Music Monday: Collide (Emma and Knightley)

“Is that so?” Carlyle taunted. “Exactly how good a friend is she, Shelton? We all know your reputation with the fairer sex.”

“Mr. Shelton.” Grace was at his elbow. “Please, do not hit him.”

“Why not?” He pulled his arm away from her. “Even you must know what he is insinuating about Victoria.”

“I do, and it is most improper. But think of the explanation that will be required if Mr. Carlyle returns with a black eye or bloody nose.” She looked at Carlyle and added, “Not that he does not deserve both.”

From the vehement tone she used to say that last bit, it appeared to Roger that there was some fire hidden within Miss Grace Love. Hopefully, she would learn to use that fire when dealing with her sister, who was smiling behind her fingers as if what was happening was the most amusing things she had ever witnessed.

“Do you find me entertaining, Miss Love?” Roger asked. “Or do you find it diverting when someone accuses another lady of impropriety?”

Felicity gasped. “You are very forward, Mr. Shelton.”

“And you are a conniving wench, Miss Love.”

[from His Darling Friend, A Touches of Austen Novella, and the current Sweet Tuesdays story]

Published to YouTube by SaraBethie on July 20, 2012.

I thought it imperative that I use and Emma video this week since His Darling Friend is nearly over since that story has touches of Emma in it.  There are only two chapters left. 🙂 And I thought the title of the song went well with the snippet I shared above as well as the cliffhanger last sentence of tomorrow’s chapter. 😉

I have exciting writing news this week. 

His Darling Friend is with an editor and should be up on preorder in about a week. But that’s not the exciting news.

I have managed to write several chapters of A Scandal in Springtime since I last gave you an update two weeks ago. While that is thrilling to me, that’s not the exciting news.

I have begun to get Apple Blossoms scheduled for Tuesdays. But again, that’s not the exciting news.

The exciting news is that I finished Loving Lydia this week! Woohoo! Darcy and Lizzy are happily married, Richard and Lydia are nearly betrothed, and I’m ready to start editing that story and planning the next one, which is going to be called….(drumroll)….Persuading Miss Mary. Or that’s the plan if I can get both Westonbury and Mary to cooperate!

This week, I plan to work on getting Roger’s story ready to put on preorder and to spend four writing sessions with Kitty and Trefor’s story to see if I can get that one done by when I want it done. 🙂 (I am enjoying that story. What a fun couple they are!)

If you didn’t notice, I have started posting the Longbourn Literary Society Papers videos that I do with Rose Fairbanks and Zoe Burton on my blog. The original plan was to put them out on Sunday, but I decided to try posting the link to the video before the video starts on Saturday morning. At this point, I do not know if it worked, but I hope it did. (ETA: Seems to have worked. 🙂 )

Saturday, we discussed how real life has influenced some of our writing. So you can check that out by clicking on the link in the menu. The videos are shared via YouTube links.

I think that is it for now, so how about a little peek at how Kitty and Trefor are getting on — or not getting on as the case may be.

AN EXCERPT FROM A Scandal in Springtime:

“Who was the gentleman sitting across the room on the green chair?” Kitty whispered to her sister. That gentleman had also been quite attractive in his black jacket and red waistcoat. His hair was not much darker than Mr. Linton’s, and he was likely shorter and less broad than Mr. Linton, but he seemed more willing to smile than scowl, which was very pleasantly unlike Mr. Linton.

“I am certain I could not tell you,” Elizabeth answered. “I am not as familiar with everyone as I would like to be.”

Kitty sighed. That was the trouble with having a sister so newly married. Elizabeth was very good at meeting people and remembering names, but she had only been in town for a few months. Therefore, she had not had enough time to meet all the truly interesting people about whom Kitty wondered – such as that handsome gentleman.

“Mr. Hayes,” Mr. Linton answered.

“Where you listening to me speak to my sister?” Kitty asked with no little amount of agitation. How rude! If one were to listen to whispers, one should not let the source of the whisper know that he had intruded on a private conversation. That was why one whispered in public, after all. What was said in a low tone was not meant to be heard by everyone. Surely, that fact was just as true in London as it was in Meryton.

“I did not mean to listen,” he apologized.

At least, he knew he was in the wrong. That was a point in his favour.

“I just happened to hear and knew the answer. Was there a particular reason you wished to know who Mr. Hayes is?”

“Yes.”

“And what was that?”

He expected her to tell him that? Kitty thought not! And she was certain her expression said so quite nicely since Mr. Linton’s brow furrowed.

“Why do you suppose?” Miss Linton gave her brother a pointed glare.

Mr. Linton shook his head for a moment until realization washed over his features. “He is a bit of a fop,” he muttered.

“If you mean he appears pleasant as well as handsome, then I would have to agree,” Kitty said, fixing her gaze on Mr. Linton’s lovely blue eyes. They were silvery and strong. It really was a pity he was not more civil.

Mr. Crawford coughed, which was likely to cover a chuckle for he looked rather amused. Of course, Kitty did not see anything amusing about such rudeness, but then, she was not a rake. Perhaps rakes found things more humorous than the regular person.

“However,” she continued, “if you are only attempting to disparage him to me, I should like to know why.”

“Kitty,” Elizabeth cautioned.

She should listen to Elizabeth. She knew she should. This was not a particularly good path down which to traverse, but the challenge had been put forth. Therefore, she stood her ground and ignored Elizabeth. She would be improper for just this moment – only long enough to have her point carried that Mr. Linton was being arrogant.

“I will give you that he’s handsome,” Mr. Linton replied. “But even he would tell you that. And he would likely do it just before he informed you which tailor he used and where to find the best muslin for your dress.”

“What is wrong with my dress?” Kitty retorted.

“Not a thing.” Mr. Linton looked to his sister for help. However, when none was forthcoming, he continued on by himself, which, as it turned out, was not the right choice. “It is a fine dress, but Mr. Hayes would likely comment on some small detail such as the fact that it will not survive many washings or that it would look better with a different lace on the sleeves.”

Kitty’s right hand flew to her left sleeve. “This is my favourite lace! And the fabric used for this dress is not catchpenny!”

“I did not say it was.” Mr. Linton ran a finger around his collar. “And I can see why you like that lace, it is very nice.”

“Nice? Only nice?” Kitty looked at her sleeve. This lace was so delicate that it spoke to a high degree of craftsmanship to create it, and he called it simply nice?

Mr. Crawford was coughing again, which made Mr. Linton glare at him.

“What would you have me call it?” he retorted sharply.

“Something better than nice,” Kitty grumbled.

 

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