Music Monday: Enchanted ~ Period Drama Montage

Today, along with writing news and a writing excerpt, I thought I would share this fan video that YouTube was so kind as to suggest that I needed to view. 🙂 I think it is very well done —

SpellboundStudios. “Enchanted ~ Period Drama Montage.” YouTube. YouTube, 31 July 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

— and I enjoyed the song, so I added this video to my Music Meets Movies playlist. I’m up to 72 videos on that list now. It’s a great place to take a short break between writing projects. And this was a week full of projects.  Let me list a few of them for you.

• Tuesday was the official release day for Discovering Mr. Darcy on all retailers. It was a good launch with the book ranking fairly high in some of its categories, and it already has 7 reviews the last time I looked.  Thank you to all who purchased and to those who reviewed as well.
• The print copy of that book finally came and, after a slight tweak, it was approved and is now available for purchase.
• Because of the way the epilogue flows from Discovering Mr. Darcy to Not An Heiress, I wanted to have Not an Heiress available for people to preorder when they finished reading Discovering Mr. Darcy.  That meant getting a file transferred into the proper format, writing a book description, filling in all the information required on all my retailers, and setting a date.  As it is booked right now, Not an Heiress will release on June 20, 2017.  This is the first time I have placed a book on preorder before it has entered the final stages of editing, so I will admit to being a bit nervous. However, I believe, I have set aside enough time to complete all the editing that needs to be done before the deadline for the final manuscript upload. In fact, I should have first round edits completed by the end of this week.
• I mainly focused on With the Colonel’s Help during my writing hours this past week, but I did write a few words that are the beginning of what I am planning to make a short story to go with At All Costs, although I have this sneaking suspicion it could end up being a bit longer than a short story. 🙂  Oh, and At All Costs has been sent to my final editor for reading. That story will be available May 18, 2017 (hopefully 😉 ).

So, as you can see, this was a busy week of varied activities, which meant lots of opportunities to watch Music Meets Movies videos as I transitioned from one activity to another. 🙂

Now, to chose a bit of the writing that I did this last week.  While I managed to add around four thousand words to With the Colonel’s Help, I think I will give you a peek at those first 700+ words from the rough draft of the story about Caroline, which has no title as of yet. Be prepared for a surprising Mr. Hurst in this scene.

EXCERPT FROM Caroline’s Tale: 

Caroline Bingley stared at her sister’s husband. He could not be serious! Chose a husband at this house party.

“If you are unsuccessful here, your brother says you may have a season to secure a match, but after that, you will either set up your own establishment or go to live with your aunt.”  Fredrick Hurst, lowered the letter he had been reading and glared at Caroline.  “I told you we should not have gone to Pemberley.  But would you listen?”  He rose from the chair in the library at ___ which he had commandeered for this meeting with his wife’s trying younger sister.  “You have always wanted to have your way.  You thought nothing of anyone else.  How many times did Charles tell you that Darcy would not have you? But did you listen?”

Caroline cowered slightly in her chair.  Fredrick was never so vocal about his displeasure.  Normally, he would scowl and mutter, but rarely did he raise his voice. 

“Have you no words to rebuff me?” Fredrick stood above her.  “Or will you spread rumours about me as well?  Perhaps you could share with one and all that your sister has not yet had a child because…” he scratched his chin and pursed his lips as he thought, “Oh, I know, because I spend all my nights with a mistress instead of my wife. It is not less true than what you have said about others.” 

Caroline’s eyes grew wide as he leaned toward her.  “I should never –“

“No. You will not speak until I am well and truly through with you.   I have put up with your antics for your sister’s sake for these three years, but I will not do so any longer. ”  He waved the letter he held in his hand an inch from her face.  “Your brother? You would accuse your brother of such ungentlemanly behaviour as seducing and leaving Miss Bennet, who, I might add, you claimed as a friend! Not to mention what you have said about Darcy and Miss Elizabeth!”  He turned from her in disgust and shook his head.  “No, you will marry before the season begins if I have to affect a compromise to guarantee you do.”  He turned back toward her.  “I do not wish to host you for a season.” He flicked the letter with his finger.  “Charles is too good.  I would have sent you off to your aunt without a farthing of your money for what you did.”

Again Caroline cowered under his glower.  She had heard stories from his friends that he was not a man with whom to trifle, but she had never seen it until now. 

“You will go to your room and remain there until it is time to gather for dinner.  And then, you will appear and be as sweet to everyone as you are when you are pretending to care about Darcy or his sister.”  He studied her for a moment.  His anger with Caroline was only slightly cooled, and he was determined to impress upon her just how grievous her actions had been.  He shrugged.  Perhaps it might be beneficial if she were to be treated in a similar fashion to those she ridiculed.  “You are not without charms, I suppose.  Your complexion is good. Your teeth fine.  Your eyes are acceptable, though unremarkable, and your nose is perfectly straight.  Your maid is clearly adept at styling your hair to best suit your features, and the modiste, though she listens to your preference for colors — which are marginally flattering, — does know how to drape your assets to best advantage.” He bit back a smile at her horrified expression.  “And if all that is not effective, you do have twenty thousand pounds. I am certain there is at least one man here who would welcome such a sum.”  He shrugged again. “I would not be averse to throwing in a few extra quid if need be.”  He waved to the door. “To your room,” he instructed.  “And do come to dinner ready to win a man’s admiration.” 

Caroline opened her mouth to speak.

“No,” he answered before she could speak. “I have changed my mind.  Even though I am through with you for the moment, I find I do not wish to hear what you have to say. There is no way you can explain away what you have done.”

Caroline snapped her mouth shut and her eyes narrowed. 

“Do not even contemplate retaliation, dear sister.  For I assure you, I will see you on the first coach bound for ___. ”  He waved once more toward the door, and Caroline, having no other recourse, did as instructed and rose to retire to her room.

What do you think? Good start? I have some interesting plans for Caroline in this one. I do need a name for a gentleman who will be willing to take her on and teach her a thing or two along the way. Any suggestions?

~*~*~

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