Letter Rack, Edward Collier (circa 1698). Art Gallery of South Australia / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
I love all the items that are in this painting. It gives one much to look at, doesn’t it? In chapter 6 of Protecting Miss Darcy, Georgiana is adding to the letter she is writing to her aunt.
~*~*~
You do remember Mr. C from my last page of writing, do you not? I can now say that I not only suppose you would not approve of him but, with confidence, I can declare you would not. I must also say that his handsomeness fades with his forward actions. Upon arriving, he seemed relieved to see that we had not yet departed and wasted no time in dismounting from his horse and coming to my side.
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY PHILLIP PHILLIPS ON AUGUST 2, 2012.
This song is one I often listen to as an instrumental cover by The Piano Guys while writing, but I thought that today, I would share the vocal version, which is on my Whatever for Whenever Spotify playlist. (This song on Spotify can be found here.)
The lyrics are what has me pairing this song with Master of Longbourn today. The Mr. Collins in this book is searching for a home. He has demons that fill him with fear. However, he finds himself surrounded by those who are willing to help make Longbourn his home.
Using the candle he held in his hand, Collins lit a second one that was in the lamp on the table next to where Mr. Bennet had been sitting earlier that day. He looked around the room.
Mr. Bennet had told him he was to make this room his second refuge. His first was his bedchamber, of course. There he could lock himself away without there being much chance of being disturbed, but here, he was more accessible, and here is where Bingley had very firmly insisted he should read each evening.
Truth be told, Bingley had wished for him to sit with the others in the sitting room, but Darcy had pled his case and convinced Bingley that the study would be better for reviewing what needed to be learned.
Collins tipped his head and eyed the book on the desk. He wanted to go over it again. He was positive he could remember nearly everything Mr. Bennet had told him about the tenants listed in it. He glanced at the door. No one was with him; he could peek at it.
He crossed to the desk, placed his hand on the book, and just as he was about to lift the cover, shook his head and retreated to the chair near the lamp without the book. He did not want to have to tell Bingley or Darcy tomorrow afternoon that he had spent another evening studying, for both gentlemen had thought it best if he spent one evening consuming the novel he had promised Kitty he would read.
He sighed as he settled into his chair, and taking up his book, he placed it unopened in his lap while he pondered the lovely Miss Kitty Bennet and watched the shadows chase each other in the flickering dance of the candles’ flames. Perhaps in the new year when Bingley had his ball, he would dance two sets with her. Perhaps by then, she would even be accepting of his addresses, or at least, by then, he would have learned enough from Darcy and Bingley to be able to present them. By spring, he might even find himself in a position to make her his wife. That thought could not be made without a smile finding its way to his lips.
“May I enter?”
Evelina clattered to the floor as Collins started at the sweet voice that called to him from the door.
A cottager leaned whispering by her hives, Telling the bees some news, as they lit down, And entered one by one their waxen town. — Illustration from The monitions of the unseen, and poems of love and childhood; 1871; author, Jean Ingelow. Internet Archive Book Images / No restrictions via Wikimedia
~*~*~
“For me?” Georgiana cried. “I should think it would be very bad manners for me to come looking for assistance from a gentleman who was injured fetching me a flower to sketch.”
“Do not apologize again.”
“But if you had not tried to shoo that bee away from me…”
“I knew the risk.”
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
American; Dress; circa 1810 (cotton, wool). Bequest of Maria P. James, 1910. This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art / CC0
Don’t these “ladies” look as if they are ready for a picnic or afternoon of strolling and having tea in the garden?
~*~*~
“You look perfectly content.” Alfred sat down beside her under the tree.
“I am. It was a lovely picnic.”
Chairs and tables were being loaded onto a waiting cart, while blankets which were not being used, were being folded and placed in a trunk that would be transported back to Ravincot in one of the Langley’s carriages when they all had had their fill of wandering the meadow and reclining under trees as they conversed.
“Are you planning to sit here and read until we leave?” Alfred asked.
“That was indeed my plan unless some other activity of greater interest caught my attention.”
“Would you like to walk with me?”
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
English Garden in the Csáky Castle at Hotkóc, János Rombauer / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Alfred’s aunt, Meredith Langley, loves gardens and is always having improvements made to hers. I wonder which of these garden elements she might have in the garden at Ravencot?
~*~*~
“The garden is best enjoyed from outside.”
“I was just out there,” Alfred replied. “What brings you to this room, Aunt?”
Meredith Langley crossed to stand next to her nephew. “You.”
“Me?”
His aunt nodded. “We have not yet had a good discussion about my son and his future bride.” Mrs. Langley sat down on the window seat so that she could also look out the window. “There is a pleasant breeze today, is there not?”
[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]
