Music Monday: Burn the Ships (For King and Country)

“Let me put a point on it for you, my dear sister. Had I not attended that last party at your persuasion and had I gone to Norfolk as I had planned, we might both be happily married. But,” he dropped her hand and held up a finger to mark his point, “you wished for me to see Mrs. Rushworth. You thought there would be great entertainment in it. Do not cast this debacle at Fanny’s feet. She was the only one in this whole sorry tale who was without guile. She refused me because she knew I was not worthy of her, and I was not — as anyone who reads a paper or sits in a drawing room with a cup of tea knows, I was not. And with that blackness attached to my name, I shall have a difficult enough go of it trying to find a lady of substance to accept me. To throw myself back into the society I kept before…” He shrugged and shook his head. “It would be foolish. Therefore, I will gladly welcome you and your friends at soirees such as this, but I will not be accepting any invitations to private parties, save for those held by Dr. and Mrs. Grant. I will call on them next week after I am truly settled in town.” He bowed to the gaping women and hastened out into the corridor.

[from Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy]

Published to YouTube by ForKingAndCountry on October 4, 2018.

Talk about cutting ties and burning the ship! Henry knew that he had to cut ties with his former life if he wished to make a lasting change. His sister Mary is going to have to do the same before she can be free to become her best self. Jane Austen tells us at the end of Mansfield Park:

…and Mary had had enough of her own friends, enough of vanity, ambition, love, and disappointment in the course of the last half-year, to be in need of the true kindness of her sister’s heart, and the rational tranquillity of her ways.

In the excerpt that follows my writing news, Mary has gotten to the point of having had enough of her friends, enough of vanity, ambition, love, and disappointment, and she is ready to move on with new friends toward a happier, more contented life.

That is why I have selected today’s music video. I think the song expresses the concept quite well.

But, before we get to that excerpt, let me give you a few updates about what’s happening in my writing life.

First, Assessing Mr. Darcy is available for pre-order. ARC copies will be sent out to my mailing list and Leenie’s Sweeties Facebook Group today, and my $2 patrons will receive their copy of the story.  Assessing Mr. Darcy will go live on Friday, October 26, 2018 (a day later than I had expected but as early as I could schedule it with one of my distributors). Tomorrow, I will have an Austen Authors post with an excerpt and a giveaway for this book.

Second, I have started a new short story set during December and in the Willow Hall world. This story will feature original characters who are part of the community that surrounds Willow Hall and Kympton, and there will be at least one cameo appearance by a couple of Willow Hall characters. I am also hoping to give it just a touch of Persuasion flavour as there has been a rejection and a separation of lovers before the story begins.  I still need to name the main characters (both the guy and gal) as well as the estate that the hero has inherited.

Third, Mary’s story has reached about the halfway point — I think. I will start posting this story on Patreon this week (hopefully today). I did a lot of research this last week for this story since Gabe is not just your standard landed gentleman but rather a fellow who is in trade, was born in India to a Company man, and now owns his own business and partners in backing privateers. And those are all new to me things to weave into the backstory and character of a hero.

And I think that is all the writing news I have for today. So, now we can get to that excerpt where Mary set a new course for her life by leaving her old friends behind.

AN EXCERPT FROM Mary: To Protect Her Heart:

“Miss Crawford,” Lady St. James approached Mary and Gabe as they took a turn around the ballroom before returning to where Tom awaited them in the card room. “I have heard the most interesting news.” She gave Gabe an appraising look, allowing her eyes to roam from his face to his feet and back. “And who might this dark and daring looking gentleman be?”

“Lady St. James, this is Mr. Durward. He is a friend of a friend. Mr. Durward, this is Lady St. James.”

“Durward? I am unfamiliar with the name.” She tapped her fan on her hand. “Are you in parliament?”

“No, my lady.”

“Do you have an estate in Kent?”

“No, my lady. I am in trade. My father was with the company, but I have set myself up.”

Lady St. James’s eyes grew wide, and she looked at Mary with concern. “Trade, you say?”

“Yes, my lady.”

There was a firmness to Mr. Durward’s jaw and a defiant look in his eyes. Mary could well imagine that he had met with many who responded in such a snobbish fashion.

“Oh, this will not do, Mary,” Lady St. James said in a non-discreet whisper.

“What will not do?” Mary asked, feigning ignorance.

“My husband has standards,” Lady St. James said with a tip of her head and pleading look to her eyes.

Gabe leaned toward them. “I do not intend to be your husband’s mistress, so he has very little reason to assess whether I meet his standards or not,” he whispered in the same non-discreet fashion Lady St. James had used. “Miss Crawford, do you care to continue to the card room or would you prefer that I leave you with Lady St. James and extend your regrets to Mr. Bertram?”

Lady St. James gasped twice — first at Gabe’s comment about her husband’s mistress and then at the name Mr. Bertram. “So it is true? You have been with Mr. Bertram this evening?”

Mary pulled her eyes from Gabe’s stern expression. There was no mistaking that he had been affronted and that he was indeed capable of being harsh when necessary. “Yes, my lady, and I am afraid I am engaged to Mr. Bertram for this next set. So, if you would excuse me.”

“In the card room?” Lady St. James said with a laugh.

“His leg prevents him from dancing,” Mary explained.

“That is now two sets you have spent with him. Are you attempting to snare the elder brother to punish the younger one?”

Mary shook her head. “No! I am not attempting to snare anyone. I am simply renewing acquaintances and forming new ones.” She smiled at Gabe.

“New ones?” Lady St. James lifted her chin. “Such things might cost you your old ones.”

Mary did not miss the venom in her friend’s words. Continuing on to the card room with Mr. Durward was a dangerous proposition. However, it could not be avoided, for Mary had no desire to remain as she had always been, and she quite liked Mr. Durward. She would not mind being his friend. “It has been a pleasure, my lady. I do hope we meet again.” She turned to Mr. Durward. “We should not keep Mr. Bertram waiting.”

With determined steps and her head held high as she shuddered within, she allowed Mr. Durward to guide her from the room.

“Well done, Miss Crawford,” he whispered. “That was a valiant first step in making a fresh start.”

Mary shook her head. “Valiant it may be, but I am uncertain if it was wise.”

He patted the hand that lay on his arm. “We are never certain of the wisdom of a thing such as this until we are well into it, and even then, as the smoke from the cannons swirls in the sky, we may waver and distrust what we know to be right. Stand strong, Miss Crawford. It is the only way to take the prize.”

~*~*~

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