Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada. It is a day when we remember both the end of World War I and all soldiers who have given their lives to ensure our continued freedom. In honor of the day, I would like to start with a moment of remembrance before getting to the normal Monday post items. Below is a beautiful violin version of “The Last Post”, which will be played at many, many cenotaphs today. There will also be readings of the poem “In Flander’s Fields.” If you wish to listen to this poem, there is a reading of it by Leonard Cohen at this link.
Published to YouTube by Rachel Bostock on April 27, 2016.
I am truly grateful for the sacrifice made by so many.
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Now, for my writing news:
This week on the blog, I will not have the normal Tuesday and Thursday stories for you as those concluded last week. I will be taking down both Persuading Miss Mary and Her Secret Beau soon, as I am working on getting them both ready for publication. I did not get a lot done on either of these this week as I spent the week being sick.
On Tuesday of this week (tomorrow 😉 ), I will begin posting short chapters of a sweet Regency novelette called Hope at Dawn. As you will see from the author’s note at the beginning of tomorrow’s post, the first edition of this story was posted on my blog before.
On Thursday, I will be sharing one of the stories found in Teatime Tales, which is a collection of six short and sweet Austen-inspired stories. It has been out for several years and can be purchased at your favourite retailer or added to your ebook library for free when joining my mailing list. Therefore, it is not a new story, but I find it is fun, from time to time, to revisit stories from the past.
I hope to have Marrying Elizabeth, Books 1-3 Compilation published this week. The ebook files are ready for me to upload, but the print version needs a cover. This compilation will be a convenient bundle of Confounding Caroline, Delighting Mrs. Bennet, and Loving Lydia.
I did manage to write a few words this week (once I was no longer feverish 🙂 ). Those words are the beginning to Kitty and Langley’s story. That story still needs a title, but I have done some prewriting brainstorming. I hope to get more of that written this week.
Remember that this book sale ends this Friday:
Also remember that books will be changing over in Kindle Unlimited VERY soon — November 19, 2019. Download a copy of Willow Hall while you can. I will be taking the Choices series down from other vendors by the end of the week so that I can get them enrolled in Kindle Unlimited at the beginning of next week.
Since I do not have any new writing to share excerpts from right now, I think I will share an excerpt from one of my favourites from the books that are currently on sale. I know most will turn and run from a Wickham and Lydia story, but I dare you to give this one a try. 🙂 I’ve given them both the Leenie treatment. 🙂 So, be warned if you do try the story, you might just end up liking them. (Gasp! Horrors! giggles in glee Is there anything better than redeeming seemingly unredeemable characters? I’m not sure there is.)
This excerpt is from chapter 2. If you would like to read both chapters 1-3, I will leave a link and a password at the end of this excerpt. I’ll share some more from this book next week and so on until I am once again ready to share a work in progress. This novella has 10 chapters, and if you are patient, I will share passwords to a set of chapters each Monday, which means you could read it in installments. However, the password will only work until Saturday. There will be a new password for next week’s chapters.
This story takes place eight years after the close of Pride and Prejudice.
AN EXCERPT FROM Through Every Storm:
Wickham had slept, but it had been fitful at best. He pulled out his watch fob. One more hour, one more hour and they would be on their way. He paced the length of his bedchamber, his stocking-clad feet making a soft padding sound as he paced. His boots stood ready by the door; his bag was packed and waiting. Fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes and Denny would join him to break his fast. Five more minutes of pacing and turning over what he needed to do in his mind. He checked his watch one more time; then, he straightened his cravat, slipped into his coat and tugged on his boots before proceeding down the hall to his wife’s room. There, he gave a loud knock before throwing the door open and striding into the room.
Lydia shot up in bed, clutching the blankets to her. “George!” she squealed. “You gave me such a fright. What do you mean disturbing my sleep so early?”
“We leave in less than an hour. If you wish to dress and eat before entering the carriage, I suggest you get out of bed now.” He spun on his heels and strode out of the room, leaving a gaping and sputtering Lydia.
“Good morning, Wickham,” said Denny as they descended the stairs. “I see you have taken to my method of rousing the wicked.” Denny laughed and smacked Wickham on the back.
Wickham smiled. “Seems effective.” He could hear his wife banging about in her room.
Denny and Wickham were the first to enter the breakfast room and hungrily filled their plates from the steaming serving dishes on the sideboard. They were both halfway through their plates and on their second cup of coffee when Lydia stomped into the room.
“Good morning, Lydia. Nice of you to join us,” said Denny.
“As if I had a choice.” Lydia rattled the plates and clanked the serving spoons to show her disgust as she filled her plate.
“You had a choice. Eat or go hungry.” Wickham spread jam on his toast. “If you break the dishes, you will pay for them. I will not. I suggest you swallow your annoyance and start acting like a lady instead of a spoiled child. Good morning, Darcy, Mrs. Darcy.”
Lydia huffed once again and sat her plate down on the table rather heavily while shooting her husband an obvious look of displeasure.
“You are off early this morning?” Darcy asked.
“Yes, there are bills to be paid. Mr. Hamilton is expecting Lydia to report for work this afternoon.”
The cup of tea Lydia was lifting to her lips stopped in mid-air and slowly moved back down to the table. “Mr. Hamilton? Work?”
“You remember Mr. Hamilton, do you not? He is the owner of the inn that you left without paying.” Wickham forced himself to calmly sip his coffee. “Denny and I have made arrangements for you to work off your bill since your allowance seems to have already been spent.”
Lydia gaped.
Wickham finished the last of his toast and coffee. “You will want to hurry if you wish to pack before we leave.”
“Is there not someone to do that for me?”
“No. I have informed Darcy’s housekeeper that her staff have done quite enough for you already. After all, you did arrive unannounced. It is the least you can do.”
Wickham could see Lydia’s ire beginning to bubble up. He steeled himself for the coming storm.
“You want me to pack my own things?”
“And carry them to the carriage.” Wickham’s face was implacable, though, his insides churned.
“Do you wish me to drive the carriage as well?” Lydia was on her feet leaning across the table towards her husband.
“If I thought you could manage it. But, I would like both you and the carriage to return home unharmed.”
Lydia was well and truly beside herself. She stamped her foot and crossed her arms. “And if I do not wish to do those things and work at an inn?”
Wickham pulled a small notebook and pencil from his pocket. He opened it to a clean page and wrote the date.
“What is that?” Lydia demanded.
“A journal.”
“And what is it for?” She eyed him warily.
“It is to be an account of your behaviour. We do have a review of your agreement coming in six months. I would like to think that I would remember every detail between now and then, but I do not wish to risk missing some important point. So, what should I write? Shall I write that you refused to accomplish your first task?” Wickham cocked an eyebrow and stared at Lydia.
Lydia flopped into her chair and glared at him.
Wickham held her gaze and tapped his pencil on the page. “I really do need an answer, my dear.”
“Fine. I will pack my own things and carry them down. Happy?” She spat the words at him.
Wickham scratched a note into his journal, then looked at her. “Nothing about this situation makes me happy, Lydia.” He tried to keep the pain he was feeling from tinging his voice, but to those who were listening, it was there. He stood. “I will see to the carriage and horses. We leave on the hour. Be ready.”
Here is the link to Through Every Storm: througheverystorm.pressbooks.com
You will need to use the password Pemberley to unlock chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 1 is available as a preview to all.
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I own this book, and it is very interesting because Wickham learns not only to love Lydia but becomes a responsible father and husband. Lydia eventually learned that she could not have the carefree life that she had prior to marriage.
I’m happy to hear you have this book and that you enjoyed it. 🙂
I own a copy of both Teatime Tales and Through Every Storm in my Kindle Library, I must find time to go through them again!
Thank you for posting the link to In Flanders Fields and the Last Post. We Remember!!!
I enjoy going back and revisiting books, so this post and the ones on the next few Thursdays will be a delightful indulgence for me. 🙂
I’m late to the party. Spent the day at the doctor’s office. I hope you are better. I loved this story of Wickham and Lydia. She was a pistol and he had her measure. Wow! That was a good story. Thank you for all your hard work.
Oh, I hope it was a routine sort of day at the doctor’s office. Either way, it’s never a very fun place to spend time. 🙂 I’m doing much better. I just finished my course of medicine yesterday so I just need to get over the side effects of that now. 🙂
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed this Wickham and Lydia story.