Pride and Prejudice Variation – Page 22

A Soiree (George Goodwin Kilburne)

I am sure this soiree is not a ball, but I thought it a good representation of the onlookers at a ball taking note of a particular couple taking the floor.

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“Shall we cause a stir and take the floor first?”

“I would rather not,” Mary replied and then pressed her lips together. She really did need to learn to keep her thoughts in her head long enough to weigh them before speaking.

Lord Matlock chuckled. “I am afraid Miss Mary that if you are to be a member of this family, you will have to harden yourself to the idea of being worthy the notice of one and all on occasion. It is a danger of being tied to a titled gentleman.” He took her hand. “I do not dance as much as I once did so my taking the floor with you will be noted.” He bent his head in her direction and lowered his voice. “My wife is very good at carrying a point.”

[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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Music Monday: You Don’t See Me (North and South)

…“I did not know Mr. Blakesley had a lady,” Grace’s new bench mate said. “Indeed, I have never seen him with any lady in particular in all the time I have been in Bath.”

“Oh, she is not from Bath.” Grace’s stomach twisted at the idea of spreading gossip about Walter.

“I do not see how she could not be. I do not believe Mr. Blakesley has been gone from Bath for these past six months.” She leaned a bit closer to Grace. “Not even at Christmas time. His parents came here.” She clucked her tongue. “If he has told you he has a lady somewhere other than in Bath, he has not been honest with you.” She sighed. “And I find it difficult to believe he would be so deceptive.”

[from Her Secret Beau, Touches of Austen book 3]

Published to YouTube by greencat9 on July 22, 2007

This video has nothing to do with tomorrow’s chapter of Her Secret Beau but everything to do with how Lord Westonbury might be feeling about his relationship with Mary and where my brain kind of needs to be while writing their story at present. It also has to do with the fact that I was given the privilege of reading the first draft of a North and South short story which Rose Fairbanks has written for an anthology that she is in with several other authors called Falling for Mr. Thornton. You can keep up with the project on their Facebook page if you are a Facebook user.

Currently, as I am attempting to write this rapidly on Saturday, hurricane Dorian is beginning to make his presence known. The wind is picking up and the rain is pelting down, but we still have power. However, we know that the power will eventually go out as the storm settles in. That’s why I am attempting to dash this off as quickly as possible. 🙂 Continue reading Music Monday: You Don’t See Me (North and South)

An Official Ball in the Strasbourg Theater, 1805 (Francois Courboin)

François Courboin [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

I imagine the woman on the right as Mrs. Salter trying to look regal and above everyone.

~*~*~

Wes, who had only just finished his set of dances with Kitty and was making a tour of the ballroom before taking his leave to find his father and Richard in the card room, took a step closer to Mrs. Salter and the biddy the woman had been talking to at Almack’s when he first heard the name Lydia Bennet.

“And that is precisely why you do not want a second son as a match. Their livelihood is so tenuous.” Mrs. Salter lifted her chin and, as she waved her fan in front of her face, surveyed the ballroom with a regal air. “I have pointed out his brother the viscount to my Florence.” She smirked at her friend. “If that bit of fluff who was on his arm earlier can entice him to dance with her, I see no reason why my Florence cannot do so as well.”

[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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Bagnères de Bigorre – Le Casino (Henri de Montaut)

The dresses in this image are obviously not Regency gowns, however, I think this gives a good representation of the busyness of the ball which Wes is attending.

~*~*~

“That young woman across the way. The one next to the silver-haired matron with the blue fan. She’s pretty, is she not?”

“Do not attempt to change the subject,” Langley grumbled but then added, “Yes, I do believe she is. I’ve never seen her before.”

“You should seek an introduction. I had thought to, but I have duties to perform tonight before I am allowed to sneak back to my bed. My blasted head keeps hurting.”

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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Library Writing Desk and Fatherly Advice (Uniacke Estate)

Photo taken by Leenie Brown during a tour of Uniacke Estate Museum Park, July 1, 2019. [Clicking the image will take you to the museum’s website. ]

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Fatherly advice from Richard John Uniacke (1753-1830) to his son James (1799-1858). [Image found on Uniacke Estate Museum Park’s Facebook page. Used with permission. Clicking image will take you to the museum’s Facebook page. ]

I thought these images went well together and with this chapter as we are in a library and it appears Wes is taking his father's advice. While his father's advice was not the same as in the letter above, I did think the subject of that letter was appropriate for this story, don't you? I also wonder if Mr. Richard John Uniacke wrote his advice to his son at that desk or not. :)

~*~*~

“Please, grant me your friendship so that I can prove to you that I am a better man than Wickham.”

Her left brow once again arched skeptically.

“I have not been to Sally’s since before I arrived in Hertfordshire.”

She had not expected him to share such information with her. It was startling and caused her cheeks to flush.

“I know it is not proper to discuss such things,” he said before she could inform him that he should not be sharing such things with her.

[from Persuading Miss Mary, book 4 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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