Tag: Her Heart’s Choice

NBCTheVoice. “The Voice 2015 Amy Vachal – Top 10: Bye Bye Bye”YouTube. YouTube, 30 Nov. 2015.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

So this is a different take on this song, isn’t it?

I heard this version on the Voice last season and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The less upbeat tone of the reworked song goes very well, I think, with what I have been writing this week.  Anne  has had to say bye-bye to a suitor that she had been considering fairly seriously as a likely marriage candidate.  He was a wealthy, titled, and handsome man, who she found interesting, but who proved to be not quite as proper a gentleman as she had supposed him to be.  She is discovering that finding a husband is difficult and that, perhaps, her beliefs of what will make a proper match are entirely wrong.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

Lady Sophia patted Anne’s knee.  “Just so.  Your heart is a very good guide if you will listen to it carefully.  It is not above being tricked, but there will often be that little worry, hanging at the back of your mind when your heart desires something it should not.  Let it guide you, and then ask for advice.  I will always tell you the truth, you know that, don’t you?”

Anne nodded. The two of them sat there silently watching the movement on the street until a tray containing two small glasses of sherry and a few biscuits arrived.

“Marrying for love alone is not enough,” said Anne as she took a sip of her sherry and wrinkled her nose.  It was not her favourite drink.

“And I believe, unlike your mother or Lady Matlock, marrying for position alone is also not enough,” replied her aunt.  “Matrimony is a tricky business.”

“It is indeed,” agreed Anne. She ate a biscuit in silence and finished her drink.  “Marriage is not for everyone.”  She sighed.  “I had not wished to always live in my mother’s house. I had hoped to have a home of my own to run, but perhaps it is not to be.  Perhaps I should return to Rosings and find some work to occupy my time.”

Lady Sophia placed her empty glass on the tray and then crossed to Anne and kissed her forehead.  “You need a rest. I do not believe you are destined to remain unwed.”  She cupped her niece’s chin and lifted it so that Anne looked up at her.  “Let your heart chose,” she said softly.  “Promise me you will give it a bit more time before returning to Rosings?  I should miss you dearly if you left too soon.”

Anne could not help but smile.  “I will not return to Rosings until after I have visited Hertfordshire and have shared in the celebration of my cousin Richard’s wedding. However, if I have not found a prospect by then, I shall go home with my mother.”

Lady Sophia kissed her on the forehead once again.  “You are not giving me very long to help you, but I will do my best.”  She turned to leave.  “Do you wish to sort the papers from today’s visit after your rest?”

“Have them placed in my sitting room,” she replied.

“Very well.  I shall see you at dinner?”  There was a slight lift of uncertainty in her voice.

“You will,” Anne assured.

“Rest well.”  Sophia closed the door softly.

Anne climbed onto her bed.  She knew it would be more comfortable to undress, but she did not wish to call for her maid.  She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath of the peaceful, silent air and released it slowly and repeated until finally, her mind drifted away from the worries of the day and into the land of dreams.

“All This Time // Fanny & Edmund (Mansfield Park).” Video created for and uploaded to Youtube by Cornishbluepixie. 19 May 2012.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

First, for those who don’t know, this movie and the novel on which it is based are some of my favourites…way up at the top of the list!  And I must say that the song the creator of this video chose is perfect! Well done, Cornishbluepixie! 🙂

Now on to my small sample from this past week’s writing. I am in a very busy time of year right now…end of quarter, yearbook final deadline, marking, grades, photos needed, pages to complete…aaaaaah! It is overwhelming at times, and it has taken a toll on my writing time. I think I only managed two short writing times this week.  So the selection from which to pick an excerpt was limited, and I thought I might not even have an excerpt, but then I remembered this video and knew the idea of the song goes well with the premise of my story.

Anne refused Mr. Madoch six years ago, but he has never wasted his time or words on another.  He wants her and no other. Below is a conversation that Lord Brownlow, Lord Rycroft, Jonathan Lester, and Alex Madoch had one rainy afternoon (see last week’s excerpt) in the sitting room at Lord Brownlow’s home.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

“I find it difficult to believe that you would do anything in haste.”  Rycroft directed the statement to Alex.  “You seem more the calm and calculating sort.”

Jonathan snorted.  “To a point,” he agreed, “but pass that point and all bets are off, gentleman.  He would cut ties with his mother if she crossed him.”

“I would not,” Alex retorted.

“She would not cause you to ever have need to prove me right,” replied Jonathan.

“I say, you have a very different relationship,” said Rycroft, once again looking at the two men with some interest.

“We are nearly brothers,” said Alex, “or should I say Lester is more a brother to me than mine ever was.”

“Well, we share a common interest,” said Jonathan, “your brother knows nothing of horses and sees your pursuit of them as only a waste of legal training.”

Alex nodded thoughtfully.  “True.  Neither he nor father was pleased when upon my graduation I refused to take up my robes and instead took a position with my uncle.”  He placed his cup on the table.  From the looks of interest on the faces of their companions, he felt his relationship with Jonathan needed some explanation.  “I clerked for a year after my graduation. As was my custom in any area where I found myself, I learned who had the best horses and grooms.  One of those grooms happened to have a son who was more keen to learn accounting and bookwork than how to mend a harness. I traded what I knew of the subjects for the opportunity to learn to mend a harness.”

“He knew how to mend a harness.”  Jonathan’s mouth was once again full of pastry.

Alex shrugged.  “True, but your father knew things that I did not, and I wanted him to share them with me.” He turned toward Rycroft.  “He is, in my opinion, one of the best grooms I have met.”  He smiled. “Tucked away in the country serving a country squire and happy as any man could ever be.”

“And it kept him from having to attend many social functions.” Alex chuckled.

Alex chuckled.  “I only had to attend one assembly and two or three card parties during the entirety of my term.  It annoyed my employers wife to no end, which pleased him quite well. Of course, I used the opportunity to meet the gentlemen of the area.” He pursed his lips and thought for a moment.  “I think I managed to only be required to partner one or two young ladies for a dance.  They were lovely, but my heart was not available and my plans were not to be fulfilled through courting.”

“Ah, see I was right!” said Rycroft.  “Cool and calculating.”

“Driven,” mutter Jonathan.

“I find it admirable,” said Brownlow.  “I wish I had thought of pursuing the breeding and sale of cattle as a means to avoid social events.”

“♥Spring Waltz -YIRUMA♥.” Video created for and uploaded to YouTube by Andreea Petcu, 25 Feb. 2012.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY: 

Spring is here! I am enjoying the extra hours of sunlight and looking forward to soon leaving the heavy jackets behind.  I love how everything begins to feel fresh and new after the grayness of winter.  Since spring is a time of newness, I decided that this week I would share an excerpt from my story where a new character (and a possible new love interest for Anne) is introduced.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

Anne gave a quick glance at her aunt as Lady Sophia returned to the sitting room.  The last caller of the day, Sir Hugh, sat beside her.  She wondered at the length of time her aunt had been gone from the room. Surely she was not in conversation with Alex for so long a period of time.  She would have to make it plain to her aunt that Mr. Madoch was not an acceptable suitor as soon as she finished with Sir Hugh ─ she glanced at the papers in her lap ─ Mattingly.  She tilted her head to the side.  Lady Anne Mattingly.  Yes, it sounded acceptable.  She turned her attention to the papers once again.  He was not wealthy beyond measure, but he was solvent and substantially so.  She flipped through the papers, looking at his holdings and financial records.  Then, she sat them aside in the stack that was slowly building on the table next to her.  She looked carefully at the gentleman before her. He was not plain. In fact, his face was very like a chiselled marble.  He held himself with dignity under her scrutiny and merely smiled.  That could be a weakness, she noted.  He might be far too self-assured to be pleasant. She leaned forward feigning a need to fix something on her shoe.

“It is such an annoyance when one’s slip catches on one’s dress.”  She had inhaled deeply as she had reached for her foot.  He smelled very pleasant.  She marked off good hygiene on her mental list.  So far, he seemed a very likely candidate.  “Sir Hugh,” she said situating herself back in a proper upright position.  “You are a knight, is that correct?”

“It is, Miss de Bourgh.”  He waited for her next question.  Then, as she simply held his gaze, he determined that she might want a further explanation of his title.  “There was a matter of some money owed that was forgiven and as a sign of gratitude, the title was bestowed.”

“You gamble?” That would be a sad thing, she was beginning to like looking at him and his voice was very pleasant. Continue reading Music Monday: Spring Waltz, Yiruma

“Il Divo – Regresa a Mi (Unbreak My Heart).” YouTube. 24 Oct. 2009.

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY:

The song in this video is on the playlist I was listening to this weekend while doing some cleaning and while my phone was in my pocket, I managed to hit repeat and listened to it three times before I was able to reset it!  I didn’t mind really, since I do love the song. During the second or third time through, I started thinking that this would be a good song to go with the portion of story below.  I’m not sure if there really needs to be much explanation to link the song about a broken heart and the story excerpt that contains a rather cruel refusal.

EXCERPT FROM Her Heart’s Choice: 

Lady Sophia’s eyes grew wide as understanding dawn on her.  “You love her?  But how?”

Alex released his breath quickly.  “My father’s estate is in Kent, near Rosings.” He paused, not sure how much of himself he should reveal.

“This family is good at keeping secrets,” said Lady Sophia casting a quick glance at her brother.

“Aye,” agreed the admiral, “from the world and each other.” He winked at his sister.  It had only been a few weeks since she had revealed her secret.  She had no way of knowing that keeping that particular secret would cause him pain, and so he did not hold her accountable.  His brother, who had forced the secret to be kept, he held very accountable.

“You will agree that not a word of my situation will be shared with Miss de Bourgh?”

“Not a word,” Lady Sophia agreed.

“You will allow her to walk away from me if that is her choice?”

Lady Sophia sighed.  “Unless in doing so she will be utterly miserable.”  She shook her head.  “I cannot allow that.”  She smiled reassuringly at him.  “Perhaps the knowledge I gain from your tale will assist me in knowing how best to help.”

“My sister, the matchmaker,” said the admiral as he waved his hand toward his sister with a flourish.   “She’ll not rest, my boy, until things have been arranged to best advantage.”

Alex could not help the chuckle that escaped him .  “Very well.  I shall tell you.”   For the next ten minutes, Alex told of his interest in the stables at Rosings and of the young girl of fourteen, who had sneaked in to the stables in search of a fast horse, one that was fast enough to cause her memories to float away on the wind.

Alex saw the red rims of her eyes and heard the soft sniffle as the groom readied a steady mare. 

“He is not fast enough.” 

“He is the only horse you are allowed, miss,” explained the stable master.  “I’ll not risk my position or your life. I dare say I risk enough allowing you to ride when your mother is unaware.” He gave Anne a stern look.   

Anne huffed.  She pulled her arms more tightly about her waist.  She  must keep that hurt inside until the air was rushing past her and drying her tears without leaving a trace.  She stood silently shifting from foot to foot and watching a cat swish his tale back and forth as he sat perched on a stool. 

“Henry will ride with you.”  The stable master took the reins from the groom and led the horse out to where the steps had been put in place to help Anne in mounting the mare.  “Alex,”  he called over his shoulder, “you may also attend Miss de Bourgh.  It will give you the chance you have been wanting to see our horses in action.  I will be interested t o hear what you have to say about their quality when you return.” 

Anne looked at the young man, who was leaning against  the side of the stable. 

“Miss de Bourgh,” the stable master stood ready to assist her in mounting.  “That is the younger Mr. Madoch,” he explained. 

Anne’s brows furrowed.  She had seen him at church and knew well enough who he was. What she did not know was why he was here in Rosings’ stables.  Continue reading Music Monday: Il Divo – Regresa a Mi (Unbreak My Heart)