Morning Dress for October 1802

Morning Dresses for October 1802. Wirgman Dress Makers, Hanover Street, Hanover Square, England, London, 1802. From The Lady’s Monthly Museum. Hand-colored engraving on paper. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

“Miss Bennet.” Lord Matlock stood behind his desk and motioned to a chair. “I am expecting my solicitor soon, but if your business is of a quick nature, we can discuss it. I do not, however, see how we can have any business to discuss, you being a woman and all.”

“I thank you for your time, my lord.” Kitty smoothed her skirt. She had taken care to wear her best dress today. “I assume you, as any good husband would, see to the bills acquired by your wife’s purchases?” She paused for a moment while he confirmed that he did. “I will also assume since I have heard that you are often seen with her in public that her appearance as she stands beside you is of great importance. I mean, one cannot be looked upon as a great man with a wife who is wearing last season’s styles.” Again, she waited for his acknowledgment of the fact. She knew from spending so much time with her youngest sister and her aunt Philips that appearance and appealing to one’s sense of position and popularity could be used judiciously to achieve the desired end.

She tapped the packet of papers on her lap. “I have with me some designs for dresses that I happen to know your wife adores.” She sighed. “I have been considering keeping the sketches for myself instead of selling them to the modiste whose shop your wife frequents. In fact, I stopped by that very shop to collect these just this morning.” She closed her eyes for a moment and rubbed near her eye. “Forgive me, I have a slight headache.”

His eyes had been drawn many times since she entered the room to the gash on her forehead, and they were there once again.

“I know it must look a fright,” she explained, gingerly touching the scar, “but it is in such a place that I was unable to cover it with my hair.” She chuckled softly. “It shall only look worse as it heals, I suppose. Bruises are never pretty.” She smiled and opened her pack of papers. “But we are not here to discuss my beauty or lack thereof but that of Lady Matlock.”

He blinked and turned his attention away from the wound on her head for a moment. “Why should I be interested in designs?”

“Because, my lord, you have the power to decide if your wife will get to wear my designs or if they will be tucked away or, perhaps, provided to another lady.” She flipped through her designs. “She was particularly enamored with this one.” She placed it on his desk. “She would look lovely in it, do you not agree?”

He picked up the sketch and examined it. “How is it that I have this power?”

Kitty’s stomach fluttered, and she was unsure if she had the courage to continue.

Lord Matlock placed the paper back on the desk. His eyes once again found that gash as he waited for her answer.

“You, my lord, have something I want.”

[from His Inconvenient Choice]


Coming soon…

TSB: My Writing News and Adding Beauty to my Social Media

Can you believe this is the final Saturday of May? That means we have almost survived another month of 2020. 🙂 At times, it feels like time is dragging, but then, I immerse myself into my work, and, when I look up, I’m surprised at how much time has passed. I hope you are finding ways to make 2020 enjoyable and find the beauty in life despite any restrictions which still remain where you are. Below, is an update on the enjoyable, writing-related things that take up a large portion of each of my days. 🙂  And at the end, as my something extra, I have included one way I am attempting to add beauty to my life on social media.

Writing News

I don’t have any excerpts of writing to share with you this week because I don’t want to give anything away in either story that I am writing. So, this will be a short and kind of boring 🙂 update on how my works in progress are progressing. 

In my writing time, so far, I have written one chapter each of Protecting Miss Darcy and Her Convenient Forever. I’m actually planning to get one more chapter of Protecting Miss Darcy before the week is over. 

Continue reading TSB: My Writing News and Adding Beauty to my Social Media

What Makes You Beautiful Cover (5 Piano Guys, 1 piano) The Piano Guys

PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE ON JULY 18, 2012 BY THE PIANO GUYS.

Isn’t this video fun to watch? I love how they use so many different parts of the piano. I’m pairing it with a chapter from No Other Choice (Choices, book 2). In this chapter, Georgiana helps Mary see herself through eyes other than her own.

Reminder: The Choices Series compilation ebook is currently on sale for $2.99 USD at all vendors and with all currencies reduced. The price will go back up to full price on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Because that is just a great price, all the links in this post will take you to the bundle.

No Other Choice, Chapter 4

Knowing that Lord Rycroft had mentioned the previous evening that he would be riding in the morning, Mary entered the breakfast room the next morning without worrying about whether he would be there or not. She had managed a full day without once giving in to her desire to lecture, and he had seemed rather contrite in all his actions toward her after he left the music room. It was as if he was trying to prove to her that he was not the oaf he continually claimed to be. It was quite unsettling to have him behaving so well. It made it difficult for her to maintain her resolve to avoid him, for he was pleasant company. Relieved that the breakfast room was indeed all hers, she filled her cup with tea and began to toast her bread.

“Ah, good,” said Rycroft as he entered the room. “Is Georgiana awake?”

“Are you not riding?” Mary turned her bread trying to focus on it rather than the man who was disturbing her quiet breakfast.

“I have, and I will.” He took a piece of bread and placed it on a toasting fork before joining her at the hearth. “You said you did not ride well. We should remedy that.”

“Today?” Mary’s eyes grew wide in surprise, and she nearly forgot to turn her bread again.

He nodded. “Did you have other plans?”

“We are going to the museum to draw this afternoon, but I had no plans other than to practice or read this morning.” And she had planned on avoiding him again today.

Continue reading What Makes You Beautiful Cover (5 Piano Guys, 1 piano) The Piano Guys

The Choices Series: On Sale until Saturday

I know I mentioned this in The Saturday Broadsheet, but I wanted to get this notice posted in the promotions section. I don’t want anyone to miss this sale price because it is good. (And I love a good bargain!) The price goes back up next Sunday.

Find the Choices Series at your favourite retailer

One Choice ~ Many Happily Ever Afters

When Mr. Bennet makes a choice to help his eldest daughters find happiness, he sets off a chain of events that will affect the lives of not only all his daughters but also many of Darcy’s relatives. Enjoy these stories as a Fitzwilliam family secret unfolds, new loves are formed in the face of opposition, and an old love is rekindled.

Her Father’s Choice

Sometimes a father knows what is best for his child. At least Mr. Bennet trusts he does. Seeing the potential of a good match for his beloved Lizzy but knowing her ability to hold a grudge, he puts a plan into action that forces a marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth.

No Other Choice

Mary Bennet has never been the center of attention and rarely the object of any man’s affections, but that is about to change. Shortly after Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding, Mary travels to London to prepare for the season, a season she is determined to finish with either a husband or a glorious tale to tell, even if it means learning to tolerate Lord Rycroft.

His Inconvenient Choice

Colonel Fitzwilliam has always known his father would try to force him into a marriage of convenience, but after Kitty Bennet captures his heart as she shivered in the cold on the streets of Meryton, he realizes his only chance at happiness lies in making an inconvenient choice. However, it is a choice that will not go unchallenged. As family secrets are revealed, it is a choice that, in creating happiness for the colonel, could destroy his family.

Her Heart’s Choice

To Anne, it had seemed simple enough. Place an advertisement in the paper, interview the gentlemen who responded, and select the best husband. But nothing is as easy as it seems. Indeed, many things are quite the opposite of how they appear. How is a lady to find a safe and secure marriage when her ideals are turned on their head ─ especially when her heart yearns for a man who is wholly unsuitable?


Get the Choices Series at your favourite ebook retailer


Reading, Relaxation, Reviews, and One Incredible Deal

Today is the day that great deal on the Choices Series box set begins. (You know, the sale I scheduled for the wrong day? Well, the “wrong day” has finally arrived 😉 ) Scroll down to find a link and details.

Writing News

It was once again a pretty good week of writing, despite the fact that I actually took a day off just to relax — a full day of nothing but relaxation, which included a lot of reading. 😉 I’m not one to take full days off unless I’m going on a trip with my husband or am sick or something like that. So Wednesday was a very rare and indulgent day. (I even read more than one book, which if you’ve read a recent Broadsheet, you will know is also something I don’t normally do. However, these books were in a series so it was kind of like just reading a really long book.) 

Even with that day off, I have kept almost on track. I’ll be right where I want to be if I get to do a bit of writing later tonight. Here’s the list of stories and the progress made along with a small snippet from each: His Irreplaceable Belle: I am up to chapter 11 in that story and things are most definitely looking like they are turning around for this couple. Will they stay that way? I don’t know. this is how this week’s chapter began: 

Continue reading Reading, Relaxation, Reviews, and One Incredible Deal