Music Monday: Silent Worship (Emma 1996)

I’m flip-flopping this post just a tiny bit today, as I am starting with just a few lines from something I wrote last week and will end with an excerpt from an already published book.

The following lines are part of a chapter of His Darling Friend, which will post in a couple of weeks. However, since this story does contain touches of Jane Austen’s Emma it seemed to match quite well with the musical video clip below. (I have been watching a few Emma clips to get some inspiration lately. 🙂 )

“Then, it shall be perfect. Do you think we might try it now?” He motioned to the piano.

Victoria tamped down her irritation about having to play anything at all, handed the remaining sheets of music to Diana, and took her place at the instrument. The things one had to endure to please one’s mother!

Thirty minutes later, once Mr. Carlyle, who was as exacting as she had imaged him to be, was satisfied with both his performance and hers, Victoria was allowed to quit her spot at the piano.

“Of all the frustrating, arrogant men!” she complained in a whisper to Diana. “Did you hear him instructing me on how best to play?”

Published to YouTube by Movieclips on October 2, 2011.

A note about the song from Wikipedia:

“Silent Worship” is featured in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, where it is sung by Gwyneth Paltrow (as Emma) and Ewan McGregor (as Frank Churchill). Although Somervell’s 1928 English adaptation of the 1728 Handel aria was done more than a century after Austen’s 1815 novel, the original Italian aria was recorded in Jane Austen’s own handwritten songbooks. In the film, Somervell’s piano introduction to the song is shortened.

So, as you can tell, there is to be some sort of musical performance at the Abernathy House party. This week, I wrote the practice session chapter of His Darling Friend, and that is all I wrote on any story! It was a heavy editing week as far as stories go. Tom: To Secure His Legacy should be in the hands of my first reader before you read this on Monday morning. So, that moves one pressing project off my list of things to do for a while, which means I can hopefully start thinking and working on my other projects more — including deciding what new story is going to step into the lineup.

The only other item which I wrote this week was an Austen Authors blog post about His Darling Friend, which will post tomorrow, February 12, 2019. I wrote it to announce the beginning of a new, free-to-read, weekly story to those who might not always read my blog or who do not even know about my blog.

And that was it for my writing work this week. 🙂

Since I do not have a current work in progress story to share a longer excerpt from at present, I thought I would share an excerpt from an already published book. This scene is from Chapter 5 of Discovering Mr. Darcy where Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Catherine are “up to no good” (aka arranging a compromise 😉 ) and was chosen because it involves practicing the piano, which I think goes well with the excerpt from His Darling Friend and with the video.

AN EXCERPT FROM Discovering Mr. Darcy: 

Elizabeth stopped at the gates to Rosings.  She did not want to practice, and she most decidedly did not want to enter that house.  She did not even wish to be on the grounds.  It was all in too close a proximity to that man.  She stood for three minutes complete, contemplating if refusing to do as Lady Catherine had directed was worth the long and nonsensical scolding she would receive from her cousin. Being barred from Rosings was not a threat but rather a consequence for which to wish.  How was she to even look at Mr. Darcy with any sort of composure after hearing what she had heard?  And to think she had been considering that he might not be as horrid as she had first deemed!

She shook her head.  Feigning civility even to the likes of Mr. Darcy was better than enduring a diatribe from her cousin, for she knew that it would not be one rebuke but an unending litany recited and expanded upon as each new day dawned.  So, with an enormous sigh, she lifted her chin and march to her doom.

“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth,” Richard greeted her as she came near the house.

Elizabeth curtseyed and returned the greeting.  “I am here to practice as I was instructed to do.”

There was something not entirely pleasant about Miss Elizabeth this morning. Her eyes were dull, and her smile had no spark. “My aunt can be demanding.”  He tilted his head and studied her expression.  “You are not unwell, are you?”

“A slight headache,” Elizabeth admitted.  “However, it is not enough to render me unable to please my cousin’s patroness.”  She had attempted to use her headache as a reason to avoid Rosings, but Mr. Collins would not hear of it.  According to him, a bit of music would likely cure all her ills if the glorious walk to Rosings, knowing the favour of one so great as Lady Catherine had been bestowed upon her, did not do so first.  She smiled sheepishly. “My cousin can also be demanding.”

Richard chuckled and accepted the explanation but felt that more was amiss.  However, there was no way to inquire further without being thought meddlesome.  He extended an arm to her.  “Allow me to escort you to your instrument.”

Elizabeth could not help smiling at the flourish of his free hand as he waved it toward the house.  Why could his cousin not be so amiable?  It was as if the two were opposites sides of the same coin — one dour and grave and the other affable and bright.

“I must admit that I am selfish enough to be grateful for my aunt’s insistence that you play.  There are far too many stays here that are dull.  A new friend and music do lend a certain delight to this visit.”  He led her up the grand staircase and toward the family wing.  “It is only when Mrs. Jenkinson is required to play, or Georgiana is with us, that there is anything as pleasant as music about the house.”

“No one else plays?”

Richard shook his head.  “Anne’s skill at the piano was passed on to her by her mother,” he leaned closer and whispered, “No matter how much Aunt Catherine insists she would have been a proficient had she practiced, it was not meant to be — or so my father says.  But, you mustn’t tell her I said so, for I will deny it if you do.”

He turned as his batman, Mr. Stone, approached.  “Did you find the missing item?” he inquired but then, held up a hand to prevent the man from answering.  He needed Elizabeth only to hear a reason for his leaving her to find the piano on her own. He did not need her to hear any of the discussion about the item that was missing because it had been taken at his request.

He turned to Elizabeth. “I must apologize.  There is a matter that requires my attention.  Three doors up on the left is where you will find what you need.”

“Oh, of course,” Elizabeth replied.

Richard turned toward Mr. Stone but not so far as to not be able to see Miss Elizabeth’s progress.  “You have the keys?”

Mr. Stone handed two keys to Richard.

“And the bell?”

“Disconnected,” said Mr. Stone.

“From all three rooms,” Richard began moving down the hall as Elizabeth reached the door he had directed her toward.

“Yes, sir.”

“And Darcy’s man?”

“Resting uneasily below stairs but unwilling to cross Lady Catherine.”

“He knows the purpose, does he not?” Richard stopped and waited until Elizabeth had entered the room he had told her contained the piano and then hurried toward the door and carefully locked it almost as soon as it closed.

“He does,” whispered Mr. Stone, “but he fears he will lose his spot. I assured him that you and Lady Catherine would not allow it, yet he is nervous.”

Richard pulled his man down the hall toward the servant’s stairs.  “No one is to open that door or the two next to it.”

“The instructions have been given,” Mr. Stone assured him. “No one is to come to this floor until you have given the go ahead.”

“Very good.”  Richard turned and looked back toward the door he had just locked.  The handle was jiggling, and there was a soft knocking.  Oh, Darcy and Miss Elizabeth would be angry.  He blew out a breath.  “I do hope they are in a forgiving mood once they are released.”

Mr. Stone chuckled.  “I would have thought you would have considered that before undertaking this scheme.”

“You can be replaced,” Richard growled.

Mr. Stone shook his head.  “No, I cannot.  Your father has promised my father that I will be your man for the duration of our stay in his majesty’s forces.”  He grinned at Richard’s sly smile. “However, I realize that you could make my stay unbearable, so I will wish you well in this endeavour.  I await your command.”  He saluted smartly and, pivoting on his heel, left Richard to watch the hall on his own.

Richard pulled a sofa that stood near the servant’s stairs directly in front of the door to the stairs and took a seat. It would be a long watch, but he must be certain that no one interfered with the plans that had been set in motion.

“They are captured?” Anne asked quietly, poking her head out of her room just down the hall.

He waved for her to join him.  “They are.  There has been rattling of the door and a few knocks, but nothing further.”

“Darcy has not bellowed?”

Richard chuckled. “Not yet, and I am fairly certain it will be a while before he does since he is likely improperly dressed.”

Anne’s eyes sparkled.  “Do tell.”

Richard leaned back and patted the seat next to him.

~*~*~

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