His brother stepped in front of him. “You are not going to follow her? You are just going to let her go?”
Nicholas pushed him aside and kept walking. “I do not know what I am going to do.” He knew what he wanted to do, but was that what he should do? She had returned, but she had not returned alone. The image of her standing on the deck of the ship with a baby in her arms would not be easily cast aside.
[from Hope at Dawn, a sweet Regency romance short story]Published to YouTube by Liara I’Sorry on April 13, 2010
Have you read the first chapter of Hope at Dawn yet? The second chapter will post tomorrow. This short story revolves around the possible reunion of two separated lovers. The mood of the above song seemed to fit this story, and just as the song ends on a happier note than what it starts with, so does Hope at Dawn… eventually, at the end. 🙂
I am also writing a story that starts with separated lovers, and I am sharing chapters from a story that has a husband and wife who are currently separated. And when I finally get to starting the next Touches of Austen book, that story will also be about separated lovers. I tell you, it’s a bleak November for story characters. LOL
Of course, that Touches of Austen book might not get started in November (though I hope it does) because my to-do list is at that point where I look at it and just want to go back to bed and hide from it. 😀 Let me tell you what has been accomplished, as well as a bit about what is on that to-do list.
This week, I wrote two more chapters of Kitty and Mr. Langley’s story. He is likely going to be referred to as Lorcan in this story (which is still without a title) because he happens to have a cousin with him who is also a Mr. Langley.
I made progress on my read-through of Her Secret Beau, and I received feedback on Persuading Miss Mary and printed out the manuscript so I can start a final proofread. I hope to have HSB sent off to be checked for story issues at some point this week and to have PMM ready for pre-order by next week.
First Blooms and Second Chances is currently being read for any story issues.
I have created two book covers. Would you like to see them? I shared one of them with my mailing list readers in my Friday update email, but the other has not yet been shared publically. Here they are:
Oh wait, that’s three covers. 🙂 Well, that’s because I did get Marrying Elizabeth, Books 1-3 Compilation PUBLISHED! This omnibus contains Confounding Caroline, Delighting Mrs. Bennet, and Loving Lydia. You should be able to find it at your favourite ebook retailer.
I have an Austen Authors post tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19, 2019, which means I wrote that this week and got it scheduled.
Some wonderful readers answered my call for help by writing reviews so that Charles: To Discover His Purpose now meets the minimum required for a Book Cave promotion, and I submitted it for a promo day. It was accepted! Charles’s story will be free from 12:00 PST Tuesday, November 19, 2019, until 11:59 PM PST Thursday, November 21, 2019. #feelinggrateful
And ALSO ON TUESDAY, Willow Hall will be leaving Kindle Unlimited, and the Choices Series will be entering Kindle Unlimited. I’ll be working on getting the Willow Hall books returned to all my vendors as soon as I possibly can.
And finally, I think we are at the end of the update that seemed as if it would never end. 😀 Now, let me share an excerpt from Through Every Storm, which is the book I will be sharing on Mondays over the next several weeks. This week, you can read chapters 4 and 5 at the link below this excerpt, but you will have to use the password Flowers. The password will expire on Saturday, November 23, 2019, and a new password will be given out for some more chapters next Monday.
This excerpt is from chapter 5 and is the reason why I picked the password that you will need to read the rest of this chapter (and chapter 4) this week:
She sighed and prepared to go clean her hands and, if possible, lie down to ease her headache.
“Wickham,” she said in surprise as she exited the room. “Have you come for tea?” She tucked her stained fingers behind her back.
“I did. Thomas asked me to take tea with him today, but I cannot be long. The shop is busy.”
She gave him a tight smile. “Yes, it seems extraordinarily busy lately, but that is a good thing, is it not?” She tried to make her voice sound carefree. “Will you only be taking tea with Thomas?”
Wickham laughed. “I am sure Louisa will join us. She is not one to pass up an opportunity to entertain.”
“I am sure they will be happy to see you. Thomas has mentioned how he has missed your stories at night.” Lydia hoped he heard the hint in her words. It was not only Thomas or Louisa who missed seeing him.
“I have been busy.” Wickham shifted uneasily.
“So you said.” Lydia moved toward the stairs. Disappointment wrapped itself around her heart.
“Lydia,” he called after her.
She stopped but did not turn to face him.
“I have been busy.”
“I heard you,” she snapped. “I have been busy as well.” She spun to face him. She held out her hands. “My fingers did not become stained from lack of work, and my apron did not become soiled from sitting about the house. I have been busy, but I have not neglected our children. But then they are more a mother’s responsibility and not a father’s, are they not?” She saw the moment of pain in his eyes and immediately regretted her words. “I am sorry,” she said, dropping her head to look at the floor. “I am tired and my head aches.”
“Lydia, things between you and me are just…” He searched for the correct word.
She shook her head. “Go. Enjoy your tea with your children.”
“I am eating with Denny tonight.”
She nodded and forced a smile to her face. “Give my regards to my sister and remind her of her promise to visit next week.”
“I will.” He watched her start up the stairs.
“Mr.Wickham,” said Harriet. “Your bowl of flowers.”
“Will Mrs. Wickham enjoy them more in the sitting room or the entry?”
“There are already flowers in both of those places, sir.”
“Then where would you suggest?”
“She’s not had any in her room for nearly a week, sir.”
Wickham’s brows rose in surprise. “A week?” It was no wonder she was a bit out of sorts with him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then, please, place them in her room. And Harriet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Would you be so kind as to inform me when these flowers need to be replaced?” If his arms could not hold her and tell her of his love, then he hoped the flowers would surround her and speak for him.
“Of course, sir.” Harriet smiled and gave a quick curtsy before hurrying to do as he had asked.
Here is the link to Through Every Storm: througheverystorm.pressbooks.com
You will need to use the password Flowers to unlock chapters 4 and 5.
~*~*~
Such exciting news and plans. Congratulations on your approaching launch time as it can be hectic. I wish you the best. I hope you’re feeling better. I’ve had my car in the shop… again. Dang! It is always something. I look forward to reading your posts tomorrow. I have an appointment so I will see it later in the day. Blessings.
I am feeling better, thank you. Sorry to hear about the car. It really is always something, isn’t it? You think you’re on top of things and then — bam! (Our bam recently was ordering new glasses for both my son and me. 🙂 ) It will be a busy and hectic couple of weeks coming up with all that needs doing. Yesterday, I spent the day updating the back matter (other books by, contact info sort of pages) in the Choices series so it would be “fresh” before entering Kindle Unlimited. It took all my work time as I kept getting caught up in the story whenever I opened one of the documents to check that it did not become garbled in the uploading to Amazon process. 🙂