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Her Father’s Choice, Chapter 4

This has been a bit of a stressful week on the publication front. The Kindle version of Her Father’s Choice is still not available in the Kindle store despite being published a week ago. Something has gone wrong in the technical realm and after many emails to Amazon, their technical people are looking into the issue. They have told me that I should have an answer by the end of day November 12. However, the ebook is available at Kobo and the print version is available on Amazon.

I have not yet figured out how best to share my books here after they are published. So, for now, I will include an excerpt of the chapter below which will be followed by a link which for the next week will take you to the rest of the chapter. However, at the end of the week, this chapter will become unavailable and the next one will become available.

Chapter 4

Lady Sophia tapped her toe as she waited in the sitting room with Georgiana at Darcy House. “He should expect me to be early. I always am.” She straightened her sleeve. “I am curious to meet the lady who has finally captured your brother.”

“Captured would be the proper word for it,” said Richard entering the room and giving first his aunt a kiss and then Georgiana. “I did not realize you were coming today, Georgiana.”

Georgiana pursed her lips and looked at her aunt. “I was not supposed to come.”

“An omission made in error, I am sure.”

Georgiana looked at her aunt doubtfully. “My brother does not make errors of omission. He is the most fastidious correspondent.”

“Ah, well, your brother does not get married every day, either.” She smiled and raised her brows, which combined with the twinkle in her eye, made her look very impertinent. “He will see his error as soon as I have explained it to him.” She patted Georgiana’s hand reassuringly before turning to Richard. “Now, tell me why captured is the proper word.”

“It seems – ” began Richard.

“That I am the topic of gossip within my own home,” finished Darcy as he entered the room and gave Richard a stern look. “Georgiana! It is a surprise to see you.” He placed a kiss on his sister’s cheek while giving a questioning look to his aunt.

Continue Reading Chapter 4

Her Father’s Choice, Publishing News and Chapter 3

I have great news on the publishing front. Her Father’s Choice is currently available on Kobo and in progress on Kindle and as a print book. I am just waiting for KDP to complete its review and publishing process and for a physical proof copy of the cover in order to finish the publication process.

Now, I do like to make my work available to be read for free for those who do not have the budget to buy books as often as they might like. However, once the book is published, I cannot leave up much of the book on my site (there are rules about this). So, I am posting a chapter today, but taking down the previous chapters and reviewing my options to still make the story available and meet contract regulations.

Continuing on that theme…While I do understand the lack of budget for books (find myself there often) and I do have a commitment to providing free reading material (I love my readers!), I also pay my bills from the money made on book sales. So, I appreciate all those who show me their support through reading and commenting (such a great motivation) and through purchasing and/or sharing about my books. (Remember, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.)

Now, on to the story…

Chapter 3

(Excerpt)

Elizabeth stood looking out the front window of her uncle’s house in Gracechurch Street, watching Darcy’s coach make its way through the early evening traffic. She pulled in her lip and bit it softly as she considered the man within the coach. As she had promised Jane two days ago, she had questioned everything about him. Yesterday, she had questioned him in regards to his attention to his tenants and his staff. She had asked him of his father and of his steward. She had even dared to ask about his supposed betrothal to his cousin. He had patiently borne all her inquiries. She was beginning to run out of questions about his character, which left her in a very uncomfortable state, for she knew that she must also examine her own character, a character that seemed wanting, having so misjudged Mr. Darcy, a character which had fallen easy prey to the pretty words of a charmer. She sighed.

Mrs. Gardiner placed an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders. “He seems very pleasant.”

“A right proper gentleman,” agreed her uncle.

“Not at all as you described,” said her aunt softly.

Elizabeth’s shoulders lifted slightly and then dropped. “I may have misjudged him.” She turned sad eyes to her aunt. “I do not know who he is. I was so sure I knew, but I do not.”

“Ah, my dear. Something tells me you know more than you will allow yourself to admit.” Mrs. Gardiner turned Elizabeth away from the window. “We should get you and Mary installed in your room.” She led Elizabeth from the room and started up the stairs. “You will, of course, have to share your story of how you became betrothed to a man you were so set against. I have had your father’s version, but I would like to hear yours.” She turned to the right at the top of the stairs and opened the second door on her left. “Your uncle has brought home some lovely laces and a few pieces of silk he thought you might like. I have to say, your uncle has an excellent eye for colour. You would look lovely in all of them, so you shall have a dress from each. Mrs. Havelston has lent me her book of fashions. She knows how much you dislike spending hours in her shop choosing fabrics and patterns, and our time is limited.”

Elizabeth sat heavily on the bed while Mary opened a trunk and began the task of unpacking. “It is all too much.”

“Are you indeed your mother’s daughter?” Mrs. Gardiner crossed her arms and gave Elizabeth an amused but quizzical look.

A small laugh escaped Mary. “She has been for three days now.”

Elizabeth gasped.

“You have been a ball of nerves ever since the ball,” explained Mary.

“I am being forced to marry a man I barely know because my aunt created a scene. You would not be a picture of serenity either if it were you.”

Mary shrugged. “Perhaps I would be as distraught as you if I were to be forced to marry a wealthy, handsome gentleman who obviously cared for me, but I rather doubt it.” Mary hung a gown in the wardrobe. “Mr. Darcy is not so very bad. You could have to marry Mr. Collins.”

Music Monday: High Valley, Love You for a Long Time

I heard this song several times this week on the radio or was it during my YouTube surfing…or perhaps it was both. (It was probably both. 🙂 ) Anyway, it is a song I like from a group I enjoy listening to, and it kind of got stuck in my head. I found it often coming to mind as I was writing which seemed appropriate since the story has reached the point where Elizabeth has finally realized that she does love Darcy.

Part of the lyrics of the song say this:

Long as there’s a breath in me,
Right down to my last heartbeat,
Long as your blue eyes shine,
I’ll love you, love you for a long time

So let the storm clouds roll,
Let the rain fall down,
‘Til the good Lord calls me home,
I’ll be around, I’ll be around

And that, I believe, is what Darcy is expressing in this snippet. (WARNING: This little excerpt might need a SPOILER alert…read at your own risk. 😉 )

From Her Father’s Choice:

Mary shifted and leaned against the wall of the coach instead of her sister. Elizabeth watched Mary to see if she was going to stay situated, then she slipped across the coach to sit on the bench next to Mr. Darcy, whose eyes immediately flew open letting her know her assessment of his lack of sleep was indeed accurate.

“May I sit here for a moment?” she asked.

“For as long as you wish,” he said. There was a hint of grogginess to his voice. He was tired, but thoughts of his own father’s passing kept him from sleep. He knew the pain of losing a parent for he had done so twice over.

“I wanted to thank you.” Elizabeth placed her hand on top of his. “You knew exactly what needed to be done to have us travelling as soon as possible.”

He turned his hand over where it lay under hers and twined his fingers with hers. “I understand the urgency of such a trip as this,” he said softly.

She nodded, unable to speak for a moment as the tears once again threatened. She tightened her grasp on his hand, finding comfort in his strength. “Thank you,” she whispered once again. “For caring for me.”

He turned his face toward her. “I will always care for you.”

Thursday’s Three Hundred: And Then Love, Part 3

In case you missed it: Part One, Part Two

Part Three

The rain was just beginning to fall lightly as the parishioners began to file out of the small church in Kympton. Each took a moment to comment on Mr. Dobney’s sermon and to congratulate him on his upcoming marriage.

Lucy remained in her spot, watching the man she would soon call husband. She had seen him greet people as if he had always known them for as long as she could remember. He was soft-spoken and welcoming. Even as children, he had been the one to which the others had looked to for guidance, and he had provided it without ever making one of them feel as if they were lacking in any way.

She smiled as he leaned his tall frame down to speak close to Mrs. Walcroft’s ear. Others might have raised their voice to speak to the woman, but he never did. He was so cautious to not injure the dignity of others. She had always admired that about him; though, not all had found the trait admirable. In fact, there were those who thought it a weakness and would tease Philip relentlessly.

It was not the only thing about which Philip was teased. He had been gangly as a young man. His arms and legs seemed to grow rapidly, much more rapidly than his ability to use them with grace and dignity. He had also been rather skinny until he had gone away to college. However, during those years, his body had finally righted itself. He had not added another inch to his height, and he was no longer skinny. She ducked her head as she felt a bit of colour creeping into cheeks when she realized just how fine he now appeared to her. He was still taller than most ─ he often had to duck to avoid a collision between his head and the door frame ─ but his clothes no longer hung on him. She turned her mind away from admiring how his jacket now stretched across his back and wrapped snuggly around arms that were well-muscled and strong.

She rested a gloved finger on her lips. She had chosen him for his admirable character, but since that kiss two days ago… She swallowed and rose from her seat. This was not the place to be contemplating kisses. She took one more look at Philip and ducked out the side door.

Music Monday: Listen to Your Heart

This song seemed appropriate for this Monday since my book, Listen to Your Heart, will be published later this week. I have to say the title for the book came from a little card my friend Kathleen made for me — it is the picture that has posted with the story each chapter — but this song often ran through my brain as I was writing. Could this song be a theme for one of the characters in the story? I don’t know. Parts of the song seem to speak of Anne and others of her mother. What do you think?

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