January 23, 2021

I cannot believe we are almost at the end of January. I've been busy in my kitchen. I make most things from scratch and with the grandson staying with us for an indefinite period of time during this lockdown, I'm mostly baking bread to keep his hollow legs filled!

We're continuing on with Pride & Perception and now that I've finally realized the rules are somewhat relaxed with the length of your submission, I'm adding on just a little extra to see the scene through. What fun!

We ended the last scene with:

“I assume, as before, no mention will be made that we own Netherfield?”

“None whatsoever. I’ll not have some young man chase our daughter for her inheritance. No, we will remain the Bennet’s of Longbourn, with an estate that is entailed–”

“Mr. Bennet! Have you still not told anyone the entail was broken after Lydia was born?”

Now onto this week's ten lines:

A wry grin spread across Mr. Bennet’s face.

“No, I also don’t want Jane chased for her inheritance. I want our daughters to marry for the same reasons we did, and that means the gentleman who wins their hand in marriage will do so because they love them, unconditionally.”

“Should I be a tad flighty, to test the limits?”

“My love, a little goes a long way, so be careful when and where you spout nonsense. You don’t wish to chase the bird out of the bush before the gun is primed and ready.”

“When I meet the young man, I’ll assess just how silly I have to be. Don’t worry, Mr. Bennet. I have our girl’s best interests at heart.”

“I know you do.”

Continuing:

“I would assume my brother Phillips is taking care of the contract for – Oh!  I never asked you his name.”

“Bingley. Mr. Charles Bingley.”

“Is he a stable young man? I ask because I don’t want our tenants to fall under the management of someone who would be irresponsible. You know how gentlemen can be when they have unlimited funds and behave in a capricious manner.”

“Don’t worry, my dear. Not only will Phillips keep an eye on him, Lizzy will watch over her tenants with a zeal that would rival a dragon guarding its treasure.”

Weekend Writing Warriors is a fun blog hop where authors share eight to ten lines from a Work in Progress. If you'd like to check out some other author's writing, please click on this link: WeWriWa

January 16, 2021

 

And.... we're back! How has your week been? Me? I've been busy even though we are on mandatory lockdown with curfews in place. Very dystopian. Fortunately, for me, my lifestyle hasn't changed with the advent of Covid. I've been a practicing hermit since my diagnosis, so I went through all this frustration in 2010. Who knew it would become such a blessing???

Any-hoo, we left off with:

“This is Jeremy’s first real job, other than doing footman duties for us when we have guests. Hill is proud as punch that he grew into such a tall, fine-looking young man. He’ll do well, however, Lizzy did say she’d give a poke about the manor and walk him through the finer points of dinner parties and the such.”

Onto the next ten lines.

“Aye, she’ll make sure he does a good job. I have told her the lease has been accepted, so she’s also making sure the rest of the staff is up to speed and all things are ready for our new tenants.”

Mrs. Bennet re-assumed her sewing. “Lizzy is quite adept, and Mrs. Norris is an excellent housekeeper. When Hill recommended her sister to the job over five years ago, I’m glad we were able to place her there - she is a godsend.”

“When Lizzy inherits, she’ll have the luxury of competent staff and good tenants.”

“I assume, as before, no mention will be made that we own Netherfield?”

“None whatsoever. I’ll not have some young man chase our daughter for her inheritance. No, we will remain the Bennet’s of Longbourn, with an estate that is entailed–”

“Mr. Bennet, have you still not told anyone the entail was broken after Lydia was born?”

Well, that changes the landscape of the original Pride & Prejudice. But why does Lizzy inherit? Isn't Jane the eldest? I guess you'll have to come back next week to find out more. Mwah ha ha ha ha...

Weekend Writing Warriors is a fun blog hop where authors share eight to ten lines from a Work in Progress. If you'd like to check out some other author's writing, please click on this link: WeWriWa

January 14 - 2021

 

At two and twenty, Miss Mary Bennet knew she was considered nearly a spinster. Her youngest sister had married at the age of fifteen – what a story that escapade would make –her eldest sister married on the cusp of two and twenty alongside her other sister who at the time was not even one and twenty. Even Kitty had been swept off her feet at the ripe old age of nineteen. For three long years, she’d watched from the sidelines as her sisters fell in love, married, and moved away.

She knew she was not traditionally ladylike, as her other siblings. In her speech, she was too forthright and would rather spend an evening playing the pianoforte to an evening in the company of friends, or heaven forfend, attend a ball.

She had a pleasing figure, all her own teeth, and if she had a lick of vanity, it was her thick, beautifully curly, mahogany locks of hair. On more than one occasion, the matronly ladies she sat with at many assemblies kindly informed her she had kind eyes.

Kind eyes? Basset hounds had kind eyes.

Papa finally settled on her a substantial dowry. With all her siblings out from under the eaves of Longbourn, he had the resources to add to the family coffers and she now had a nice tidy sum of four thousand pounds for any man willing to make an offer. And there was the rub. Someone had to make an offer.

If anyone were to catalog all her attributes, they’d wonder how she’d gone so long without one single proposal. Without one single kiss. Well, there’d been one when she was just turned fourteen, but she didn’t count the sloppy slobber as a kiss. Nigel, the cobbler’s son had pressed his fleshy lips against hers and then tried to push his tongue into her mouth, which she’d promptly bit.

He’d never spoken to her again, and frankly, she hadn’t cared. If kissing involved groping hands and tongues shoved into one’s mouth, she didn’t wish to be kissed again. However, all her sisters seemed to like their husbands kissing them, so maybe Nigel had got it all wrong. She’d never know. Mama did not extend any effort to push her into the path of eligible young men, and that all by itself spoke volumes. Even Mama thought her chances were nil.

January 12, 2021

 "And what is your purpose, wife?"

January 9, 2021

 

Welcome back, dear Reader. I'm enjoying giving Mrs. Bennet a new side to her character and can't wait to have her and Lizzy have Mr. Darcy spinning. Continuing on from last week.

“Mr. Bennet, you never had compassion on my poor nerves.”

“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for them. In fact, they are old friends, what with them being mentioned with consideration these twenty years at least.”

And, now for this week's offering:

“I know you are teasing, I’ve been quite steady these last ten years.”

Mr. Bennet rose from his chair and approached his wife, leaning down to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Yes, my sweet Fanny, you have settled quite nicely since we inherited Netherfield Park and no longer worry about the hedgerows.”

He settled back behind his desk and Mrs. Bennet picked up her sewing, but not too many minutes passed before she left her work laying idle on her lap, gazing out the window.

“What are you thinking, my love?”

“Lizzy plans to visit the tenants of Netherfield Park and then meet with Mrs. Norris for their weekly meeting about the staff and how the new footman is faring with his new duties.”

“Is she doing this for us, or for Hill’s son?” Mr. Bennet asked with a chuckle.

“This is Jeremy’s first real job, other than doing footman duties for us when we have guests. Hill is proud as punch that he grew into such a tall, fine-looking young man. He’ll do well, however, Lizzy did say she’d give a poke about the manor and walk him through the finer points of dinner parties and the such.”

Weekend Writing Warriors is a fun blog hop where authors share eight to ten lines from a Work in Progress. If you'd like to check out some other author's writing, please click on this link: WeWriWa

January 7, 2021

“You know, I always wondered what he meant prior to the morning of our wedding.”

“What was that?”

“It was while your mother orchestrated who would ride in what carriage to the wedding service. He’d muttered ‘All this to do about nothing. It’s almost as bad as St. James’ Court.’ At the time, I thought he was being his usual mercurial self, but his promotion amongst the landed gentry must have been to what he referred.”

“Mama will be beside herself. She now precedes Lady Lucas. Oh, they’ll never be friends now.”

“Were they ever?”

“They had… I guess you would call it a mutually polite acquaintance.”

“Wait until she realizes you outrank even me,” Darcy teased.

Lizzy rose from her chair and circled behind her husband of two years. She leaned down, wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, and laid her cheek against his.

“We are equals. You are a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter. There is no rank in our house, not unless the Monarch decides to bestow a title upon you, which would be well deserved but not sought. Fortunately, Kitty, as Lady George Kerr, outranks Mama. She might be able to contain her ebullient gloating.”

Darcy brought his hand up to his shoulder and laid it over her small hand.

“I believe a trip to Longbourn is required. Your mother will want to herald the news to all and sundry and require her well-situated daughters to flank her every side. Are you up to the task?”

Lizzy kissed the top of his head before stepping away, the small bump barely visible beneath her morning dress.

“Fortunately, we are in London, and what’s a day’s travel on a good road? Even so, Nanny and I will have our hands full with Bennet and Andrew.”

“You shall manage my love. Your courage always rises when challenged.”

“You know me well.”

January 5, 2021

 "We are not done. We haven't had a proper conversation about this."

January 2, 2021

Yes, I know... it's been too long. All of us have had a roller coaster ride this past year, and I'm sure we all have tons of stories about line-ups, missing family and friends, trying to sneak loved ones into the house so no one knows you've exceeded your 'bubble' - not that I'm saying we did...

I've neglected my blog and focused solely on the family with just bits of writing. Enough to finish Fitzwilliam Darcy - Undone and all the fun stuff that comes with publishing/marketing.

Now, 2021 is upon us and I have high hopes. This is why I've picked up my tattered quill and filled a new inkpot and am ready to jump into Weekend Writing Warriors once more. At this exact moment, I'm working on two stories (what's new...) and I've already shared from Mary before, so I'm testing the waters with my newest baby. Working Title is Pride & Perception. Let's see where it takes us, shall we?

I'll give you the premise and then the ten lines.

What if... Lizzy overheard the other derogatory comment Darcy made about her beauty? You know - where he said - after the Bennets had dined at Netherfield Park - 'Her a beauty? I should as soon call her mother a wit!'

Yeah, that one.

“Mr. Bennet, I heard Netherfield Park has been let at last.”

“Yes, my dear, to a young man from the North. He came and looked it over a few weeks ago.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I hate having your great uncle’s old estate being left vacant, and the last tenant was terrible. Is he a single young man?”

“Mrs. Bennet, I do not have all the details and even if he were, I caution you about your conduct. No young man wants a wife whose mother has nervous fluttering’s and vapors.”

“Mr. Bennet, you never had compassion on my poor nerves.”

“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for them. In fact, they are old friends, what with them being mentioned with consideration these twenty years at least.”

~~~ooo0ooo~~~

It will be a slow go to start, but stick with me, this could be fun.

Weekend Writing Warriors is a fun blog hop where authors share eight to ten lines from a Work in Progress. If you'd like to check out some other author's writing, please click on this link: WeWriWa