Practice Makes Perfect

by Virginia Heath

In this Regency romcom, a Mr. Darcy fanatic finds herself working for an earl who bears a striking resemblance to Austen's brooding anti-hero.

After inheriting his father’s sprawling estate at eighteen, the scholarly and sensible Max Ashfield, Earl of Windover, is buried under responsibility. He has too much land to manage, too many tenants to oversee, and far too many younger siblings, all of whom give him a headache. Especially his brother Jonathan, a walking scandal, and the terrible twins, Lily and Petunia, who have already driven off twelve governesses with their mischief. With Jonathan grounded after one escapade too many and his mother in London for the Season to launch the first of his three sisters, Max is out of patience and governesses. He needs number thirteen to restore order before his household unravels entirely.

Kitty Blackstone has always been a daydreamer, which makes her a walking disaster; her wandering mind constantly gets her into trouble. This is especially true when her lifelong obsession with Mr. Darcy surfaces at the most inopportune moments, as she repeatedly attempts―and fails―to rewrite the ending of Pride and Prejudice to her satisfaction. She is perennially late, reliably forgetful, disorganized, and a thoroughly inept governess.

Miss Prentice, who adores her nonetheless, has warned her most disappointing protégée that this is the absolute last time she will secure her a position; Kitty is now effectively unemployable in Mayfair. But this new post at a secluded coastal estate only requires her to supervise two cosseted twin girls who are practically young ladies already. Surely even she can manage that?

But when her vivid imagination decides her new employer would make the perfect Mr. Darcy, it isn’t just the ending of Pride and Prejudice it wants to write―it’s theirs…

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 27, 2027

About the author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Her new Regency Romcom for St Martin's Press ~ Never Fall For Your Fiancée ~ is on sale November 9, 2021

If you want to find out more check out virginiaheathromance.com or follow her on Facebook @VirginiaHeathAuthor