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.
