Today’s musical selection is a cover of John Legend’s “All of Me” which I added to my Music to Write By playlists this week both on Spotify and YouTube. I’ve had one of those two playlists running this week as I was writing, and I did get a good bit of writing time in as well as some editing time.
However, it was not as much as I hoped for since I spent time doing some other necessary things, and they took longer than I expected. I have also been a bit less productive since I did something (I have no idea what) to my lower back/hip which has just made things a bit more challenging. However, I think I have some things figured out as far as position changes and such which will help. And the discomfort is very manageable at present, so that is very good. It has also impressed upon me the need to change positions more than I normally do (because I get into my work and forget — there is no forgetting with this 😉 ) So that is good as well.
Anyway, you are not here to hear about my back. 🙂 You are here to hear about my writing news and to read an excerpt — Yes! I have one this week!
I do not have too much news on the writing front to share.
The Kobo promotions end today. If you haven’t heard about them you can check out this Friday Feature post.
I have begun final edits on Enticing Miss Darcy, and I have started to post that story at darcyandlizzy.com. I still expect it to be ready in, at least, ebook format by March 6 if this week goes well. If this week is as slow as last week, that publication date might end up being one week later.
I have reached the end of chapter 3 (or about 8,000 words) in my current work in progress. This one will be the first Dash of Darcy story for 2018 and is called Mr. Darcy’s Comfort. Since I am happy with what I have written so far, I thought I would begin sharing from it today.
Chapter 1 has been posted for my Patrons to read, and Chapter 2 should be posted there either tonight or tomorrow during writing time. The sample below is from the end Chapter 2 and drops us into the middle of a sisterly conversation. This portion of the story is set at Netherfield while Jane is ill.
AN EXCERPT FROM Mr. Darcy’s Comfort:
“He is wealthy, and from how he spoke of his cousin, he is a man capable of deep attachment.”
“He might wish for a handsome wife,” Elizabeth protested. She found it particularly annoying when Jane was being sensible about something with which she herself did not agree. Arguing was enjoyable. Losing an argument was far less so.
“You are handsome,” Jane retorted. “He said not handsome enough. That does not mean you are not handsome.”
“He said I was tolerable. Tolerable.”
“He was betrothed. He was not supposed to find you anything more than tolerable.”
Oh, Jane was impossible at times!
“But he is no longer betrothed, and in time, when he is ready to begin his search for a wife anew, he will find you more than tolerable because he can,” Jane continued.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “You are as bad as Mama!” she scolded.
“No,” Jane replied with an impertinent grin. “Mama would never think a gentleman could find you and your love of books to be anything more than merely tolerable.” Jane reached over and placed a hand on Elizabeth’s knee. “Just one of her many foolish notions,” she added softly. “You are handsome and intelligent. Just the sort of lady I could see someone like Mr. Darcy finding irresistible.”
“Jane!”
“And now you know how I feel when Mama begins praising me.”
“You poor dear.”
“Precisely,” Jane replied. “It shall be a relief when I am finally married and can no longer be pushed forward at every gentleman to whom we are introduced.”
The room fell silent for a few moments as Jane finished eating her breakfast, allowing Elizabeth’s mind to wander back to the gentleman in the breakfast room, who, though she would never admit such to her sister, she found to be nearly as fascinating as he was disagreeable.
“He is ill,” she blurted.
“Who is ill?” Jane asked.
“Mr. Darcy. I saw him in the breakfast room before I came to see you. Colonel Fitzwilliam was there, too. Not at first, but before I left.”
Jane tilted her head and studied Elizabeth in a way that made Elizabeth feel uneasy.
“You will like Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth continued. “I met him last night after you had gone to sleep.”
“Is he handsome?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I suppose he is, though not so pleasing to look at as Mr. Bingley, nor as tall as Mr. Darcy. He is, however, the second son of an earl.”
“An earl?” Jane repeated. There was a bit too much eagerness in Jane’s tone.
“Lord Matlock is Mr. Darcy’s uncle and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s father.”
“A colonel would not be a bad match,” she gave Elizabeth a pointed look as she said it.
“Jane!”
“What?”
“You are as bad as Mama!”
“I only wish to see you well-settled.”
Both girls dissolved into laughter as each knew that Jane’s response was precisely what Mrs. Bennet’s argument would have been.
“Perhaps I am a bit too much like her,” Jane said once they had sobered. “Now, tell me about Mr. Darcy being ill.”
“He has a fever, a cough, and a sore throat. There is not much else to tell.” She leaned her head back on the chair and allowed her eyes to follow the bit of carved trim that ran around the edge of the ceiling for as far as she could see it without turning her head. “He will not be leaving today.” Her eyes filled with tears as she thought about him being confined to Netherfield instead of travelling as she knew he wished to do.
“What is wrong?” Jane asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I was merely thinking about Celia and being at Aunt Gardiners.”
Jane once again reached over and laid a hand on her sister’s knee. “You would not have been allowed to attend the funeral.”
“I know, but I wish I had been near.”
“We will visit the churchyard as soon as I am able.”
Elizabeth nodded and brushed a tear from her cheek. “It is odd being here. Even after all this time, I still expect to see her.”
“She is here,” Jane replied. “In your memories, she is here and always will be. We must remember the past as it gives us pleasure. Celia would not wish for it any other way.”
Elizabeth brushed another tear from her cheek. “I know, and I shall try. I truly shall.”
~*~*~
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Oh, that was beautiful… both the music and the excerpt. Man…
I hope you back gets better. I’d recommend a masseuse to help those muscles relax. Just prior to my retirement… I was going weekly. It got me through the stress of retiring.
I saw the massage therapist on Friday and late Sunday night things started to make marked improvement. I’ll see her again this week and then the osteopath next. So, I am hopeful that I am on the upward swing but still being careful in the meantime. I’ve been going to the osteo and massage therapist for some time now — neck injury but the hip/back thing is new 🙂 You know, just can’t stay stagnant, must switch it up with new aches and pains. LOL