Mrs. King tilted her head and smiled at him as a proud mother might gaze upon a child who had done something of merit. “Now, see, Miss Grace, this is why I thought you should set your cap at him instead of Mr. Norman.” She shrugged. “But, it seems you were correct, and he is not free.”
No, he was not free. His heart was irrevocably gone both now and forever.
[from Her Secret Beau, Touches of Austen book 3]Published to YouTube by AnneDarcy on January 8, 2008.
We’re stepping back a few decades for today’s song. I remember hearing this when I was young, but even then, it was not a new song. 🙂 However, it is a fun and uplifting song, perfect for a Monday morning.
I’m just going to jump right into my writing news as there is a good bit of it.
First, I would like to remind all Kobo readers that this sale ends today:
Second, I would like to say thank you for this:
Tom: To Secure His Future now has 10 reviews, which means I can apply for a promotional day for the book! Thank you tullis for posting your review. 🙂
Third, I’d like to give you a little update on how the My Bookcave promo went. I had 130 downloads of the free book at the end of the day on Monday, which was right before the promo went live on My Bookcave. By Wednesday, I had a total of 2087 downloads of Henry’s story! That is a pick your chin up off the floor sort of number to me. 🙂 I’m delighted that so many picked up on the free offer. My hope is that this book will help them discover me as an author or another section of my writing. Only time will tell if it had that desired effect or not. I have, however, gotten one lovely review from a reviewer who appears to be new to me. That was a treat to see.
Fourth, I have some tentative publication news for you. (Finally! It has been a while. 😉 ) I am almost entirely certain that these dates will be the official dates, but I am still waiting to hear back on what needs fixing in Addie’s story before I can set them in cement. (Although I was confident enough to put them on a graphic. LOL)
I put a lot of hours and words (7,329 to be exact) into this story this week as I was getting it from where it was to where I was happy enough with it to send it to my first editor. I am really pleased with how the story has turned out. It wasn’t easily done, but it was so worth the effort. I can’t wait to share Addie and Robert’s story with you. I have an excerpt from that story below.
Fifth, I have a free book for you on this last Monday of September. His Beautiful Bea, Touches of Austen book 1, will be free in your Kindle store from today until 11:59 PM tomorrow, October 1, 2019. If you haven’t picked up a copy of this sweet novella yet, make sure to click over and do that.
If you already own this book and enjoyed reading it, I’d love to get a few more reviews on it so that at some point in the future, it would qualify for a My Bookcave promo. (It currently has 9 reviews.)
And that’s it for my writing news, other than to say, I did get a chapter of Persuading Miss Mary written for this week’s Thursday post. That story and Her Secret Beau will be my focus during writing times this week.
Now, for an excerpt from Addie: To Wager on Her Future:
Oh, it is so hard to select excerpts from this story as there are so many possible spoilers, so read at your own risk. Hopefully, I am giving you just enough to whet your appetite for more. :)
Of all the people lounging in her sitting room, the one who kept drawing Addie’s attention was Mr. Eldridge. It was odd how she had only met him earlier in the day and yet, he seemed so at ease with her. He was likely one of those fortunate chaps who found friends wherever he was.
His smile was quick and his eyes expressive, though there were moments when such things were hidden behind an unreadable mien. That talent, she supposed, had been developed while participating in card games and whatever else he might have thrown his money at in a gamble to increase his coffers. He was Tom’s friend, after all, and Tom Bertram was no saint.
She, herself, was not completely opposed to a wager now and again. However, when a wager endangered the welfare of one’s self, friends, or family, it was excessively unacceptable. Life was not free of risk, but one should not throw oneself into them willy-nilly — such as her brother had done or as Tom had done in risking his inheritance and that of his brother.
She smiled at Mr. Eldridge, who was watching her, and wondered if he were the sort of gentleman who had risked where it was not wise to do so. He did not appear to be such a one. However, neither did Tom.
She rose and rang the bell. They might not be in the usual drawing room used for entertaining guests, but she could still offer them a cup of tea, and to be honest, she felt as if she could use a cup herself. The mere ritual of pouring tea and stirring in milk always calmed her, and at present, she needed calming.
Before she could return to her seat, there was a knock on her door.
“Is your brother here?” Mr. Sydney, the surgeon, asked as he peered around the room.
“Not yet,” Addie answered. “How is my father?”
Mr. Sydney was another fellow who had perfected the ability to hide behind an indecipherable expression. Of course, he only did so when the news he had to share was not good. If things were well, his lips would quirk at the corners, causing his cheeks to become even rounder than they were when he was not smiling. Presently, he was not smiling.
“He is resting.”
“For now?” Addie asked softly.
There was a small flinch of his left eye. “Yes.”
“For how long?”
“We should wait for your brother.”
“I am capable of hearing the dreadful news.”
This time he smiled, though sadly at her. “I have no doubt of that, Miss Atwood, but I do not relish imparting what I must more than I must.”
Addie’s heart ached at the meaning of his words as she motioned to an empty chair, but her sorrow must be kept contained for the moment. She would grieve when she was in private.
“Please, be seated,” she said to Mr. Sydney. “I am unsure how long my brother will be, but there is a matter of some delicacy of which you must be made aware.” Precautions must be taken. She must keep her head and steady her nerves. Her safety and that of her brother depended upon it.
Mr. Sydney did as instructed but not without giving her a questioning look after his eyes had swept the room.
“Should we leave?” Mr. Eldridge asked.
Addie shook her head. “I assume you are trustworthy if you are Mr. Bertram’s friend. I am not mistaken, am I?”
“No, but if it is a private matter,” Mr. Eldridge replied.
“You know Mr. Camden.”
Mr. Eldridge’s brow furrowed. “Yes, but –”
“And you do not approve of him and are likely cautious in his presence and wary of his motives, are you not?” Someone who knew Mr. Camden might help her brother circumvent any further disastrous dealings with the man.
“You asked if my brother and he were friends and looked relieved when I said they were not,” she added when his look of confusion deepened at her question.
Understanding dawned in Mr. Eldridge’s eyes. “I have seen his handiwork and let us just say that Mr. Sydney would be put to the test to see such handiwork undone if it is even possible to be undone.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before continuing. “If your father was not in a precarious position, I would recommend removing yourself from the house until Mr. Camden is gone.”
“He is at the inn.” Addie’s heart picked up its pace at the silent disbelief that met her comment.
“It is what I would recommend for my sister,” Mr. Eldridge finally said breaking the silence. “But then, I am rather protective of her.”
Addie looked to Miss Eldridge for confirmation of such a statement.
“He has been foolish in many ways,” Miss Eldridge said, “but I must admit that he has never once knowingly placed me in a dangerous situation. His friends have not always been so fortunate.”
“Might we forget that I left Tom while he was injured? I do believe I have learned that lesson quite well.”
So, it was Mr. Eldridge’s estate where Tom had convalesced until being returned to Mansfield. That answered her question of whether Mr. Eldridge had done anything unwise. He and Mr. Bertram must be prodigiously good friends to have weathered that ordeal. And, she added to herself, both seemed to be wiser for it. There was hope that James would also be wiser once the matter with Mr. Camden was settled. That was a small comforting thought in a sea of so much uncertainty and grief.
Miss Eldridge smiled. “I suppose we can put it aside — for now.”
Mr. Eldridge shook his head and turned away from his sister. “Why does my knowing Camden play into why I should interfere in a private matter?”
“You can vouchsafe for me that the gamble we are about to take is necessary.”
~*~*~
I just discovered that I did not comment on this post. Goodness… my apologies. I loved the music and that NA video was so cute. I love that couple and that movie version. They are so cute. Well, this gamble has me intrigued. What the heck have they done or are going to do? This continuing story has me curious. I am looking forward to reading it. Blessings on all your hard work. I’m so happy you were able to get your number of reviews necessary for the promotion. Well done and thanks to your faithful reader.
I really like Northanger Abbey — the book and this movie version of it. Addie, Robert, and James have gotten themselves into quite the (dangerous) pickle in the upcoming book.