Wordless Wednesday – Page 15

A Meeting by the Stile (Heywood Hardy)

This attitude in this picture is a brighter than the one in the first part of Two Days in November, but the title was perfect. :) This painting also has too many sisters in it because there are two, not three, sisters in my story and only one of those sisters is sitting at the stile when Darcy comes upon her during his morning ride.

~*~*~

She hoped he would exchange a few more pleasantries and be on his way, but he stopped, swung down from his horse, and came to stand across the stile from her. “Please, be seated. I do not wish to take you from your repose. Might I join you for a few moments?”

[from Two Days in November, A Pride and Prejudice Inspired Short Story]

~*~*~

Charles: To Discover His Purpose is FREE in the Kindle store until tomorrow.

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Engraving from La Belle Assemblée, February 1, 1817

The couple in the two lines below are not in the ballroom where the assembled masses are dancing, but rather tucked away in a music room where they can have a private conversation. This story, A Music Room Meeting, is one of six short Austen-inspired stories that comprise the book Teatime Tales, which is one of the books given as a welcome gift to those who join my mailing list. (It is also available for purchase so look for it at your favourite ebook retailer.)

~*~*~

She moved to stand near him. “Is this why you play instead of dancing?”

He closed his eyes. “How can I dance when others cannot?”

[from A Music Room Meeting, An Oxford Cottage Inspired Short Story]

~*~*~

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Signing the Register (Edmund Blair Leighton)

Signing the Register, Edmund Leighton [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

Mary doesn't do things flippantly. She considers consequences and motivations. She ponders things deeply, filtering them through her beliefs. And that is not going to change on her wedding day. Putting her name in that church register and saying her vows will all be done with the respect she feels is their due.

~*~*~

“I, Mary Amelia Bennet,” she repeated, “take thee, Reginald Arthur Fitzwilliam to my wedded husband.” Mary glanced at the minister who prompted her with the next words. Her hand was trembling slightly in his. Wes squeezed her hand and was rewarded with a smile before she said the next words.

“To have and to hold, from this day forward.” She paused to take a breath. “For better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health.”

She once again paused to breath. She was nervous, but it was not because she was marrying him. Nor was it the size of the church and the crowd within it which had her trembling. She had confessed her trepidation over the service to him just yesterday, and he knew that she was not only repeating words and pledging herself to him, but she was also speaking to God.

[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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Turning Tide (Charles Dana Gibson)

Charles Dana Gibson [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

The tide in Mary and Wes's story is definitely turning, which is as it should be as this is the second to last chapter of their story.

~*~*~

She watched herself twist her fingers in her lap instead of looking at him. “I was never supposed to fall in love with someone like you.”

“But you have fallen in love with me?” That bit sounded hopeful.

She peeked up at him and smiled. “Against my better judgment, I have fallen completely and utterly in love with you and that scares me.”

[from Persuading Miss Mary, Marrying Elizabeth book 4]

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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Proposal (John Pettie)

John Pettie [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

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]

~*~*~

Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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