Leenie Brown fell in love with Jane Austen's works when she first read Sense and Sensibility followed immediately by Pride and Prejudice in her early teens. As the second of five daughters and an avid reader, she has always loved to see where her imagination takes her and to play with and write about the characters she meets along the way. In 2013, these two loves collided when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. A year later, in 2014, she began writing her own Austen-inspired stories and began publishing them in 2015. Leenie lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two teenage boys and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley and Edmund with healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tillney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).
Interior of the billiard room at Lupton House, Devonshire, designed by George Wrightwick for Sir J.B.Y. Buller. Artist listed as Reid Turner. Date 1838. Metropolitan Museum of Art / CC0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
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“…I do not wish to speak to you about courting her.”
Darcy leaned against the table with his cue resting against his chest and his arms folded around it. “You do not?”
“No, quite the opposite.”
“I am not sure I understand.”
Not since he had been taken to task by his father over the moving of his brother’s clothing which had led to Edmund’s forced betrothal, had Alfred witnessed such an intimidating look as the furrowed brow and scowl Darcy was currently wearing. Alfred had made it a goal to not be put in such a position again if it could at all be helped, and until this moment, he had succeeded.
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY MICHAEL ORTEGA ON NOVEMBER 3, 2019
When I heard this song on a day when I was working on finding music to pair with stories, I knew I wanted to share it, and when I turned my mind to what story might pair well with this song, His Beautiful Bea came to mind first. I just think that the song has the same sort of feel that His Beautiful Bea has. It’s soft and lovely with a touch of sadness that is lifted up and turned into something far better than what was lost by true love. Hopefully, that explanation makes sense to more people than just me. LOL
Just a note before you read: His Beautiful Bea is a novella of 8 chapters. I am sharing chapter 6. Those facts should let you know that there may be some spoilers in here for those who have not read this story already. 😉
His Beautiful Bea, Chapter 6
Touches of Austen Book 1
For two long and tiresome days, Beatrice was confined to either a sofa in the sitting room at Heathcote or a bench in the garden. Her mother was not known to coddle her children, but she was not the sort who foolishly flouted precautions, especially when it came to Beatrice. Having nearly lost her daughter to a fever when Bea was just eleven, Mrs. Tierney stuck firmly to all prescribed restrictions, and a turned ankle that showed signs of bruising required, according to Bea’s mother, a full two days of rest with little walking. Mrs. Tierney would not confine Bea to her bed, but she would not have her hobbling about ─ not even with a cane. Bea was to rest with her foot on a pillow.
It was, therefore, a happy morning on the third day when Bea could rise from bed and take a walk around the garden — a short walk around the garden, one that would not aggravate her injury. Her mother’s words and expression when giving her directives had been stern, and Bea knew better than to disobey.
So it was that Bea was in the garden near the hedge when her brother, Graeme, and Shelton returned from their ride.
“Miss Tierney!” Shelton doffed his hat and greeted her from where he sat on his horse. “I missed our rematch. I am confident I could have been victorious today.”
In March 2015, I published my first book, Oxford Cottage. In May of that same year, I published For Peace of Mind. These two books are on sale this weekend (March 21-22, 2020).
Here is a bit about each book and a link to find all the stores where they are currently available.
Click image to find where to buy this book
On a rainy day in April, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley stop to ask a gentleman for directions to Netherfield since the ones they have been given appear to be faulty. At the gentleman’s insistence, Darcy and his friend seek refuge from the rain at a nearby cottage. The young woman who greets them captivates Darcy with both her beauty and character.
Elizabeth Bennet possesses a quick mind and a determined spirit. She is resolved to complete the challenge her father has set before her at Oxford Cottage. However, she does not expect to be met by a handsome stranger and fall in love, nor does she expect to find herself thrust into a situation where her quick thinking may be all that can keep both herself and her young companion safe.
Click image to find where you can buy this book.
Elizabeth Bennet has thrown away her one and only chance at marriage, or so her mother laments over and over again until finally, to restore a measure of peace to his house, Elizabeth’s father sends her to London to stay with relatives.
Fitzwilliam Darcy has fled Netherfield and its enchanting neighbour, hoping to hide away in town until his heart is no longer in danger of being lost to Elizabeth.
Neither expects to see the other. In fact, after having been so harshly insulted at the Assembly, Elizabeth rather hopes that with Darcy’s departure from Netherfield, she has seen the last of the arrogant man.
However, it is not to be.
When a chance meeting throws the tantalizing Elizabeth and haughty Darcy together, how will each respond to the other? Will her opinion change? Will Darcy get a second chance? Or will the plans and desires of others keep them apart forever?
Welcome to the weekend. I hope you are all staying safe and well. There are two books on sale this weekend. I have all those details (not that there are too many details) below in the Book Promotion section.
Writing News
The craziness and uncertainty in the world around us continues this week and seems to be becoming a way of life for many – at least for a time. We have had new closures and protective measures put in place daily this week where I live.
My husband, who has his own cleaning business and is a cleaner with the school board, has been put off work with the school board until schools are allowed to resume and his cleaning contracts are also dwindling to zero as businesses and churches close. We’re still waiting to hear what happens with his paycheck from the school board and if he will need to apply for unemployment. My youngest son works with my husband so he is out of work presently, and my eldest son, who is a manager at a restaurant, has also had his job affected already and is looking at an uncertain future as the closures strike at the restaurant’s bottom line. And my business, well, we shall see what happens there as exchange rates shift and all that. I am sure I will need to make some adjustments as time progresses based on how the market moves.
HOWEVER, we are all still well and have a home in which to take refuge with food and freshwater, and, for the most part, we are good at self-entertainment. (My husband struggles with that the most. He’s a bit of a Bingley 😉 ) And for those things I am excessively grateful and know that I am blessed. I am not telling you any of this to complain. I simply wanted to let you know how I am doing.
I will admit that settling into a routine of writing with my husband home has been a bit tricky, but it seems we are finding our rhythm and my productivity was still very good this week. [He’s really very supportive. I married a good man. A very good man. As I said, I know I am blessed.] Here is an update on my current works in progress (both writing and editing):
His Irreplaceable Belle: I am up to chapter 13, and this is how that chapter starts:
The Terrace, Brockenhurst House, George Samuel Elgood / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
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Georgiana looked first to her right and then her left. They could take one of the diverging paths, continue on as they had been, or return to the house. She dropped Mr. Langley’s arm and turned to look behind her. Retreating would be the most comfortable course for she was familiar with it. It did not hold any uncertainty, but it was surrounded by the ghosts of the past. Those secrets begged her to return to their embrace.
“I can trust you, can I not?” she asked after stooping to pick a flower and turning back toward him.
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
