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NBCTheVoice. “The Voice 2015 Amy Vachal – Top 10: Bye Bye Bye”YouTube. YouTube, 30 Nov. 2015.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

So this is a different take on this song, isn’t it?

I heard this version on the Voice last season and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The less upbeat tone of the reworked song goes very well, I think, with what I have been writing this week.  Anne  has had to say bye-bye to a suitor that she had been considering fairly seriously as a likely marriage candidate.  He was a wealthy, titled, and handsome man, who she found interesting, but who proved to be not quite as proper a gentleman as she had supposed him to be.  She is discovering that finding a husband is difficult and that, perhaps, her beliefs of what will make a proper match are entirely wrong.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

Lady Sophia patted Anne’s knee.  “Just so.  Your heart is a very good guide if you will listen to it carefully.  It is not above being tricked, but there will often be that little worry, hanging at the back of your mind when your heart desires something it should not.  Let it guide you, and then ask for advice.  I will always tell you the truth, you know that, don’t you?”

Anne nodded. The two of them sat there silently watching the movement on the street until a tray containing two small glasses of sherry and a few biscuits arrived.

“Marrying for love alone is not enough,” said Anne as she took a sip of her sherry and wrinkled her nose.  It was not her favourite drink.

“And I believe, unlike your mother or Lady Matlock, marrying for position alone is also not enough,” replied her aunt.  “Matrimony is a tricky business.”

“It is indeed,” agreed Anne. She ate a biscuit in silence and finished her drink.  “Marriage is not for everyone.”  She sighed.  “I had not wished to always live in my mother’s house. I had hoped to have a home of my own to run, but perhaps it is not to be.  Perhaps I should return to Rosings and find some work to occupy my time.”

Lady Sophia placed her empty glass on the tray and then crossed to Anne and kissed her forehead.  “You need a rest. I do not believe you are destined to remain unwed.”  She cupped her niece’s chin and lifted it so that Anne looked up at her.  “Let your heart chose,” she said softly.  “Promise me you will give it a bit more time before returning to Rosings?  I should miss you dearly if you left too soon.”

Anne could not help but smile.  “I will not return to Rosings until after I have visited Hertfordshire and have shared in the celebration of my cousin Richard’s wedding. However, if I have not found a prospect by then, I shall go home with my mother.”

Lady Sophia kissed her on the forehead once again.  “You are not giving me very long to help you, but I will do my best.”  She turned to leave.  “Do you wish to sort the papers from today’s visit after your rest?”

“Have them placed in my sitting room,” she replied.

“Very well.  I shall see you at dinner?”  There was a slight lift of uncertainty in her voice.

“You will,” Anne assured.

“Rest well.”  Sophia closed the door softly.

Anne climbed onto her bed.  She knew it would be more comfortable to undress, but she did not wish to call for her maid.  She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath of the peaceful, silent air and released it slowly and repeated until finally, her mind drifted away from the worries of the day and into the land of dreams.

“All This Time // Fanny & Edmund (Mansfield Park).” Video created for and uploaded to Youtube by Cornishbluepixie. 19 May 2012.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

First, for those who don’t know, this movie and the novel on which it is based are some of my favourites…way up at the top of the list!  And I must say that the song the creator of this video chose is perfect! Well done, Cornishbluepixie! 🙂

Now on to my small sample from this past week’s writing. I am in a very busy time of year right now…end of quarter, yearbook final deadline, marking, grades, photos needed, pages to complete…aaaaaah! It is overwhelming at times, and it has taken a toll on my writing time. I think I only managed two short writing times this week.  So the selection from which to pick an excerpt was limited, and I thought I might not even have an excerpt, but then I remembered this video and knew the idea of the song goes well with the premise of my story.

Anne refused Mr. Madoch six years ago, but he has never wasted his time or words on another.  He wants her and no other. Below is a conversation that Lord Brownlow, Lord Rycroft, Jonathan Lester, and Alex Madoch had one rainy afternoon (see last week’s excerpt) in the sitting room at Lord Brownlow’s home.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

“I find it difficult to believe that you would do anything in haste.”  Rycroft directed the statement to Alex.  “You seem more the calm and calculating sort.”

Jonathan snorted.  “To a point,” he agreed, “but pass that point and all bets are off, gentleman.  He would cut ties with his mother if she crossed him.”

“I would not,” Alex retorted.

“She would not cause you to ever have need to prove me right,” replied Jonathan.

“I say, you have a very different relationship,” said Rycroft, once again looking at the two men with some interest.

“We are nearly brothers,” said Alex, “or should I say Lester is more a brother to me than mine ever was.”

“Well, we share a common interest,” said Jonathan, “your brother knows nothing of horses and sees your pursuit of them as only a waste of legal training.”

Alex nodded thoughtfully.  “True.  Neither he nor father was pleased when upon my graduation I refused to take up my robes and instead took a position with my uncle.”  He placed his cup on the table.  From the looks of interest on the faces of their companions, he felt his relationship with Jonathan needed some explanation.  “I clerked for a year after my graduation. As was my custom in any area where I found myself, I learned who had the best horses and grooms.  One of those grooms happened to have a son who was more keen to learn accounting and bookwork than how to mend a harness. I traded what I knew of the subjects for the opportunity to learn to mend a harness.”

“He knew how to mend a harness.”  Jonathan’s mouth was once again full of pastry.

Alex shrugged.  “True, but your father knew things that I did not, and I wanted him to share them with me.” He turned toward Rycroft.  “He is, in my opinion, one of the best grooms I have met.”  He smiled. “Tucked away in the country serving a country squire and happy as any man could ever be.”

“And it kept him from having to attend many social functions.” Alex chuckled.

Alex chuckled.  “I only had to attend one assembly and two or three card parties during the entirety of my term.  It annoyed my employers wife to no end, which pleased him quite well. Of course, I used the opportunity to meet the gentlemen of the area.” He pursed his lips and thought for a moment.  “I think I managed to only be required to partner one or two young ladies for a dance.  They were lovely, but my heart was not available and my plans were not to be fulfilled through courting.”

“Ah, see I was right!” said Rycroft.  “Cool and calculating.”

“Driven,” mutter Jonathan.

“I find it admirable,” said Brownlow.  “I wish I had thought of pursuing the breeding and sale of cattle as a means to avoid social events.”