It is late on Monday night, and I have just finished writing this week’s chapter. I am going to reread it tomorrow so that I can make sure the majority of the mistakes are fixed before I share it. So, there will be a His Sensible Heart post this week, but it will just be later than normal.
I will, however, be taking the next two weeks off from posting on my blog (other than a Music Monday post) to spend time with my family and to enjoy the holidays. (I do apologize for having to break at a point in the story where things are getting a bit messy 😉 ).
I’ll be back later today (Tuesday) with that chapter of the story for you.
“What shall we do tonight?” he asked the chair across from him. “Mrs. Nichols knows about the ball…” He drummed his fingers on the arms of the chairs. “We could read.” His nose wrinkled at the thought. “No, I do not wish to read either,” he said as if agreeing with his non-existent companion. He was far too restless to read tonight.
from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball
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Published to YouTube The Alena31 on February 13, 2011.
I was listening to this song last week — watching this video, actually — and it brought to mind Jack and Georgiana’s story. I think you’ll recognize why this story came to mind when you read the chapter I am sharing below. 🙂
Enticing Miss Darcy, Chapter 3
“I am expected?” Jack asked with a surreptitious glance toward Georgiana.
“Not so much expected as hoped for,” Lady Margaret said with a smile. “Now, come sit here, my boy.” She motioned to a chair that was between her and her granddaughter.
“We are always pleased to have you call, Mr. Ralston,” Elizabeth said as she rose to pour the tea.
Jack did not miss the relieved look that passed between Georgiana and Mrs. Darcy. Perhaps not everyone was hoping to see him as much as Lady Margaret implied.
“I am always delighted to be accepted into your drawing room,” he replied. “It is the expected thing for a gentleman to call upon a lady after a soiree, is it not? They have not changed the rules of propriety and politeness on me since last season, have they?”
Lady Margaret chuckled. “They have not.”
“It is lovely of you to have called,” Georgiana added. “Did you enjoy the ball last evening?”
Jack inclined his head indicating that he had enjoyed himself. Calls, even when made at the home of someone whom you knew, were not particularly enjoyable. The conversation was always so stilted – for propriety’s sake and all that nonsense.
“It was a very enjoyable evening, although I did leave with emptier pockets than when I arrived.” His lips quirked up into a half-smirk. “Not that I minded so much. I had every intention of leaving my money with Mrs. Pratt.”
Hugh Thomson (1860-1920) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. [ Image at the beginning of Chapter 56. Lady Catherine de Bourgh comes to visit Elizabeth. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. London: George Allen, 1894.]
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“Darcy, what is the meaning of this?” Lady Catherine waved at the dog who was sniffing her shoes. “I nearly fell! It is not a proper way to be greeted. Not at all. Go on with you. Leave me be,” she said to Dash, and Dash being the dog that he was, cocked his head to the side, looking up at her, and moved not an inch.
[from Loving Lydia, book 3 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
After having eaten, Darcy made his way to Anne’s small sitting room. He paused outside the door for a moment, blew out a breath, drew another, and though his heart would not remain beating at the pace he wished it would but instead insisted on increasing its rhythm, he stepped into the room. Anne lay peacefully at one end. She looked no less fragile in death than she had in life.
“Aunt Catherine,” he said softly. He knew that though Anne looked as if she were sleeping, she was not, but still, he kept his voice low as speaking any louder seemed wrong.
His aunt looked up from her work of tying black ribbons around small packages. “I have one for you, Darcy.” She searched her basket and pulled out a larger item. It was wrapped in lavender cloth and tied with the same black ribbon she was using on her current project. “I selected a few items for you that I know she cherished.” She held the gift out to him. “She is still beautiful, is she not?”
Darcy turned his head to look once again at Anne. “Yes,” he answered. Anne’s was not a classical beauty but one of delicacy like a fine piece of china.
