Music Monday: Love Me (Yiruma)

Can you believe it is August already? July certainly seemed to fly by. This upcoming month will be a busy and fun one for me as my husband will be off from one of his jobs for part of the month. So, I’ll be cutting back on some of my work time while still attempting to keep a few projects on track.

Published to YouTube by YirumaVEVO on July 12, 2019.

And that cutting back means there will be some impact on the blog — but it should be minimal. These Monday posts might end up being abbreviated and there will be one week (August 19-23) when there will be no posts at all. Yes, there will be a two-week wait between chapters for both the Sweet Tuesdays story and the Thursday’s Three Hundred story. However, I will make sure our couples are in happy places the week prior. So, there will be no cliffs to hang off of for those two weeks. 🙂

Let me update you on the projects I have underway.

Of course, there are Her Secret Beau and Persuading Miss Mary at the top of the list. I’m still keeping ahead as wished. Despite several appointments and a sick day last week, I managed to get a chapter of each written. As you may have noticed, I did not include an excerpt from tomorrow’s chapter of Grace’s story. That is purposeful because there is a bit of a kink thrown into Grace’s plans. A little trouble — though nothing too horrid but definitely a complication.

Next, there is the re-read and updating of the Willow Hall series. Due to the sick day, I did fall a bit behind, but So Very Unexpected should be uploaded to all vendors by the end of the week (or hopefully sooner). At All Costs will be printed out and ready for work shortly. After that, I will update the file for the series bundle before rereading the sequel Better than She Deserved.

Then, there is Addie: To Wager on Her Future. I have started to post that story on Patreon on Fridays for my Patrons. However, I did miss a day of writing for that this past week, so only one chapter was completed. I’m looking forward to getting the Willow Hall project done so I have more time to work on Addie’s story.

Look for a Friday post about a free weekend. It will be one of the novellas in Dash of Darcy and Companions Cottage Collection 1, but I’m not saying which one. It will be the last free weekend before that series of books come out of Kindle Unlimited on August 29, 2019.

And once the Willow Hall series bundle is complete, there will likely be a short reduced price period to give those who do not read on KU the opportunity to pick it up from other vendors before I pull it off everywhere and sign it in to the Kindle Unlimited program for three months.

So, there you have it — what I did this week and a bit about what is coming up this month. Now for an excerpt from the Willow Hall book that I am currently re-reading, which happens to be one of my favourites. (I really love the Lydia in this series.) And I think this excerpt goes well with the title of the song used as today’s musical selection. This is from after the halfway point, so read at your own risk as it might contain spoilers.

AN EXCERPT FROM So Very Unexpected: 

Lydia let out an exasperated huff as the gig moved away from Aldwood Abbey.  Marcus had seen them arrive and not joined them for tea — she knew he had seen them, for she had seen him at the window.  Then, when he finally did join them, he had nearly ruined her planned day with his father, and he only spoke of trivial things while, just like yesterday, looking everywhere in the room but at her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she drew a quick deep breath as the reason for his avoidance became clear.   He knew she must marry, and now he avoided her presence.  There was only one reason.  She placed a hand on Aunt Tess’s arm.  “He does not want me.” Her voice was nearly a whisper.  “I am not good enough.” The pain of the thought pinched her throat making the words difficult to form.

Aunt Tess drew the gig on the side of the road and stopped.  “Whatever makes you say that?”

Lydia shrugged.  “He is no different from every other gentleman I have met.  They flirt. They tease. They tell you they like your hair and your eyes, and then, when someone,” she sighed deeply to cover a sob that wished to be released, “usually my mother, mentions anything that might sound like marriage, I am no longer their favourite. I am no more than a passing entertainment.”  She clenched her teeth and drew in a breath through her nose to steady her nerves before she continued.  “They think me silly and stupid, but I am not.”

“Oh, my dear,” Aunt Tess wrapped an arm around Lydia’s shoulders, “I am certain Marcus thinks you neither silly nor stupid.”

Lydia lifted one shoulder in a sad half-shrug.  “It matters not.  I am not what he wants.”  Tears filled her eyes.  She had thought him interested in her.  He had looked at her as if he wished to kiss her.  He had pulled at his neckcloth. She had been so certain he might like her.  He had even acted the part of a friend.  A tear slipped down her cheek, and she drew a shuddering breath, willing her tears not to fall and her sorrow to be gone, but neither would listen.

She had thought him different from all the others, but he was not. He only wished for a kiss just like they did.  She swiped at another tear that made its escape and rolled down her cheek.  Well, he, like the others, would do without.  Only her husband would get her kisses.  She was pretty and, therefore, her kisses were more valuable than most.  They would not be given away!

Aunt Tess watched the softness leave Lydia’s features, and her heart ached but not nearly so much as she suspected Lydia’s did.

Lydia pulled her lips into a smile as she wiped the remaining tears away from her eyes. She would not allow her heart to break for him. She would not.  She straightened her shoulders. “Are there other gentlemen in the area who might wish a silly wife?” There was a hint of bitterness in her tone.

“You will not be a silly wife.  You will be a fine mistress of a grand estate.”

Lydia shook her head and wiped at her eyes again.  Those tears were determined to make her eyes red and her nose swollen.

Aunt Tess patted Lydia’s knee and called to Maggie to resume their journey.  “Shall we return home?”

“No.”  Lydia lifted her chin.  She could feign happiness.  It was not the first time she had done so when she would have rather cried.  “We have a duty to do.”

Aunt Tess cast a sidelong glance at Lydia. The girl did seem determined.  Perhaps a visit to the Ross’s would be just the thing.  “Are you prepared to read to the little ones again?”

“I am,” Lydia replied with a nod. “I enjoy it.”

And she did enjoy it.  All three stories were read to the Ross’s three young children as Aunt Tess talked with their mama about how she was faring and what still needed to be done before the arrival of child number four.  Then, with three little people to escort their new friend, Miss Lydia, to her carriage, the ladies said their farewells and returned to Kympton.

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