Rudolph Ackermann – Leenie Brown

Ball Dress (c. 1825, Ackermann)

Fashion Plate (Ball Dress). England, London, March 1, 1825. Hand-colored engraving on paper. Rudolph Ackermann (England, London, 1764-1834). Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I couldn’t resist giving a longer excerpt today as this exchange is just too fun to shorten any more than I did. 🙂

“I am sorry,” she said softly, “but I was hoping for someone else to claim my hand for the next dance.” Her cheeks grew rosy.

“No one has asked you,” Shelton muttered.

“No, but if I give this dance to Mr. Blakesley then I will not be free if another arrives to ask.”

Roger Shelton’s brow furrowed. “You did not mention this before.”

“Because I did not know the gentleman’s name. One must not speak of a hope to dance with someone to whom she has not been introduced.” She cast a glance in Mr. Norman’s direction. “However, that is no longer a problem.”

“Norman?” the question flew out of Walter’s mouth.

Grace’s head bobbed up and down. “Though it is forward to even admit to it.”

Forward was not the word Walter would use for it. “Well, then, Norman, do not keep the lady waiting.” Walter knew his tone was less than gracious.

Grace put a hand on his arm but then withdrew it quickly. “Do not be discouraged, Mr. Blakesley. It is not that I do not wish to dance with you. It is just that I had hoped to speak to Mr. Norman.”

“You had?” Roger echoed the question in Walter’s mind.

“Yes, I would like some advice.” Her hands were twisting in a nervous sort of fashion. “About a condition.”

What was she about?

“You wish to speak to him because he is a physician?” Mrs. Shelton’s tone was incredulous.

Grace’s head bobbed up and down as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth. Walter would put ten pounds on it that the chit was lying.

“You did not know he was a physician until just now,” Mrs. Clayton said.

“But he looked like one,” Grace declared.

“He looked like one?” Skepticism filled Roger’s question. Apparently, no one else quite believed Miss Love’s story any more than Walter did.

[from Her Secret Beau]

MAILING LIST PATREON

Walking Dress (1814)

Fashion Plate (Walking Dress). Rudolph Ackermann. England, London, August 1814. Hand-colored engraving on paper. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

“I had thought her father would bring something for her to wear.”

“If she wakes before he arrives, she cannot get out of bed.” He intentionally looked away from Bingley as he said it. He could feel his face and ears growing warmer as he thought of why she could not get out of bed. His shirt was plenty large and hung to her knees or nearly so, but the way it draped around her body and its ability to only mask what lay beneath made it far from decent. “She is not exactly dressed for company.” He pulled his hat down as Bingley chuckled softly. “I will rinse her clothes in the rain as best I can and then wash them in the water you prepare.” He opened the door and stepped outside.

Darcy placed a bucket of rainwater inside the door and waited while Bingley found a basin and then emptied the water into a large pot for heating before returning the bucket to Darcy.

Darcy tugged the door shut and returned the bucket to where it could collect water and be reached without venturing too far into the rain to retrieve it. Then, he placed Elizabeth’s clothing on the portion of the woodpile that was exposed to the wind and rain where the roof of the structure built to keep the wood dry was broken and partially missing. Bingley would need to fix that as soon as possible if he wished to have a place to escape his sister and enough wood to keep him warm and fed while hiding.

Darcy rubbed the fabric of Elizabeth’s stockings, trying to help the rain remove the stains of mud and blood. Then, setting them aside, he attended to her chemise and petticoat before working on her dress. Try as he might, he could not keep his mind from wandering to the wearer of the garments.

from Waking to Mr. Darcy

*Waking to Mr. Darcy* is one of the five novellas in this Cottage Collection.

MAILING LIST PATREON

Fashion Plate (Morning Dress) 1826, Rudolph Ackermann

Los Angeles County Museum of Art [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

~*~*~

The woman tipped her head and looked at Lydia. “You are the very image of your mother.”

“You remember her?” Elizabeth asked.

Sally nodded. “I know it would seem nearly impossible for one to remember a lady twenty-some years after meeting her especially since our meeting was not long in duration, and, well, I do meet a good number of young women.”

[from Delighting Mrs. Bennet]

~*~*~