MEET THE DARCY CHILDREN IN THE FINAL MERYTON MYSTERY!

Making a mess!

These two aren’t the Darcy children. They’re mine. Two little, mischievous bundles of Joy who got into my flour bin when I turned around long enough to put a loaf of bread into the oven. That was it folks. Five seconds…maybe less…was all they needed to bathe themselves in flour and spread it all over my living room.

Fortunately for everyone, my husband came home from work while I was still in stunned shock and wondering HOW?!? He grabbed the camera, then started cleaning with his two-year-old “helpers.” He’s a good, good man.

And I couldn’t help but wonder how Mr. Darcy would handle a troublesome tot?

So I did what any author would do. I gave him a toddler and a baby girl, and I watched with pen in hand.

Do you want to meet them?

Here’s a little snippet from my upcoming book: The Remarkable Miss Darcy, the fifth and final *sniff, sniff* novel in The Meryton Mysteries Series.

Young Ben, whose attention could not last the duration of Mr. Nelson’s story, no matter how riveting it was, escaped from William’s grasp. Leaning against Mr. Nelson’s leg, he tapped the gentleman on the shoulder politely.

Mr. Nelson did not try Ben’s patience by making him wait. Addressing the boy with all the dignity of a peer, he said, “I have gotten carried away, have I? I apologize, young man. Is there something you wish to add to the conversation? I should like to hear it very much.”

Ben beamed before his face went serious again. “Are you the toad with whom Auntie Lydia danced?”

Elizabeth gasped, “Bennet Beauregard!”

Lydia giggled uncontrollably.

Georgiana bit her lips together, covering her smile with her hand.

Mr. Nelson peered into the child’s earnest eyes, which were now a little uncertain after his mother’s chastisement. Reflecting Ben’s grave expression, Mr. Nelson said, “Ribbit!”

Georgiana clapped, and Ben climbed onto Mr. Nelson’s lap (whether he was wanted there or not).

It was the perfect answer. Laughter bounced off the merry walls, and when Baby Rose joined in the fun, they laughed all the more.

I want to thank my friends on Facebook for their help naming the young Darcys. I got so many wonderful ideas, it was difficult to choose. I put on my “Momma Means Business” voice and selected the one that I could best imagine Elizabeth using when she needed to get her son’s attention. As for the other name suggestions, they still made the book. They’re in the final chapters, and I hope you enjoy how they’ve been incorporated into the narrative.

You’re probably wondering what mischief Ben has gotten himself into, but I won’t spoil the fun here. The story is in its final editing stages and will be ready for you to read soon.

Eight years have gone by since the picture above was taken. Long enough for me to laugh in earnest about my babies’ antics…and to miss that phase of their lives. I suspect Mr. and Mrs. Darcy would have felt the same.