I know I said I was only going to post Music Monday posts every other week, but I’ve been missing them. 🙂 So, I’m breaking that rule for this week and revisiting a post from five years ago.
On August 18, 2015, I published my fourth book. That book was Listen to Your Heart, which happens to be on sale at present. I thought it might be fun to look back at the Music Monday post from when that book was published. So, here it is below (with a little bit of an excerpt tacked on under the video, which is where the original post ended).
A friend had this video posted on Facebook last week (back in Aug 2015), and I thought it was just so beautiful that I had to share it here.
I love this phrase in the song,
“People fall in love in mysterious ways,”
or as Mr. Darcy says it in Pride and Prejudice,
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
which also made me think of Anne in Listen to Your Heart
“I know I have loved you all my life, but it was not until…well…I am not sure where it changed from the love one has for a cousin to the love one has for a man.”
The truth of the phrase is not confined to lyrics and stories. If I think of my husband and ask myself the following questions
- Why do I love you?
- How do I love you?
- When did I begin loving you?
There would be no simple answer because
“People fall in love in mysterious ways.”
A truth which makes writing about characters falling in love and fighting for that love so much fun!
“Thinking Out Loud / I’m Not The Only One MASHUP (Sam Tsui & Casey Breves).” YouTube. Posted by TheSamTsui on January 19, 2015.
And here is the portion of Chapter 7, a different sort of proposal scene, where the line quoted above can be found:
“Mother,” he (Richard) groaned. “You are partial to me because I am your son. I assure you, I am not the catch you think I am.”
Anne had come to sit across from Richard and his mother. She had been listening intently to all they had been saying. “No, no, she is right.” Her heart raced as she considered what she was about to say. “You need an estate. Your skills would be well used in its running. You can manage people, and you can foresee problems. Added to that, you have a compassionate heart that would surely garner loyalty from your servants and tenants.”
She dared to look up from her hands, which were clasped tightly in her lap, to see what his reaction was to her words. What she saw made her falter for a moment. His shock was evident in the slight opening of his mouth and the wideness of his eyes. But his eyes were also filled with what looked like pleasure at her words of praise. Perhaps her idea would not meet with immediate rejection. Perhaps there was hope. Her heart dearly wished it to be so. She took a breath and allowed her eyes to dart first to her aunt’s smiling face before returning to study her hands.
“You are as handsome as you are good.” She blushed. “Any young woman would be deliriously happy to marry such a gentleman, but you must not marry just any heiress.” She swallowed. “You must marry me.”
She heard the gasps from her cousins and aunt and hurried on lest one of them should stop her from speaking. “As you know, I have an estate and a substantial dowry, both are things you need. But that is not why you must marry me.” Anne bit her lip and twisted her hands. “Oh, I do not know if I can say it.”
He took her hands in his. “Look at me.” His voice was soft. She lifted her eyes to his face, his face that wore a hopeful smile. “Do you…could you…eventually…do you think you might come to love me?” He stammered.
She shook her head ever so slightly, and his eyes began to lose their light, his smile began to fade. She shrugged. “I already do. That is why you must marry me, for I could not bear to see you married to another.”
“You love me?” The door closed softly behind Lady Matlock and Darcy. “How? When? Why?” His mind was filled with questions. He did not understand how he could have been so fortunate to have earned her love. He still wondered at his own love for her. If she were to ask him these same questions, he was not sure he would be able to answer them.
“I truly do not know.” Anne laughed lightly. “I know I have loved you all my life, but it was not until…well…I am not sure where it changed from the love one has for a cousin to the love one has for a man.” She looked at him in confusion, her cheeks rosy.
“But the knowledge of it has been a slow realization which started while I anxiously awaited you to be with me when I was to confront my mother with that letter.” She clasped his hands more tightly. “There was none I desired to be at my side more than you. And when you would greet me each morning with a kiss.” She rubbed her thumb lightly across his knuckles as she spoke. “I longed for it to be so each day. And when I was tired, and you forced me to rest, and then you carried me to my room when I lacked the strength to take the stairs on my own, I knew I wished to always be cared for in such a way.” The words tumbled from her mouth, one thought falling on top of another.
“When you mentioned you may be sent to Canada,” she looked at him earnestly, “I thought my heart had been rent from my chest. I cannot describe the relief I felt when Darcy let it be known you were to sell your commission.” Her gaze softened, and she smiled. “As your mother spoke of making a favourable match, I knew what I had to do.” She lifted his hands to her lips and kissed them. “I must offer for you.” She slid from her chair and knelt before him. “Will you accept me? Will you allow me to be your wife?”
He withdrew his hands from hers so he might use them to cup her lovely face. “My Anne.” His voice was filled with admiration. “My beautiful, beautiful Anne.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers before pulling back slightly and looking into her eyes. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, would make me happier than to call you my wife.” He kissed her lightly once more before taking her hands and helping her to her feet, so he could draw her into his embrace and kiss her more thoroughly.
~*~
[from Listen to Your Heart, A Pride and Prejudice Variation]
*Nook has been having some technical difficulties over the past couple of weeks. (They were hacked.) Therefore, the sales price has not been lowered on that storefront even though the reduced price was submitted to Nook.
This is one of my favorite books and most definitely the most romantic scene in it Two people who are in love with each other, but they don’t realize that the other person is in love with him or her. Now they get their HEA ending!
That’s wonderful to hear. I, too, adore this scene. 🙂 (and this book)
Beautiful music and I’m glad I listened to it before reading the excerpt. I love that scene. Heavy sigh. Oh, that just makes my heart sing. Last week was my anniversary [49 years] so I guess I am in a sentimental mood. This post just made me smile. Thanks… blessings, stay safe, and healthy.
Happy anniversary! I’m glad this post gave you a smile. 🙂