Tea with Mrs. Johnstone proves a mite … unusual. Part 7 The next several days provided conversation, the likes of which she had never had, frankly, never even imagined. While she and Mr. Johnstone disagreed not infrequently, sometimes quite widely, he always listened politely, argued intelligently, and conceded defeat as often as she did. He …
Falling down the research rabbit hole is far easier than one might expect when writing historical fiction. There are so many little things that we know about modern life that were very different in Jane Austen’s day. All of those require research in some form or another. Take for example house cleaning. While my husband …
“I think your opinion very worthwhile, and to be entirely honest, I am apt to agree both with you and the author of that particular essay.”–Some interesting conversation seems to be on tap today… Part 6 As usual, Mary rose just after sunrise. The rose colored beams streaming through her window would normally have elicited …
What is a dinner party without a little matchmaking on the side? Part 5 “I must say, that is very odd, very odd indeed.” Mama pranced around the parlor in a little circle, wings flapping, feathers fluffing. The sun was beginning its nightly descent, so she cast long shadows across the faded carpet. She was …
Maria Lucas speaks her mind with a most surprising observation. Part 4 For the next four days, Mr. Johnstone appeared like clockwork, at half past eleven every morning, exactly the time she was most likely to quit from her studies and turn to other pursuits. Some days, just to be contrary, she lingered another quarter …
The unmitigated gall! He didn’t just do that, did he? Part 3 Three days later, Mary sat in the parlor, The Moral Miscellany open in a sunbeam on the table before her, and a sheet of paper crosswritten before her. Her handwriting was not nearly as pretty as Jane’s or as legible as Lizzy’s, but …
Sir William Lucas makes an introduction, but is it a favor? Part 2 What atrocious manners he had! Though it would certainly be deemed improper, Mary met the man’s stare with one of her own. He blinked and shook his head. That was satisfying. She gathered her book to her chest and strode toward the …
Mary takes refuge at the library and finds more than she expected. Part 1 Mama trundled into the parlor in another one of her flurries. Mary slipped a ribbon into her book and set it aside without sighing. That was an accomplishment all told, considering the regularity of Mama’s flurries. There was really no point …
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