Darcy and Elizabeth – Page 3

La Maison De Musique (Pierre Carrier-Belleuse)

La Maison de Musique (The Music House) by Pierre Carrier-Belleuse, c. 1901. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The young lady above could be Miss Mary in my book Christmas in Gracechurch Street.

(Even if, as I look at this image while typing this, the dress reminds me a bit of one that Wes did not approve of Mary wearing in Persuading Miss Mary, but I digress. LOL)

You see, the Mary in Christmas in Gracechurch Street changes when she gets to town with Elizabeth. She becomes more fashionable, and well, as you can see from this excerpt, much more proficient with music. She’s been hiding a quite a few things actually, and discovering this new Mary was fun when I was writing.

Well… it was fun for me. It might have been a little less fun and more shocking and occasionally disconcerting for her sister. But then, I suppose that made it more fun for me. 🙂 Ah, my poor characters. Forced to entertain me before they entertain you.

In this excerpt, which is set in a music room at Matlock House, we are at the darker part of the romance for Elizabeth, which is why the first line is what it is. To find out what has happened to make Elizabeth wish to cry, you’ll have to read the book. 😉

My Favourite Description of Caroline

Image: The Palmy Days of the Café de la Rotonde. In the Palais-Royal, 1868, François Courboin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Several years ago, I shared this image on a Wednesday right before the Thursday on which I posted the chapter from which the quote is taken. Back then, I was just beginning the writing of my Marrying Elizabeth series, and I was posting it on Thursdays as I wrote. Below is a portion of that Thursday’s chapter. (It was chapter 11 if you’re curious.)

Until the end of January 2023, you can download Confounding Caroline for FREE at your favourite ebook retailer. I have put links to the book below the excerpt for those who don’t have this book in their collection yet.

Courting is a Pleasure (The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin)

Shall we start the week with a traditional Irish song and a story excerpt about a couple who is courting? (The courtship in the story turns out better than the one in the song. 🙂 )

The lines from Unravelling Mr. Darcy below are from when Darcy and Elizabeth meet after Rosings when Elizabeth and Jane are still at the Gardiners.

Darcy’s been given a second chance to win Elizabeth’s heart, and he’s not letting anything stop him from succeeding — not even his tightly wound pride.

MAILING LIST PATREON

Christmas Prayers (Henry Bacon)

Isn’t this painting fantastic? I saw it when doing an image search and just had to share it with you. There is a lot to like about this image, but do you know what I like most? It’s that little fellow turning to look at the artist capturing the moment in a painting. It just makes the image look so real and unstaged, doesn’t it?

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Over the course of the two and a half weeks that Darcy had stayed at Netherfield before departing to collect his sister, Bingley had insisted that they call on so many of the neighbours as was possible so that one and all could see that Darcy was not the cold and uncaring person Wickham had touted him to be. He had also insisted that Darcy be seen in Meryton twice with Elizabeth – once in a carriage and once while walking the streets and visiting the shops.

And then, there had been church, where, each Sunday, Darcy had sat with Bingley, but, immediately upon completion of the service, had sought out Miss Elizabeth. Bingley wished he could take credit for that action as it had set several tongues to wagging immediately, but he could not. That was entirely Darcy’s doing.

from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball

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MAILING LIST PATREON

Filter System for Individual Coffee Cup Existing in 1868

Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
source listed as:
Jean-Baptiste Deschamps d’Avallon, Compendium de pharmacie pratique. Guide du pharmacien établi et de l’élève en cours d’études, Germer Baillière, Paris, 1868, 1134 p., p. 737.

We ended the last chapter with the gentlemen drinking coffee, and we are going to start this week’s chapter when they have just finished their coffee. My youngest loves his coffee, and we have several gadgets and pots for filtering it. We even have one that is not so very different from the drawing above, although it sits on the rim of the cup. Therefore, I simply could not resist sharing this image with you today. Below is how chapter 5 begins.

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A half an hour later, Bingley and Darcy had finished their cups of coffee and discussion with Mr. Bennet. The man was quite knowledgeable on several topics. Bingley had done more listening to his friend and Mr. Bennet discuss books and the struggles that come with estate stewardship than he had talking. That had been an excellent thing since he was occupied trying to figure out a way to get rid of Wickham or to keep Darcy in the area if ridding it of Wickham was not a possibility.

“I wish you well in your quest, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said when Bingley stood and Darcy followed suit. “Elizabeth’s opinion is not always easily swayed.” He leaned to the side as he looked up from his place behind his desk at Bingley and Darcy. “You may have to prove to her that you are the opposite of what Mr. Wickham said.”

Darcy nodded slowly. “I know.”

“Especially, since her opinion of your sister is based on her opinion of you.”

“I am aware of that, as well.”

“You know…” Mr. Bennet suddenly found several papers on his desk that needed attention. “There is something you could do which might guarantee, at least, a small reversal of her displeasure.”

from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball

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MAILING LIST PATREON