Leenie Brown

Goodbye Summer (Danielle Bradbery, Thomas Rhett)

Today’s our last week of songs with Summer in the title, so I thought this title seemed appropriate. 😀

Also, the lyrics “Hello, Summer. Goodbye to my heart” are fitting for Mary and Stuart’s story as you can sort of tell from the excerpt below.

These few lines come during a conversation that Mary and Stuart are having during an outing with his nieces. Poor Mary has most certainly lost her heart by this point in the story.

Would you like to see the cover for Stuart and Mary’s story? Then, come back on Wednesday to see it and read one last excerpt.

Darcy Family Holidays, Volume 1, is still on sale for $2.99 for a few more days.
The sale ends Saturday, July 31, 2021.

The Fanshawe’s Sitting Room (Edward Gennys Fanshaw)

The Fanshawe’s Sitting Room, Admiral Edward Gennys Fanshawe (27 November 1814 – 21 October 1906). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The following excerpt is from a conversation had in the Linton’s sitting room when Kitty and Elizabeth call on Mr. Trefor Linton’s sister Constance (who is betrothed to Henry Crawford).

“And then I created a list of ladies for him.”

Miss Bennet looked like she was going to faint away. “No! You did?”

Constance nodded. “It broke my heart to do it, but I had promised I would.”

Miss Bennet’s hand covered her heart as she shook her head. “How tragic.”

“There are several interesting bits to that tale, which I will tell you when we are not beset on every side by gentlemen,” Constance assured her. “Suffice it to say that none of the ladies on that list met with Mr. Crawford’s approval, and I was fortunate to gain his favour.”

Again, the romantic Miss Bennet sighed wistfully. But then, she sat up a little straighter, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Then, perhaps you could help me.”

“With what?” Trefor asked before he could think better of it.

“With behaving as I ought while in town. It is not that I am an improper lady like Mr. Crawford was an improper gentleman. I just have never been to town before, and, well, I would like to make a good impression. After all, I would like to marry someday, and, to be frank, there are not many gentlemen from whom to choose in Hertfordshire – at least, there are none to my liking,” she clarified.

“If Miss Linton helped me, perhaps her brother could help you by giving you a gentleman’s viewpoint,” Mr. Crawford suggested.

Miss Bennet shook her head vigorously. “That would not work.”

Trefor was inclined to agree. He had seen what had happened when he had allowed his sister to help Henry.

“I am certain I need a lady’s advice,” Miss Bennet continued as Trefor recalled the article in the paper with his sister’s name attached to it.

“Besides, Mr. Linton is far too provoking,” she concluded, bringing Trefor’s full attention back to the discussion at hand.

“I am provoking?” he asked incredulously.

“Yes.”

“I do not see how.”

Her brow furrowed as a scowl settle on her lips. “Must you always argue with me?”

“I do not argue with you. You argue with me,” he retorted. Blast! That was not what he should have said. It was not what he would have said to any other lady, other than his sister.

Miss Bennet rolled her eyes and, making a sweeping motion with her hand towards him, said to Constance, “You see what I mean?”

Constance laughed. “Yes, I know very well of what you speak. He provokes me regularly, but he means well – most of the time.”

“If you say so,” Miss Bennet replied, though she did not sound at all convinced of the fact.

[from A Scandal in Springtime]

A Scandal in Springtime can be found as a single title or as part of Darcy Family Holidays, Volume 1, which is on sale for $2.99 for the month of July.

For those who are interested and have not yet read it, Miss Linton and Henry’s story can be found here.

Midsummer Night (Brian Crain)

Today, I am pairing a song I listen to a lot while writing with an excerpt from the “middle” of the Sketches and Secrets of Summer…

…or more particularly, the part of the story that is not where Mary and Stuart have just met nor where they are headed to the resolution. This is the part of the story where they are getting to know one another.

In the scene this excerpt is from, Stuart is showing Mary a drawing room that needs to be repainted at Wellworth Abbey and getting her opinion about which colour to choose. I just love how these two fall into such a friendly relationship filled with honesty and teasing, as well as some arguments.

I expect to get my first round of notes back on Sketches tonight, and that should let me know if my tentative publication date of August 13, 2021, will work. It’s getting close! #soexcited I can’t wait to share this whirlwind sweet summer romance with you all. It is on my list of favourite stories I have written.

Darcy Family Holidays, Volume 1 (books 1-3) is on sale for $2.99 during the month of July. Mary and Stuart’s story will be book 4.

The Mistletoe Bough (Francis Wheatley)

That was a step too far, and Caroline could not contain her anger any longer.

“How dare you,” she spat. “Who placed you in a position to reprimand me on anything?” She stepped closer to him, her eyes narrowing.

“No one,” he replied. “Just me.” He left his place of repose against the door and matched her advance with a step of his own. Did she always smell of oranges and spice? The scent fit her.

She lifted a brow. “Why?”

He blew out a breath. “I’ll be hanged if I know.” He had attempted to keep his thoughts to himself, but for some reason he felt compelled to see her improve, to reach her potential. It was likely that glimpse of her thoughtful, quiet nature at breakfast which had done it.

She shook her head in bewilderment. He was making little sense. How could he not know why he thought it his place to admonish her?

He stepped to the side so that the door was free, but he once again caught her arm as she moved past him. Pulling her close, he whispered, “You are a beautiful, accomplished young woman who does not need to belittle others to make herself look better.”

Then, before he could do something foolish like make use of the kissing bough which hung just in front of the door, he released her.

[from One Winter’s Eve]

*One Winter’s Eve* can be found either as a single title or as part of *Darcy Family Holiday, Volume 1*, which is currently on sale (until the end of July).

Antonio Vivaldi’s Estate / Storm by 40 Fingers

Can you really do a list of “summer” songs without hitting Vivaldi once? 🙂 I don’t think so. 🙂

I typed in “Vivaldi Summer” in the search box on YouTube last week, and this was the video that caught my eye in the results. I’ve never heard this group before and decided to give them a listen. I like their version of this song, so here is Presto (Storm) from Vivaldi’s Estate (Summer) – the Four Seasons as arranged and played by 40 Fingers.

To go with today’s video, I have another excerpt from Sketches and Secrets of Summer. I have almost completed my read-through. Then, it will leave my hands and come under the scrutiny of others before it returns to me for the final going through before publication in August.

The excerpt below is from chapter two where Stuart and Mary first meet each other. It is the first of many times when they will argue. While this exchange is more like a gentle shower while the sun is shining, not all the clouds in this story are so light.