There is no marriage proposal in this chapter, but there is a gentleman kneeling before a lady he loves, so this painting seems to fit. :)
~*~*~
He pressed a handkerchief into her hand. “Oh, my love, I am so sorry,” he whispered. “I did not mean to hurt you. I never would. Well, that is not entirely true,” he smiled sheepishly. “I would not purposefully hurt you. I might out of ignorance.”
Mary’s quivering lips tipped up into a small smile. Even now, he was being honest with her.
“Which it appears I have done.” He was kneeling before her and held one of her hands.
[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]
William-Adolphe Bouguereau [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
I wanted to share this picture of a pretty lady, but one who could very easily blend into the background depending on how she is dressed, for a few reasons today. First, it could represent Mary, who sees herself as nothing exceptional but Wes sees as beautiful. Second, because of the lady's ability to fade into the background as just one of many threads in the tapestry of life, it could be representative of all the ladies Mary wishes to see respected. And third, because her wide eyes observing all she see is representative of how, in this chapter of our story, Wes begins to see things from a different perspective -- through the eyes of a woman.
~*~*~
She was not just another pretty face in a light-coloured gown who lined the walls with the other hopeful debutants waiting, eagerly, to be selected by the likes of him. Mary was more than that. She knew her mind. She knew what she wanted. And she was not going to be swayed by all the charm, money, or titles in the world to give up that which she held to as important. She was the prettiest immovable force he had ever met.
[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]
Willem Claesz. Heda [CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)] via Wikimedia Commons.
I'm not sure what kind of pie that is in the painting above, but it looks like a lovely meat pie to me. Perfect as part of an evening meal. :) I wonder if they were serving meat pie at the dinner mentioned in the excerpt below? Of course, the real question is what has Lady Matlock said to Mary?
~*~*~
Lord Westonbury was not at dinner.
The fact should have put Mary’s mind at ease since she would not have to look at him while unsettling thoughts from what his mother had said scurried around her mind, bumping into this memory and that.
It was a very quiet dinner for Mary. She said barely a word and attended to only a few more than she spoke. No one seemed to do much more than cast a questioning look her way. Not one person pressed her to join a conversation. They gave her time and space to ponder.
[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]
The Serpentine, Hyde Park. George Sidney Shepherd (1784 – 1862). Yale Center for British Art [Public domain via Wikimedia Commons]
The bit of conversation below takes place while Colonel Fitzwilliam, Lydia, Lord Westonbury, and Mary are out for a drive in the park.
~*~*~
“I am certain my sister and your brother did not agree to come on this drive so that you could spend the whole time flattering me for who knows what purpose.”
“I do not mind,” Lydia interrupted. “I would find it delightful to hear what Lord Westonbury finds pleasing about you.”
“No, you would not.” Mary gave her sister a pointed look. Lydia was wearing that secret smile of hers which never led to anything good. She might be maturing, but her desire to poke her nose in where it did not belong seemed to be unchanged.
[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]
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