“I saw you dancing.”
Grace pasted a smile on her lips. She had been doing her best to not meet up with her mother, for doing so would inevitably lead to having to speak with her sister. And, she was not wrong, for Felicity was at her mother’s side, looking all eagerness.
“He was very nice looking and exceptionally light on his feet,” said Mrs. Love.
“Oh, indeed!” Felicity cried. “He might be one of the best dancers here.”
“Even better than Mr. Ramsey?” Grace asked. Her sister should be thinking only of Mr. Ramsey, but, of course, she was not.
“Yes, I do believe so, though I would not for all the world tell him so,” her sister replied.
“What was his name?” her mother asked eagerly.
“Mr. Norman,” Grace replied. “He is a physician.”
Her mother gasped and blinked. “A physician? He has no estate?”
A wicked thought captured Grace’s imagination. “None of which I know, but he has a home here in Bath. Some rooms somewhere. I really do not know where. There is still so much to learn about Bath.”
[from Her Secret Beau, Touches of Austen Book 3]The Dance by Doug Hammer, Provided to YouTube by CDBaby on July 2, 2105.
I chose this song from my Music to Write By playlist because of the title and because of the playful tone. Tomorrow’s story begins with the clip above in which dancing is mentioned and where a dance all of Grace’s own making begins. 🙂 The question is — will the dance go as planned or will some stumbling and tripping happen along the way causing some ungraceful moments or worse, a catastrophe?
I’m also going to share a scene from a previously published book below. In this scene, there is also a game or dance set to begin, but first, let me update you on the progress of my current writing projects.
It was a good week of writing, despite taking a day off on Monday to have some fun on Canada Day. We visited one of my favourite places — Mount Uniacke Estate Museum. I just love walking around through this “summer home,” which was built between 1813 and 1816, and studying the many details. My husband and I hope to return one day this summer and take a hike along the lake.
As I said it was a good writing week. I have been feeling a bit more “at home” in the new writing schedule, although I’m still figuring out some things. Be that as it may, I managed to write a chapter of Her Secret Beau, as well as one and a half chapters of Persuading Miss Mary (I finished the chapter I had started last week), and I have finished the first chapter of Addie’s story. Because I was able to work on all three stories some this week, I am counting this week as a success. 🙂
I also began a renovation project for one of my series. I know some will be sad to see the flowers disappear on the covers of my Willow Hall Series, but it is time to freshen them up. Not only will the covers get an update, the front and back matter will also get a once over to make sure all the contact information and such are up-to-date. And there are the sales descriptions (aka the blurbs) which will also get scrutinized for improvements. I hope to have this project completed by mid-August.
And now for an excerpt from At All Costs, which is part of the soon to be updated Willow Hall series. In this excerpt, we are looking at one of the schemes, set in motion by hopeful, lovelorn lovers, which play out in this book.
“What will happen on Sunday?” asked Lydia, who had joined them to look at the lace.
“Nothing,” said Jane. She attempted to smile and act as if she was not concealing anything, but the blush that stained her cheeks was all the encouragement Lydia needed.
“It is something,” Lydia tipped her head to the side and studied her eldest sister.
“Truly,” said Mary Ellen. “It is of little significance.”
Lydia’s eyes narrowed. “If it were of little significance, none would seek to hide it — particularly Jane.” She crossed her arms and waited as if expecting an answer or retort of some sort.
Jane fidgeted and lowered her eyes.
“Very well. I know people do not trust me.”
The sadness in Lydia’s soft voice caused Jane to look up, and when she did, she saw that the expression on Lydia’s face as she turned away matched the tone in her voice. Jane’s heart could not bear to be the cause. “It is not that,” she said.
“It is always that,” Lydia returned. “Lydia is too stupid and foolish to be trusted.” She shrugged. “I had hoped, perhaps, that…” She shook her head. “It does not signify. Everyone is entitled to their own little secrets.”
“We do not think you stupid or foolish,” said Mary Ellen.
Lydia’s head cocked to the side again, and she gave Jane a questioning look.
“I am sorry, Lydia, but you have not always been wise,” said Jane, accepting her parcel of lace and turning to leave with Mary Ellen.
“You have not always been wise either,” said Lydia, following Jane out of the store.
“Pardon me?” Jane asked in surprise. Lydia said harsh things to Elizabeth but rarely to Jane.
“Forgive me, Mary Ellen,” said Lydia before turning to Jane. “You should be married to Mr. Bingley, and had you fluttered your eyes or allowed your hand to brush past his when passing, instead of being so entirely proper, he would not have been able to stay away from Netherfield. You are beautiful, but you are…” her shoulders rose high and fell sharply as she drew and released a breath. “You are bland. It is like having a ball gown in the perfect shade of blue — like the midnight sky.” She turned to Mary Ellen. “Blue is lovely on Jane, much like red is on you.” She turned back to Jane. “Instead of wearing that gown and being the most sought after, you have hung it in the wardrobe and rarely wear it — and when you do, you hide it under a wrap of gray.”
“He left,” said Jane. “It was his choice.”
“Perhaps,” said Lydia, “but did you give him reason to return?” Lydia shook her head. “Again, I must apologize, Mary Ellen,” she said before continuing. “Do you really wish to marry Captain Harris?” Lydia did not allow for Jane to answer. “It would be a sin, really, if you did. His colouring does not match yours at all, and he is a gossip.” Lydia shook her head again. “No, you must marry Mr. Bingley, and Mary Ellen must marry Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Jane’s brows furrowed, and her mouth dropped open slightly.
Mary Ellen sighed and rolled her eyes. “That is precisely what we are attempting to arrange.”
“It does not look like it.” Lydia’s eyes were wide with astonishment.
“We are attempting to make them jealous,” Mary Ellen admitted in a whisper.
“Then, you are doing it wrong,” said Lydia. “You are giving your full attention to the other gentleman when you should flirt a bit with the object of your interest and then turn away from him. Entice and retreat.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Entice and retreat?” repeated Mary Ellen.
Lydia nodded. “Precisely, but if it does not work, tell me, and I shall arrange it all. It is really not so very difficult to get a gentleman to come up to scratch,” she paused for a moment, “well, most of them. I did think for a time that Marcus was not going to comply.” She smiled as she saw him approaching. “But, thankfully, he did.” She was about to flounce off to greet him when a thought stopped her short, and she turned with a very serious look on her face. “But not until he was told he should. That might be the answer.”
Jane snatched Lydia’s arm. “Please, do not say anything.”
Lydia patted Jane’s hand. “I can keep secrets, you know. I am actually very good at it.”
~*~*~
Yes, leave it to Lydia to tell Jane the truth about herself. She is bland.
🙂 Definitely a Lydia thing 🙂
Oh, Lydia was a scream in that scene.
Loved the music and I’m so glad you were able to get away with your husband. Those were lovely photos. I would certainly like to tour that house.
Happy Belated Canada Day [July 1] or Fête du Canada.
That was awfully sneaky of Grace to deflect her mother and sister. Grace knew exactly what they would do and how they would react. I could almost see Felicity licking her lips. I can’t wait to read the rest of that. Excellent.
Thank you!
As I have been writing Grace, I have been reminded of the Lydia in the Willow Hall series — a bit naive and a schemer who might not get the scheme quite right. 🙂