Today, I’m updating you on several of the projects I’ve got on the go at the moment. I’ve also stuck a short personal health update in there (it’s a good thing) at the top of the video. This one is a little bit longer than some Wednesday posts at just over 17.5 minutes. Hopefully, you’ll still find it an enjoyable update to listen to.
Author: Leenie Brown
A meal stop at a coaching inn (George Goodwin Kilburne)
If you’d like to listen to this post rather than read it, here’s the YouTube video I made for it. If you’d just like to read and not listen, keep scrolling. 🙂
This is an image that I came across several years ago when I was writing my Willow Hall series. I think I was writing book 2, The Tenant’s Guest, when I came across this image since I did mention an inn in that story, but today, I’m sharing another scene from the series.
This one is the prologue to book 4, At All Costs. It hints at events that have happened so far in the series and sets us up nicely to expect some trouble in the final installment. It also introduces us to a Bingley that is unexpected and who will protect those he loves at all costs.
Enjoy!
At All Costs, Prologue
George Wickham balanced on the back two legs of his chair. A smile curled his lips as he saw the man who entered the upper room at the inn. This was the man they sent to deal with him? He chuckled inwardly. This man was all charm and smiles. This was not the usual sort of man with whom Wickham dealt. Well, at least, not as the victim. No, when dealing with anyone as malleable as this man, it was Wickham who would be the aggressor, and the poor blithe chap would not realize his folly until Wickham was well away and in possession of something that the man formerly possessed — money, jewels, a maidenly sister. Wickham’s smile grew at the thought. This man had a sister — a bit of a shrew but a wealthy one.
Mr. Williams raised a brow in his direction as if he knew what Wickham was thinking.
With a thud, Wickham dropped his chair to the ground and took up a proper position and demeanor for negotiations. His lips twitched with a barely contained smile. Perhaps Miss Lydia had not done him a disservice after all in conscripting him to take her to Derbyshire.
“Mr. Williams,” Charles Bingley stuck out his hand in greeting, “I trust you are well today.” Bingley motioned for his companion, Philip Dobney, to take a seat at the table before taking his own place.
“I am well and will be better once I have rid myself of this cad,” grumbled Williams.
“Understandable,” agreed Bingley with a smile. “Mr. Dobney has agreed to sign as a witness.” Bingley spread out some papers in front of him.
“Very good,” said Mr. Williams. “The sooner we can have this business concluded, the better. Although I do not like the idea of giving any assistance to an associate of Tolson.” He narrowed his eyes at Wickham. “Deserves the same fate if you ask me.”
Wickham swallowed. He would have to keep an eye behind him as he travelled. It was one of Mr. Williams’ men who had found Tolson after his fall. The events of that accident had never sat well with Wickham. It was why he had attempted to do just as required while in Derbyshire.
“Miss Lydia will be free of you, and you shall be free of your debts. Are we agreed?” Bingley produced a small pen and ink set from his bag.
“We are,” Wickham agreed, pondering just how much extra money he could extract from Bingley when telling him the number of what he owed.
“This is the record of debts I will pay.” Bingley slid the list Colonel Fitzwilliam had obtained from Lydia across the table.
Wickham looked at the paper in surprise. “Where did you get this?” His eyes scanned the paper, falling on a small flower constructed of hearts at the bottom of the page. “Miss Lydia?” he asked in surprise.
“She is resourceful,” said Bingley.
Wickham’s jaw clenched. Resourceful was not exactly the word he would use for the vixen.
“I just need a signature from you to show your agreement and from Mr. Dobney as the witness to said agreement,” said Bingley. He waited as Wickham signed the document and then slid it to Philip. “The money along with a further copy of this list has been sent to Brighton. All will be settled before your return and without Colonel Forester knowing.”
Bingley blew lightly on the signatures to dry them. “Mr. Williams will post this to my solicitor.” He folded the paper and, after addressing it, sealed it before handing it to the constable.
“I do have a bit of something for your trouble in escorting Miss Lydia to Willow Hall.” He nodded to Philip. “I will be only a moment more. I know you were expected at Aunt Tess’s for tea and had business to conclude before then, so I will delay you no longer.”
Wickham shifted uneasily in his seat. He could sense a change in the atmosphere as Philip Dobney left the room.
Bingley’s smile faded, and he looked to Mr. Williams for permission to proceed.
“You’ll find no resistance or condemnation from me — no matter the results.” He stood and moved to take a place at the door.
“Mr. Wickham,” Bingley began, “the Bennets are very dear friends of mine. I would find it particularly unsettling if something were to happen to any of them.”
Wickham eyed the man across from him suspiciously.
“You will leave Derbyshire, and you will not mention a word against Miss Lydia or her family, not in London, not in Brighton, not in Hertfordshire, not in any place in this world where word of your having done so might reach me.”
That did not seem so difficult. Bingley moved where Wickham did not — in Darcy’s circles. None of them would ever hear a word he spoke about anything. He smiled and nodded.
“No, Mr. Wickham, I do not believe you understand what I am saying. I am giving you the contents of this bag — five hundred pounds to do with as you choose. You will not come looking for more from me or anyone else associated with the Bennets, or you will find yourself in one of two places.” Bingley cast a glance over his shoulder toward Mr. Williams, who only smiled and found something outside the door to be of particular interest. “You will be either dead or wishing you were.”
Wickham’s eyes widened at the comment. He had not expected Bingley to threaten him in such a way. In fact, he had not expected Bingley to threaten him at all. Ah, but then he relaxed, Bingley was not capable of making good such a threat.
Bingley’s smile became predatory as he saw Wickham relax. “I am from trade, Mr. Wickham. I assure you there are unsavoury men of my acquaintance who, for a shilling, would see the matter resolved. And you mustn’t forget that my uncle’s ships have many interesting ports of call where you might be able to find a home if a wave does not sweep you off the deck.” Bingley slid the pouch of money across the table but did not lift his hand from it. He waited for Wickham to look him in the eye before he continued. “Five hundred pounds to keep silent, or you will repay it with your life. Have I made myself clear?”
“And if I do not take your blunt?”
“And not remain silent?” There was a slight growl to Bingley’s tone.
Wickham shrugged.
“Coaching inns and London streets are not safe.” Bingley’s glare was unwavering. “A loose step, a footpad — so many things can happen.” He pushed the packet of money closer to Wickham and removed his hand. “Your choice, Wickham. Five hundred quid for your silence or…” Bingley shrugged.
Wickham picked up the money, shifting the pouch from his right hand to his left before slipping it into his pocket. “I shall not say a word about any of this.”
Bingley stood. “See that you do not. My associates will be watching and listening.” He placed his ink and pen back into his bag and then gave Wickham one final hard look. “Do not mistake me for having the same scruples as my friend. He is a gentleman’s son. I am not.” Bingley took up his hat, and as he placed it on his head, the charming smile from earlier returned. “It has been a pleasure doing business with you gentlemen.” He gave a small bow and left the room.
“You are free to leave,” said Mr. Williams. “Do take care on the steps.”
Wickham patted the money in his pocket and blew out a breath. He was free to leave Derbyshire, and so he would, after a quick call on a friend who owed him a favour. He smiled. He would not be outwitted by the likes of Lydia Bennet and Charles Bingley. There were ways to remain silent and still exact his revenge — Darcy, Bingley, the Bennets, and the Dobneys — he chuckled. Not a one would be left unaffected.
We’re talking books. My books: Other Pens and the best grand gestures.
The first two books in my Other Pens series are currently free, so I thought it’d be a great time to talk a little bit about that series and which books have the best grand gestures in them — all without giving too many spoilers, that is. 😉
Enjoy!
(And let me know if you agree with my assessment of the grand gestures in the comments.)
The October 2024 Saturday Broadsheet
October 12, 2024
What a month October has been for some already! I hope you’re all hanging in there and are safe. We’re doing well up here in Nova Scotia. The leaves are starting to turn colours and soon we should see the full effect of that change before they start dropping and raking season begins. 🙂
I’ve finished the manuscript for How to Marry An Accomplished Lady and am working my way through some edits before I send it off to be proofread and returned for final edits. I have not started the short sequel that will go with that book yet. It’s on the schedule for next week.
I’m still working slowly through Oxford Cottage’s refresh and discovering that it will be impossible, without a full rewrite, to limit the point of views to just two or three, so I’m going to polish it up, add depth where I can, and limit the number of point of view shifts where possible but not stress over having more POVs than I wanted.
As you should know, I have started creating some audiobook versions of the vignettes that I have shared in the past in these newsletters and sharing them on YouTube. I’ve also started making my story connections posts into audio versions to share on YouTube using the same narrator.
As I am working my way through these short vignettes, I have learned some of the tricks and hacks to working with the digital voice I am using to make the stories sound as natural as is possible. That’s why I started with the short vignettes. (The voice I am using is a cloned voice that is made available for such use by the voice actor who is paid whenever their voice is used.)
I hope that this audio venture will make my writing more accessible to more people and that it will eventually open up a new means of earning money for my writing business through some audiobook sales on select platforms and through monetization of my YouTube channel. (And honestly, my business needs that because it’s struggling.)
One of the requirements for me to monetize my YT channel is to have 1000 subscribers. I’ve got 72 at this moment while I’m writing this. So, obviously, I’ve got a long way to go there! I’d love to have you subscribe to help that number grow!
(By the way, a new story vignette was added to the playlist this morning. You can listen to it here.)
I’ve also discovered some of the ways I can offer discounts on my Etsy shop, so I have one set up for this month. You can see the details of that below, and I have submitted my shop to be included in a promotion Etsy is running next month. So, that’ll be two new promos tried in two months.
There is so much to learn as you try new things! But one should always be learning in my way of thinking.
Let’s see, what else have I been doing?
Continue reading The October 2024 Saturday BroadsheetIt’s a Stuff Your eReader Day!
Today, October 11, 2024, I am taking part in a large multi-author book promotion. How large? Over 180 books large! (And we were only allowed to submit one book per pen name, so that’s over 180 different authors!)
I’ve been previewing the list of books, and there are some that I am eagerly waiting to download (a couple have even been on my wishlist for a while so that’s a really treat!).
So, what can you find here —
- books that are offered exclusively on Amazon (AKA Kindle Unlimited books)
- books that are offered on a variety of retailers (including Amazon)
- small town romances (my book by Annilee Nelson is in this category for anyone who’s interested)
- sports romances (Um, there’s a romance in this selection by Ranee S Clark that I know is based on Jane Austen’s Emma, so you know I’m going to be picking that one up… especially since I already read a couple by her based on Sense and Sensibility and enjoyed them)
- Christmas and holiday romances (It is the season… or will be really soon 😉 )
- historical romances (which is where you’ll find my Leenie book, as well as a book by Jennifer Joy)
And that’s only about half of the categories you’ll find listed on the landing page. Oh, the organizer has done a fantastic job making it easy to find books! Her team has listed if the books are on Amazon or all retailers as well as three tropes that you will find in each book, so you have an idea if you’ll like the book before you even click to the sales page. I can’t imagine how much time and effort it took to get that all sorted out and arranged with links. Whew! Makes me tired just to think about it.
I know; get on with it, Leenie, and give us the link already, right? LOL
Here you go!
Happy Reading! I’ll be back tomorrow with the Saturday Broadsheet.
Leenie
P.S. There are some books in the promo which will be free for longer than today, but today is the only guaranteed day.