PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY MEOWMEOWBB ON JUNE 25, 2011.
This is one of the songs on my Music to Write By playlist. It’s really pretty and has a wistful romantic air to it. It’s definitely just the right sort of music to get the writing mind working. I have decided to pair it today with this scene from His Darling Friend because Roger shares a sweet little remembrance about Victoria and a frog. Do you remember it from when it was the Sweet Tuesday story last year?
AN EXCERPT FROM His Darling Friend (Chapter 7):
“We will start from the top of the table, of course, with Amelia.” Mrs. Abernathy waited for her daughter to join her where she stood near the door to the drawing room in which all the houseguests were gathered to wait for dinner.
“Shall we see who it is who will dine with you?”
Miss Abernathy said an eager yes as her mother shook a bowl containing several small pieces of paper. She swirled her hand inside the bowl and pulled out a name. “Oh! How delightful! Mr. Carlyle.”
The gentleman straightened his jacket, crossed the room, and offered his arm to Miss Abernathy, whose waited only until her daughter and Mr. Carlyle had left the room before looking around and calling Victoria forward.
Of all the inane ideas! Roger crossed his arms and leaned against the wall near the window. The woman was obviously assigning gentleman dinner partners at random, but she was proceeding through the ladies based on status. Victoria was well-dowered. It was not something she published nor was it a fact she kept secret. He glowered at two gentlemen who had started whispering when Victoria’s name was called. He did not like it. His friend did not need any fortune hunters scampering after her.
“Mr. Clayton,” Mrs. Abernathy said.
Roger blew out a breath. It could be worse. She could have been stuck with Carlyle or one of those whispering gents.
Lady after lady was summoned forward and gentleman after gentleman was assigned as a partner.
“Is this not the best?” Grace said as she took Roger’s arm. “It is such a surprise! I do like surprises.”
“I do not,” Roger replied.
Grace giggled. “I will admit I had hoped I would be assigned someone different.”
“I hear Ainsley has a chit waiting for him at home,” Roger whispered.
Grace’s smile slid into a frown. “Does he indeed?”
“I have not asked him, of course, but that is what I have heard. We should proceed with caution.”
She tipped her head. “What do you mean we?”
That had not been well-thought-out. He had forgotten that Miss Grace was not in on the scheme to see her married. “You seemed fond of him, and I had thought to help you in securing him.”
“That is very kind of you, Mr. Shelton.”
“Think nothing of it. Anything for a friend of Miss Hamilton.”
“She is very nice,” Grace said as they waited for the remaining couples to enter the dining room.
“The best,” Roger replied, looking down the table to where she sat across from Miss Abernathy and next to Everett Clayton. She was smiling and leaning her head toward Clayton to hear what the fellow was saying. Truly, she needed to learn some restraint. Such open interest even for a chap thought by many to be firmly secured by Miss Love was not wise. Tongues would wag, and chaperones would scheme.
Grace touched his arm. “Are you fond of her?”
He nodded. “We have been friends for longer than I can remember. My first memory of our friendship was when I brought her a toad and placed it in a teacup on this little table that she had which she would lay out all properly with a cloth and imaginary biscuits.”
“A toad!” Grace giggled. “And what did she do?”
Roger chuckled. “She nodded her head in greeting and instructed Mr. Brown – that is what she named him – that he was not to spill his tea or eat all the biscuits. And then, she proceeded to instruct me with the same rules and scolded me for my dirty hands. She has been scolding me ever since.”
Grace giggled but pressed her lips together as Mrs. Abernathy entered with her husband and took her place.
“My hands are clean, I assure you,” Roger whispered to Grace as a bowl of soup was placed before him.
“I shall have to thank Miss Hamilton for having taught you such good manners,” Grace teased.
He glanced down the table at Victoria once again. She had taught him many things over the years. Was there ever a better friend that anyone could have? She leaned toward Clayton again. Roger caught his scowl before it could form and turned back to his soup.
“If she is such a good friend,” Grace whispered, “why do we not attempt to find her a husband? Every young lady needs one eventually.”
“She does not wish to marry just yet,” Roger answered.
“But she does look very pretty sitting next to Mr. Clayton and talking as she is. I know he has his heart set on my sister, but…” she let her words fall away, replacing them with a simple shrug.
Victoria looked pretty no matter who was sitting next to her or whether she was talking, being silent, or scolding him. Roger applied himself to eating his soup and attempted to keep his eyes from wandering too often down to where his friend sat.
“There are other gentlemen.”
Grace did not seem ready to give up the idea of seeing Victoria matched with some gentleman at this party.
“Not Mr. Carlyle, of course,” she added quickly. “He was very demanding when they were practising, and Miss Hamilton said that such behaviour indicates a gentleman who will not be an attentive husband.” She slurped a spoonful of soup. “And every lady wishes for an attentive husband, do you not think?”
Roger nodded his head as he scooped the last spoonful of soup from his bowl. It was a small comfort to know that Carlyle was not someone Victoria admired, no matter how much the gentleman had seemed interested in her earlier.
“Tell me, Miss Grace, what do you wish for in a husband? If I am to help you find one, I must know a thing or two about what you would prefer.”
“But,” she protested in a whisper as her soup bowl was taken away, “we have not settled on a match for Miss Hamilton.”
Roger had no desire to settle on a match for Victoria. The very idea of her marrying anyone made him wish to refuse the venison placed before him, and, if anyone knew him as well as Victoria knew him, they would know that venison was among his most favoured foods.
“I believe since she is not so desirous to marry as you are, it might be best if we decide upon a match for you before we attempt to arrange something for Miss Hamilton.”
“Do you truly think that would be best?”
“Yes.” He was very sure of it.
“Very well,” Grace said, and, while Roger savoured his venison and occasionally glanced in Victoria’s direction, Grace enumerated all the qualities she wished for in a husband.
That music was delightful. Heavy sigh. I enjoyed the excerpt. I remember that story. I loved Roger. Poor Miss Hamilton really had a terrible time at that house party. It was a mess and we really were able to get to know Miss Grace and to see her sister Felicity for the snake-in-the-grass that she was. Grrr!
I’m glad you enjoyed the music. Roger is a fun fellow. When I began writing this series and created Grace, I had no idea how involved she would be in so many stories. Just tonight as I was writing His Irreplaceable Belle, there Grace was again, getting herself involved in the story. 🙂 Nor did I see Felicity being playing such a large part. But then, that’s the fun of writing a series, getting to discover the connections and being able to see characters again and from a different point of view. 🙂