{"id":698,"date":"2014-10-30T00:25:34","date_gmt":"2014-10-30T04:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/?p=698"},"modified":"2014-10-30T00:25:34","modified_gmt":"2014-10-30T04:25:34","slug":"spooktacular-blog-hopa-deleted-scene-from-an-heiress-at-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/uncategorized\/spooktacular-blog-hopa-deleted-scene-from-an-heiress-at-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Spooktacular Blog Hop and Book Giveaway!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Blog<\/a>Giveaway extended through Sunday! See details below.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Truth be told, at times I find the scariest thing in the world is an empty computer screen! But for an author there can be something even more painful: the moment when you must \u201cmurder your darlings.\u201d <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is a famous adage among writers, and it means that no matter how much you may love something you have written, if it doesn’t advance the story, it must be cut. <\/em><\/p>\n

Since Halloween is the time to indulge in stories dark, moody, and dangerous, I thought you\u2019d enjoy reading this \u201cdeleted scene\u201d from the original manuscript of An Heiress at Heart<\/strong>, which takes place in the grim, gray dawn after a fatal duel.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"Delamere_HeiressatHeart_thumbnail\"<\/a>The<\/span> dense fog lay in an oppressive heap on the city, giving a tangible nature to every thought that was cold, bleak and dreary.
\nLizzie<\/span> shivered as she leaned against the ship\u2019s railing, scanning the waterfront for any sign of her brother, willing him to stride out of the pre-dawn gloom with his familiar, confident step. But he was nowhere to be seen.
\nLizzie<\/span> had awoken a few hours earlier with a light heart, knowing she and Tom were leaving this very morning for Australia. She had expected to find him packing in the next room, but instead she had found only a note on the small, rough table. By daybreak, the note informed her, he would either be dead or an outlaw. If he did not meet her at the ship, she was to go on without him. Old Mr. Hurley would take good care of her, of that he was sure.
\nLizzie<\/span> had clutched Tom\u2019s note, seized with shock and horror, until a knock on the door had roused her. She had run to it and flung it open, only to see the kind, weather-beaten face of Mr. Hurley, the man who\u2019d arranged their passage and promised work for them in Sydney.
\n\u201cTell<\/span> me where Tom has gone!\u201d Lizzie had implored him. \u201cHe must be stopped!\u201d
\nBut<\/span> Mr. Hurley had only shaken his grizzled head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Lizzie. Your brother did not tell me where the duel was to take place.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy<\/span> did you let him go!\u201d
\n\u201cHe<\/span> said it was a matter of honor. I\u2019m nowt but a simple shopkeeper myself, but I understand that a man must keep his honor.\u201d
\nLizzie<\/span> had made no effort to stem the tears streaming down her face. \u201cI\u2019ve already brought too much misery to my family. I could not bear it if I bring about Tom\u2019s–\u201d She had pulled up short, unable to say the word or even think it.
\nMr.<\/span> Hurley had put a kindly arm around her. \u201cDon’t you worry, Lizzie,\u201d he said gruffly. \u201cTom\u2019s an able fellow. You mark my words: by this time tomorr\"Sailingow we\u2019ll all be on the open sea for Australia, headed for better times.\u201d
\nLizzie<\/span> had done all she could to focus on getting to the ship. As she loaded their few meager possessions onto a dog cart hired by Mr. Hurley, she had resolutely placed Tom\u2019s duffel bag on top, telling herself the old man was right. Tom would be there. Of any other outcome she could not dare to think.
\nThat<\/span> Tom might succeed in his quest was equally horrifying. Memories of the heady days of passion Lizzie had shared with Freddie Hightower were lodged in her heart, perversely contradicting her bitter loathing for what he had ultimately done. Freddie had taken her to the Continent, promising to make her a lady, only to abandon her in Vienna with little more than the clothes on her back. Tom had found her and brought her home, but he could not leave it at that. No, he would find the man who had ruined his sister and avenge her honor–or die in the effort.
\nLizzie<\/span> pulled her shawl around her with trembling hands. Despite Freddie\u2019s gross misdeeds, she could not bring herself to wish for his death. Although she had precious little right to read Scripture, much less quote it, she knew it said something about vengeance being for the Lord to mete out, not man.
\nGray<\/span> streaks of dawn pierced the morning mist. The docks began to fill with movement and sound. Shouts of shipmen loading cargo blended with families calling farewells and crying out for children who had gotten lost in the growing commotion. Lizzie did her best to stay out of the fray, standing at the ship\u2019s railing and gazing out at London for the last time. She managed to keep her apprehension at bay by stoking her anger. She had every intention of giving Tom the brunt of her wrath when he returned.
\nIf<\/span> he returned.
\nShe<\/span> hugged herself tightly.
\n\u201cThere<\/span> he is!\u201d Mr. Hurley shouted. \u201cDidn\u2019t I say he would come?\u201d
\nLizzie<\/span> saw him now. His tall form stood out on the crowded pier, but he was not moving with his customary vigor. He walked with a definite limp, leaning heavily on a stick, his free hand clutching his side.
\nLizzie<\/span> and Mr. Hurley raced down the gangplank and pushed their way through the crowd. Lizzie threw her arms around her brother. \u201cTom, how could you? You might have allowed Freddie to destroy the one good thing I had left!\u201d
\n\u201cDon\"Tom\u2019t<\/span> fret, dearest. All is well.\u201d Tom spoke gently as Lizzie pressed her face into his rough woolen coat, but he made no effort to return her embrace. He stood stiffly, one hand inside his coat, the other tightly gripping the stick.
\n\u201cEasy,<\/span> Lizzie,\u201d said Mr. Hurley. \u201cThere will be time enough later for scolding. We must get this lad to a cot. He\u2019s bleeding.\u201d
\n\u201cBleeding!\u201d<\/span> Lizzie stepped back and tried to push away the coat covering Tom\u2019s hand.
\n\u201cTis<\/span> but a scratch. The bullet grazed my side, that\u2019s all.\u201d Tom gave her a look of grim triumph that filled her with dread. \u201cFreddie Hightower will never again hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

GIVEAWAY! <\/strong>So tell me, do you watch the \u201cdeleted scenes\u201d on DVDs? If so, have you ever seen a scene that you wish they had left in the movie? Weigh in below in the comments! (Or simply say hi and let me know if you\u2019ve enjoyed this deleted scene from An Heiress at Heart<\/em>.) I\u2019ll be giving away a copy of A Bride for the Season<\/em> to one lucky commenter.*<\/p>\n

And be sure to check out these other authors on the \u201cSpooktacular Blog Hop\u201d! They\u2019ve got more spooky book excerpts and fun prizes to share!<\/p>\n

SPOOKTACULAR BLOG HOP:<\/strong>
\nHeather Webb:<\/a><\/strong> a signed copy of Becoming Josephine<\/em>\u00a0 OR an arc of Rodin’s Lover<\/em> and a holiday pack of chocolate goodies
\nLisa Alber:<\/a><\/strong> a copy of Kilmoon<\/em> and a wee Irish gifty
\nAnna Lee Huber:<\/a><\/strong> the audiobooks for Lady Darby Books 1-3
\nAlexandra Hughes:<\/a> <\/strong>an audiobook OR an early copy of Vacant<\/em>
\nKerry Schafer:<\/strong><\/a> a signed copy of Wakeworld<\/em>
\nStacey Lee:<\/strong><\/a> an ARC of Under a Painted Sky<\/em>
\nJanet Butler Taylor:<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 $15 Amazon gift card and some chocolate goodies
\nHazel Gaynor:<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 a signed ARC of A Memory Of Violets<\/em> and a signed book jacket of The Girl Who Came Home<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Giveaway ends on November 2, 2014 at 11:59pm EDT.\u00a0 Prize mailed only\u00a0to North American addresses. Entrants must be 18 years old or older to win.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\tSince Halloween is the time to indulge in stories dark, moody, and dangerous, I thought you\u2019d enjoy reading this special \u201cdeleted scene\u201d from the original manuscript of An Heiress at Heart,<\/em> which takes place in the grim, gray dawn after a fatal duel.\t\t","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jenniferdelamere.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}