Category: Music Monday

Music Monday: Alone, Ioannis Pane

IoannisPane. “Ioannis Pane – Alone (Instrumental Piano Music).” YouTube. YouTube, 09 Feb. 2016.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

I have the first draft of Her Heart’s Choice completed (except for an epilogue) and that means I am about to embark on some editing and will be taking a bit of a break from story/song connections for at least a couple of weeks until I can get into the next story.  I will, however, still post a song on Monday’s.  I have a few marked that are fan videos that I like and think you might as well.

Now, the excerpt below comes from very near the end of the book — so if you do not like “spoilers,” do not read.

The connection between the excerpt and the song is one of mood.  Anne has found herself feeling quite like the song — alone, sad, longing for things to change, but unsure they will.  Of course, you and I know that I always give my hero and heroine a happily ever after, but Anne does not know that right now, but she is about to learn that fact…right after this little chat with her aunt in the garden at Netherfield after Kitty and Richard’s wedding breakfast.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

Anne had smiled when she was supposed to and attempted to say all the right things but her heart, though happy for her cousin and Kitty, was anything but joyous.  It had been two days since she had placed that advert in the paper, and she could not help wondering if he had seen it and if the joy she had seen on Kitty’s face today would ever be hers.

“You look tired,” said Lady Sophia coming to stand near her niece in Netherfield’s drawing room.

Anne gave a small shrug.  “I am. I suppose.”

“A bit of air might be just the thing.”  Lady Sophia sent a footman scurrying with the request for both her wrap and Anne’s. “It was a lovely wedding breakfast, was it not?”

Anne nodded.

“I have only two nieces left to see happy.”  The look she gave Anne was gentle.  “I will see them both happy, will I not?”

Anne shook her head.  “I cannot say,” she whispered.  She pulled her lips into a smile that she did not feel.  “I shall attempt to be happy.  If I can spend time with you and my cousins and their wives, I think I can be at least content.”  She shook her head again. “If I have to spend all my time with my mother, I will be neither content nor happy — although perhaps I will learn to enjoy her company.”

“You will not marry another?”  It was the third time since entering the carriage yesterday that her aunt had asked the question.

“I will not.” She took the wrap from her maid and putting it on, followed her aunt into the garden.  It was a bright and cool day.  The freshness of the air felt good as she drew a deep breath.

“Not for security or position?”  Lady Sophia wound her arm around Anne’s and pulled her close as they walked to a bench surrounded by some early blooms and protected by a hedge.

“If I found myself destitute, I might,” replied Anne, “but I do not see that happening.  I have you, Uncle Reginald, and my cousins, who I know would come to my aid.”

Lady Sophia patted Anne’s hand.  “That we would.  But, I must say this is a great change for you, is it not — to be dependent on another and under their power?”

“None of you would ever harm me.”  Anne took a seat on the bench.  “You love me far too much to allow it.”

Lady Sophia smiled but did not sit next to Anne.   “We do, and I am glad you have come to realize it.”  She turned to look down the path.  “Your father loved your mother, you know,” she said softly glancing back at Anne.  “He applied to my father three times before his offer was accepted.”  Her shoulders rose and fell with a great breath.  “I believe my sister cared for him, but there were stipulations placed on the agreement.  My brother, Lord Matlock, was not the best at balancing wants with income.  He has since improved, but I would not trust him with my money.”  She took a seat next to Anne.  “It is not his strength.  My father knew this and used the love your father had for my sister to coerce an agreement of support should support become necessary — an inevitable event.  You know, of course, how appearance is important to your mother. I can only image the begging and threatening that might have taken place if you father had not wished to give my brother what he requested.”  She took Anne’s hand.  “I would guess that my imagination was not wrong in this?”

Anne shook her head.  “There were many loud discussions.”  Her reply was soft, and Lady Sophia bent closer to hear it.

“I am sorry to hear that.”

Anne looked at her aunt.  “Did my mother ever love my father?”

Lady Sophia shook her head.  “I do not know, my dear.  I certainly never saw it. There was an admiration and concern, but nothing of the giving of one’s very soul to the other as I had with my husband.”  She sighed.  “That is where the issue lay — not with rank or fortune.  Do you understand?”

Anne nodded.

~~~*~

Her Heart’s Choice is book 4 in the Choices series.


Music Monday: Not a Day Goes By, Lonestar

“Not a Day Goes By – Lonestar Lyrics.” Video created for and uploaded to YouTube by Bek M., 05 Apr. 2013.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

I think I found Alex’s song this week while listening to whatever YouTube brought up for me to listen to. (I do that sometimes to find new songs or ones that I had forgotten about.)

For the past six years, Alex has carried his memories of the woman he loves in his heart. Now, he is trying to convince her that he is worthy of her. He has not understood her refusal — until now…

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

“It is understandable.  It has been six years and ours was but a passing acquaintance.”  He dropped his eyes to his plate.  “I’ve not had the opportunity to forget you,” he said it softly.

She heard the accusation in Mr. Lester’s tone and looked at Alex, who shrugged.  “I spoke often of home and since you were part of those memories, I fear Lester has heard of you often.”

Anne smiled and then focused on the vegetables on her plate.  Such comments were definitely not keeping her safe, no matter how closely she sat to any of her cousins or their wives.  He had spoken of her and thought of her — often. She wondered if it had been as often as she had thought of him and if he had thought of her in a flattering way or a vengeful way.  The thought startled her.  Perhaps he wished to marry her, not because he still loved her, but because he wished to repay her for shunning him.  Perhaps he did not wish to marry her at all. Perhaps he wished for her to wish to marry him so that he might toss her aside. She stabbed a carrot particularly hard. The tines of her fork made a horrid scraping sound on her plate, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.  She chewed the offending vegetable slowly and thoroughly before attempting to continue any sort of conversation.

Carrot conquered and embarrassment partially faded, she made a second attempt at small talk.  “I would tell you of my uncles, but I believe you already know how they do.  Well,” she waved a hand in Darcy’s direction and looked toward Rycroft, “at least the ones who remain.”  Her cheeks flushed again.  She had not meant for the comment to sound as unfeeling as it did.  “I mean to say we have had a great deal of loss in our family over the past six years.  Rycroft’s father, Darcy’s, my own.”  She hated how her voice always caught whenever she mentioned her father’s death.  It had been nearly six years, when would it ever become a topic of which she could speak without that feeling of despair gripping her heart as it did.

“I was sorry to hear of your father’s passing,” Alex said softly.

“Thank you.” She bowed her head so that she could not see the understanding in his eyes.  Of course, he knew how dearly she had loved her father, for she had spoken of it to him on more than one occasion.

Alex watched her fidget with the napkin in her lap and draw silent deep breaths and as he did so, he began to reason out her refusal just a bit as a particular conversation came to mind, a conversation that had caused her to act as she was now.

“He wanted to take me to Bath to see the assembly rooms, and I wished for him to take the waters, but my mother will not allow it,” she had fumed as they road the length of a long field near Rosings.

The comment had shocked him. Anne’s father had been ill for several month — three, at least.  It did not appear to be anything grave or oversetting but rather a general attitude of malaise.

“Why?” he had asked.  

“My uncle requires assistance and so the money that father had set aside for our journey had to be given to my uncle.” 

She had fidgetted with the reins in her hands and drawn several deep breaths as quietly as she was now. Then she had continued.

“Lord Matlock must not be refused.  He is an earl after all, and my father is merely a baronet. The will of one comes before and at the expense of the other.” She shrugged.  “It is just the way things are and will always be.”

She had then clucked to her horse and galloped ahead of him and the topic was at an end.  She would not return to it, no matter how many times and in how many ways he had attempted to broach it again.

Alex leaned close to his friend and whispered.  “I had not considered when playing how a pawn might feel being used at the expense of the more powerful pieces on the board.”

Jonathan’s brows furrowed.

Alex tipped his head toward Anne, just slightly.  “I was thinking of how you accused me of protecting my knight above all, and I began to consider how the other pieces might view such treatment.  The pawns would think nothing of it as that is the way of rank.”  He shrugged.  “Perhaps, I might win more games if I treated the pawns as carefully as I did the pieces of rank such as the knight.”

Jonathan’s brows remained furrowed.

“I am sure you will see what I mean eventually,” said Alex turning back to his meal.

~*~*~*~

Her Heart’s Choice it the fourth book in the Choices Series.


Music Monday: Amy Vachal “Bye, Bye, Bye”

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.

 


Music Monday: All This Time

“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.”


Music Monday: Kiss the Rain, Yiruma

YirumaVEVO. “Yiruma, (이루마) – Kiss the Rain.” YouTube, 09 Feb. 2012.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

I admit the song and story link this week is a bit of a stretch. It has been raining and there is rain in the story excerpt below, so I went looking for a song about rain.  While I think that the most appropriate song for this excerpt would be Rain, Rain Go Away, I chose to go with the song above which is beautiful and is now part of my Music to Write By playlist.

FYI: This song does have lyrics that are rather sad.  If you would like to see a video with the lyrics to assuage your curiosity (like I had to) here is a link:

Kiss the Rain Lyric Video

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

Alex paced the length of the green sitting room at Brownlow’s townhouse.  Then, he peered through the window before turning and pacing the length in the opposite direction.  “Blasted rain,” he muttered for the fourteenth time in the last half hour.  There would be no riding in the park and no sitting on the step at Matlock House today.  And at present, he did not know where she would be this evening.  He had hoped to discover that bit of information when he saw her at the park.

“Blasted rain.” He inhaled deeply and rapidly and then exhaled just as quickly, as he turned to make yet another circuit of the sitting room.

“It is not necessary to wear holes in one’s boots before purchasing a new pair,” said Rycroft coming into the room. “Brownlow will be along soon.”  He took a seat near the window.  “I have come to learn that you are in town to marry my cousin.”  He tossed his right leg over his left knee.

Alex stopped his pacing, tilted his head, and gave Rycroft an appraising look. “That is the plan if the rain ever stops.”

“Ah, yes, rain will put a damper on outdoor plans such as riding?”  Rycroft raised a brow and steepled his fingers together in front of him. He smiled as he achieved the full attention of the man who was still wearing a path along the length of the room.  “My uncle.”  He chuckled.  “And my mother.  They seem to like you.  I can’t imagine there is much more that I need to know about you that my uncle has not already told me.  He does not shower praise to earn friends.  He only speaks highly of those he deems worthy. It seems you are worthy.”  Rycroft shifted slightly in his chair.  “I almost feel jealous, for I do not believe I have ever earned such accolades as you have.”

Alex shook his head.  “I do not know why he feels I deserve them.”

“You saved his horse,”  Jonathan said from the corner and then turned his attention back to his book.  “And your as upstanding as any man ever was, which is one of the reasons so many of us stand with you even when we do not agree with you. You are annoyingly correct.”  He muttered the last bit in a tone that was very close to a growl.

“Have you met Mr. Lester?” Alex asked Rycroft.

“Not officially, but my uncle could not speak of you without speaking of him.  You, Mr. Lester, also seem to hold my uncle’s good opinion.”

Jonathan inclined his head in acceptance.  “That is Madoch’s fault,” he said with a smile, “as is most of the good fortune I have met in my life.”  He stood, placed his book on the table, and bowed.  “Jonathan Lester at your service, Lord Rycroft.”

“Please,” Rycroft waved the man back to his chair, “I do not stand on ceremony among friends, and since my uncle has spoken so highly of you both, I intend for us to be friends, unless there is an objection.”

“You will get none from me,” said Alex, finally taking a seat.

“Which means you will also get no objection from me.”  Jonathan picked up his book again and ignored the pointed glare that Alex was giving him.  “Not that I would have objected if I had been able to form my own opinion.”

“Read your book before I sack you.” Alex growled.

Jonathan chuckled and opened his book.  “That is not possible. I am invaluable, you know.”

“Read your book,” Alex growled again.

Rycroft eyed the two.  He had learned that one employed the other but that before that they had been best of friends and inseparable. According to his uncle, Madoch was the man with the grand ideas and Lester the one with the skills to assist in seeing them accomplished.

“Would you care for a game?” Madoch motioned to the chess set at the far end of the room.  “I admit to being unable to sit unoccupied for any great length of time.”

“Especially when there is a plan that is being thwarted by rain,” Jonathan added from behind his book.

Madoch sighed.  “Especially then.”

“You remind me of my cousin,” said Rycroft rising from his chair.  “It was one thing at which I could best him.  Richard and I use to challenge Darcy to a game of sitting.  We would pick a place and an object to observe and then see who could hold their position the longest.  I never won — Richard always did — but I also never lost.  Darcy was always the first to quit the field claiming he had something that needed his attention.”  Rycroft arranged his pieces on the board.  “However, place a book or a tiring pile of estate papers before him, and he will out sit me every time.”  He chuckled.  “This is one game in which I hesitate to ever accept his challenge.”