Hugh Thomson (1860-1920), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As I mentioned in the Saturday Broadsheet, Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball is the May free read for Followers on Ream and Patreon. So, today, for this Story Connections post, I am sharing the first chapter of that novelette with the image above. If Bingley has his way, Mr. Darcy will be with him at Netherfield. However, as you can see below, Bingley has currently returned to Hertfordshire alone to do some scheming on his friends behalf — right after he secures his own happiness, that is.
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.
“Christmas Prayers,” Henry Bacon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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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Can you believe we are already at the end of the year? It’s been quite the year, hasn’t it? But before we bid farewell to 2020, let me tell you what I have been up to in my writing life this past month and what is on the horizon to happen (hopefully) before the year ends or just as the calendar turns.
Story Updates
Here are a few updates on stories I have been working on and what I am planning to work on next:
Christmas in Gracechurch Street: This story was supposed to be on preorder today. It’s not – which fits for this story. It has not been where I wanted it to be the whole time I was writing it. I am a person who likes schedules and routine. This year has been one of working on flexibility, whether I wanted to work on it or not. 😀 However, all the edits should be done by the end of next week, and I have penciled in December 15 as the release day for this book.
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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