with all the things I have to organize
before heading back to the hospital. Charlo needs me, his dad is back at the
ICU.” Lizzy was really tired and her patience was running thin. She wasn’t sure
why this guy was calling her and frankly, she wasn’t even interested in finding
out.
Darcy
was totally baffled. He didn’t have a clue of what was going on and why Lizzy
was giving him the cold shoulder. He was losing control and had to step up,
quickly.
“How
is he?” He asked, changing subjects and willing his mind to work.
“Char’s
dad?” Lizzy sighed. She should have said goodbye and hung up. “Fine I guess,
he’ll only need one stents. Doctor says he was lucky to head straight to the
hospital when he felt a small pain. Char’s there now with him and I came home
to store the Camaro and rest a bit before going over. I doubt Char’s going to
let me take his place so he can take a shower but...”Lizzy paused. “Why are you telling this handsome stranger
all this?” Lizzy asked herself.
“You
drove that piece of junk?” Darcy got
sidetracked by Charlo’s Camaro, a car so old and loud that they could hear it
entering the long Netherfield lane from miles away.
“Hey!
Don’t say that!” She had to giggle, it was
a piece of shit. “Char can kill you for it!”
“So
don’t tell him!” Darcy relaxed a little.
“Another
little secret, you’re suggesting?” She
asked flirtatiously, unable to resist, in spite of her reluctance to talk to
him.
Darcy
loved it.
“No...
According to you, the one we shared is not little at all!” He flirted back.
She
laughed and he chuckled. This was the Lizzy he knew.
“Listen,
Darling. My flight home is due on Thursday afternoon, so until then, I can help
you out. I can come over today or tomorrow morning. Either way is fine for me,
you chose.” Darcy couldn’t believe the words leaving
his mouth. “Whoa, did I say that?! Where
did that come from?” One thing was lusting for her, but getting involved was very unlike him.
“I’m
sure Char will like to hear this, he really likes Thorn. I will tell him and he
can call you guys back. He’ll need some company. Dennie is coming over tomorrow
afternoon. But still he’ll be alone from tonight until tomorrow.” Lizzy said everything in a string,
barely breathing, and being direct like peeling off a band aid in one single
motion. By intentionally misunderstand his offer, she hoped he would get the
message.
“Alone,
as in the hospital?” Darcy squirmed
in his seat.
“Alone,
alone. I’m leaving for Europe tonight, for a fortnight.” And she suddenly felt
anxious for no reason.
“Europe...” His frustration escalated again. She
was slipping through his fingers!
“Yes…
perfect timing, right?” Lizzy said,
twisting her nose and feeling guilty all over again for leaving Charlo alone at
such a moment in his life.
“Mmm.”
Darcy made a non-committal sound. He was starting to feel very foolish for
chasing after her.
Lizzy
got her clue to escape this call once and for all.
“It’s
very kind of you guys. Very kind of you. Thank you, you didn’t have to.”
“I
know. I wanted to help you.” Darcy
said simply.
Weird
silent between them for some seconds.
“Well,
I guess you really don’t need me after all. May I wish you a safe trip?” Darcy finally concluded.
“Sure,
thank you.” Not wanting to be rude and maybe – just maybe -wanting to hear his
voice just a bit longer; she tried. “Want a postcard?”
Truly
she really didn’t plan to send him anything, she most surely wouldn’t ask for
his address, but anyway…
“Nice.
From where will I get a picture?” He
grimaced to his long forgotten coffee.
“Vienna.
And Paris.” Lizzy said in a genuine
smile, she had been looking forward to this trip for a long time.
“Ah,
we’ll always have Paris.” He quoted the famous movie.
She
laughed, and it made him blue.
“Paris
it is. Everyone have to love Paris.” Lizzy
declared solemnly.
“Bossy.”
Darcy stated in a low voice, more to his own regret than for her to hear.
“You
like it, remember?” Lizzy asked in a
flirt. It was hard to resist, after this call he would never try to talk to her
again, she was sure, so why not?
“I
may have to change my mind.” Darcy mumbled.
Another
laugh and he heard her doorbell ringing.
“Have
to go, Will. Thank you again.” Lizzy said in a tone that bore no argument.
“Whenever. Haben Einen Schönen Urlaub.” He told
her, not offering any argument. Darcy recognized his defeat. She escaped him.
“Danke.” Lizzy
said and hung up before she heard his final reply.
“A kiss.” Darcy
said to no one. “On your lips.” He
added to himself, afraid to say it out loud.
That
didn’t go as well as he had expected. She disconnected before he said his last
words. That’s exactly how he felt: disconnected.
---
For
the rest of his days in Meryton, Darcy remained on the porch (at Netherfield’s
farm house) with a beer in hand and sunglasses, looking ahead and thinking how
it could have been different if Lizzy hadn’t left. He really wanted more Lizzy time, more time in her bed.
‘Shit, I
never liked Paris.’ Darcy mumbled to himself.
So, what are your thoughts on Darcy and Elizabeth with a Brazilian twist?
***Giveaway Time***
In celebration of her debut novel, Moira Bianchi is giving away one (1) ebook copy of Friendship of a Special Kind to one lucky commenter. To enter, simply leave a comment and fill out the Rafflecopter form. OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!! Best of luck!! =)
