Because, as Susan Kaye says, I am an entertainer at heart, I need an audience. That’s you! (Shhhh! This is “for those with eyes to see”)
My goal is to post an installment every Saturday night. The chapters below will become live links as material is added.
Here we go …
Update March 11: My loyal reading friends, it’s time to call UNCLE on this posting schedule. Those of you who have followed my fan fiction posts will smile. See, every year this happens. I look at my schedule, decide that I really can post weekly, and commit to do it. And for a time, I keep up.
Alas, with everything going on at school and the added promotional activities for Mercy’s Embrace, I am stepping back from THB until the summer. Beginning in June you can expect — and my longtime readers will testify — an installment per week throughout the summer.
Not a very good consolation prize. I’m sorry!
Chapter 1, parts 1 and 2
Chapter 2, part 1 (Posted at last!)
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Artwork is Awaiting the Visitor by Auguste Toulmouche.
This is the closest to my mental image of Elizabeth Elliot.
But how can the poor girl dance with the long train?
Copyright Laura Hile 2012
Oh, I am so glad you are continuing Patrick and Elizabeth’s story. That first chapter was a wonderful dip back into their world. Finally, to meet Ronan’s mother- now the references to her from before make sense.
Thanks!
Thanks, Sophia! I’ll finish the first chapter next week — I write until I run out of steam, which usually coincides with some kind of high note. We’ll start with the confrontation with Ronan (and “Mama Contessa,” taking a suggestion from Robin) and bring McGillvary into the drawing room. Oh boy,
Thanks for reading!
I hate that mil already! i can begin to see the complication in the plot. so much more interesting to read about than loads of marital bliss.
i’m not a fan of sir walter, but i do love his observations on clothes in this chapter. the first three books made me look at elizabeth differently when i reread “persuasion”, and i’m excited to see where she and patrick go in this book. i’ll be back next saturday!
Thanks, Ellen, for the encouraging words.
Much as I’d like to have begun with the wedding (I tried!), I’m not good at portraying bliss. In my hands, it clanks. Besides, with these characters what there would be is arguing (which I write rather better). I didn’t think that would go over well with readers. Never fear, there’s plenty of drama ahead for our friends, even Longwell and Lady Russell. The challenge will be fitting it into one book.
Just like Patrick to read the minds of his guests: “But unless I am mistaken, … they are just leaving.” So thoughtful, him.
Chapter 1 is perfect! Already two perfectly awful people to hate – I love it. But you are a cruel lady. When I saw chapter 2 up, I was so excited . . . but then I clicked on it. Despair and disappointment.
I loved chapter two. The singing master is wonderful! Didn’t you say you modeled him on Schubert?
In appearance, sort of. The round glasses, curly hair (receding hairline), good nature, and … perhaps the short, stout figure as well? Poor Schubert was 5′ 1.” His friends called him “Little Mushroom.”
The voice lesson is modeled after my own studies with a friend who is a master teacher, right down to the mirror and learning Que fero.
And me wanting to talk instead of sing.
I never took voice lessons, but I was the accompanist for zillions of them. Argh!
I designed a website for a friend / colleague who is a professional singer and and an exceptional voice teacher. He insisted on giving me lessons! Was there ever a more reluctant voice student?
I learned so much. And the opportunity to cross-train in a different artistic venue — one in which I had little natural talent — was priceless. The struggles for a musician are compounded by the “performance art” aspect. Such a high hurdle.
I love it! I also took voice lessons for a very brief time, with little success. I think after I saw “Phantom of the Opera” I had a dream to be a singer, but that is a dream that has to be worked on very young. I remember my piano teacher wore scarves all the time. She did not have Mr. Schroeder’s lovely voice, but she could play with great skill.
I hope, though, that you don’t make Cleora too meek. She seems like she would have a little more of a mischievous spirit, if she is really her father’s daughter. I like the Irish connection, and the comment that as an Irish girl, she understands the lyric melody better than most.
Thank you for writing and sharing!
Still checking in regularly. Still waiting. Don’t make me come get you.
I understand about trying to write during the school year. Still, summer is only three months away now! I’ll be looking forward to reading more.