“The Darcy Arc” by Ines Johnson
In Jane Austen’s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice, we all detest the dashingly handsome, but stuck up, Mr. Darcy in the beginning. After a poorly-contrived declaration of love at Rosings Park and a secret act of kindness, we all realize we’ve misjudged Mr. Darcy and fall madly in love with the sensitive, lovestruck gentleman. This is what I affectionately call The Darcy Arc. It has worked in The Twilight Saga with Edward and Bella, The Hunger Games with Peeta and Katniss, and even Sex in the City with Mr. Big and Carrie.
A successful Darcy Arc can be accomplished in seven steps.
1. First, have your Darcy-hero enter the scene with a bad attitude.
When we meet Fitzwilliam Darcy its clear he doesn’t like Austen’s heroine, Lizzie, Lizzie’s family, or the whole town, for that matter.
In Twilight, the whole Cullen clan keeps to themselves, including Edward. Edward literally puts his nose in the air when he meets Bella.
In The Hunger Games, Peeta’s family owns a bakery and is considered well-to-do. Katniss’s memories of Peeta show him tossing burnt bread at her as though she’s a beggar.
After trying to get along to no avail, both our heroines decide that these guys are jerks and they move along. But not so quick!
2. Next, our hero and heroine are thrown together for some reason.
Darcy and Lizzie dance at a ball. Edward and Bella are lab partners in school. Peeta and Katniss are selected as tributes in the games.
While spending time with one another our Darcy-hero begins making statements or moves that suggest he may be interested in our lovely lady. She begins to question her original opinion of him, but not for long. After a moment, his walls go back up and his bad attitude returns.
3. Then some danger befalls her that only he is aware of.
In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy’s old nemesis, Wickham, takes an interest in Lizzie. In Twilight, Edward saves Bella from street thugs. And in The Hunger Games, Peeta tries to help Katniss win allies in the training arena.
4. After this danger, he confesses his love, in an unromantic or suspicious way, but she rejects him.
At Rosings, Darcy delivers that gawd-awful proposal. Edward can’t decide if he wants to kill or kiss our girl Bella. Katniss isn’t sure that Peeta’s overtures or genuine or gameplay.
5. Its not until they all have time to process a bit more that they come to see that they were indeed wrong about these prickly men.
While visiting Pemberley, Lizzie sees a different side of Darcy. Edward keeps his fangs to himself and watches her sleep. After he saves her life in the games, Katniss is now certain of Peeta’s affections.
6. As our heroine’s hearts are softening, the hero comes to her aide again, expecting nothing in return.
Lizzie finds out that Darcy saved his sister in secret. Edwards sucks the poisonous blood out of Bella’s wrist without killing her. Peeta proves his love when he’s ready to swallow those poisonous berries for Katniss.
Each of our heroines realizes she definitely was wrong about her hero. She misunderstood this prince among men.
7. Finally, our Darcy-hero sees a glimmer of a chance in her eyes. When he confesses his love again, she accepts him.
This time when Darcy proposes, Lizzie accepts. Edward pledges his love forever, which is a long time in vampire speak. And Katniss accepts Peeta’s love…eventually.
I followed this seven part plan when I crafted my hero, Khial, in my Pleasure Hound serial. Khial doesn’t hide his distaste for my heroine, Chanyn, when he first meets her. After many ups and downs in the plot, will Khial follow the Darcy Arc and admit his true feelings? And if he does, will Chanyn come to see Khial for the prince he is?
The heart-pounding conclusion to the Pleasure Hound serial
Just when Chanyn believes she has the family she’s always dreamed of, Khial disappears, abandoning her. Chanyn calls on the one man who’s never let her down: Jian.
But even if Jian forsakes his vows, and his brotherhood, to find the grief-stricken Khial, how will he let go of the woman he loves all over again?
Excerpt
“Maternal Goddess, I seek your presence as I align myself with one of your sacred daughters.
I offer my body as a vessel of your will and your grace.
The desire of my heart is pure and known to you.
I wish to please your daughter and garner your favor.
The miracle that pleases a woman and creates life is of your design, Divine Goddess.
With great anticipation, I align all of the energy systems of my body, my soul, and my mind with you.
I give thanks in advance for your blessings of this experience and know that I walk in the light of your sun and the fertility of your earth.
Ashe.”
The monk’s melodic voice decresendoed. Again, Khial wondered how that deep tenor might sound accompanying his violin.
Jian asked for stillness. He and Chanyn closed their eyes in a silent moment of gratitude to the Goddess.
Khial picked at the buttons of his shirt, the itch on his nose. He looked around Chanyn’s bedroom. Large blooms decorated a dresser near the window, beside them teetered the stack of books he’d gifted her. Golden-haired men clenching women with swollen bodices dominated each cover. Khial scratched at his chest.
The monk clasped Khial’s hand. Khial’s dick pulsed in time to the circular pattern the monk traced on the flesh between Khial’s thumb and index finger. Was the monk trying to seduce him? Khial looked for a hint in the monk’s eyes, but they remained closed.
Between them, both men held Chanyn’s hands in each of their own. Her hands were by no means delicate. They were capable and strong. She interlaced two of her fingers with Khial’s, leaving him feeling grounded, tethered. And aroused.
Khial tried to take his mind off his dick and focus on the two people on either side of him. Their fingers were wholly entwined. Their palms pressed together. Suddenly, Khial felt like an intruder. Chanyn and the monk loved each other and he was imposing on their intimacy.
The monk opened his eyes and focused on Khial. The monk—Jian. Khial figured he should start using his name, as they were about to be intimate. Jian’s eyes said he read Khial’s desire loud and clear, but he cast no judgment. Instead, a flicker of heat sparked in the other man’s eyes.
Khial swallowed. It was too soon to think about another man. He was still getting used to the idea of a woman, his wife. He looked over at Chanyn.
“Should you always pray… before?” Khial directed the comment at no one in particular, but he knew who would answer.
“A woman’s body is sacred,” answered Jian. “If you do not prefer to pray, you should at least set an intention.”
“An intention?”
Jian nodded. “Our intention tonight is to pleasure the lady.” Jian turned to Chanyn. “Pleasure her until she begs for mercy.”
A slow, intentional smile spread across the monk’s face. He rose to his feet bringing Khial and Chanyn along.
The Author
Author Bio
Ines writes books for strong women who suck at love. If you rocked out to the twisted triangle of Jem, Jericha, and Rio as a girl; if you were slayed by vampires with souls alongside Buffy; if you need your scandalous fix from Olivia Pope each week, then you’ll love her books!
Aside from being a writer, professional reader, and teacher, Ines is a very bad Buddhist. She sits in sangha each week, and while others are meditating and getting their zen on, she’s contemplating how to use the teachings to strengthen her plots and character motivations.
Ines lives outside Washington, DC with her two little sidekicks who are growing up way too fast.
Social
