On the list of all the people who were not to know about Mr. Blakesley, her sister sat at the top.
[from Her Secret Beau, Touches of Austen book 3]Published to YouTube by Luisa Moreta Pérez on November 16, 2014
Today, I am only sharing one line from tomorrow’s story — but I think it is a good tantalizing line. 🙂 What do you think?
I’m also just plucking a song off my Music to Write By playlist because I listened to it several times this week while writing. And I did get a good bit of writing done this week.
I have reached the end of Addie’s story, but this one is going to need more work in the editing department than most of my stories do. I talk a bit more about why that is in tomorrow’s Austen Authors post. So, for the curious, you can find out there. 😉
To get to the end of Addie’s story and then figure out why it didn’t feel right meant that Addie’s was the only story I wrote on last week, so I am going to have to focus on my Tuesday and Thursday stories this week or next week there might not be anything to post. Yikes! 🙂
In other book-related news, I have two promotions happening this week.
First, Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy is free at Kindle from today until 11: 59 PM PST on Wednesday. I am trying something new with this free day, and applied for and was accepted for a promotion spot on My Book Cave’s website and their newsletter for tomorrow. I’m hoping that this will get Henry’s story in front of readers who might not have heard of it yet and are looking for a great book at an unbeatable price. (You can’t get better than free.)
I’d really like to try a second promotion with this company next month so that I have numbers on different books to compare. I’d like that book to be Tom’s story, but there is a small issue. I cannot submit Tom’s story to My Book Cave to consider because there are only 9 reviews on that book. The star average is over 4 as required, but the number of reviews is not 10 or greater. One review is all I need before I can submit that book and schedule a free day or three for it. 🙂
Why am I focusing on Henry’s and Tom’s stories? Because Addie: To Wager on Her Future will be publishing before the end of October, and her story is book five in the Other Pens, Mansfield Park series. Therefore, getting the first book in the series to new readers seemed like a good idea as that gives those who want to read through the series from the start time to get through it before book five shows up, and getting book four out there for readers will help familiarize them with just who Robert Eldridge is. Those are my hopes, but only time will tell if they were well-founded or just pie-in-the-sky. 🙂
Second, beginning Thursday, A Dash of Darcy and Companions Cottage Collection 2 will be included in Kobo’s September 40% off Boxset Sale. This sale will require a promo code, and I hope to have that code in time to post it here on the blog on Friday along with an excerpt from one of the books in the bundle. Would you like to help me decide which book should be the one used for the excerpt? You can do that at the survey link below. It’s super simple and will take seconds as all you have to do is click one book title, or a bit longer if you wish to submit a suggestion for a scene to be excerpted. I’ll also be posting this survey in a couple of my groups for those who might not read blog posts and not see the survey here.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/whichbookCC2
This is a limited time survey as I will have to close the survey on Thursday so that I can get the blog post ready with an excerpt from the winning book.
And I think that is all the news I have for this Monday morning, which means it is time for…
AN Excerpt from Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy:
{ONLY READ IF YOU DO NOT MIND SPOILERS.}
Henry descended the steps of his house two at a time. After one last call today, his list would be completed, and he could return to Linton’s and beg him for permission to court and eventually marry Constance.
He whistled a jolly tune as he mounted his horse and made his way toward the park. A bit of fresh air, a good breakfast, and then one call. He pulled in a deep breath. His happiness was very close; he could almost feel it now. Constance had smiled at his admission of wanting to marry her. His chances were very good if he could get her brother to agree with him.
“Crawford!”
Henry turned toward the barouche that was coming toward him. “St. James,” he greeted with a tip of his hat.
The rather portly gentleman waved Henry over.
“How can I be of service, my lord?”
“You can learn to be discreet,” the man answered, scooting to the side of the carriage closest to Henry. “I do not care what you do with my wife so long as it does not cost me money or the embarrassment of having her name or mine in the paper. I find life at home is much more pleasant when she is kept happy with whatever hobby she might find to delight herself.”
“I beg your pardon? I do not understand your meaning.”
Lord St. James chortled. “Very well, we shall pretend the bit in the paper did not exist. Just do try to be discreet next time.” He started to move back to the center of his bench.
“What bit in the paper?” Henry’s sense of confusion was turning to one of dread.
“The Belmont’s garden,” Lord St. James whispered.
“I did not see your wife in the garden last night if that is what you are saying. In fact, I was not even aware she was at the ball.”
“That is not how the paper tells it.”
The dread Henry had felt earlier was growing into panic. “What does the paper say?”
“Only that you were seen in the garden together last night, and then it suggests I might be displeased much like Rushworth was. However, I am not. As long as she continues to fulfill her duties to me, I do not care what else she might get up to with you.”
“What was she wearing last night?” Things were beginning to come together in Henry’s mind. His sister was a good friend of Lady St. James, who was blonde.
“Some blue concoction that cost me far more than it was worth,” grumbled Lord St. James. His lips pursed and his brows drew together. “You truly did not see her last night?”
Henry shook his head. “Not that the truth matters now, does it?”
Lord St. James tugged at the buttons which were doing a valiant job of keeping his gaping jacket closed over his round belly. “No, I suppose it doesn’t. However, no harm done.”
“No harm done?” Henry nearly shouted. “I am to call on a lady I would actually like to have accept my offer of marriage, and neither she nor her brother is as understanding as you, my lord.”
The man shrugged. “I do not write the papers, but that does put you in a difficult position, now doesn’t it?”
Henry nodded and bit the tip of the glove on his thumb as he thought for a moment. There had to be a way around this. “Have you checked the veracity of the statement with your wife?”
The gentleman in the barouche blinked. “Why should I do that?”
Henry shrugged. “I don’t know.” He shook his head and sighed. “I thank you for your understanding, my lord, but I assure you that I have no desire to bed your wife and most certainly did not have a rendezvous with her in the Belmonts’ garden.” He tipped his hat to the gentleman once again and blew out a breath. Where should he go? How might he fix this? He needed Linton to accept him. Perhaps he would come upon an idea while he rode.
~*~*~
Henry lifted the knocker and let it fall for a second time on the door of a fine Mayfair home. He turned his hat in his hand and counted. When he reached twenty if the door had not opened he would knock again. He had decided on his way to the park that he must start his day by completing his list. Miss Bellamy deserved a call, and though he knew he was likely not to gain entrance to see her, he was determined to at least call on her mother.
He was just about to lift the knocker a third time when the door opened.
“It is early, sir.” The Bellamy’s butler looked down his nose at Henry.
“I do apologize, but it is rather important that I see Mrs. Bellamy.” Henry was certain he saw a look of confusion pass over the features of the staid servant. “I am afraid my cards are at home, but if you would tell her that Mr. Crawford would greatly appreciate three minutes of her time. I will even speak to her in the foyer. I do not need to be shown to a drawing room.”
The butler motioned for him to enter.
“Tell her I will not leave until she has seen me,” Henry added once he was inside the house. “I will wait here.” He took a seat on a chair next to a narrow table that stood in front of a large mirror and watched the butler amble down the hall to what Henry assumed was the breakfast room. Where else would a lady be at this hour of the day if she were not still in her room dressing?
He tapped his toe as he waited and ran the brim of his hat back and forth through his fingers. Thankfully, it was only a few minutes until the lady of the house appeared.
Henry rose to greet her. “I do apologize Mrs. Bellamy, but as I was on my way to take my ride this morning a bit of news was brought to my attention. It seems my name was seen in the paper by Lord St. James.”
She was still scowling at him, but her eyebrows had risen in interest. It was likely she would hear him out rather than shooing him on his way as he expected her to do.
“Someone was seen in the garden with his wife last night, but I assure you it was not me. However, I understand that you will not want me to call on your daughter any longer, which is just as well since I do not think we would suit. She is a lovely lady, and some gentleman will be happy to secure her hand, but that gentleman is not me.” He bowed. “Thank you for your time. I will leave you to your day.”
“It was not you?” Mrs. Bellamy questioned.
He shook his head. “It was not me.”
She shook her head. “I am not certain I believe you.”
“I understand. That is only natural.”
“Thank you for calling,” Mrs. Bellamy said, motioning to the door and beginning to walk that direction. “You know I only gave you a chance because you were with Mr. Linton,” she commented as they moved the few steps to the entrance, “and he and his sister have always been so proper. However, it seems I was wrong. Perhaps not in you, if you are telling the truth, but in Miss Linton.”
The butler had opened the door, and Henry was about to step through it but her words stopped him. “I beg your pardon?”
“Have you not seen the paper?” Mrs. Bellamy asked.
“No, I read it after I ride. As I said, Lord St. James informed me that my name had been mentioned alongside his wife’s. Did the paper mention Miss Linton?”
“Oh, yes. It seems she was seen in an alcove with a rake.”
There was a disturbing look of amusement in the lady’s eyes. What was it about some women that made them delight in the downfall of another?
“You are certain it was Miss Linton?”
“Oh, no names were given, of course, but I am nearly certain it was her,” replied Mrs. Bellamy.
Henry thanked her once more for her time and stepped out onto the Bellamys’ front step. The paper. He needed to read that blasted paper before he did anything else. However, if it was true that Miss Linton’s name had been linked to Edwards, Edwards was about to find himself betrothed to the lady Henry loved, and there was no way, Henry was going to allow that to happen.
~*~*~
You can find Henry’s store in your Kindle store at this link.
Grace is very wise in regard to her sister. Yes, that is very wise indeed. She knows her sister well. Felicity would be on Blakesley like wasps on a can of beer at a picnic. The girl has no shame and would try to take him from her sister simply because she feels like she can. Perhaps, she is bored at this point and needs to prove that she still has IT. Since Ramsey has been slow to propose or she fears he isn’t coming to the point at all… she may panic and see Blakesley as an alternative. She isn’t stupid. Her mind is constantly working with a backup plan on hand. Poor Grace, to have such a sister. Whew!!
I hope all your promos work out. I’ve asked my friends if any of them have read Tom’s story and have not reviewed it to please do so. I hope it is cleared soon so you don’t have to worry about it. I enjoyed all the books in this series. Well done.
Blessings on all your hard work.
Thank you for your assistance. “Many hands make light work,” right? 🙂 I’m not very good at asking for help. I tend to like to do things myself, but sometimes, I just can’t. I’ve been learning that lately. So, your willingness to help with this is so very greatly appreciated.
If only Grace had had that thought about her sister sooner. 😉 I’m afraid she was not being wise at this moment. (Sorry 🙂 )