Sweet Regency Romance – Page 17

Le mariage (Julie Delance-Feurgard)

Le mariage (1884) Julie Delance-Feurgard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I could not pass up pairing this image with the excerpt below because there is some confusion involved and likely lots of whispering amongst those in the church waiting for a wedding to begin. 🙂 Although this excerpt is from near the end of A Very Mary Christmas, I don’t think it contains too many spoilers. In fact, it will likely raise more questions than it will answer. 😉

“Mr. Bennet,” said Whit just as everyone took their places at the front of the church. Mary watched, curiosity suffusing her, as her father nodded and, after whispering something to Mr. Darcy that made Mr. Darcy smile broadly, left his place and went to have a whispered conversation first with Mr. Whittemore and then Mr. Hammond, who could not contain his shock, no matter how he attempted to school his features. Then at the conclusion of the discussion, Nicholas rose, and with Whit and Fred trailing behind, slowly made his way to a side room at the front of the sanctuary.

“Mary,” her father stood before her. “Come.” He took her hand and led her toward the same room where Mr. Hammond had gone. “All will be well,” he assured her.

Mary glanced over her shoulder as she walked. “Why is Mr. Darcy coming with us?”

“Mr. Whittemore might need his assistance,” replied her father with a chuckle.

“I am very confused.” Surely, they were not to discuss Mr. Hammond’s decision now when her sisters stood at the front of the church and the few family and friends who had gathered awaited the ceremony.

She glanced at Jane and Elizabeth. Jane was dabbing at her eyes again as she had been all morning. Tears of happiness she had said. Elizabeth was smiling as if she understood what was happening, and she probably did since Mr. Darcy was somehow involved.

[from A Very Mary Christmas]

MAILING LIST PATREON

360 Degrees of You (SHeDAISY)

I came across this song used with some clips of period drama men on YouTube, but that video would not let me share it on my blog other than as a link >> this link. So, I searched for another video with this song that would let me share. (That’s obviously the video below. ;))

I could just see the lovely Miss Grace Love, from Her Secret Beau, singing this song to her romantic hero. It seems to be the style of song she would like. (Not that she would sing it in company, of course, but definitely in private. She’s sneaky like that. LOL)

Her romantic hero is Walter Blakesley, and he’s the sort of gentleman who would enjoy having this song sang to him in private. (Because he enjoys Grace’s mysterious side. He did call her his mysterious angel in the chapter from which the excerpt below is extracted.)

MAILING LIST PATREON

The Wedding Dress (Carl Herpfer)

Das Brautkleid , Carl Herpfer (1836-1897), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I have written three stories that feature Anne as a heroine (so far), and while I have enjoyed fleshing her out in each of those stories, this one just might be my all-time favourite Anne. She is niave, foolish, willful, and every inch her mother’s daughter. It makes for a deviously fun story. And then, there is Alistair who is sensible and stable and so very much in love with Anne and all that she is (even is she does drive him to distraction at times). I hope you enjoy the little bit of story I am sharing below but please be aware that this excerpt is from near the end of the book, so it might contain a spoiler or two. Therefore, if you’ve never read Becoming Entangled, read the rest of this post at your own risk. 😉

Two days later, as Anne stood before her mirror, she carefully positioned her sleeve and gloves so that her mother would not see the bruise on her arm. It was not a large bruise, but Anne knew that it was large enough to cause her mother to inquire after it. She had sworn her cousin and his friend Mr. Bingley, as well as Jack, to silence about the joust at Angelo’s, and she had been careful to keep the paper from her mother’s notice both yesterday and today. She knew that her appearance at Angelo’s would not go unmentioned, especially after the display she had put on following her defeat of Alistair. Her cheeks flushed. It was rather exhilarating to behave so brazenly, but it was not something she planned to repeat or publish any further than it had already been circulated.

“Anne Catherine de Bourgh!” Lady Catherine said as she threw open the door to her daughter’s room.

Anne cringed at the tone of her mother’s voice.

“Lady Metcalfe has just made me aware of a rather shocking story.”

Drat! She had forgotten that Alistair’s mother might see the paper and share the story with her mother.

“What were you thinking? Going to a gentleman’s club and behaving like a…” she waved the paper she held in the air as she sought for the right word, though none seemed to come to her.

As Anne stood before her mirror, a smile spread across her face. She could not remember a single time in her life when her mother had been at a loss for words until now. There was a strange feeling of satisfaction that accompanied the knowledge.

“It was inappropriate,” Anne offered. “And I shall not do it again. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a wedding to attend.”

[from Becoming Entangled]

MAILING LIST PATREON

Period Drama Men // Sharp Dressed Man

When I was scrolling through my playlists on YouTube looking for a video to share today, this one just shouted Charles Edwards at me as I scrolled past it. So, I stopped, went back, and decided that yes, this song seemed to go well with a scene from his book where he’s helping a couple of young lads learn the skills needed to be a valet. The feel of the song seems to fit Charles as well since he is a rascal in the process of changing his ways but still very much willing to stroll along the borders of propriety.

**All he wanted was a kiss. What he got was so much more.**

Charles Edwards is no stranger to scandal. He lives an easy, carefree life, floating from one moment of pleasure to another. Or, at least, he did until one fateful night when two young ladies asked him to come to their aid. Since then, Charles has been hiding from society until his injuries heal, which is what he was attempting to do when one of those ladies – the one with the kissable lips – re-enters his life.

Wedding in the Photographer’s Studio (Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret)

Une noce chez le photographe, c.1879, Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Below are the final paragraphs of Listen To Your Heart. If you don’t want to see the ending before reading the rest of the book, look away now. 😉

Anne’s stomach did a little flip as she reached the bottom of the stairs, and they faced the door to the drawing room where Mr. Collins and Richard, as well as a few assembled guests, awaited her.

“Are you well?” asked Darcy, noticing her pause.

She nodded, a smile suffusing her face. “I have never been better.” She waited while her mother slipped into the room and took her place next to Mr. Cranfield. Then it was time for her to join Richard in front of the garden doors where he stood propped on his crutches with Mr. Collins. She pulled back slightly on Darcy’s arm. He looked at her, his brows furrowed.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For helping me find my own happiness.”

“You’re welcome, but I did very little to assist you.” He looked at her face and then Richard’s. “Happiness often follows when you listen.”

“Listen?” She looked up at him in confusion. “To what?”

He smiled at her and tipped his head toward Richard. “To your heart,” he said as he began leading her into the room. “Always, listen to your heart.”

[from Listen to Your Heart]

Listen to Your Heart can be found in Darcy And… A Pride and Prejudice Variations Collection, which is on sale for the month of June.