A Visit with Amanda Kai Upon Release of Sudden Awakenings
(It is my pleasure to welcome Amanda Kai as she celebrates the release of Sudden Awakenings. Sleepwalking can result in a different spin on Pride and Prejudice! Thanks for talking the time to visit with us here at Darcyholic Diversions, Amanda. BT Cole)
Thank you for inviting me to join you here today at
Darcyholic Diversions, Barbara!
I’m excited to share about my newest book, “Sudden
Awakenings”, a Pride and Prejudice variation with a unique twist.
This is the third full-length story in The
Other Paths Collection of standalone variations, each of which features a
different path to Happily Ever After for Darcy and Elizabeth.
In this path, Elizabeth suffers from a sleepwalking disorder
which causes trouble for her when she mistakenly wanders into Mr. Darcy’s room
at nighttime while they are guests at Netherfield Park. Suddenly, she finds
herself compromised and forced into a marriage with him, despite her obvious
dislike.
Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and so is
forced marriage, so I was excited to combine these popular themes and put my
own spin on them.
If you can’t get enough of sweet, mushy romances between
Darcy and Elizabeth, then I hope you check out Sudden
Awakenings.
Blurb:
What could be worse than awakening in the bed of the
man you hate?
Elizabeth Bennet, haunted by a family history of
sleepwalking, has spent her life navigating the challenges and eccentricities
of her condition.
A sudden encounter during a sleepwalking episode forces her
and Mr. Darcy into a marriage of convenience. As they navigate their newfound
relationship, their initial prejudices give way to unexpected feelings.
However, Darcy's formidable aunt, Lady Catherine, opposes
the match and schemes to break them apart. Can Elizabeth and Darcy overcome the
obstacles placed before them and awaken to the realization of the love between
them?
This clean, heartwarming romance will leave you captivated
and yearning for more. A unique Pride and Prejudice variation culminating in a
happily ever after for Our Dear Couple.
Excerpt from Chapter 3 of Sudden Awakenings
Anticipation for the Meryton Assembly grew leading up to the
day itself. The Bennet sisters donned their finest gowns and new dancing
slippers, and styled their hair becomingly. Their mother’s excitement could not
be contained as she bustled about, her anticipation brimming over until all her
daughters, even Elizabeth, shared in her enthusiasm.
Mr. Bingley and his party were already at the assembly room
when the Bennet family arrived. Mrs. Bennet hurried over to him, her family
rushing to keep up with her.
Mr. Bingley greeted them all with a courteous bow. “I
hope you are well this evening, Miss Bennet,” he addressed Jane. His face
glowed with admiration as he surveyed her appearance.
She looked especially beautiful this evening. She followed
her mother’s advice and wore her beige silk gown with the surplice neckline
which showed off her figure to advantage.
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” Jane replied, curtsying low, her
pearl teardrop necklace dangling midair near her décolletage. “I am
quite well, thanks to your presence.”
Introductions were made. Mr. Darcy, with an air of reserved
courtesy, bowed and kissed Mrs. Bennet's hand before acknowledging each of her
daughters.
Elizabeth, unable to suppress a flicker of curiosity, stole
a glance at Mr. Darcy. His fine features, dominated by a prominent brow, and
his impressive stature were undeniable. Clad in formal wear, he appeared even
more handsome than during their unexpected encounter on the muddy lane.
A fervent hope formed in her heart that he might ask
her to dance. He spoke little, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, a
flicker of recognition passing between them, before moving on. Had he, perhaps,
taken offense at her refusal of a formal introduction the other day?
With a shrug, she determined this would mark the beginning
of their proper acquaintance.
The music swelled, and the room erupted in a flurry of
movement as the first set commenced. Mr. Bingley, with a flourish, claimed
Jane's hand for their promised dance. Elizabeth, her pulse quickening with a
mix of anticipation and nervousness, cast a hopeful glance towards Mr. Darcy.
He, however, remained rooted to the spot, a stoic observer
amidst the whirling couples. A flicker of disappointment washed over Elizabeth,
quickly masked by a determined composure. Her younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia,
flitted off like butterflies, eager partners secured in the Lucas brothers,
leaving Elizabeth behind. Mr. Bingley’s sisters, too, were claimed by other
gentlemen. Elizabeth hoped that, away from the rest of his party, Mr. Darcy
might decide to approach her. As the set progressed, she watched him from
across the room, her heart fluttering at the thought of performing a country
dance with him. He caught her eye, making her feel sure he would approach her
with an invitation to join the set. Instead, he retreated further to the edge
of the room, clearly intent on watching the dancing. A wave of disappointment
crashed over her.
Charlotte spotted her and made her way through the throngs
to greet her. “You are looking well this evening, Eliza,” she remarked. “Have
you yet had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes, we were introduced earlier.” Elizabeth replied.
“All the ladies are talking of him. His popularity has
surpassed even that of Mr. Bingley. He is quite a handsome fellow, is he not?”
“Undoubtedly, but he seemed so reserved by comparison to his
friend.” The tint of color on her cheeks betrayed her admiration.
“Perhaps he only wants for encouragement,” Charlotte
suggested. “A man who is naturally shy can only feel more so in the presence of
so many beautiful ladies.”
“That is true enough.” Elizabeth’s laughter mingled with the
noise of the crowds around them.
“I suspect, my dear Eliza, if you sit in closer proximity,
he might pluck up enough courage to ask you to dance,” Charlotte
encouraged.
“I suppose it could not hurt,” Elizabeth shrugged. Taking
her friend’s advice, she crossed the room and took a seat near Mr. Darcy. Mr.
Darcy kept his back to her.
Mrs. Long, who was seated beside Elizabeth, inquired whether
she was enjoying herself.
“I confess I do not find much pleasure this evening,”
Elizabeth answered. “For as you can see, I have no partner.” She was aware she
was within Mr. Darcy’s earshot.
“Oh, I am sure there will be partners aplenty for you
tonight, Miss Elizabeth,” Mrs. Long consoled her. “After all, you are so
pretty. Why, that man over there might even be willing to dance with you,” she
said, gesturing to Mr. Darcy. “He appears to be unengaged.”
“Perhaps,” said Elizabeth, a little louder, “And if he
should ask me, I would be grateful for his notice.”
This hint alone did not seem enough. Jane, seeing her sister
sitting down without a partner, left the dance for a moment to ask her why she
had not found one. Elizabeth hinted in a low whisper that she wondered if
perhaps Mr. Darcy might be inclined to ask her if his friend were to encourage
him. Jane nodded and soon summoned Mr. Bingley, who came directly over.
“Darcy, my good fellow,” he exclaimed, slapping him on the
back. “I hate to see you standing about in this stupid manner. Come, we must
find you a partner.”
Mr. Darcy looked around the room with disdain. “There is not
a woman in this room without whom it would be a punishment to stand up with,”
he remarked contemptuously.
Mr. Bingley laughed. “Upon my word, I would not be so
fastidious. There are several girls in this room who are remarkably beautiful.
In fact, I have never seen so many beautiful women in one room in all my life!”
“You are dancing with the only woman worth looking at.” Mr.
Darcy scoffed. “You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles. You
are wasting your time with me.”
“Come, come, Darcy,” he said. “Miss Bennet is indeed
beautiful, but yet here is her sister's equal in beauty, sitting just behind
you.”
Elizabeth’s hope rose once more. She pretended not to be
listening to their every word.
Mr. Darcy cast a glance directly at Elizabeth, then looked
back to his friend. “She is tolerable enough, I suppose, but not handsome
enough to tempt me.”
Elizabeth was stunned. To receive such an insult from one
whom she had barely been introduced! She blinked back tears, determined not to
let anyone in the room see her cry.
Mr. Darcy soon moved away from her, and Charlotte,
seeing the distressed look upon her friend’s face, hurried over.
“Did Mr. Darcy not ask you to dance, Eliza?” she asked.
“No, he did not,” Elizabeth answered, sticking her chin out.
“In fact, he went so far as to call me ‘tolerable but not handsome enough to
tempt him,’ and within my hearing, too!”
“Goodness, how shocking!” Charlotte exclaimed, sitting down
to console her. “What a proud, disagreeable man Mr. Darcy turned out to be!”
“I quite agree with you, Charlotte,” said Elizabeth. “And I
do not think I shall like Mr. Darcy after all.”
“Well, be thankful then that he did not like you, Eliza, for
then you should have to dance with him,” Charlotte quipped.
“Indeed,” Elizabeth laughed, her mirth doing away with much
of her disappointment. Though her pride was wounded, she would not allow Mr.
Darcy’s insult to ruin her evening. After all, what was he to her?
She repeated the story with great spirit to her other
friends, and before the evening was over, half the room was in agreement that
Mr. Darcy was the proudest, most disagreeable man they had met.
When Mr. Bingley's engagement with Jane concluded, he sought
out Elizabeth and with a polite bow, requested the next set.
This turn of events gave Elizabeth the satisfaction of
seeing Mr. Darcy's face as he witnessed her dance with his friend. The subtle
shift in his expression made her feel smug as she determined to show him what
he had missed by not dancing with her. Later that evening, she observed him
dancing with Miss Bingley. His movements, however, lacked their usual grace,
and a frown occasionally furrowed his brow. Elizabeth could not help but wonder
if Miss Bingley's conversation proved as tedious as she herself sometimes found
it, or if Mr. Darcy simply hated dancing altogether.
Despite Mr. Darcy's earlier slight, Elizabeth found herself
enjoying the assembly immensely. Following her set with Mr. Bingley, she danced
with Mr. William Goulding and Mr. Robinson, and the lively music and company
kept her spirits high.
***
As the evening drew to a close, Mr. Bingley singled
Jane out for a second set, a distinction not bestowed upon any other lady. This
favoritism sent a thrill through Mrs. Bennet, who reveled in her daughter's
success.
“Jane, my dearest!” she exclaimed upon their return home.
“It is clear Mr. Bingley is already captivated by you! You must continue to
cultivate his interest when you next meet. In fact, I gleaned from Mrs. Hurst
that the Bingleys plan to attend the Gouldings' soiree next week. I have
already hinted to Mrs. Goulding about securing invitations for us, and subtly
suggested you be seated next to Mr. Bingley.”
Jane readily agreed to her mother's plan. Together, they
began strategizing about her attire and conversational topics for the upcoming
event. By the time she retired for the night, every detail was meticulously
planned.
When she entered the bedchamber, the light was still lit.
Elizabeth sat at her writing desk, diligently chronicling the events of the
assembly in a letter.
“Still awake, Lizzy?” Jane inquired, surprise tinging her
voice. “I assumed you would be fast asleep by now.”
“Merely documenting the evening's entertainment, for Aunt
Gardiner’s amusement,” Elizabeth replied with a smile.
“I cannot help but be shocked by what Mr. Darcy said about
you,” Jane confessed. “The way he stared directly at you before speaking leaves
no doubt he intended for you to hear it.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “Perhaps I fell short of his standards
in some way. He did not grace any other lady with his presence on the dance
floor, except for Miss Bingley, of course.”
“Perhaps an understanding exists between them,” Jane mused.
“Perhaps he deliberately avoided others to spare Miss Bingley's feelings.”
“If there is some understanding between them, then they are
perfectly suited! My only concern lies for you, Jane. If Mr. Bingley becomes
your husband, and Mr. Darcy weds Miss Bingley, frequent encounters with them as
in-laws would be inevitable,” she said with mirth.
Jane smiled in response. “Miss Bingley is not without her
merits. She and her sister possess undeniable elegance and grace.”
“You would say that, Jane. But then, you never think ill of
anybody. And that is why you are so well-suited to Mr. Bingley. You and he are
of exactly the same disposition. And if Mamma’s predictions are accurate, he
will call on you to propose any day now,” Elizabeth said with delight.
Jane’s eyes carried a hopeful gleam. “Oh Lizzy, do you truly
believe he harbors feelings for me? Is he the man fate has chosen for me?”
“Dearest Jane,” she said, taking her hands and patting them
adoringly. “Whatever Mamma’s hopes for you, Mr. Bingley’s admiration for you is
evident. And should he win your affections, he would be a most lucky man.”
Jane blushed. “I like him very much, and I hope the feeling
is mutual.”
Continue
reading Sudden Awakenings on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
About the Author:
Amanda Kai’s love of period dramas and classic literature
inspires her historical and contemporary romances. She is the author of several
stories inspired by Jane Austen, including Not In Want of a Wife, Elizabeth’s
Secret Admirer, and Swipe Right for Mr. Darcy. Prior to becoming an author,
Amanda enjoyed a career as a professional harpist, and danced ballet for twenty
years. When she’s not diving into the realm of her imagination, Amanda lives
out her own happily ever after in Texas with her husband and three children.
Game:
Today I have a fun interactive game for you. I’ve taken the
opening scene from Sudden Awakenings and turned it into a Mad-Lib game, so
you can join me as co-author in writing your own humorous version of this
scene. The sillier your answers to the prompts are, the funnier your final
story will be. Enjoy!
Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of Sudden Awakenings, Amanda is
giving away some fabulous prizes. Click here to enter.
Giveaway ends Dec. 1, 2024.
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