“Has Miss Linton told you about Eiddwen House?” He picked up his cup and saucer and rose from the table.
“Only that Miss Barrett helps match servants and positions.”
Charles stood at the window which overlooked the street. “It is a remarkable place.” He turned and faced Henry. “She took me on a tour of it today. It is all very organized and efficient – not that I would expect less from a proper chit like Miss Barrett.” He tipped his head. “She is very demanding.”
“Much like her mother?”
“Precisely,” he punctuated the word with his lifted cup. “But far more kissable.”
“Yet, you did not kiss her hand.”
“Strange thing that.” He shook his head. He still was not entirely certain why he had foregone such an opportunity. He had never hesitated to press his admiration of a lady in such a way. He shook his head again. She was different. He did not know why or how, but Miss Barrett was different. The same scheme as he always played would not work with her, nor – his brows rose – did he wish it to.
“As I was saying,” he began again, “I have promised to alert her if I hear of any quality positions for valets or groomsmen, and I am asking you to tell me if you hear of any. It is a good thing she is doing there at that house.” He turned back to the window. “Not a piece of money exchanges hands,” he added. “I am considering making a donation.”
There was a spitting and sputtering behind him.
“Yes, a donation,” he answered the shocked question that was drowning in Henry’s incorrectly swallowed tea. “I know I do not offer up my funds on anything easily, except a lark of a bet, but…” He turned toward Henry. “I believe I might actually be able to do some good. Me. How is that for a shocker? Charles Edwards, philanthropist.” He shrugged. “And it might well earn me that kiss I desire.”
[from Charles: To Discover His Purpose]Published to YouTube by Home Free on April 26, 2016
I’ve decided that for the Monday’s in January, I am going to try to share motivational sorts of songs since it is the start of a new year and where I live, it’s often cold and grey, so a little light might be nice. 🙂 I’ll try to see if I can come up with story tie-ins for them, but I’m not promising I can. (If I can, they might be a bit of a stretch.)
Today’s tie-in is the fact that Charles is willing to try just about anything to get a kiss from Evelyn, and it is this willingness, by the way, that brings about his discovery and change. Trying new things can lead to some wonderful results. (Or devastating disasters as might just happen in the above story before the wonderful results.)
I have some plans to try some new things this year. One of those things is that I hope to begin posting a second story on Tuesdays. My goal for the first post is February 5. I’ll share a bit more about that right before the story excerpt today since I made an attempt at starting that Tuesday story and am going to share it with you.
As I did last week with the poll I included, I am planning to be more “interactive” in my Monday posts from time to time. I do not have any survey questions for you to answer today, but I do have the results from last week’s poll, which I closed on Saturday morning so that I could get this post ready on Saturday night. 🙂
The chart images are a little small, so let me copy the summary here:
Q1. Mr. Darcy’s Comfort is the most read book, but every book has been read at least once. Yay!
I found looking at the results to be great fun. I hope you enjoyed being part of that fun.
Now, before we get to the story excerpt, I have some publishing news. I wish it was better publishing news, to be honest, but it is what it is. I have submitted my files of Delighting Mrs. Bennet to Amazon for a preorder. At the time of my writing this post on Saturday night, those files were still not published. However, the print copy of Delighting Mrs. Bennet, which I submitted after the ebook, has been published. In addition to that, I had a question at one of my uploading platforms which I sent to their help desk on Thursday, and I am still waiting for a reply from them.
However, on a brighter note, I had not one issue with uploading to Kobo, so here is the only link I have at present for pre-ordering Delighting Mrs. Bennet (it is a Canadian link since that is where that site directs me, but you should be able to switch between stores easily): https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/delighting-mrs-bennet
You will notice that the cover for Confounding Caroline has changed (or is changing — Amazon has not yet put the new cover up, and I have no idea why). This cover change was made out of necessity. I need the cover images to be similar for this series, and I had selected a few images of the same couple used in the first Confounding Caroline cover for use in the future series books. However, when I returned to the site to purchase those images, I learned that the site has closed its doors. I was so saddened by this, but feeling bad was not going to change things. So, I developed a plan B — and made a new cover. 🙂 These stories have Darcy at their center. Therefore, I have gone with a Darcy image on them.
Finally, we can get to that excerpt. (My, this is a long post!)
Sometimes, as I am in the beginning stages of brainstorming a story, I find it helpful to just jump in and write an opening scene. That is what I did this past Tuesday, and the excerpt below is that initial partial scene I wrote. I am nearly 100% certain this is where I want this story to start, but there is a small chance that it could change.
The story has no title yet. It will star Roger Shelton, who was Graeme Clayton’s friend in His Beautiful Bea, and will be the second story in my Touches of Austen collection.
These stories are original sweet Regency romances with intentional nods to Jane Austen’s novels. His Beautiful Bea nodded to Mansfield Park but was in NO WAY a variation or a retelling. It has an original cast of characters as well as an original plot line.
Roger’s story will give a nod or two to Jane Austen’s Emma. As you read the excerpt below, see if you can see anything which might make you think of something from Emma. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
(one note: I don’t have it woven into the story yet that this is taking place at the house party Bea’s cousins were planning to attend. It is a very first draft so it’s likely missing a few things. 🙂 )
A Touches of Austen Excerpt from Roger’s Story:
Roger Shelton slumped down on the settee in the far corner of the drawing room next to a pretty young lady whom he knew would not bat her lashes at him or smile coyly.
“Why must we attend these things?” The petite lady next to him whispered.
“Because neither you nor I are married, and our parents wish to be rid of us.”
“Perhaps your mother would like to see someone take over your care, but my father is not anxious to send me packing.”
Roger chuckled. “Is that so, Vic? Then why do you suppose he gave me this,” he withdrew a small packet from his pocket and handed it to her, “to deliver to you here with the accompanying message that he trusts your decisions but would like to meet the chap before the vows are read.”
Victoria Hamilton’s right hand connected to Roger’s chest with a resounding thump. She was not one to pull her punches as some chits might. She did not care one jot if Roger thought her less than delicate. He liked that about her.
“He said nothing of the sort. You are the worst liar – no! I cannot say that. I know you to be a very good liar – but in this, you shall not deceive me.”
“It was worth a try,” Roger admitted. “Your father did give me that package for you. That is the truth. As is the fact that my mother suggested I take a good turn through the ladies of the room looking for more than pleasant curves and a willing smile.”
“You are dreadful!”
Roger placed a hand on his heart. “I promise you she said that very thing. Mother is not known for her delicacy when chiding me. There was also something in the diatribe about grandchildren before she turned her toes up.” He shot a devilish grin at his friend.
“Do not say it,” she hissed.
“Mother was not pleased when I suggested that producing children did not require a marriage license.”
“You did not!” Victoria shook her head. “Of course, you did. I can nearly hear you saying it.”
“I am wounded.”
“By the truth?”
“No, by the thought that you think I would –” A severe glare stopped his words.
“Are you or are you not, Roger Shelton, the charmer of ladies, the stealer of kisses, the seeker of pleasure?”
He could not refute her statement, so he did not. He simply sat quietly and waited for her to continue.
“None of that embarrasses you as it should,” she muttered. “Did you get your hunter?”
Apparently, the discussion of his ill behaviour was at an end.
“Clayton helped me.”
“Mr. Clayton?” she asked with a smile that caused him to raise a brow in question. “He is pleasant,” she retorted with a huff. “Naught else.”
“That is good since I do believe he is getting married. At least he seemed on the point of proposing when I left Stratsbury Park.”
“Indeed?” Her tone was filled with delight.
“Thanks to my assistance.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I may have pointed out to him how he and his neighbour Miss Tierney would suit each other quite well.”
“You?” There was not a single ounce of belief in her tone. “You helped a fellow charmer such as yourself to make a match?”
Roger nodded. “I have always been very good at reading people.”
She shook her head. Why did she have such a difficult time believing that he could do anything good?
“I am certain I could find a match within these assembled hopefuls. Not for myself,” he clarified. “I am not in any hurry to marry, but several gents seem eager and, yourself excepted, there is not a lady here who is not hoping to snare a husband.”
“I am not the only lady who does not feel a need to rush to the altar.”
“Marrying at three and twenty would not be rushing,” he muttered near her ear.
“Oh, good heavens, you have been talking to my mother, have you not?”
Roger nodded. “Why do you not marry?”
“Why should I?”
“Do you really wish to live with your brother and his wife?”
Victoria expelled a great sigh but said nothing. Roger knew very well that Victoria did not like the new Mrs. Hamilton and had been quite delighted to hear that her brother and his new wife would be spending a great deal of time in town or at a rented cottage near the sea when the weather got too warm to abide London.
~*~*~
KOBO AMAZON NOOK IBOOKS MAILING LIST PATREON SOCIETY6
Such a busy post today. Lovely music video and I like the theme trying new things. That is refreshing as we start a new year. I loved Charles, can’t wait for for the other stories to launch. You’ve had a lot of problems posting files, closed venues and disappointments… however, you have come out swinging.
I love the new cover choices. Darcy is always a good choice. That model is just exotic enough to make the pulse beat a bit faster. Darcy was Norman, after all. He would have an exotic look about him that made him stand out. Those bar graphs looked pretty neat and I’m glad you were pleased with the results.
The excerpt grabbed me immediately. I want to know more about Roger and Vic [Victoria]. Their friendly actions toward each other makes me want them to get together. Blessings on the new year.
How do you know it is Monday? When you read the sentence: “Darcy was Norman, after all,” and you think, “No, he was Fitzwilliam.” Hahaha The actual meaning of the sentence clicked in a moment after that thought passed through my brain. 🙂 I think it might be a long day!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It has been a trying time with the publication of this upcoming book. The process is usually so smooth, but not this time. The last time I had this much trouble was when I published Her Father’s Choice and something got stuck. I finally had to just upload a new book and start from scratch, and it was fine. However, this time, I have the print book already connected to the ebook, so I am not sure that would work very well. I’m hoping that today I get some sort of reply to the email I sent to the help desk.