PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY HOME FREE ON OCTOBER 19, 2018.
By the end of the excerpt below, Richard is feeling as upbeat and free as today’s song choice — and it is all thanks to the lady standing with him. This is a proposal scene, and as you can see from the header below, it happens in chapter 5. That seems a bit soon, now doesn’t it? Let’s just say that by the scene right after this (as in the second half of this chapter) that happy, upbeat, free feeling is about to get burst in a most distressing fashion. But for now, let’s just focus on the happy, ok?
Sometime later that day, after the sun was gone and the darkness of night had fallen, Richard stood before the Gardiners’ home, waiting to be allowed entry. He did not wait long, for the door was opened nearly before the sound of his knock had faded. Giving his name along with his hat and coat to the servant, he again waited, this time in the hall, to be introduced. He took note of his surroundings with an eager eye. This was the home of a well-to-do merchant, and as such, it was the sort of living arrangements he might hope to one day have for himself.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, a pleasure to see you, sir. A pleasure.” Mr. Gardiner greeted him with a firm handshake and motioned for him to have a seat. “Dinner will be served shortly. Might I offer you a drink while you wait? A bit of wine perhaps?”
“My husband prides himself on his wine selections, Colonel,” said Mrs. Gardiner with a laugh. “It would do you well to enjoy it.”
“Then I shall,” said Richard, taking a seat near Kitty, who smiled and gave a brief greeting.
“My wife and niece tell me that you are thinking of stepping down from the first circles of society to join my realm.” Mr. Gardiner handed Richard a glass of wine. “I shall refill it for your supper. No need to sip like a lady, so to speak,” he said with a wink.
“I would choose you before I would choose myself.” He placed a hand, which had been made rough from working with his men in the militia and the wood he loved, on her cheek. “I do not have the means just yet to support a family,” he began.
“But you will.” She squeezed his hand tightly.
He smiled and nodded. He would gladly face whatever trials might come as he established himself as a tradesman just to have her continue to look at him as she did now with such confidence in his abilities. “Yes, I will, and when I do, I would very much like to create that family with you. Will you marry me when I am established?”
A smile lit her face and eyes as she nodded. “I would like nothing better.”
“It will not be a life of ease,” he cautioned. For a moment, despite his desire to have her as his wife, he doubted whether he was doing the right thing in asking her to share such a life. His thumb caressed her cheek. “You deserve so much more.”
“I love you,” she said, pressing her cheek more firmly against his hand. “I will be happy nowhere else save at your side.”
He knew that he felt the same. It was why he was prepared to defy his father. No matter the money and property he may be losing by choosing her, he knew his life would never be so pleasant with those things as it would be with her at his side. Still, he could not resist asking, “You are certain?”
Sigh. That’s a favourite scene from that book. I do love those moments when one or the other of the main characters finds that their place in life is next to the man or woman they love. 🙂
Trivia Question: Do you know who the he and she are in the above excerpt?
I’m not to that point in any of my current works in progress, however. I’m still either in the very beginning or somewhere in the middle. I am no further along in Mary’s story, but I am making progress in both the short story I am writing and Assessing Mr. Darcy. And other than to tell you that, I really have no writing news to share. School has started. We are getting our routines established and schedule refined, and writing continues as best it can while that happens.
While I have very little by way of writing news to share, I do have a story excerpt. This chapter from Assessing Mr. Darcy will be posted in its entirety on Patreon today. I am currently about two chapters ahead of this spot, but I thought I would share a little taste of what a family dinner at Longbourn might be like.
Today, I am resharing this video that I made for my series of Pride and Prejudice Novellas called Choices. This series is now available on Kindle, iBooks, and Nook as a bundle at a very good price. It will be available on Kobo as soon as I hear back on a technical issue I had during the publishing process.
All Leenie b books are available for purchase at the following e-tailers
“Loch Lomond – Peter Hollens.” YouTube. YouTube, 25 Jan. 2016.
THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY:
The story is complete! happy dance And, I have begun the work of polishing it into a publishable form. Hopefully, by Saturday of this week, I will have it ready enough to start posting it at DarcyandLizzy.com, and if all goes very well the book should be available for purchase around February 20th or very shortly thereafter.
While taking a break from writing this week, I happened upon this song. It is a sad song with several interpretations of lyrics but all that I read had the idea of someone being executed while another is left behind. And yet, despite the somber tones and the tragic meaning, it is beautiful.
I decided to post this song today with the following excerpt because right around this part of the story, both Kitty and Richard are feeling as if their hopes of a happily ever after have been fatally wounded — they haven’t been, of course, but neither know that yet. This bit of story is just before the soundtrack of the story leaves the somber tones of despair and begins to climb its way toward a happy resolution for our couple. (And yes, once again, a stomping and fuming Lady Catherine is unwittingly instrumental in bringing about that resolution.)
AN EXCERPT FROMHis Inconvenient Choice:
Richard picked up the bottle of port and eyed the glass that sat on the table in his room. He had planned to consume the majority of the bottle last night, but knowing how it would muddle his thinking for more than the night, he had refrained. One could not properly plan strategy while one’s brain was muddled after all, and he was not giving up Kitty before exhausting every option either he or his cousins could contrive. However ─ he removed the cork and poured a small measure into the glass ─ a small bit for fortification for the day that lay ahead might be a good idea. He replaced the stopper and just as he was draining the last drops from the glass, there came a stomping on the stairs followed by a loud knocking at his door.
“Fitzwilliam,” Rycroft called. “Fitzwilliam, it is of great importance.”
Richard opened the door and scowled at his cousin. “Your stomping and shouting are most unsettling for this time of day.”
Rycroft pushed his way into the room and began gathering Richard’s coat and hat. “To put it bluntly, I do not give a farthing about unsettling your day.” He shoved the coat at Richard. “Put it on.”
Richard’s brows rose. It was unlike his cousin to be so demanding. “What has you in a temper?”
“I should be in bed with my wife, but instead, I have been sent to collect you.”
Richard bit back a smile at the look of utter frustration on his cousin’s face. “And why must I be collected.”
“I am not exactly sure,” said Rycroft. “I was not listening as I ought to have been.” He waved a hand in the air. “Something about the paper and your father. I have never been particularly good at listening to Aunt Catherine when she is in a dither.”
“Aunt Catherine?” Richard took his hat from Rycroft.
“She appeared at my home demanding to see you. Apparently, Darcy’s butler is better prepared to handle her as she did not gain admittance to Darcy House,” he grumbled.
“She was probably in no mood to be put off by the time she reached your home if she was unsuccessful at Darcy’s,” reasoned Richard.
“Most likely,” agreed Rycroft holding the door open for Richard. “If you would be so kind as to hurry. Until I have produced you and our aunt has been satisfied…”
Richard held up a hand. “I know. You do not need to explain.” He locked the door and descended the stairs as quickly as he could.
“You mustn’t begin your day without a bit of food.” Mrs. Wood held out a small parcel to Richard. “A bit of cheese and a roll. It’s not much, but it should help settle your stomach.”
Rycroft stopped midstep and spun to look at Richard. “You are unwell?”
“Most men are after a few too many drinks,” said Mrs. Wood.
“I did not have as many as I had planned, ma’am.” Richard thanked her for the food and followed his cousin out the door.
Rycroft climbed into his carriage and shook his head. “I was not thinking,” he said apologetically. “I am afraid I have forgotten rather quickly the fear of losing one’s love. I am sorry.”
Richard waved it away. He did not wish to speak of his loss. “It is understandable when one has been granted the blessing of happiness.”
Rycroft groaned. “Another thing I should not have mentioned, I suppose.”
“I do not wish for you all to treat me with pity,” Richard growled.
Rycroft nodded. “You should eat. Our aunt is difficult enough to endure under good circumstances.”
Richard untied the cloth and broke off a bit of the roll. He hoped it did help settle his stomach, for it would be nice to have at least one part of his body feeling settled.
Rycroft waited until he had put the food in his mouth before he spoke. “I was not speaking of pitying you. I was speaking of being considerate. I was not considerate, as I was, in fact, only thinking of myself.” He leaned his head back. “However, if you would like to pity me, you may, for I find I am feeling quite sorry for myself and would enjoy the company.”
Richard rolled his eyes. He knew that his cousin was not being as selfish as he sounded. As was often the case, he was attempting to lighten the unease of another by painting himself in an unflattering light. “If you wish to have someone with whom to share that particular type of misery, I suggest we stop at Darcy’s and drag him along. I am afraid I shall never be able to join you in such misery as I doubt I will ever have a wife with whom I wish to lie in bed all day.” He broke off another piece of roll. “Ouch!” Rycroft had kicked him.
“I beg your pardon.”
“It was no accident,” snapped Richard as he rubbed his shin.
Rycroft shrugged. “Perhaps it was not, but it was well-deserved. You should not speak such lies.” He leveled a glare at Richard. “You will marry for love. Has my mother not already said as much?”
Richard nodded.
“Well, you know my mother. Very little will stand in her way…including your father.” He leaned his head against the back of the carriage once again. “Finish your food. Mary will be displeased if she hears I took you away without allowing you to break your fast.” His head popped off the wall of the carriage. “And when I call for tea, drink some.” He leaned his head back again, a small smile creeeping its way onto his lips as he closed his eyes.
Richard gave his head an amused shake. It was good to see his cousin so happy even if it made his own heart ache just a bit more.
High Valley. “Let It Be Me (Official Music Video).” YouTube, 09 July 2012.
THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY:
I don’t think there is much explanation needed to see the link between this song and the excerpt I have chosen this week. I admit that picking songs and story excerpts is proving to be challenging for this story. There are a lot of twists and turns, and I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises along the way. However, we know that this will end in a happily ever after, so why not share the proposal scene from chapter five?
[Hmmmm….A proposal – and not a forced one – so early in the book? You do realize that it probably means trouble lies ahead, right? So, enjoy this little bit of sweet and peaceful. I can’t promise next week’s peek will be so pleasant for our characters.]
AN EXCERPT FROMHis Inconvenient Choice:
Richard looked at the door for a moment as he gathered his thoughts before he turned to Kitty. “I am not romantic ─ “
“I know.” Kitty lifted his hand and brushed her lips against his knuckles. “A simple question is all that is required.”
“But, what about the pretty words that all women wish to hear?”
She shook her head. “I see your love for me in your eyes and the things you do. You have chosen me ahead of family and fortune. There is no need to put it in words.”
“I would choose you before I would choose myself.” He placed a hand that had been made rough from working with his men in the militia and the wood he loved on her cheek. “I do not have the means just yet to support a family,” he began.
“But you will.” She squeezed his hand tightly.
He smiled and nodded. “Yes, I will, and when I do, I would very much like to create that family with you. Will you marry me when I am established?”
A smile lit her face and eyes as she nodded. “I would like nothing better.”
“It will not be a life of ease,” he cautioned. For a moment, he doubted whether he was doing the right thing in asking her to share such a life. His thumb caressed her cheek. “You deserve so much more.”
“I love you,” she said pressing her cheek more firmly against his hand. “I will be happy nowhere else save at your side.”
He knew that he felt the same. It was why he was prepared to defy his father. No matter the money and property he may be losing by choosing her, he knew his life would never be as pleasant with those things as it would be with her at his side. Still, he could not resist asking, “You are certain?”
“Yes.”
“Then, may I ─ “
“Yes. You must kiss me.”
And he did ─ soft as a butterfly landing on a delicate flower in a garden. But even though it was a brief, gentle kiss, the emotion that passed to her through it ─ to be thought of as so precious, so treasured ─ melted her to her very core. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close so that her head lay on his heart. And so they stood until a soft knock at the door drew them apart and sent them on to dinner.
