Music Monday: Bring You Home (Ronan Keating)

PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY RONANKEATINGOFFICIAL ON JULY 29, 2018.

Today’s music video is not a video at all but just an audio version of this song. However, please listen to the lyrics, and if you have read So Very Unexpected, imagine Marcus singing this to Lydia. Is it not the most perfect song for them?

I think the chapter below highlights how Marcus feels about Lydia even though he has just met her and literally brought her “home” to her family. He’s not going to let her fall into a desperate situation. He will be there to help her. Of course, he (and Lydia) just think he’s being a friend, but hey, this is a romance story, so you know it’s going to develop into something more. However, that willingness to see that Lydia is well is not going to change, in fact, he will add to it a determination to see her become all that she can be, and along the way, he will become not just her friend but also her safe place and her champion.

So Very Unexpected, Chapter 4

“Lydia, do be serious,” Elizabeth chided before anyone else could say a word.

“I can replace it.” Ignoring her sister, Lydia continued with her explanation. Of course, Elizabeth would not understand. Elizabeth never did anything foolish enough to be punished by their father. In fact, he had never once called Elizabeth dull or silly. No, to their father, Elizabeth was quick and clever. “I will go without most of my pin money, and I am not without skills. I could take in some sewing.”

Lydia saw the look of disbelief on Elizabeth’s face and could not ignore the stinging of her sister’s words any longer. “Mr. Wickham is not what you think, Lizzy. If you knew what he was like, you would not wish him upon me. I was not taken in by him as you were.” She smiled inwardly at the stricken look on Elizabeth’s face. “I may look like I am not paying attention at times, but I assure you, I am listening. I have heard plenty of tales about Mr. Wickham.”

“Then why did you choose him to accompany you?” demanded Elizabeth.

Lydia sighed. “Because he knows where Derbyshire is, and he is weak enough to be led. I should think you would be able to piece that together.” She knew there was a cutting edge to her voice, but she did not care. Lizzy was Papa’s favourite. “I am not so stupid as you think.” A hand took hers.

“I do not think Lydia’s plan is completely without merit,” said Marcus, squeezing Lydia’s hand tightly. “Wickham has been bought off before. I am sure he could be once again.” He returned the small smile Lydia gave him.

“I do not have access at a moment’s notice to produce your portion,” said Mr. Bennet. “And to replace it will take a great deal of time.”

Lydia nodded. “I know. I shall wait to marry.”

“A great deal of time,” repeated Mr. Bennet.

Lydia swallowed and nodded once again. The thought of remaining at home for longer than any of her sisters presented itself. Well, perhaps she would not remain at home as long as Mary, but — oh, to be just she and Mary and Mama with a father who thought her of little use beyond a good joke was not a pleasant thought! However, the prospect could not be avoided. She would not be marrying Wickham. And there was a small hope. Her looks might save her from such a dire fate as remaining home too long. She was pretty, so it might be possible to capture a man’s attention without having any money. Mama had said it of Jane, and Mr. Dobney had said it was possible.

“Lydia,” Jane’s soft and soothing voice interrupted her thoughts, “are you certain that this is what you wish?”

“What I wish is to not marry Mr. Wickham,” Lydia replied. “So, if this is the only solution, then, yes, it is what I wish.”

“It is a lot of money,” said Jane.

“I know.” Lydia gave Jane a sad smile. “I only hope it is enough. His debts are significant.”

“You know of his debts?” Marcus asked in surprise.

“I have a list,” said Lydia. “I told you; I listened. It is how I knew that he needed to cheat Denny out of some money. Captain Hopwood was growing impatient to be paid. And since Colonel Forester does not look favourably on his men having such large debts, cheating Denny and risking a fist fight was more appealing than whatever punishment Colonel Forester would have dealt him.”

“A flogging, no doubt,” mutter Captain Harris.

“No doubt,” agreed Lydia. “There are several others who will soon be as impatient as Captain Hopwood. Depending on rank and pay, it seems a month or two is the longest any officer will wait to be repaid by another.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled. “You have been paying attention then, have you not?” He crossed one leg over the other. He rested easily in his chair and wore a rather amused look. It was decidedly different from the serious expressions worn by everyone else. “Colonel Forester might be interested in your list.”

Lydia blinked. Of course, why had she not thought of that? A list such as hers might be useful in negotiations. “Do you think we could use it to make Mr. Wickham go away?” She asked the colonel eagerly.

“More blackmail?” asked Marcus, a slight note of trepidation in his voice.

Lydia shook her head and looked at him. “No, blackmail is too ugly a word. I like to think of it as a bit of persuasion or a small guarantee of cooperation. ”

“Blackmail,” Marcus repeated.

Lydia shook her head again. “Persuasion.” She looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I could copy my list and give it to you.”

“Copy it?” Marcus closed his eyes and grimaced as her lovely hazel-coloured eyes looked at him as if he should already know why the document should be copied. He was certain there was some scheming reason for it, not that he could readily think of one. He really did need to think more before he spoke. He also needed to release her hand, which he still held. Both seemed things he was incapable of doing at present.

“Of course,” Lydia said in surprise, “one does not give away such information without retaining a small guarantee for herself that the information will not be lost and never used.” How was it that no one thought of these things but her? Surely, it was not such a difficult thing to think.

“It is what I would do,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Lydia was beginning to like the colonel, even if he was rather short and not so very handsome. He seemed willing to consider her as something other than just a silly girl, and that alone made him quite likable and worthy of at least a moment’s consideration. She studied him more carefully. His build was muscular and pleasing, and his hair was a respectable honey colour. However, there were little lines near his eyes. He must be at least thirty, which was really too old. But he seemed pleasant. “Then you would like a copy?”

“Indeed,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam. There was a glint of excited satisfaction in his eye. She knew that the colonel had not appeared welcoming to Wickham when in Brighton. Perhaps Colonel Fitzwilliam would prove to be a valuable ally, regardless of his relationship to the always proper Mr. Darcy. Lydia cast a glance in Darcy’s direction. He was listening intently, but he did not seem as dour as she might have expected. Perhaps that could be credited to his dislike of Wickham.

“And this will save your reputation?” Mr. Bennet spoke in disbelief. “Do you have such articles of persuasion for all of Brighton and whomever else might have heard your story?”

Lydia’s shoulders drooped, and her brows furrowed. She had been so focused on Wickham that she had forgotten that problem. “I left a note. If Mrs. Forrester were to find it…”

“A convenient coincidence after the fact?” Mr. Bennet’s voice was softening. “You know how the gossips work. True or not, it will only fan the flames of a juicy tale.”

Lydia looked from the serious face of her father to equally serious faces of her uncle and Mr. Abbot before looking at her sisters. So this is how it was? Could no one present a plausible solution? Were they all just hoping to be done with her? She shook her head and stood.

“I shall not marry him.” She pulled her hand from Marcus’s and closed her eyes against the pain that she felt in her heart. “You will have to send me away.” The words were barely a whisper. “A new name, in a new place….” She swallowed and blinked her eyes rapidly to keep the tears from falling. “Perhaps I could find a position…” She paused again trying to control her emotions, but it was no use, they would not be controlled. She shook her head as the tears began to fall. “I cannot marry him,” she whispered before fleeing the room.

Mr. Bennet began to rise to follow after her.

“No, Papa. I will go,” said Jane.

“I do not wish to see her tied to that man, but what can be done?”

Jane patted his hand. “We might think of something.”

Mr. Bennet nodded, but the look on his face spoke of his disbelief.

“Another suitor?” suggested Bingley. “Perhaps if there were another gentleman willing to marry her? Would that not lessen the gossip? It was only thought that she had run off with Wickham.”

“She has been with few others,” said Captain Harris. He smiled ruefully. “It would be easy for anyone at Brighton to believe her gone off with Wickham. She batted her lashes at him often enough.”

Mr. Bennet sighed.

Marcus glared at his cousin. How could he speak so meanly of Lydia? She was obviously more than a flirt. She was undeniably pretty, and he had no doubt she was quite capable of flirting. In fact, she had attempted it once or twice while they were on their walk today. It was a tactic, he realized, she was using in an effort to sway his opinion. Even in her flirting, she was clever. Could no one see that? “There must be a way,” he muttered. “She cannot marry him. If you knew his character…”

“I do,” said Mr. Bennet, casting a glance toward Darcy. “I am very well aware of his character, but I see no way to save her reputation.”

“There must be a way,” Marcus muttered again as he stood. “Give us some time to think,” he suggested. “Surely, one of us might come up with a solution.” He waited long enough to get Mr. Bennet’s assurance that they would not make any decisions just yet, then he left the room. He needed a good ride. He thought better when he rode. However, before he left Willow Hall, he asked Mrs. Smith if he might have a paper and pen so that he could leave a message for Miss Lydia.

Miss Lydia,

I will not allow you to marry him. Please do not run away. I hope to call on you tomorrow. Perhaps I will arrive at a solution by then. If you do choose to run, have the grooms direct you to Woodhead Cottage, so that I might find you. I am enclosing the key.

He signed the message and wrapped it around the key for the cottage that he had used this morning to lock it up. Then, with an assurance from Mrs. Smith that both the message and the key would be given to Miss Lydia, he bid the housekeeper farewell and left Willow Hall.

He walked toward the stables but stopped when he had only reached the halfway point. Imagining he had heard his name called, he turned and looked toward the house. Again, he thought he heard his name. Ah, in the window.

Lydia stood at the window and called twice to Marcus as he left. In her hand, she clutched his letter tightly. The key was safely tucked in her pocket. Seeing him turn, she called again. Finally, as he lifted his eyes to her window, she waved. She also smiled at him, although she was sure he could not see it. A friend. She had found a friend — not one who wished to use her for introductions to gentlemen or advice on what to wear or how to trim a hat — no, she had found a real friend — one who wished to see her safe and well. It was both a strange and a delightful feeling.

Marcus waved in return and gave her a shallow bow before turning and continuing on his way. She would be safe. He nodded in agreement with himself. He would see that she was safe, for, despite her fits of displeasure and her wandering trail of thought, he enjoyed her company. He paused and looked back at her window once more.

“Your horse, Mr. Dobney.”

A groom interrupted his contemplation of his pretty, yet vexing, new friend. “Thank you, James.” He paused before mounting. “Do you know the way to Woodhead Cottage?”

“Of course, sir.”

“And you will be here all night?”

The groom nodded.

“If Miss Lydia decides to leave Willow Hall, lead her to Woodhead Cottage and then find me. Do not tell anyone here that she has gone before you tell me.”

The groom nodded.

“There will be something in it for you, of course.” Marcus swung up onto his horse. “And before you leave her at the cottage, remind her to lock the door. Oh, and see to it that the fire is lit. There will be wood beside the door.”

“Of course, Mr. Dobney.”

“And you will come see me first before you tell anyone here that she is gone?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very good.” He gave a nod to the groom and set off to prepare his cottage for its potential visitor.

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Oh, I do love Marcus and Lydia’s story. I hope that if you have not yet read it, that you will give it a try. It is currently marked down to $0.99 USD (other currencies also reduced) until Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Find So Very Unexpected at your favourite retailer.

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