What do you think?
Rate this book
Lord & Lady Baugham #1
Twixt Two Equal Armies
All is fair in love and war. When Mr Darcy hears that Miss Elizabeth Bennet has taken refuge from her family's troubles and her own rebellious heart in Scotland, he quickly decides his good friend Lord Baugham is in urgent need of some solitary reflection, complemented by his own soothing company, at his Lordship's country estate nearby. Mr Darcy's well-laid plans and swift advance, however, have very unexpected consequences for his host and for Elizabeth Bennet's cousin, Miss Holly Tournier. Twixt Two Equal Armies is the first story in the Lord and Lady Baugham series and recounts how the two met, behaved most uncivilly and unexpectedly towards one another but ended up entrusting their life, love and happiness to the other's keeping for the rest of their days.
478 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
14 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
did-not-finish
July 15, 2019Just not that into it --
I'm outta here
I'm outta here
December 19, 2017
I bought this book because of the good reviews it received. However, I do believe that it is just barely related to "Pride and Prejudice". I kept looking for/hoping for more mention of Lizzy and Darcy, but it never went there. They play such a minor role that it looks like this book, claiming to be an "alternate ending/what if" book is just riding the coattails of Jane Austen's masterpiece. It is well written. At times I was wishing one or the other main characters would be more out-spoken and follow their feelings or intuitions. If you like books written in this time period and with suppressed romance, not relating the whole act as some do, you will enjoy this. The author takes her time building the relationship. I read it over a three night period after working all day so it was a good "get away" for me. But it relates very little to P&P. (I have over 30 sequels or alternate endings so I can voice such an opinion.) I will not buy the next one by this author as this one was NOT related to P&P enough for me. I really do focus on ones which retell that romance it various ways...or even do a modern version of such.
January 24, 2018
And you thought Elizabeth and Darcy misunderstood each other...
I thoroughly enjoyed this battle of hearts and wits between two wholly unconnected individuals unknowingly brought together by Mr. Darcy. All because of his pursuit of Miss Elizabeth Bennet to the wilds of Scotland.
Miss Holly Tournier is Elizabeth Bennet's cousin whom she meets as a young child after the death of Holly's father. Lord Baugham is Mr. Darcy's close friend who is just as personable as Mr. Bingley, however, a bit of a rake as well. After a slightly scandalous to-do in town, Mr. Darcy recommends that Lord Baugham take a break from town and head to his estate in Scotland, all the while hoping he will heed his advice. For Mr. Darcy has an ulterior motive...Elizabeth has set off for Scotland to visit her cousin and he plans to visit Lord Baugham. This all happens after Lady Catherine has made her appearance at Longbourn, Lydia and Wickham have been found and Jane and Bingley are reunited.
There is a wide range of delightful and not so delightful characters within the pages of this book. But it is Holly Tournier and Lord Baugham that take center stage and who have built a fortress wall around their hearts.
This is book one in the Lord and Lady Baugham story but there are no cliff hangers at the end. It is well written and at times deeply moving. My heart was engaged with these two characters, and having Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy a part of their story just added that little bit more. Having the wilds of Scotland as the backdrop was just an added bonus!
March 31, 2011
A Pride and Prejudice "what if" and so much more.
Are you up for a Pride and Prejudice inspired battle of wit and romance set in Scotland? If that raised a few eyebrows, I am not surprised. It is a unique combination that requires some set up.
Twixt Two Equal Armies takes us on a variant path from Hertfordshire to Clanough, Scotland with Jane Austen’s characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, introducing us to Elizabeth’s widowed Aunt, Mme. Arabella Tournier and her unmarried cousin Mlle. Holly Tournier living in genteel poverty at Rosefarm Cottage. Also in the neighborhood is Lord Baugham, the elusive English “Laird” of Clyne Cottage, who arrives for the hunting season to escape from his dissipated life as a bon vivant and womanizer in London. Remarkably, he is Mr. Darcy’s particular friend.
In Jane Austen’s original plot, there is a critical point of uncertainty for heroine Elizabeth Bennet after her sister Lydia’s patched up marriage, Mr. Bingley’s proposal to her sister Jane, and Lady Catherine’s interrogation of her intensions to her nephew in the prettyish little wilderness in the Longbourn garden. We know that Mr. Darcy eventually returns to Meryton and proposes, wrapping up the novel quite neatly. But, what if he stayed in London and Elizabeth escaped Meryton to the sanctuary of friendship with her dear cousin Holly and her aunt in Scotland where Mr. Darcy’s friend Lord Baugham also has a country estate? Of course he must follow her, and the coincidence that she is staying with family living near Lord Baugham’s property is even more proof that the Fates are with him. After convincing his friend that he needs a holiday from the uncomfortable romantic entanglements of two married sisters, his Lordship travels to Scotland for a little relaxation and hunting. Mr. Darcy soon follows, but hunting deer and pheasants are not the kind of pursuits he has in mind.
What first appears as Pride and Prejudice “what if” quickly turns into the tale of the prickly friendship and unrealized romance of Lord Baugham and Holly Tournier. Darcy and Elizabeth do reunite and their love is requited, but we witness very little of it from their perspective. The narrative jumps back and forth between the two new protagonist’s point of view, and when the two do get together, the conversation inevitably turns into a debate of wits, as sharp words cross like swords. The tension is delightful and exasperating for all involved.
When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn and her family, Darcy departs Scotland too – both are gone from the plot and only spoken of peripherally for 200 hundred pages – until we learn of their engagement and marriage plans in Hertfordshire. In a time when people lived on news by correspondence, we are not even treated to a letter from cousin to cousin linking the stories together. Besides the baffling loss of Elizabeth and Darcy, we do develop a fondness for the new couple, Holly and Lord Baugham, Mrs. Tournier and the other characters in their lives. The enchanting teas at Rosefarm Cottage are the center of the novel as Mrs. Tournier’s intelligent conversation and her impertinent daughter who cannot abide silly flirtations draw his Lordship out of his protective facade and help him to discover genuine friendship and trust in his troubled life.
The dual authors Gail McEwen and Tina Moncton excel at dialogue. Here’s a great example of the guy talk between Darcy and Baugham:
"Darcy looked at him and, while still maintaining his exact position in his chair, the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
“Never,” he said darkly, “never have you inflicted such pain upon me before, my friend. Not through broken ribs from fist fights or bloodshed or mental agony over hurt pride and lost challenges. The only comforting aspect is that you suffered as much as me.”
“I did,” Baugham said through clenched teeth. “God, if I have ever done anything so painful before in the name of charity…”
“Next time,” Darcy said, “make a subscription to some worthy society instead.”
“Like ‘The Society for the Forceful Eviction of Pompous Persons from Homes of Deserving Women’.”
“Or we could just kill him,” Darcy added darkly. “He is the sort of man who plans his own funeral meticulously. It would be a shame to miss it.” Page 187
In addition, the banter, bordering on bickering, between Holly and David was ripping good fun. Not since Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler or Katherine and Petruchio have I enjoyed couples disagreeing so much!
Even though there is a lot of lengthy exposés of telling instead of showing going on in the narrative, I found their prose delightful, but dense. And if you missed my inference, the two authors have a lot to say, in depth, and in triplicate. This novel is a chunkster at 430 pages in print and 533 pages on my Nook. If you are prepared for the long haul before the story returns to Hertfordshire, Lizzy and Darcy’s wedding, and the final denouement (which Austen would have advised them to end much more quickly), this is an endearing tale of genuinely flawed characters that you will truly care about.
Like our hero and heroine Lord Baugham and Holly Tournier’s amusing love/hate relationship, there were times that I laughed out loud at the witty humor, cheered on the *swoon* worthy romance and rolled my eyes in vexation over the loss of focus. Twixt to Equal Armies is a novel without an identity. Is it a Pride and Prejudice “what if” or an historical romance? A novel can be both things, but not equally in the same space. A writer needs to make a commitment in one direction and stick with it. As a first draft, this novel rates a very high score, but I do not think it is polished enough, yet. It has incredible potential, as do its authors. They just need to find the right red pen.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Are you up for a Pride and Prejudice inspired battle of wit and romance set in Scotland? If that raised a few eyebrows, I am not surprised. It is a unique combination that requires some set up.
Twixt Two Equal Armies takes us on a variant path from Hertfordshire to Clanough, Scotland with Jane Austen’s characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, introducing us to Elizabeth’s widowed Aunt, Mme. Arabella Tournier and her unmarried cousin Mlle. Holly Tournier living in genteel poverty at Rosefarm Cottage. Also in the neighborhood is Lord Baugham, the elusive English “Laird” of Clyne Cottage, who arrives for the hunting season to escape from his dissipated life as a bon vivant and womanizer in London. Remarkably, he is Mr. Darcy’s particular friend.
In Jane Austen’s original plot, there is a critical point of uncertainty for heroine Elizabeth Bennet after her sister Lydia’s patched up marriage, Mr. Bingley’s proposal to her sister Jane, and Lady Catherine’s interrogation of her intensions to her nephew in the prettyish little wilderness in the Longbourn garden. We know that Mr. Darcy eventually returns to Meryton and proposes, wrapping up the novel quite neatly. But, what if he stayed in London and Elizabeth escaped Meryton to the sanctuary of friendship with her dear cousin Holly and her aunt in Scotland where Mr. Darcy’s friend Lord Baugham also has a country estate? Of course he must follow her, and the coincidence that she is staying with family living near Lord Baugham’s property is even more proof that the Fates are with him. After convincing his friend that he needs a holiday from the uncomfortable romantic entanglements of two married sisters, his Lordship travels to Scotland for a little relaxation and hunting. Mr. Darcy soon follows, but hunting deer and pheasants are not the kind of pursuits he has in mind.
What first appears as Pride and Prejudice “what if” quickly turns into the tale of the prickly friendship and unrealized romance of Lord Baugham and Holly Tournier. Darcy and Elizabeth do reunite and their love is requited, but we witness very little of it from their perspective. The narrative jumps back and forth between the two new protagonist’s point of view, and when the two do get together, the conversation inevitably turns into a debate of wits, as sharp words cross like swords. The tension is delightful and exasperating for all involved.
When Elizabeth returns to Longbourn and her family, Darcy departs Scotland too – both are gone from the plot and only spoken of peripherally for 200 hundred pages – until we learn of their engagement and marriage plans in Hertfordshire. In a time when people lived on news by correspondence, we are not even treated to a letter from cousin to cousin linking the stories together. Besides the baffling loss of Elizabeth and Darcy, we do develop a fondness for the new couple, Holly and Lord Baugham, Mrs. Tournier and the other characters in their lives. The enchanting teas at Rosefarm Cottage are the center of the novel as Mrs. Tournier’s intelligent conversation and her impertinent daughter who cannot abide silly flirtations draw his Lordship out of his protective facade and help him to discover genuine friendship and trust in his troubled life.
The dual authors Gail McEwen and Tina Moncton excel at dialogue. Here’s a great example of the guy talk between Darcy and Baugham:
"Darcy looked at him and, while still maintaining his exact position in his chair, the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
“Never,” he said darkly, “never have you inflicted such pain upon me before, my friend. Not through broken ribs from fist fights or bloodshed or mental agony over hurt pride and lost challenges. The only comforting aspect is that you suffered as much as me.”
“I did,” Baugham said through clenched teeth. “God, if I have ever done anything so painful before in the name of charity…”
“Next time,” Darcy said, “make a subscription to some worthy society instead.”
“Like ‘The Society for the Forceful Eviction of Pompous Persons from Homes of Deserving Women’.”
“Or we could just kill him,” Darcy added darkly. “He is the sort of man who plans his own funeral meticulously. It would be a shame to miss it.” Page 187
In addition, the banter, bordering on bickering, between Holly and David was ripping good fun. Not since Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler or Katherine and Petruchio have I enjoyed couples disagreeing so much!
Even though there is a lot of lengthy exposés of telling instead of showing going on in the narrative, I found their prose delightful, but dense. And if you missed my inference, the two authors have a lot to say, in depth, and in triplicate. This novel is a chunkster at 430 pages in print and 533 pages on my Nook. If you are prepared for the long haul before the story returns to Hertfordshire, Lizzy and Darcy’s wedding, and the final denouement (which Austen would have advised them to end much more quickly), this is an endearing tale of genuinely flawed characters that you will truly care about.
Like our hero and heroine Lord Baugham and Holly Tournier’s amusing love/hate relationship, there were times that I laughed out loud at the witty humor, cheered on the *swoon* worthy romance and rolled my eyes in vexation over the loss of focus. Twixt to Equal Armies is a novel without an identity. Is it a Pride and Prejudice “what if” or an historical romance? A novel can be both things, but not equally in the same space. A writer needs to make a commitment in one direction and stick with it. As a first draft, this novel rates a very high score, but I do not think it is polished enough, yet. It has incredible potential, as do its authors. They just need to find the right red pen.
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
February 16, 2024
I loved this book. Just as Elizabeth Aston’s series can stand alone — so does this debut novel from international writing team, Gail McEwen and Tina Moncton. Regardless of how many times I have read this novel– I am almost ashamed to lend out my copy as it so dog-eared and tattered from wear– I never tire of the story or sentiments. Not a careless word written; each phrase is well intended without appearing so; excellent research of the times and mores; I often find myself reading entire passages aloud– the cadence and pacing is that good! Although this novel has plenty of everyone’s favorite couple,Darcy and Elizabeth, it’s really not their story. That said, McEwen and Moncton have created entirely new and extremely interesting and fresh characters. And why wouldn’t Darcy & Elizabeth have such friends! But the beauty of this book IMO is that you don’t really like Miss Holly Tournier or Lord Baugham that much, at first. He doesn’t really go out of his way to please unless he wants to — and she is stubborn, prideful and entirely too sensible. I found myself holding my breath at their every confrontation(and how they actually fall in love with each other despite their intentions.) I’m always surprised out how anxious I am to see them finally get together,even when I’ve known all along of the very happy outcome. I have actually come to love these characters nearly as much as Darcy & Elizabeth! Its a refreshing addition to my collection! If you are a fan of Georgette Heyer, you will love this as well. Worth the money.
November 26, 2017
One of my favorite Pride and Prejudice spinoffs. I love Holly and Baugham, they have great chemistry and I love how it was a slow burn. I re-read this every year.
July 23, 2014
A Pride and Prejudice connected story - after the Hunsford proposal Darcy hears that Elizabeth is visiting her cousin Miss Holly Tournier in Scotland. He then decides to follow her by paying a visit at his friend Lord Baugham's estate nearby
This is the first in the series and tells of the story of how Lord and Lady Baugham met.
This is the first in the series and tells of the story of how Lord and Lady Baugham met.
January 20, 2013
I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story. I look forward to learning more about them in future books. The dialogue at times reminded me of The Gilmore Girls. Several times I found myself turning back to make sure I caught every word.
Read
June 27, 2013Four Stars. Review done by Brittany Gulbrandson
http://indiejane.org/2013/05/review-g...
http://indiejane.org/2013/05/review-g...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews