Alias Thomas Bennet Blog Tour: Excerpt and Giveaway

Today I have a special treat for you, dear readers. As you know, debut novelist Suzan Lauder is going on a blog tour to promote her new book titled Alias Thomas Bennet and I'm delighted that she has agreed to drop by and provide an excerpt from her novel. Over to you, Suzan.

I'm honoured to have the opportunity to guest blog here today, since this is an impressive and comprehensive blog. I think it may become my go-to-first blog, since it chronicles what's going on everywhere else in the Austen-related internet world, so you know where to look next!

Today, I'm going to provide an excerpt from my book, Alias Thomas Bennet. As the title implies, this book has a new Mr. Bennet. The story explores what would happen in Pride and Prejudice if Mr. Bennet were changed from his character in canon, removing key flaws that influence his family and the events in Pride and Prejudice. This is one of those "butterfly flaps its wings" scenarios, where a small change has potential to become significant.

One of the areas I thought could change is Bennet's relationship with Wickham. In the excerpt from Chapter 12 that follows, we hear what has happened from Wickham's point of view.

Excerpt

       George Wickham thought it ironic that a man to whom he had never spoken could wreak such havoc in his life. Wickham was vain and greedy, and his gregariousness usually allowed him to wheedle or charm his way into getting what he wanted. But in Meryton, his charm had recently become ineffective, and it was looking like the problem centred upon one, small-town squire named Thomas Bennet.

       The gossip that caused him to have less luck with the ladies was probably spread by the Bennet daughters after he paid them a little attention at a small, local party. Wickham was disgusted that the man would allow his daughters to freely disparage him to their neighbours; he was used to easily seducing local girls with his good looks and pretty words in every town through which he passed.

       Then, appallingly, he was refused credit in the shops of Meryton. He customarily obtained his purchases with a promise of reimbursement, and even when the tradesmen pressed him about outstanding debts, he found it relatively easy to manipulate them into allowing more time to pay. But now he found himself no longer able to get credit at any of the shops — and so soon after coming into the community. Angered with any interference into his profligacy, Wickham was eager to find the reason for it. He expected it was Darcy; however, inquiries to his remaining friends revealed Thomas Bennet as the source of rumours of his inability to pay for his extravagant lifestyle.

       Wickham was feeling increasingly frustrated and finding no way out. Without credit, he was unable to live on his pay, and with his penchant for gambling, he was running short of funds. His debts of honour had mounted, and rather brutish officers were calling them in. He had no doubt that his difficulties in Meryton were caused by his nemesis named Bennet and vowed retribution. He spent his evenings getting drunk and, in his state of anger and inebriation, uttered oaths of retaliation against Bennet for all to hear.

       In a short time, his one remaining ally was a maid he had easily charmed before those Bennet girls accused him of libertine ways. Initially, her high regard fed his vanity. Her lack of self-esteem and willingness to do anything he wanted allowed him to manipulate her into believing him innocent of all charges laid against him — that the stories she heard were just idle gossip and soon would be of no importance. He felt a sense of power over her; she was so smitten that she would willingly serve as an accomplice in his plans.

       When he told her he was forced to leave the area quickly, she was heartbroken and begged him to take her with him. To appease her, he promised to collect her once he made his fortune. But truthfully, he was fed up with her whinging and glad to be done with her.

       Wickham felt desperate and decided that running from Meryton was the only solution. It had worked in both Lambton and Cambridge because Darcy would always pay his debts to the local tradesmen — as he should, since Darcy cheated him out of the living promised by his godfather. By the time the colonel of his regiment was ready to confront him regarding his gaming debts amongst the officers, Mr. Wickham could smugly say he fooled them all. He had already left the vicinity, along with one of the horses belonging to the ——shire.

       Wickham held a grudge as large as one can be. He was livid at Thomas Bennet because he thought it was Bennet's fault that his fun in Meryton was ruined, just as he had been angry with Darcy for denying him the living in Derbyshire. He was unrelenting in his anger and resentment towards both gentlemen. He swore to get even and dwelt on his ill fortune incessantly. He thought about ways to create havoc in Bennet's life — somehow attributing his own debts to Bennet, causing a fire at Longbourn, or hurting one of his daughters — but these actions were too risky.

       In the meantime, his impulsive flight from Meryton had caused more problems than it solved because now, instead of being in a tight spot of his own doing, he was forced into hiding as a deserter. He blamed Bennet.

       Rumours abounded regarding his whereabouts. The local drunkard reported seeing him approach the woods near Lucas Lodge a few days after his disappearance, but there were no confirmed sightings. The gossips conjectured and supposed any number of situations, including his being in debtor's prison and sailing to the Americas. Unknown to all, a very contemptuous Mr. Wickham had gone into hiding near Westerham in Kent in the stables of a relative's home.


An important thing to note is that "Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent" is the return address Mr. Collins used in his letter to Mr. Bennet in canon. Now I wonder who else might be in that vicinity at the end of this scene?

Book Blurb

...of most interest to Bennet was Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.

When Fitzwilliam Darcy attends the Meryton assembly, he befriends a quiet, intelligent gentleman. In frequent visits to his friend's home, he becomes acquainted with the Bennet family of Longbourn. Yet Mr. Darcy is distracted by a strange feeling of having met some of them before.

This is a different Bennet family from the cleverly crafted one in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This Mr. Bennet is a responsible gentleman who takes an active role in the education and upbringing of all five of his daughters, manages Longbourn to be prosperous, and displays loving guidance toward Mrs. Bennet — a gentle, caring mother and wife.

There is a mystery lurking at Longbourn — a secret unknown even to Elizabeth Bennet — and Mr. Darcy is entangled in its extraordinary revelations.

Who is Thomas Bennet?

This book contains one brief scene of non-explicit sexual violence that may be concerning to sensitive readers. The sexual violence does not include Elizabeth Bennet.

Book Links

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Author Bio

In 2009, during an extended illness, Suzan Lauder discovered a dog-eared paperback version of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, and having vaguely recalled hearing Austen was a good writer, decided to try it. That led to a desperate obsession. After being horribly disappointed to find there were only 6 books, she went on to read the juvenilia, the letters, autobiographies, movies, fanfiction and everything possible Austen. She continues to read, write and love anything inspired by Austen. Her first book, Alias Thomas Bennet — A Pride and Prejudice Variation, will be published by Meryton Press in mid-November 2013.

Author Links

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Giveaway

Meryton Press has generously donated two copies of Alias Thomas Bennet which are one paperback copy and an e-book to give away to international readers. You just need to leave a comment or ask any questions to Suzan by 11.59 pm on Sunday, 19 January 2014.

Winners will be announced two days later and will have 72 hours to contact me. If I don't hear from you, new winner(s) will be chosen.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank blog tour organiser, Jakki Leatherberry of Leatherbound Reviews, Suzan Lauder and her publisher, Meryton Press.