The Terrace, Brockenhurst House, George Samuel Elgood / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
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Georgiana looked first to her right and then her left. They could take one of the diverging paths, continue on as they had been, or return to the house. She dropped Mr. Langley’s arm and turned to look behind her. Retreating would be the most comfortable course for she was familiar with it. It did not hold any uncertainty, but it was surrounded by the ghosts of the past. Those secrets begged her to return to their embrace.
“I can trust you, can I not?” she asked after stooping to pick a flower and turning back toward him.
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY RONANKEATINGOFFICIAL ON FEB 26, 2020.
It is the chorus of this song that made me think of the story from which I am sharing today. This story is a short novella that starts with an accepted offer of marriage that has been years waiting to be given. The reason for those five long years of separation for our dear couple…well, read the first chapter and you’ll find out. 😉
Elizabeth took in the splendor of the ballroom. It was far grander than she had ever experienced. The walls were decorated with portraits and landscapes, one standing alongside the next with others over and below them. Four large chandeliers twinkled, their brilliance reflected in several mirrors that hung amongst the paintings. Down the length of the room to her left, doors opened into the house, while on her right were grand doors framed by pillars and heavy drapes leading into the garden. At the far end of the room, a small group of musicians was pausing between dances, and on the floor, only a few chalk flowers remained distinguishable. She no longer felt overdressed, though, she did still feel strange wearing colour after so long in mourning clothes.
“Come, my dear.” Her uncle, Gareth Amberly, took her elbow. “There are people to meet.”
Elizabeth put a smile on her face and nodded. At one time, she had enjoyed meeting people. It had been amusing to watch their interactions and make judgments about their character, but that was before she had discovered how very little she knew about judging character.
They had stopped about halfway down the length of the left side of the ballroom. Her uncle lifted onto his toes, stretching his neck this way and that as if searching for someone in particular. Inwardly, Elizabeth sighed and turned to admire a painting of a young woman with a small child on her lap and another standing just behind her shoulder.
Uncle Gareth had been eagerly talking about this ball for a fortnight. He was worse than Lydia for excitement and equaled her mother for chatter about this or that gentleman. She tilted her head and wistfully examined the face of the young child. No matter how she might long for a family of her own, Uncle Gareth was far more eager to see her remarried than she was.
Although her time in town had helped her spirits to lift enough to allow a small glimmer of hope that happiness might be possible, she truly had no desire to marry again…unless… She shook her head. That was hopeless. She had had her chance and squandered it. She was certain that Mr. Darcy had married long ago and to someone more acceptable than she.
As mentioned in this week’s edition of The Saturday Broadsheet, these three books have had their prices reduced for the weekend. Books 1 and 2 of this trilogy, Unravelling Mr. Darcy and Becoming Entangled, are just $0.99 USD (with all other currencies also reduced) while book 3, Enticing Miss Darcy, is free. Below are the links to each book on in your Kindle store.
He’s determined to win her, but first, Georgiana will need to learn to trust her heart.
As I was sitting down to create this Saturday Broadsheet, I decided that I wanted to attempt to add a little brightness to this day. Therefore, you will find an impromptu free book weekend and sale for this weekend. Keep reading, all the info you need is just down a bit under book promotions.
Writing News
Hey, how has your week been? Kind of crazy? Mine was pretty routine except I had to shift my errand day to Thursday since we are supposed to be getting a heavy dose of rain starting later today (Friday) into tomorrow. I’m not fond of running errands in the rain. 🙂 I also ended up taking a trip to the doctor on Thursday to get some antibiotics and to refill a prescription that is one of those take it daily things.
Those errands and all took all day, so I am hoping to write a chapter of Protecting Miss Darcy this evening or tomorrow. Here’s the list of stories and the progress made along with a small snippet from each:
Riding Stables of Royal Pavilion, 1826 (from John Nash’s Views) Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove
There is no Thursday’s 300 chapter tomorrow, so today’s visual inspiration goes along with Her Heart’s Choice, Choices (book 4). The hero, Madoch, is keeping a secret from the heroine, Anne, and this is from the scene where she discovers that secret.
“In case you were wondering, I will not marry a man with a mistress, nor will I become one.”
Blackmoore laughed. “I would not attempt to suggest such. I felt the way Madoch protected you the last time we met, and I have endured his glares all evening.” He shook his head as he continued to chuckle. “No, no, he is not someone with whom I wish to tangle. I fear I would not win.”
The comment surprised Anne. “I beg your pardon, but I do not understand your meaning. What exactly makes a man who cares for horses someone who must be feared?” Alex was not a small or retiring man, but he was not a brute either. How he could inspire such a reaction in a gentleman who was his superior in rank was beyond her comprehension.
Blackmoore laughed once again. “His connections, my dear, his connections. It is not that he cares for horses but for whose horses he cares.”
