Music Monday: Period Drama Men, Sharp Dressed Man

Bingley rose from his chair and crossed to the wardrobe. “Do you have a man?” he asked as he pulled the doors open.

“No, I cannot justify such a luxury.”

“You will need one,” Bingley said as he looked through Collins’s possessions. “However, we will have to make do for now. I know a thing or two.” He turned and looked at Collins with a grimace. “I think it would be best if my man had a go at your hair and taught you a few more knots.” He pointed to his own cravat. “A lady does like a well-turned-out gentleman.”

[From Master of Longbourn]

DreamyViper. “Period Drama Men // Sharp Dressed Man.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 July 2011, youtu.be/svKWGnrbVos.

Master of Longbourn is now on preorder with release day scheduled for June 28, 2018.

While Master of Longbourn has a lot of soft, sweet, and gentle moments in it, it also has a few scenes that should draw a smile or even a chuckle. Bingley tends to be the cause of those chuckles. He was such a pleasure to write in this story. He added the light-hearted balance that was needed.

Bingley laughed heartily. “You would like us to –”

“Be my tutors,” Collins pled. “I shall die a lonely old man as my father said if you do not.”

Bingley turns out to be a rather demanding tutor! 😀

However, it is not just the instruction Collins receives from his new found friends, Darcy and Bingley, that helps him to be successful. It is the acceptance he finds within the walls of Longbourn that truly propels him to transform from how he views himself to how he wishes to be.

The quotes above are from chapter 3. You can read chapter three as part of an extended preview until June 28, 2018, at this link.

In other news, I am still in the planning stages for Mr. Edwards’s story. No story words have been written on it. I’m hoping to change that this week. 🙂

I did add a few more thousand words to Delighting Mrs. Bennet last week. I am hoping to be able to work myself back into writing on two stories at a time since the cast of characters are so different. I started using a timer to limit the amount of time I was spending on Delighting Mrs. Bennet. I found myself enjoying the competition of beating the clock and still producing the number (and quality) of words I wanted to produce. 🙂 (I have a strong competitive streak even if just competing with myself. LOL)

Since the song this week is about being a sharp dresser, I thought I would share an excerpt from my writing that includes Bingley speaking about another person who is very aware of fashion. This excerpt will be included in the post on September 6.

AN EXCERPT FROM Delighting Mrs. Bennet: 

“I do not know how you will ever choose.” Bingley’s tone was teasing as he entered Darcy’s study behind Richard.

“I shall just see which one she seems to favour, and if I wish for the discussion to stop, I will pick that one. However, if I fancy a bit of a row, I shall then pick the other.”

“With whom are you considering starting an argument?” Darcy asked.

“Miss Lydia,” Bingley replied. “Apparently, she has decided to wear her muslin to dinner instead of waiting until tomorrow, even if it is more of a day dress than a dinner dress. She just will not be able to sleep if she does not know which red ribbon the colonel prefers. He is the expert in all things red, you see.”

Darcy chuckled. “Is he? I did not know.”

“It’s on account of his uniform,” Bingley added. Then, he sat primly on the edge of his seat, clasped his hands on his knees, and batted his lashes as he said, “It’s red, you know.”

Richard cuffed Bingley on the shoulder. “It is red,” he defended. “Miss Lydia is just enamoured with all things uniform. It is not so strange a thing.”  He smiled as he slipped into his normal seat before the hearth. “And I do cut a fine figure, so you really cannot blame a young woman for being duly impressed.”

Bingley dissolved into laughter.

“I must have missed an important discussion,” Darcy said with a laugh as he leaned against his desk.

“Oh, it was entertaining,” Richard agreed. “Miss Lydia and Mrs. Bennet hold differing opinions on which ribbon that they purchased today will look best with Miss Lydia’s muslin. You know the one she mentioned this morning?”

“I do remember that conversation.”

“Miss Kitty is certain Miss Lydia is correct while Miss Mary thinks that a ribbon is a ribbon, and it is foolish to be arguing over something so trivial.” Bingley tipped his head and waggled his eyebrows as he smirked.

“And that did not sit well with either Miss Lydia or Miss Kitty, I suppose,” Darcy said.

“Oh, most certainly not!” said Richard. “They were still discussing the issue when they went up to dress for dinner.” He sighed. “We are assured of at least thirty minutes of silence on the topic of ribbons.”

Darcy tipped his head and studied his cousin. Richard did not look as put out with the topic of ribbons as his voice seemed to convey. “You could avoid all of this if you returned to Matlock House.”

Richard shook his head. “I have to return to my men the day after tomorrow. There are drills scheduled.”  He reclined in his chair and crossed his ankles. “We may be shipped off soon.”

“To the continent?” Darcy asked in surprise. Richard had said nothing of his unit being called up.

“Nothing is certain just yet, but the whispers I heard today were that it could happen.” He shrugged. “There is also more talk of unrest at the mills, and Father expects it to get worse before it gets better. So, I could be sent in that direction as well – which is what Mother prefers.” He smiled wryly. “She has made her preference known to Father, of course.”

“You do not know?”

Richard shook his head in response to his cousin’s inquiry. “Not at present.” He drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly through his nose. “You’ll have to see to the betterment of Miss Lydia without me.”

“I shall do my best,” Darcy assured him. “And Bingley can help me once we return to Netherfield.”

“I will stand at your side and say yay and nay as instructed,” said Bingley. “But I fear I am not the best at directing young ladies. You have met my youngest sister, have you not?”

All three of them chuckled at the thought. Caroline Bingley followed her own path without anyone diverting her from her desired purpose. Well, that is she had always proceeded in such a fashion until recently.

“Perhaps we should have Sir Matthew join our efforts,” Darcy suggested.

Bingley shook his head. “He is busy enough directing my sister. I should not like to tax him with anything else after he has so graciously taken her off my hands.” He shook his head again. “Have I told you that Hurst claims she seems happy?”

“Already?” asked Richard. “The man works quickly.”

“It seems he does,” said Bingley as he nodded his head. “She has been humming as she works on her stitching, and he has seen her smiling for no reason and looking out the window for moments at a time.”

~*~*~

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