PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY PETER HOLLENS ON DECEMBER 14, 2014.
Christmas is almost here at the Brown residence. It won’t be an elaborate day of festivities. We tend to take a low key approach to the holiday. There will be presents — just a few, but not many — which we will unwrap once we ease our way into the day at a rather late hour. This will be followed by a Christmas breakfast with far too many indulgent items, and then later in the day, we will have a turkey dinner. It’s a lovely, relaxing day of rest for us — unless, of course, my husband has a job which must be completed when businesses are closed.
(He owns a cleaning business, and I have sat reading a book in the car as I waited for him to put a coat of wax on a floor before taking a drive to look at the Christmas lights while that coat of wax dries. Then, he’ll slip in another coat before we head home.)
For the next couple of weeks, I am intending to take it a bit easier than I normally do. I will still be writing and editing and such but at a more relaxed pace.
For that reason, there won’t be a writing news section for next week’s Monday post. This weekend, I plan to schedule a music video and something extra whether that is a chapter of a story from one of my books or a video that I found interesting for next Monday. Basically, there will be something here for you, even if I don’t know at this moment exactly what it will be. 🙂
I will also be scheduling the Wednesday and Thursday posts so that those are also off my to-do list for this coming week. We would not want to miss a week of Kitty and Lorcan’s story, now would we? 🙂 I’ll still reply to comments so feel free to leave them.
The current Tuesday story ends this week, and I won’t be posting a new one until sometime in January (because I still have not started it 🙂 It’s on the to-do list for today — I am writing this on Friday. UPDATE: The first chapter has been written!)
The writing I will be doing during my holiday “break” will be on Kitty’s story (I am up to chapter 9 on that one now) and on His Irreplaceable Belle (that’s the title of Mr. Norman’s story which I have not yet started).
The editing I will be doing will be for Her Secret Beau. I am about halfway through my final read of that story. I expect to have that story ready for publication in January.
I have three books that are on sale and will remain on sale until January 2, 2020. I’ll likely stick a reminder about that in next week’s Monday post as well — you know, in case, someone is fortunate enough to get a gift card for buying books as a Christmas gift. 🙂 (I love getting those kinds of gifts.)
And that is it for my writing news for 2019. It’s been a good year, and I am so grateful to all of you who have kept up with my posts here on my blog. I hope you have a wonderful end to 2019 and a blessed start to 2020.
Today, I am going to leave you with a chapter from A Scandal in Springtime because it is the final book in the series I currently have on sale which I have not yet shared a chapter from. However, this time, I am not sharing the first chapter of the story. I am sharing Chapter 3, which is where our heroine and hero finally run into each other — quite literally. 😉
Chapter 3
“You read very well.”
“Thank you,” Kitty said with a smile for the pretty young lady who had joined her and Mrs. Verity in the younger children’s room while Kitty was reading.
“If Miss Linton is here,” said Mrs. Verity, “then it must be time for tea. Shall we retire to my office or the drawing room?” She gave a nod to the children’s teacher, who immediately came to take Kitty’s book and to send the children to the tables.
“The drawing room,” Miss Linton said.
“Excellent choice,” Mrs. Verity agreed. “We shall finish our tour after we have had some tea,” she assured Kitty before leading them out the door and down the hall toward the front of the house. “The drawing room is set aside for our guests.”
She thanked the butler, who she called Smith, for opening the drawing-room door and then asked him to see that tea was brought in directly.
Kitty followed behind Miss Linton and took a seat next to her by the window.
“Miss Linton, now that there are no children gathered around our feet, allow me to introduce you to Miss Bennet. Her uncle is Mr. Gardiner, and he has allowed me the privilege of keeping her for a short time while he conducts some business.”
Mrs. Verity had a very pleasant manner, for she made Kitty feel entirely at ease with just a few words.
“And Miss Bennet, this is Miss Linton, who volunteers here at least twice each week at present, but she will soon marry, and then that will change.”
“You are betrothed?” It seemed to Kitty as if everyone she was going to meet today was happily matched. Perhaps she had arrived in London too late in the season.
“I am,” Miss Linton answered.
“Mr. Crawford, Miss Linton’s betrothed is a particular friend of Mr. Edwards, whom you met earlier.”
“Oh.” It was all Kitty could think to say as she wondered if this Mr. Crawford was also a rake like his friend.
Miss Linton did not appear to be the sort of lady who would court a rogue. She sat just as she should, and she had not once spoken out of turn or put herself forward.
“Since December, I have been very successful in seeing three ladies, who have come to volunteer here, happily betrothed,” Mrs. Verity said with a laugh. “Not that any of it was my doing, of course. I just happened to be fortunate enough to meet them. I am no matchmaker. However, I might begin to think of myself as good luck, especially if we can see Miss Bennet well-matched.”
“Oh, that would be lovely,” Kitty agreed. “I should like to find a husband. It is why my mother has sent me to town, and why Mr. Darcy is taking me to soirees.”
“Miss Bennet is Mrs. Darcy’s sister,” Mrs. Verity said to Miss Linton. “And, she has three other sisters, is that not correct?”
“Indeed, it is,” Kitty said. “Jane is the oldest and has married Mr. Bingley.” She paused for a moment as Mrs. Verity instructed the maid in how to set up the tea.
The young girl was likely just learning how to perform the service as an older, more experienced looking maid stood behind her.
Once the tea was successfully arranged, Kitty continued while Mrs. Verity poured.
“Mr. Bingley is Mr. Darcy’s particular friend, and I must say, he is likely one of the most amiable gentlemen in all of England. After Jane, is Elizabeth. She is now Mrs. Darcy. And then, there is Mary, me, and Lydia. Mary shall have her turn in town at Christmas. She was ill, and so I was sent in her place.”
“I hope it was nothing serious,” Miss Linton said.
Kitty shook her head. “Just a mild fever and sore throat. Mary is very good about taking all her medicine, so I am certain she will be well before Mama’s first letter arrives.”
“That is good, then,” Miss Linton took a sip of her tea. “Are you all very close in age? I only have a brother and have always thought it would be lovely to have a sister.”
“It is not always lovely,” Kitty replied, causing Mrs. Verity to chuckle. “In fact,” Kitty continued, “I will likely sound dreadful for admitting it, but it has been rather pleasant to be at Aunt and Uncle Gardiner’s without a single sister. I love them dearly, but well, yes, we are all close in age, and it is sometimes trying to be noticed. Or, at least, it is for me. And Mary.”
“But not your other sisters?” Miss Linton asked.
“Jane is beautiful. Lizzy possesses a quick wit and is second in beauty to Jane. And Lydia?” Kitty smiled. “Lydia will not be overlooked. It is just not possible.”
“Miss Lydia is lively, is she?” Mrs. Verity asked.
“Oh, very!” Kitty’s youngest sister was nearly always in a state of animation about something.
She turned to Miss Linton. “I have no brothers,” Kitty said. “What is it like to have one?”
“I suppose it depends on the brother,” Miss Linton said. “Mine is my guardian.”
Kitty sucked in a quick breath. How sad!
“He has my aunt to help him. Not that he would need much help. Trefor is exacting and excessively proper, which suits me quite well most times. However, he can occasionally be a trifle too unwavering. That is where Aunt Gwladys’ help becomes invaluable.”
“Will you miss them greatly when you marry?” Kitty knew she would miss her mother and sisters. Longbourn had felt odd without either Jane or Elizabeth there. How lonely Mama and Papa would be once they were all married!
Miss Linton drew and released a breath as if taking off a heavy mantle. “I will, and I would feel much better about leaving them both if Trefor were to marry. But he says he is not ready for that.”
“That is what they all say until they have met just the right lady,” Mrs. Verity inserted.
“He has not met the right lady then,” Miss Linton said with a laugh. “Not that my aunt has not done her best to suggest which lady might be right for him.” She turned back to Kitty after placing her cup on the table. “Trefor is also a good friend of Mr. Crawford and Mr. Edwards.”
“How…” Kitty clamped her lips shut. She should not ask what she wished to know. She was attempting to be proper while in town and being inquisitive about things which were not necessary for her to know was not proper. Mary had told her that many times.
“That is a good question,” Miss Linton replied with a smile. “I have always wondered why they became friends, but I suppose it goes back to school days before either Mr. Crawford or Mr. Edwards took up their charming ways.”
The need to ask about Mr. Crawford was nearly overwhelming.
“You may ask what you will,” Miss Linton said. “I can see that you are curious about something.” She leaned a bit closer to Kitty. “I will admit to being improperly inquisitive on occasion – especially when there is something of interest about which I wish to learn. Trefor is forever scolding me about asking him things he thinks are not appropriate. So, please ask me whatever it is you wish to know.”
“Are you certain?” Kitty asked. “I am attempting to behave as well as I can, but I must confess it is not easy to quell one’s curiosity.”
“I am positive.” Miss Linton looked expectantly at her, making Kitty feel somewhat better about asking what she was about to ask.
“My uncle said that Mr. Edwards was a rake…” Kitty ran a finger around the rim of her cup. “So, I was thinking, if he is a rake and you have said both he and Mr. Crawford are charming, does that mean Mr. Crawford is — was — also one?”
Miss Linton nodded. “He was, but his unscrupulous ways led him to heartbreak which, in turn, led him to wish to change his ways and that, led him to ask me to help him.” She shrugged, and a smug grin settled on her lips. “I did a very good job of teaching him how to be a proper gentleman, and my friend was nearly as successful with Mr. Edwards, although I do not suppose Mr. Edwards will ever be entirely proper.”
This was all very fascinating and novel information.
“I had thought that rakes were not capable of changing.” Was that not what Mama had declared over and over after Mr. Wickham had been sent away?
Her daughters were to beware of such fellows for they were only ever capable of leading a lady to misery.
Of course, Mama had not been able to answer Mary’s question about how to know if a gentleman was merely amiable or was a charmer, so between not knowing that and now knowing what she knew about Mr. Crawford and Mr. Edwards, it seemed, there was still much Kitty needed to learn about such gentlemen.
“I would like to think that no one is incapable of change,” Mrs. Verity said. “However, it does seem an impossibility for some. I think, and this is only my supposition, of course, but to me, it seems that both Mr. Crawford and Mr. Edwards were not without a good heart buried under their deviant ways. For, if they were corrupted through and through, I doubt they could have retained Mr. Linton’s friendship.”
“I am sure you are correct,” Miss Linton agreed. “As a rule, my brother is not very tolerant of improper behavior.”
“From what I understand,” Mrs. Verity continued, “change was not without some degree of pain for either of them.” She placed her empty cup on the table. “Which, in my opinion, is as it should be. One must suffer the consequences of one’s poor decisions to some extent, depending upon how much the good Lord requires.”
She pushed up from her chair. “Shall we complete our tour now, Miss Bennet? And then, when we are finished, we will join Miss Linton again while we await your uncle.”
For the next twenty minutes, Kitty followed Mrs. Verity up stairs and down corridors, looking into various rooms and hearing the purpose of each.
When the upper levels had been seen in nearly their entirety, save for the one room where two boys named Arthur and Stephen were receiving instruction from Mr. Edwards, Kitty and Mrs. Verity descended into the basement to view the kitchen.
The aroma of roasting meat mixed with that of the fresh bread on the workbench as Kitty stood listening to Mrs. Verity explain how the girls would begin their lessons in the scullery before moving up to assist the cook. Despite the biscuit Kitty had eaten with her tea, her stomach could not ignore the tantalizing smells around her and protested her lack of indulgence in those tasty morsels by rumbling.
Mrs. Verity smiled. “I think a few treats might be nice to have while we sew.” She took a tin from the cupboard and handed it to Kitty. “I need to speak to the cook for a moment. Do you remember the way to the drawing room? If not, you may wait here.”
“No, I remember.”
“Then, will you think me very rude to send you up to Miss Linton without me?”
“Not at all,” Kitty assured her. “I would be delighted to be of service.”
Mrs. Verity patted Kitty’s forearm, gave her a warm smile, and then, turned back to her cook, who was waiting with a book of receipts in hand, while Kitty made her way out of the kitchen, past the servant’s hall and the butler’s rooms to the stairs that led up to the ground floor.
She was just about to enter the drawing room when the door opened, and a gentleman stepped out. Perhaps if she had not been so distracted by how tall and broad he was or by his light brown hair that fell in waves, she might have been able to move out of his way before he crashed into her. But, sadly, she had been distracted by the handsome stranger, and so it was that she ended up stumbling and nearly falling. Thankfully, she caught his arm and kept her feet. Unfortunately, the tin of biscuits was lost in the action. Biscuits tumbled across the floor as the tin clattered and skipped before coming to a stop.
“My apologies,” his voice was deep and wonderfully smooth. Kitty imagined it was what caramel might sound like if it had a voice – rich and sweet.
He bent and retrieved the biscuit tin which lay at his feet. “I shall gather the large pieces while you retrieve a broom, and I will be sure to tell Mrs. Verity that you were not at fault. You should not be punished for my clumsiness.”
Kitty’s mouth dropped open. He expected her to get a broom? Did he think she was a maid?
“I am sure I do not know where there is a broom.” She lifted her chin and affected her most Lydia-like look of disdain. How dare he think she was a servant! Could he not see that she was dressed in a proper lady’s blue day dress?
“You do not know where there is a broom?” He looked at her as if she was the most absurd person he had ever met. “How do you not know?”
“I do not know,” she said as she folded her arms, “because I, like you, am a guest here.”
His hand froze over the biscuit he was about to pick up. “You are a guest?” It sounded as if he were choking on the words which made Kitty smile as she answered, “yes.”
“Ah, Miss Bennet!” Mr. Edwards cried as he came down the stairs followed by two young boys. “How do I look?”
“Fully clothed,” she answered before she could stop the words from popping out of her mouth. Her cheeks burned as Mr. Edwards’ laughed. “And not any different than you did when you arrived,” she added. “I believe your students have done an excellent job.” Her insides fluttered and flopped with embarrassment. She had been doing so well at being proper until now.
“And these are the fine young fellows who have recreated such perfection,” Mr. Edwards said, motioning to the boys behind him. “This is Stephen on the right, and this is Arthur on the left. Lads, this is Mr. Gardiner’s niece, Miss Bennet.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet,” Arthur said.
Stephen nodded his head and muttered his agreement.
“I think he is a bit smitten with you,” Mr. Edwards, who had crossed the corridor to where Kitty was, whispered. “Not without reason,” he added.
Kitty did not know exactly what to say to such a thing but managed to stammer a thank you.
“Linton,” Mr. Edwards said to the gentleman picking up biscuits. “Here to collect your sister?”
“You are Miss Linton’s brother?” Kitty asked in surprise.
The gentleman rose from his crouched position as he nodded.
“You are not at all like her.”
“I think I am,” he said.
“She would not ask me to get a broom.”
Mr. Edwards chuckled.
“You were carrying a tin, and you’re wearing blue.”
Kitty’s mouth popped open, but she quickly closed it while she scowled at him. “And you are wearing black, does that make you a coachman?”
“I have no horses with me,” Trefor argued.
“And I have no broom.”
“I do, Miss Bennet,” Stephen said.
Kitty smiled at him. “Thank you. That is very thoughtful.” She took the broom from the lad and handed it to Mr. Linton. “Your broom,” she said, and then with a flip of her head, she stepped past him and into the drawing room.
~*~*~
That music video was amazing. I teared up at the beauty of that last scene. Man, that was good. Thanks for sharing it with us. Enjoy your time with your family. Those are the things that are important. The excerpt you shared was so cute. I love that scene. Blessings and have a blessed rest of the year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
You’re welcome. It made me misty-eyed as well. Merry Christmas!