Bonus Leap into Love

I already did one post on this month’s theme, but I just couldn’t let LEAP into LOVE slip by without tying it to my novel LEAP of HOPE. The two were practically made for each other. The colors even match! Besides, February 29th is kind of a bonus day, so I figured it deserved a bonus post!

“Leap” in the theme refers to Leap Year, of course (and today, Leap Day), but in my book title it refers to a leap in time. A modern girl, who’s a passionate Jane Austen fan, takes a chance to leap back to Regency England in search of an Austen kind of life. She lands in a family very much like the Bennets with high hopes of meeting her very own Mr. Darcy and enjoying a romantic happy ending like Elizabeth. She will get her happy ending, I promise, but not before some unscheduled fun, frustration, and craziness.

In the scene I have for you today, things have already gone a little off track. Kate Barrett finds herself away from home and stuck in a scenario much more like Fanny in Mansfield Park than Lizzy in Pride and Prejudice. Still, there’s a handsome man she’s hoping will propose. To avoid spoilers, I will call him “Mr. X” in this excerpt.

Rosamund had sanctioned the idea of my giving a tour to Mr. X when he came, but still I could imagine that, once he arrived, one or more of the others might invite themselves along for some reason, unaware I wanted to be alone with him or unwilling to let me. I had a difficult time evading Harris Cranford under any circumstances, so he wasn’t likely to give me up to the unchaperoned company of another man without a fight.

I thought my best chance would be to intercept [Mr. X} as soon as he arrived. Half an hour before he was expected, I slipped away from the others, put my coat on, and used a back door to let myself outside again.

Luckily, Mr. X rode directly to the stables instead of the front door. I heard the hoof beats approach and managed to be nearby when he dismounted. At least I think it was hoof beats I heard; it was hard to tell above the pounding bass drum of my own heart. It wasn’t just the way I had snuck out of the house like some escaped felon that had my blood pumping; it was the thought of being alone with Mr. X and what might happen.

As he left the stables, he was looking down at first, brushing off and straightening his clothes, so he didn’t notice me right away. I had the advantage over him there, and I didn’t waste the chance to openly admire what I saw. I thought he had never seemed more attractive – tall, well-built, and every inch the gentleman. If clothes make the man, then his were working overtime that day, from his black Hessian boots and buff-colored breeches up to his hunter-green coat and immaculate cravat. I’d never seen him looking more the quintessential Mr. Darcy… and Mr. Darcy was supposed to marry me and carry me back to Pemberley…

“Stop it!” I muttered under my breath, ashamed that I still hadn’t broken the habit of thinking in fairy-tale terms about this Regency life of mine. No matter how devoted I was to Jane Austen or how many intriguing similarities to her books I noticed, this was not a novel; this was real life. This was my real life! I had to keep reminding myself of that fact. I was Kate Barrett, formerly Hope O’Neil. I wasn’t Elizabeth Bennet or even Fanny Price. Although it was fun to play at their parts, to picture myself in their shoes, even to borrow some of their words from time to time, when it came down to the important stuff – like deciding to marry somebody – I needed to make sure I was thinking straight. Marriage was forever, at least in my plan, so I had to get it right the first time. I had no more second chances coming to me.

“Miss Barrett!” he said when he was nearly on top of me. “Excuse me for not looking where I was going. I nearly ran you over, I fear.”

“Not at all, sir. I could have easily stepped aside.”

“Ha! That would say little for my gallantry if you were only spared being trampled by your alertly getting out of my way. Were you going to the stables for a ride?”

“No, I rode earlier… but it was such a fine day that I could not resist a walk also.”

“May I join you? We could just as well begin the outdoor portion of that tour you promised me at once, if you are not too tired.”

“Tired? Oh, no. I am perfectly ready to carry out my promise. In fact, I have been looking forward to it. Shall we start with the stables, since we are so near to it already?”

He nodded his assent and we headed in that direction. I introduced him to Cleopatra and some of the other horsier members of the family in the boxes that flanked either side of a central walkway. Then we emerged back out into the sunlight at the far end of the stable block. From there I took him to see some of the other outbuildings before the orchards and fields. My goal was to conduct him as far from the house as possible for as long as possible, so that I could keep him to myself without anybody getting a chance to spoil it.

“Is it much like Pellencourt?” I asked Mr. X half an hour into our tour.

“In some respects,” he said, looking amused. “Everything you have shown me is handsomely built and well maintained, but then I have often observed that one dairy or poultry barn is much like another.”

“True. I have not yet shown you anything really beautiful or entirely unique. We are coming to a view that I like particularly well, though. Perhaps that will make a more distinct impression on you.”

“If you like it, then I am sure to as well.” We walked on. “Ah, I see what you mean,” he said when we arrived at the spot a minute later. He took time to properly admire the scene – how the ground fell away to a small lake below and some wooded hills beyond – before turning his attention back to me. “It is a beautiful prospect, indeed,” he said. There was a thoughtful pause as he continued to look at me. Then, finally noticing the bench I had cleverly brought us to, he said, “I see we are not the first ones to admire the view from here. Shall we sit down and linger a little?”

“By all means,” I answered. That was exactly what I had in mind, after all.

“You are not too cold, I hope.”

I thought about saying I was, imagining him putting his arms around me to keep me warm, but I didn’t want to give any reason for him to cut short our walking tour. “Not at all,” I said.

“Good, for there are a few things I most particularly wish to say to you, Miss Barrett.”

That got my heart pounding all over again. We sat down – close but not too close to remain respectable – and I smiled encouragingly at him. “You wanted to tell me something?”

“Yes. It is difficult to know where to begin, though. First, allow me to thank you for agreeing to show me Kantwell. I hope sometime to be able to return the favor. Perhaps you will allow me to give you a tour of Pellencourt one day.”

Wondering if this meant what I thought it meant, I said, “I can think of nothing I would like better.”

“I am glad to hear it,” he said, and the most adorable crinkles broke out at the corners of his eyes as he smiled back at me. “I also wanted to tell you again how much I enjoyed our dance at the Coleswold ball and our discussion there. I have often thought of it since.”

He waited, but I didn’t know what to say. I just nodded and let him continue.

“Upon further reflection, I sincerely regretted not being able to stay on in Carding. The more I thought about that night, the more I wished for some way to continue our friendship. Do you understand me, Miss Barrett?”

I didn’t want to over-presume here. “I think so. I have often felt the same way when circumstances have separated me from a friend. Consider my current state, away from all my family.”

“Yes, well, I endeavored to remedy the situation by writing to your father with hopes of securing a connection back to you. Unfortunately, my letter went unanswered…  Although I never gave up hope, I could find out nothing more of you for the time being. Imagine my astonishment, then, when I came to Kantwell and discovered you here.”

“I do not need to imagine, Mr. X. Your surprise could have been no greater than my own at seeing you again so unexpectedly.”

“I was surprised, yes… and delighted,” he said, taking my gloved hand in his and looking intently into my eyes.

Oh, my goodness! This is it! He was about to tell me he loved me, and suddenly I knew I felt the same way. My heart was swelling up inside my chest to the size of a birthday party balloon, ready to burst. My spirit was belting out a tune – something operatic, I think – for sheer joy. It wasn’t Mr. Darcy I loved after all; he had just been a stand-in, holding the place for Mr. X! Now he only needed to declare himself. On one knee preferably, but that didn’t really matter. Once he said the words, I would be justified to fall into his arms and claim the kiss that would confirm the chemistry I already knew existed between us. My lips were humming in anticipation. I just needed to hear the words. He opened his mouth and…

Then there was a noise on the path and he closed it again. Drat! Mr. X also let go of my hand and drew back a little. Someone was coming. Of all the lousy bad luck! Just when things had been getting good, too… really good.

It was Jonathan, walking over from the parsonage.

Mr. X stood to shake his hand and exchange awkward greetings. “Your cousin has just been showing me the grounds,” he said. “We only sat down to rest for a few minutes and enjoy the view.”

“I see,” Jonathan said cheerfully. “Well, I hope Kantwell meets with your approval, sir.”

“Very much so, although I have not seen all of it yet.”

“If your fair companion is sufficiently refreshed, perhaps we three can continue on together. I would be happy to guide you. I do not doubt that my cousin has done an admirable job so far, but I daresay I can tell you more of the details and history of the place.” Turning to me, he said, “Come, take my arm, Kate.”

I had never been more put out with poor Jonathan than at that moment. He seemed to be totally clueless that he had interrupted anything at all, and his assumption that I would be glad to have him join us was understandable. Any other time, I would have been. Any other time at all, but why today?

*Sigh* So close! Kate could practically taste that proposal… and the kiss that would no doubt have followed. But don’t worry. She doesn’t lack for proposals in this novel. There are at least 4, and more importantly, one of them is the right one!

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt and that you will read the rest of Kate’s story. Leap of Hope is available at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.

Happy Leap Day!