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“What shall we do tonight?” he asked the chair across from him. “Mrs. Nichols knows about the ball…” He drummed his fingers on the arms of the chairs. “We could read.” His nose wrinkled at the thought. “No, I do not wish to read either,” he said as if agreeing with his non-existent companion. He was far too restless to read tonight.
from Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball
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Oh, the details in this painting are fantastic! And, I think, the way she is looking at the gentleman who is reading to her is sweet. However, those are not the only reasons I chose to share this picture this week.
We are starting a new Thursday’s Three Hundred story tomorrow, and in it, Mr. Bingley is getting ready for a ball. So, yes, 🙂 the title of the painting is my justification for pairing this image with the short story excerpt below.
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“That is the plan. If all goes well, I shall host a Yuletide ball to celebrate my betrothal to Miss Bennet. Darcy will, of course, attend, and he and his sister will join me for Christmas. And then, well, then, I suppose, we shall see what can be done about improving Miss Elizabeth’s opinion of my friend.”
“Well, then.” Mr. Bennet stood and straightened his jacket. “I feel a need to visit my friend Sir William and share some gossip concerning a particular officer.” He lifted a hand to forestall Bingley’s comments. “I shall not reveal my source, nor will I mention the attempted seduction.”
“I had not thought you would, sir. I was only going to agree that indeed, a little gossip might be our solution.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Do not let the parson hear you say so.”
[From Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball, a Teatime Tales novelette]
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In tomorrow’s chapter of From Tolerable to Lovely, we are no longer at the ball. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to give you another image to hang the story one. As you can see from the first few paragraphs of chapter 3 below, Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley, and Jane are on a walk in the country. They will be on a walk again in the final chapter as well, though they won’t be alone for all of that walk, which is why I have chosen to share the image above.
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A well-worn path winding its way through the Hertfordshire countryside lay before Darcy, and a pretty lady walked at his side. This was not how Darcy had imagined his call at Longbourn going. He had expected to spend fifteen minutes to half an hour in the sitting room feeling very ill-at-ease and struggling to engage in polite conversation, which he hoped he might be able to turn toward things which were not merely common topics of conversation so that he could learn more about Miss Elizabeth.
Instead, he had found himself standing in the sitting room at Longbourn for only five minutes while Bingley arranged to go for a walk with Miss Bennet with Darcy and Miss Elizabeth as proposed chaperones. Mrs. Bennet was so far beyond delighted to have Bingley showing such interest in her eldest daughter that neither Darcy nor Miss Elizabeth was given an opening to refuse being included in the walking party.
And that had brought Darcy to this wonderful prospect of fresh air, good exercise, and Miss Elizabeth’s companionship.
[From Tolerable to Lovely, a Teatime Tales novelette]
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Welcome back to Wordless Wednesdays. As I start these up again after my summer break, the plan is to not post every week. I have not settled on a frequency yet. This week’s post goes well with both the first and second chapters of From Tolerable to Lovely since the story begins at the Meryton Assembly and this was the video I had playing on repeat while writing chapter 2’s dance scene. 🙂
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“Do you dance, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I do when asked, Mr. Darcy.” She quirked an eyebrow and waited.
“My apologies, that did not come out as I meant.” Darcy gave a small self-deprecating laugh. “I believe what I meant to ask was, do you wish to dance, Miss Elizabeth?”
The half-smile that she wore twitched, and Darcy was sure that she was going to laugh, but she managed to suppress the urge. Her eyes, however, danced in merriment.
“Indeed, I do wish to dance. Did you have a particular partner in mind for me?”
[From Tolerable to Lovely, a Teatime Tales novelette]
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UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE BY PEDER B. HELLAND ON JANUARY 18, 2018
Today’s musical selection is one of those songs which I can put on and immediately my mind calms and my imagination begins to play. I often listen to this song while writing, but it is also a favorite to listen to while taking a walk. And that is the reason I have chosen to pair this song with the story excerpt below because, in this section of Matching Mr. Darcy, which releases tomorrow, Mr. Darcy is out on a walk and trying to clear his mind.
Darcy reined in his mount so that he could take in the view before him. The ground rose and fell in gentle swells and small undulations. There were stands of trees that interrupted fields and stood in both great and small gatherings. The countryside was beautiful but lacked the sharp edges that surrounded his home, which was utterly unfortunate, for, he thought to himself, a good rocky crag right in the middle of Longbourn’s garden would have come in handy yesterday for disposing of the insufferable Mr. Newell. That man would not allow himself to be separated from the side of Miss Elizabeth. Not that Miss Bingley would have allowed Darcy to leave her side either.
Continue reading MM: Always (Peder B. Helland)