“She is so frail, Nicholas.”
He sighed as he heard the tears that lay behind the softly spoken words. “I know. You are right. We must make sure she has everything she needs. It is as Father and Uncle Barrett would have wished.” He ran the back of a finger down the baby’s soft cheek. “She is sweet.”
Kathleen smiled at him. For all his size and grumbling, he was rather more of a kitten than a lion at times. “She is, and you’ll not be spoiling her, Douglas Witherfield.”
He laughed, a deep rumbling sound she had not heard much in the past year. “It is good to be home,” she said as she stepped into the apothecary shop.
[from “Hope at Dawn” from Nature’s Fury and Delights: First Blooms and Second Chances, publishing Dec. 2019]PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY BROOKLYN DUO ON MARCH 27, 2015
Today’s music video is another song from my Music to Write By playlist. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
I only have a few items for my writing update. If you’re on my mailing list, you’ve already read these. Nothing much has changed since I sent that email to you on Friday.
The only changes would be 1) that the print version of The Choices Series (Books 1-4 Compilation) has been submitted for review by Amazon, so it should be up for sale by the end of the week, and 2) that I was able to get another chapter of Marrying Elizabeth (book 5) written. That puts me at the prologue plus five chapters written for a total of just under 13,000 words. Now, if I only had a title for the book. 🙂
Even without a title, I am going to start posting that book here on the blog starting this Thursday. 🙂 I’m excited to get this story underway even if it will mean I will feel a bit more pressure to get it written. I plan to write as much of Kitty and Lorcan’s story as I can this week while I am giving First Blooms and Second Chances its final read-through before publication. Then, next week, I can possibly start a second writing project — possibly — no promises. 🙂
I hope to be able to tell you all the publication details for First Blooms next Monday.
The MOST EXCITING thing that happened in my writing life this past week was Persuading Miss Mary‘s release day!
If you have not yet picked up a copy of that book and you wish to, you can find all the stores where the book is published here at this link: Persuading Miss Mary. This is the fourth book in the series, so if you have not read books 1-3 and would like the most cost-effective way to purchase them, you can find them in a three-book compilation bundle at your favourite retailer here: Marrying Elizabeth (Books 1-3).
So far, Persuading Miss Mary has 7 reviews that I know of — five of those you can find on the .com site here, but one of those is located on the UK site and the other is on the Canadian site. I am thankful for all of those reviews, but I am going to highlight the two reviews that are not showing on the .com site simply because they are not showing on the .com site. I wouldn’t want you to miss them.
This is the review on the UK site. Thank you, Maggie!
And this is the review on the Canadian site. Thank you, Vesper!
I am so delighted that both of you ladies enjoyed the book.
I’m also happy to hear that there were not too many Americanisms in it. I try hard not to let those slip in, but they do at times. In fact, thanks to an email, I have now uploaded a corrected file of Loving Lydia (both the single edition and in the bundle) where I changed fall to autumn as is the proper British way to refer to one of my favourite seasons.
And, I have to say I am tickled to hear Lydia and Mary referred to as “enchanting ladies.” That also feels like an accomplishment. 🙂
And now for an excerpt from the final chapter of Through Every Storm. Below this excerpt, you will find a link to where you can read chapters 9 and 10. You will need the password PICNIC to unlock the chapters. The password is good until Saturday, December 7, 2019.
“The time, Mr. Wickham.” Mrs. Edmonds stood before his desk in the back of the store. “The books can wait, your wife cannot.”
He peered up at her from his ledgers.
She placed her hands on her hips and held his gaze. “Oh, now do not give me that look, sir. You know it is as true as the sky is blue.”
He laughed and returned his pen to its place. “You know the sky is not always blue, Mrs. Edmonds. Sometimes it is thick with fog or ladened with storms.” He pulled on his jacket.
She paused in the doorway. “Yes, sir, but your skies seem rather clear of tempests, and if you wish to keep it that way, I suggest you mind your time.”
He shook his head and chuckled as she closed the door. She was right, of course. He had no desire to be the cause of a storm in his life. He had weathered enough of those in the past six months. He had never found it easy to speak of what he truly thought. He had only ever really done so with his father, then Denny and now his wife. True, he had never been one who was lost for words in a conversation. Speaking came easily enough, but to go beyond the pleasantries and speak of matters of importance–that was something he had often left to others.
“Mr. Wickham,” Mrs. Edmonds called as he passed through the store. “I have a parcel for your wife.” She turned to the two young ladies standing at the counter. “I will be but a moment.” She pulled out her drawer and took out two packages. She handed them to Wickham. “These are the buttons she had ordered and the thread, and the smaller parcel is for Miss Louisa. I found some green ribbon that will match her bonnet just so. She was disappointed when we could not find it when she was last here. I told her it had not been lost or sold, and so it wasn’t.” She moved her hand from the parcel.
“Have you placed the bill in my office?”
“No, sir. It is in my cash box along with Mrs. Wickham’s payment.” She smiled at his surprised look. “It is a lovely project she has taken on. I believe these buttons are the final touches.”
“Indeed?” He turned the packages over in his hand. “And Louisa’s bill?”
“The young miss has settled it. A right fine job you and the missus are doing with her.” She turned back to her customers as he headed toward the door once again. “Such a family. I should not say, but you do not see many couples as much in love as those two, and after nearly ten years of marriage.”
Wickham smiled as he heard the two young ladies grudgingly agree. It had not slipped his notice how she often managed to insert a compliment of his wife or a comment on their marriage when speaking with Miss Howe and Miss Cooper. Storytelling was not an activity in which Mrs. Edmonds engaged, but she had also heard their disparagements those many months ago and had made it a point to set them straight on each and every meeting.
He nodded to a few people in the street as he hurried toward home. He smiled as he saw his daughter hurrying toward him.
“You are late, Papa,” she chided as she reached him.
“I was working on my books and forgot to keep an eye on the time, sweetling. I do hope you and your mother,” he looked over her head to his wife, “were not excessively worried.” He reached into his pocket. “I have a package from Mrs. Edmonds for you, both of you.” He handed the package to Louisa, who carefully opened one corner to peek inside.
“Oh, it is perfect. Look, Thomas.” She held it out to show her brother, who was not nearly so impressed as she.
“Mrs. Edmonds said it would be,” said Lydia. “She has an eye for these things.” She wound her arm through her husband’s, snuggling in as close as she dare in public.
It was not close enough for Wickham, and he tugged her closer. “Were you worried I had forgotten?”
She glanced at him. “I was.” She lifted the basket she carried. “When you did not arrive precisely on time, Louisa suggested we make a picnic.” She laughed, a sound that had always delighted him. “And once Thomas heard the idea, there was no stopping them. They prepared the whole basket themselves with guidance from Cook. I have not even been allowed to peek to see what treats have been included.”
They strolled leisurely behind their children. “And where are they taking us for this picnic?”
“The forest, as always. It is Louisa’s favourite spot, you know.”
He nodded. The day after their horrible meeting in the woods five months ago, Louisa had insisted that they return. She had spent a few moments reassuring several birds and a couple of squirrels that her Mama and Papa were well before declaring it to once again be a happy place. He loved her creativity. It was just another thing about her that reminded him of his wife. Louisa stood now where he at that time saw his life crumbling about him as Lydia ran from him.
“Papa?” She waited impatiently for her parents to reach her. It was a tradition she had insisted upon since their first return to the woods — a tradition he was very happy to oblige.
He took the basket from Lydia and handed it to his daughter. Then, wrapping his arms around his wife, he pulled her close and kissed her soundly before whispering, “I love you.”
“And I love you,” she responded before kissing him for a second time as the children scampered into the woods to play.
“How are preparations for our trip coming along?” he asked as he opened the basket and unfurled the small blanket that was on top.
“Nearly complete.” She caught the edge and helped him lay the cloth on the ground. “If that package in your pocket is the buttons I need, I shall be completely prepared before dinner.”
“Mrs. Edmonds said you were working on a project.”
“I am.”
“And it is?” He raised an eyebrow in question.
“Not something I wish to share with you just yet.” She crossed her arms and gave him a challenging look. He smiled. They had come to a better understanding of each other, and each was learning new ways to respond to the other. However, the challenging and determined nature of his wife was not something he ever wished to change — to direct in a way that did not bring him under her wrath — but never change.
“And when will I be allowed to know what it is?”
“I shall show it to you as soon as it is done and before I wrap it.” She knelt beside the basket and lifted out some apples, a bit of cheese and a few biscuits.
“A gift for someone?” He lounged across from her, his hat and coat discarded, leaning back on his arms, his legs outstretched with ankles crossed.
She gave a small exasperated huff and narrowed her eyes. “George,” she scolded.
“Very well, I shall wait to see the gift this evening.” Grinning as she rolled her eyes at him, he snatched an apple from the pile and called for the children to come join them.
Here is the link to Through Every Storm:
througheverystorm.pressbooks.com
You will need to use the password PICNIC to unlock chapters 9 and 10.
~*~*~
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.
Beautiful music choice. Heavy sigh. It was so calming and relaxing. I listened to it twice. The second time was as I read the excerpt. I am so excited about all you new stories, even the one with no title yet. I am looking forward to hearing Kitty’s story. I like him but her attitude was a bit alarming as Mary’s story concluded. Lydia may have changed her stripes but I’m not sure that Kitty has. Guess we’ll see. Blessings.
It is indeed an exciting time with all the new projects starting — and a bit overwhelming. Phew. However, if I just take it one small bit at a time, it’s easier. 🙂 (Love my to-do list!) Kitty’s attitude is shocking until you get behind the words and find their motivation. I’m not saying she’s thinking perfectly logically or anything, but she does have her reasons. However, we won’t see any of her reasoning until chapter 1. The prologue gives us a look at Mr. Langley and not Kitty. 🙂
I loved the instrumental because it was perfect for the scene between Lydia and Wickham as well as their children.
Thanks! 🙂 I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it.