A table laid out for a meal in the kitchen at Lordly House (c. 1806) Museum, Chester, NS. Photographed by Leenie Brown.
Ok, so Wes and Mary would not be eating in the kitchen, and this table might not be set for breakfast. But there are eggs in that bowl, and I love the dishes. :)
~*~*~
“Good morning, my lord.”
Wes turned his attention away from the window and, glancing toward Mary, gave a nod in greeting. He was only halfway through his cup of coffee and too caught up in his thoughts to speak. It was only early, but he had already been about some business and was contemplating his departure from Matlock House.
“Did you sleep well?”
Wes nodded as she poured milk into her tea and moved her spoon backward and forward.
“My apologies,” she said with a small grimace as her spoon clinked against the side of her cup.
[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]
A Soiree, George Goodwin Kilburne [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
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.
~*~*~
“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]
…“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)
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]
Bagnères de Bigorre – Le Casino, Henri de Montaut [Public domain] This file was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the Bibliothèque municipale de Toulouse as part of a cooperation project with Wikimédia France.
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.”
