Austen-Inspired – Page 16

Heartland (Celtic Thunder)

Because St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in March, I thought that this month would be a good month to feature some Celtic music on Mondays.

I’m pairing today’s song with a story where the father of the hero surely would have cried out to be saved from the waters of the Irish Sea. Unfortunately, he was not. (That’s a sad note to start the month on isn’t it? Sorry. The song, however, is much more upbeat than this quote. So, there’s that. 🙂 )

At All Costs is book four and the conclusion of my Willow Hall series. The hero of this story, who lost his father at sea, is perhaps my most-favorite Bingley. Bingley is not the only gentleman who finds his happily ever after in this book. The colonel is also so fortunate. Bingley and Richard work together on a few things in this book.

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Good Manners Book Ad (c.1890)

This is a black and white clip art version of the image in the ad below. The ad is said to have been from 1890. I found both images on olddesignshop.com.

Rycroft drew in a deep breath and released it as Georgiana took his arm. She looked up at him with a brow raised and a scolding look. “Do not,” he said.

“Do not what?” She fluttered her lashes and smiled sweetly.

“You know very well, but since I must clarify, do not chide me. I know I have insulted her once again and must apologize, although I doubt she will forgive me.”

Georgiana hugged his arm tightly. “She will if you are sincere. Miss Mary is quite agreeable and sweet.”

[from No Other Choice]

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The Surprise (A Collection of Valentines Ancient and Modern, c. 1876)

From the book *The Quiver of Love: A Collection of Valentines Ancient and Modern*, a collection of love poems published in 1876, illustrated by Walter Crane and Kate Greenaway (source)
. The illustration was created for “The Surprise”, a translation of a German poem by Heinrich Heine (source: Google Play eBook edition page 44, 45)
. It reads:

THE SURPRISE
I dreamt I saw you yesternight,
And claspt my hands about your eyes,
Nor dared to venture in your sight
Until you pardoned the surprise.
So take my letter, Valentine,
My name and mission quickly guess —
I fear to offer word or sign;
I wait until you whisper “Yes.”

(Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

“You knew she was behind me?” There was a bit of venom in Darcy’s whisper.

Fisticuff might not happen in the garden, but Bingley was not certain he was going to survive this bit of trickery without some damage to his person.

[from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball]

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From This Moment On (Shania Twain)

Let’s begin our week with a love song and story pairing, shall we? The moment in the story I’m pairing with this song has been a long time in coming. Both Darcy and Elizabeth wanted this moment to happen five years earlier than it did, but in this variation of their story, it did not happen that way.

The snippet below is from the proposal that happens in chapter one. Yes, you read that correctly. They are going to start this story out with a proposal and then work their way through the reason they had to wait five years for this moment.

Finally Mrs. Darcy is the first book in my Dash of Darcy and Companions Collection and is a stand-alone short and sweet novella.

It is currently free in ebook format at all retailers.

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When I Fall in Love (Andrea Bocelli and Helene Fischer)

Welcome to a brand new week and a brand new month. Shall we start it with a love song and a quote from a story?

Anne wants to marry the gentleman she loves and not the one her mother has chosen. Doing so will take some scheming but if things go well, she should find herself dancing at her wedding with Alistair and not Darcy. This quote from Becoming Entangled is from the scene where Anne presents her plan to Alistair.

Becoming Entangled is a sequel to Unravelling Mr. Darcy, and the timelines of the two books overlap. The quote above happens on the day Anne meets Elizabeth when she is walking near Rosings before she leaves for London (in chapter 4 of UMD), and it is also the day Anne sends her letter to Darcy (which Darcy reads in chapter 5 of UMD).

Fun Fact: Anne and Alistair are one of my most favourite couples. I love the way these two love each other so completely, which is why today’s song matches with their story so well.

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