Mrs. Bates of Highbury by Allie Cresswell - Book Tour
Mrs
Bates of Highbury
The new novel from Readers' Favourite silver
medalist Allie Cresswell.
Thirty years before the beginning of 'Emma' Mrs
Bates is entirely different from the elderly, silent figure familiar to fans of
Jane Austen’s fourth novel. She is comparatively young and beautiful, widowed -
but ready to love again. She is the lynch-pin of Highbury society until the
appalling Mrs Winwood arrives, very determined to hold sway over that ordered
little town.
Miss Bates is as talkative aged twenty nine as
she is in her later iteration, with a ghoulish fancy, seeing disaster in every
cloud. When young Mr Woodhouse arrives looking for a plot for his new house,
the two strike up a relationship characterised by their shared hypochondria,
personal chariness and horror of draughts.
Jane, the other Miss Bates, is just seventeen
and eager to leave the parochialism of Highbury behind her until handsome
Lieutenant Weston comes home on furlough from the militia and sweeps her -
quite literally - off her feet.
Mrs Bates of Highbury is the first of three
novels by the Amazon #1 best-selling Allie Cresswell, which trace the
pre-history of Emma and then run in parallel to it.
Purchase from
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Bates-Highbury-prequel-inspired-ebook/dp/B07GJM2K4W
Excerpt
It is clear in ‘Emma’ that Mrs Bates lives
in circumstances much reduced from her former estate. George Knightley tells
Emma that at one time it would have been an honour for her to be noticed by
them. We also know that Mrs Bates’ husband had been the vicar for at least
twenty seven years, a job usually reserved for the younger sons of monied
families. Coming up with a rationale for their relative penury and explaining
how they have managed to live since, on no visible income, was just one
challenge I had to face. Here, the young George Knightley brings the matter to
his father’s attention and suggests a scheme which will aid the unfortunate
widow and her daughters.
‘Papa,’ said George at last, ‘I wonder if
we could not do something to assist Mrs Bates.’
Mr Knightley stirred himself, uncrossed his
legs and reached down absent-mindedly to stroke a dog’s muzzle. ‘I esteem Mrs
Bates very highly,’ he said. ‘I have rarely met such a genteel, lady-like lady
who, at the same time, has such simple, delightful, unaffected manners and
practical good sense. She makes herself agreeable wherever she goes. The loss
of her husband, at her comparatively early age, is a grievous blow, but I
should think it very probable that she will marry again.’ The squire, at this
time a sprightly sixty-two years of age, had been a widower for only the last
of them, and was by no means confirmed in that state for perpetuity. It would
have been unseemly, so early in Mrs Bates’ bereavement, to have thought of her
in any matrimonial context whatsoever, nevertheless he spoke from the heart,
with a warmth George had not often heard in his father’s voice unless in
connection with a particularly fine bull or a prodigiously good crop of barley.
‘To be sure, Sir,’ George replied. ‘But in
the meantime, I gather, there is a little difficulty. Without the vicar’s
stipend, they have no income, and, of course, they must quit the vicarage.’
The squire roused himself a little more,
and gave his son a keen look. ‘No income? What? None whatsoever?’
George shook his head. ‘Reverend Bates has
family, I believe, well-provisioned, but they have declined assistance.’
‘Absolutely declined?’
‘Yes, Sir. Jane came today to help me with
my lesson, you know…’
‘A bright girl. Pretty too. She’ll marry
well, I have no doubt.’
‘No doubt, sir,’ said George, warmly,
wishing himself ten years older, ‘but she is very young, and even if she does
marry advantageously, there is still Mrs Bates, and Miss Bates…’
‘Ah yes, Miss Bates. Well she’s a different
case altogether.’
‘Exactly my point, Sir.’
‘Well, George, I am very pleased with you
for taking this proper, paternal interest in these worthy people. It is just
what the future squire ought to do. And what do you suggest?’
George squirmed a little in his seat. He
had not expected to be called upon provide a solution to Jane’s problem, only
hoped that, by raising it, his father might do so. But he took a deep breath
and answered his father stoutly. ‘Sir, if I were
squire, I would make discreet enquiries amongst the better-off gentlemen of
the town, and I could see what could be done between us to provide Mrs Bates
and her daughters with a modest home and a small income.’
Mr Knightley nodded. Encouraged, George
went on, ‘It is the duty of those who have much to provide for those who have
little. The Bible tells us so, as well as good sense and common decency. I understand she has served us - the parish,
I mean sir - for twenty odd years, and now it is time for us to repay in kind.
For myself, if I had a vacant cottage somewhere on the estate, I would happily
give it over to her use. Although it might be more rustic than she has been
used to, and she might not like the remoteness from the village, it would be
something. I would be happy to contribute to a fund which would provide them
with an income. Many of us here about have orchards, flocks, crops and good
things in abundance, sometimes in over-abundance. Our own supplies of rhubarb
and spinach this year seemed never-ending; I was heartily sick of both in the
end. There is no reason why the surplus could not be offered to them if they
will do us the kindness to take it off our hands.’
‘And what if Mrs Bates declined to be the
recipient of the charity of her neighbours? Some people might find it
demeaning.’
‘I do not think Mrs Bates has that kind of
pride, Father, but I suppose the money could be offered in such a way as to
keep its source a secret?’
‘My goodness, George, my boy,’ Mr Knightley
burst out, ‘what a Solomon you are! If only men twice - nay, three or four
times - your age had your sense and innately charitable heart, the world would
be a better place indeed. It is a pity that I need you to take over the estate
when I am gone. To be sure, I think I had better begin training John to do it
for I see that you will be wasted here. Your place is in politics!’
George blushed. He had rarely heard such
praise from his father. ‘Thank you, sir,’ he stammered.
Mr Knightley reached for his pipe. ‘Now,
off to bed with you sir, before you shame me into giving succour to every poor
widow-woman in the county!’
George stood up. ‘Good night then, sir.
But, as for Mrs Bates..?’
‘Yes, yes, I will look into it. Good night
now, son.’
Author
Bio –
Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began
writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil.
She did a BA in English Literature at Birmingham
University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London.
She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a
book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays
Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong
learners.
She has two grown-up children, two granddaughters
and two grandsons, is married to Tim and lives in Cumbria, NW England.
You can contact her via her website at www.allie-cresswell.com
or find her on Facebook
Social
Media Links –
For
the duration of the blog tour, Allie Cresswell has five hard copies of
Game Show and five hard copies of Tiger in a Cage, all signed, available for £5
plus p & p to UK addresses. If you are interested then please get in touch.
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