Music Monday: When You Walk In (Home Free)

Anne looked at her aunt.  “Did my mother ever love my father?”

Lady Sophia shook her head.  “I do not know, my dear.  I certainly never saw it.  There was an admiration and concern, but nothing of the giving of one’s very soul to the other as I had with my husband.”  She sighed.  “That is where the issue lay — not with rank or fortune.  Do you understand?”

Anne nodded.

“I do,” said Alex stepping around the hedge. “A man or woman who loves another completely would not allow harm to come to the one they love, no matter the source.”

Anne gasped, and her lips trembled as tears sprang to her eyes at the sight of him.

Lady Sophia stood and after a quick word of greeting and a whispered comment to Alex, left the two alone.  Alex took the place on the bench which had just been vacated by Anne’s aunt.

“You came,” Anne whispered.

[from Her Heart’s Choice]

Published to YouTube on June 29, 2018, by Home Free.

I have two “walking in” moments for you today to go with this song. The first one, above,  comes nearly at the end of the story after it seems all hope of the hero and heroine ever getting together has been lost. The second, in the story excerpt at the end of this post, comes in the second chapter of the story when the hero first meets the heroine.  There were many moments of meeting from previous stories that I could have shared. It was difficult to pick just one.

Now, before I get to sharing that second moment of meeting, I have some rather exciting story news for you.

First, I finished the first draft of my second short story. This one is an alternate first meeting between Marianne Dashwood and Colonel Brandon that has Marianne being rather smitten from the beginning. It is called Morning Mist, and I hope to have it ready to release with a couple of other stories in December. I just need to write a couple more before then. 😀

Second, Assessing Mr. Darcy will be on preorder before the day is out. It’s expected release date is October 25, 2018. The story will finish posting on Patreon this week, and I hope to start posting it on darcyandlizzy.com.  I have just gotten my final edits back, and as soon as I have those taken care of, I will be sending out an email to my mailing list with a limited number of advance reader copies. Things were slowed down just a little as I was sick this past week and organizing a preorder and all those sorts of activities were not as easy as just sitting still and playing with my imaginary friends (aka writing). That’s why the short story is done already. 🙂 It also means I was able to make progress with Mary Crawford’s story. So, while some parts of being ill were not great (the watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, fever, and so on), others were rather pleasant as I am really enjoying getting into Mary’s story and telling Marianne’s story was a real treat.

I think that is all the news I have for you today, which means now it is time to meet the hero of Mary’s story and allow him to meet her in…

AN EXCERPT FROM Mary: To Protect Her Heart:

Gabriel Durward glanced up from the paper in front of him and gave a nod of welcome to his friend, Tom Bertram, but continued his conversation with the gentleman seated at the table with him.

“She’s American then?”

“She is,” the man replied. “A beauty, too.”

Gabe studied the manifest in front of him. “You say she was taken clean?”

His companion nodded. “She’ll pass the prize court.”

If the document he was looking at was correct, the contents of this ship could net him a healthy profit.

“She’s worth refitting,” his companion suggested.

Another ship? Gabe rubbed his chin. Was he ready to expand his fleet? “I will take a look at her tomorrow, but as far as her cargo is concerned, I am extremely interested, and you know I pay well.” He folded the document he had been reading and tucked it in his pocket. “Of course, you know I must compare this inventory with the one presented to the court before our agreement is finalized. I do appreciate the copy and your consideration. It is not that I do not trust you, but there are those who would attempt to take advantage.”

The man across from him laughed. “Take advantage of Captain Durward? They’d have to be a fool to try.”

Gabe inclined his head. “There are plenty of fools in this world.” He had met several over the years. A few had attempted to take advantage of him. One or two had succeeded, but they would not be trying to do so again. He had made certain of that.

“Tomorrow?” his companion asked.

Gabe nodded.

“Then I had best get back to the dancing.” The man across from him rose and gave a small bow.

“Business at a ball?” Tom asked as he settled into the chair vacated by the gentleman to whom Gabe had been talking.

“Does one not come to balls to speculate on investments?” Gabe leaned back and smiled into his glass of port before taking a drink. “My investments are just more at home on the water than a ballroom. However, they are still beautiful and wealthy ladies.”

Tom shook his head. “They are ships, not ladies.”

Gabe shrugged. “Perhaps to a land lover such as yourself. How’s the leg?”

“It is only slightly painful. However, I am finding it grows stronger each day.”

“I am glad to hear it. And did you find the lady with whom you needed to speak?” That was the whole reason Tom had attended this ball – to find some woman who had caused a disaster to unfold in his family through her scheming. He had told Gabe that he wished to learn a few things that would hopefully put his mind at ease.

Tom nodded as a small smile curled his lips. “I am at peace.”

Gabe clapped him on the shoulder. That was very good news. Gabe was anxious to see Tom finally find some sort of rest for his spirit.

He had met Tom at the docks in London about three years ago now. The fellow’s family had an interest in Antigua, and Gabe had an interest in the goods their interest might supply for him. However, he had found more than just a means of making a few pounds in that meeting. He had found one of his best friends. Tom was not like the majority of the ton. He did not care where Gabe had earned his money or why his eyes were so dark.

He took another swallow of his port. For all the devil-may-care swagger that Tom Bertram portrayed, he was a sensitive soul who was accepting of many whom others might discard.

“You are completely finished attempting to be what you are not?” Gabe asked quietly.

Tom nodded. “As finished with it as you are with adventuring.” He shrugged. “I think we have both found our lot in life.”

“And made peace with it,” Gabe added.

“Yes, finally. Thankfully for you, it did not take nearly dying to discover your path.”

Gabe pulled in a deep breath and expelled it slowly. “I faced death more than once before I came to my senses. You were just quicker to cotton on than I.” He swallowed the last of his port. “In fact, it was my father’s death last year which firmly set my feet on English soil for good.” He had not confessed that to anyone until now, and Tom looked surprised as Gabe expected he would. “My mother arrived while you were attempting to escape the cold clutches of the afterlife.”

“You should write poetry,” Tom teased.

“Who’s to say I do not,” Gabe returned with ease. “Death sounded too crass when speaking of a friend.”

“Is she adjusting well?”

“As well as can be expected. My bill for heating will be significant until she adjusts to the lack of warmth in the air, and she is finding it challenging to look so different. However, all of the gentlemen who I have had around to do business have been polite, which has helped.” He sighed. “If I could tolerate India as my father did, I would take her back there.” He shook his head. “But I am not a company man as he was. I wish to find my own way in life and that does limit me.”

“You also love this damp, cold climate,” Tom added. “Not even those of us who have lived here all our lives find it as pleasant as you do. I must say that was the one thing I appreciated about Antigua. It was warm.”

“Has your father…” he stopped as a vision of loveliness in a cream coloured gown with a deep wine-coloured overdress entered the room on the arm of some gentleman. He probably knew who the chap was and could figure it out if he put his mind to it. However, he’d rather just admire the lady on what’s his name’s arm.

“No, he has not disposed of it yet,” Tom answered the question that had only been half spoken. “Mansfield is still too dependent on the funds.”

Gabe turned his attention back to his friend for a moment. “That is too bad,” he muttered before looking in the direction of the lady who had captured his interest and was approaching their table.

“Miss Crawford,” Tom said as he pushed up from his seat to stand with Gabe at her arrival before them.

“Mr. Bertram,” Mary said before turning to her escort and sending him away with a whispered word.

Tom moved to pull out a chair for her. “May I present my friend, Mr. Gabriel Durward.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Durward.”

“Gabe, this is Miss Mary Crawford.”

~*~*~

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