Hello!
I've been very busy with the release and promoting of my first series of books - Princesas Possíveis (6 modern fairytales in Portuguese), so Love in three acts has been a bit neglected. Bad Moira!...
But, these stories are always on my mind, they mean a lot in my budding writer carreer. So, to amend my manners, I'll post a bit of act 3 here. They are available on kindle and googleplay, btw.
Let me know what you think?
Love in acts
Hello!
I've been very busy with the release and promoting of my first series of books - Princesas Possíveis (6 modern fairytales in Portuguese), so Love in three acts has been a bit neglected. Bad Moira!...
But, these stories are always on my mind, they mean a lot in my budding writer carreer. So, to amend my manners, I'll post a bit of act 3 here. They are available on kindle and googleplay, btw.
Let me know what you think?
I've been very busy with the release and promoting of my first series of books - Princesas Possíveis (6 modern fairytales in Portuguese), so Love in three acts has been a bit neglected. Bad Moira!...
But, these stories are always on my mind, they mean a lot in my budding writer carreer. So, to amend my manners, I'll post a bit of act 3 here. They are available on kindle and googleplay, btw.
Let me know what you think?
Love in acts
3rd act
LOVE INSIDE AND OUT
sweet loving, humor, rated M, short, P&P alternative from Hunsford on
Chapter 1
‘I don’t understand you, Lizzy.’
Eye roll.
‘You used to fight back when someone cornered
you.’
Elizabeth looked up from Charlotte to the
door that opened.
‘Mrs. Collins.’
Charlotte raised a hand pressing Elizabeth
in her defiant stare.
‘Miss Bingley has not got me cornered.’
‘She has and unbelievably you, of all
people, accepted her blackmail.’
At the smallish foyer, two pairs of similar
green eyes regarded each other in disbelief.
‘Pray, Charlotte, don’t blame me. It would
be my ruin if she decided to babble…’ Elizabeth’s shoulders sagged. ‘It was
most unfortunate to have been discovered by her.’
The green eyes were wide now, brows raised.
‘Mrs. Collins, I-’
‘Hanna, just a moment.’ Charlotte asked
impatiently. ‘Look, she proved she meant it when she took her brother away
after you refused her scheme. I thought you’d fight back when she said you were
better than Jane for Mr. Bingley…’ Disappointment latent on her tone of voice.
One pair of green eyes had now a flash of
jealous contempt.
‘Ma’am?’ The maid tried again impatiently.
‘Wait Hanna.’ Charlotte pressed Elizabeth
and turned her head slightly to look at the maid.
‘Well…’ Elizabeth felt her stomach churn
and repented from having eaten anything at all for breakfast. ‘If Ms. Bingley
decides to make my life more difficult, I can spend a sojourn at Scot with your
cousins, Charlotte.’
‘My cousin seemed partial to you last time
he visited Meryton...’ She smiled sideways, the owner of the upset green eyes
squirmed, the maid shifted form foot to foot. ‘But would you run?’ Charlotte
asked incredulously.
‘It may solve a few problems.’ Elizabeth
shrugged and waved her brows at the maid.
‘Yes, Hanna.’ Charlotte sighed.
‘You have callers, ma’am.’ The maid said
stifling a small grin of satisfaction. ‘Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy.’
Elizabeth’s face paled and her eyes
widened, Charlotte was instantly on her feet. ‘Send them in, Hanna, please.’
‘If they heard us, Charlotte, prepare to
die before you even become with child.’ Elizabeth whispered fiercely.
Charlotte shook a hand at her friend and
put a smile on her face when the tall dashing gentlemen appeared all too soon
in her morning parlor’s door. ‘Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam.’
Darcy eyed Elizabeth the moment he stepped
through the doorframe. She looked lovely in a light blue morning gown, her hair
piled up on top of her head, cheeks rosy probably from long walks under the
spring sun… How could ugly and boring Caroline Bingley ruin such an adorable
vixen? What big secret this minx had?
‘What a surprise, sir!’ Charlotte curtsied.
‘My friend Miss Elizabeth Bennett.’
Both men bowed. ‘Mrs. Collins. Pardon for
this impromptu visit but as we arrived at our Aunt’s estate but an hour ago, we
were in dear need of amiable sensible conversation.’ Colonel Fitzwilliam said
good-humored and was pleased to see one lady chuckle and the other laugh.
Elizabeth raised her hand to her lips a
second after she saw Darcy’s eyebrow shot upwards with her reaction to his
cousin’s tease. Her eyes continued to laugh though, for she considered the poor
soldier was indeed bored to death of spending time with the brooding snob
cousin of his.
‘Miss Elizabeth, may I enquire after your
family?’ Darcy asked hoping her laughter would still come out and in his head
he saw her dance towards him, hold his gloved hands and seat with him on a
couch to tell a silly anecdote of one of her silly sisters. Instead, her face
hardened and he barely heard her answer they were all in good health.
He kept seated at a corner of the smallish
parlor observing both ladies – mostly Elizabeth – and it was clear they were
holding their reactions. Yes, they were overheard and yes, oh how much he
wanted to discover what evil Bingley’s sneering sister was doing to this lovely
lady who still bewitched him so. Towards him, she was polite indifference;
towards his cousin, she was smiles and teases.
Before the parlor’s door opened again,
Darcy arrived to a few good conclusions. One: he would find out what this
secret was; two: he would solve whatever problem Elizabeth had to render her
free of any blackmail; three: if it was something he wouldn’t be able to solve,
he would at least keep her safe as the fourth and last conclusion was obvious:
he would not be without her.
And the door opened to allow a sweaty and
giddy Mr. Collins enter with alacrity saying the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh
had her two nephews visiting and invited the parsonage occupants for tea. As
the great visitors were already visiting the parsonage, the gentlemen waited
the ladies change their attire so the five of them could walk together the
length of the small park from Hunsford to Rosings Park.
sweet loving, humor, rated M, short, P&P alternative from Hunsford on
Chapter 1
‘I don’t understand you, Lizzy.’
Eye roll.
‘You used to fight back when someone cornered
you.’
Elizabeth looked up from Charlotte to the
door that opened.
‘Mrs. Collins.’
Charlotte raised a hand pressing Elizabeth
in her defiant stare.
‘Miss Bingley has not got me cornered.’
‘She has and unbelievably you, of all
people, accepted her blackmail.’
At the smallish foyer, two pairs of similar
green eyes regarded each other in disbelief.
‘Pray, Charlotte, don’t blame me. It would
be my ruin if she decided to babble…’ Elizabeth’s shoulders sagged. ‘It was
most unfortunate to have been discovered by her.’
The green eyes were wide now, brows raised.
‘Mrs. Collins, I-’
‘Hanna, just a moment.’ Charlotte asked
impatiently. ‘Look, she proved she meant it when she took her brother away
after you refused her scheme. I thought you’d fight back when she said you were
better than Jane for Mr. Bingley…’ Disappointment latent on her tone of voice.
One pair of green eyes had now a flash of
jealous contempt.
‘Ma’am?’ The maid tried again impatiently.
‘Wait Hanna.’ Charlotte pressed Elizabeth
and turned her head slightly to look at the maid.
‘Well…’ Elizabeth felt her stomach churn
and repented from having eaten anything at all for breakfast. ‘If Ms. Bingley
decides to make my life more difficult, I can spend a sojourn at Scot with your
cousins, Charlotte.’
‘My cousin seemed partial to you last time
he visited Meryton...’ She smiled sideways, the owner of the upset green eyes
squirmed, the maid shifted form foot to foot. ‘But would you run?’ Charlotte
asked incredulously.
‘It may solve a few problems.’ Elizabeth
shrugged and waved her brows at the maid.
‘Yes, Hanna.’ Charlotte sighed.
‘You have callers, ma’am.’ The maid said
stifling a small grin of satisfaction. ‘Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy.’
Elizabeth’s face paled and her eyes
widened, Charlotte was instantly on her feet. ‘Send them in, Hanna, please.’
‘If they heard us, Charlotte, prepare to
die before you even become with child.’ Elizabeth whispered fiercely.
Charlotte shook a hand at her friend and
put a smile on her face when the tall dashing gentlemen appeared all too soon
in her morning parlor’s door. ‘Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam.’
Darcy eyed Elizabeth the moment he stepped
through the doorframe. She looked lovely in a light blue morning gown, her hair
piled up on top of her head, cheeks rosy probably from long walks under the
spring sun… How could ugly and boring Caroline Bingley ruin such an adorable
vixen? What big secret this minx had?
‘What a surprise, sir!’ Charlotte curtsied.
‘My friend Miss Elizabeth Bennett.’
Both men bowed. ‘Mrs. Collins. Pardon for
this impromptu visit but as we arrived at our Aunt’s estate but an hour ago, we
were in dear need of amiable sensible conversation.’ Colonel Fitzwilliam said
good-humored and was pleased to see one lady chuckle and the other laugh.
Elizabeth raised her hand to her lips a
second after she saw Darcy’s eyebrow shot upwards with her reaction to his
cousin’s tease. Her eyes continued to laugh though, for she considered the poor
soldier was indeed bored to death of spending time with the brooding snob
cousin of his.
‘Miss Elizabeth, may I enquire after your
family?’ Darcy asked hoping her laughter would still come out and in his head
he saw her dance towards him, hold his gloved hands and seat with him on a
couch to tell a silly anecdote of one of her silly sisters. Instead, her face
hardened and he barely heard her answer they were all in good health.
He kept seated at a corner of the smallish
parlor observing both ladies – mostly Elizabeth – and it was clear they were
holding their reactions. Yes, they were overheard and yes, oh how much he
wanted to discover what evil Bingley’s sneering sister was doing to this lovely
lady who still bewitched him so. Towards him, she was polite indifference;
towards his cousin, she was smiles and teases.
Before the parlor’s door opened again,
Darcy arrived to a few good conclusions. One: he would find out what this
secret was; two: he would solve whatever problem Elizabeth had to render her
free of any blackmail; three: if it was something he wouldn’t be able to solve,
he would at least keep her safe as the fourth and last conclusion was obvious:
he would not be without her.
And the door opened to allow a sweaty and
giddy Mr. Collins enter with alacrity saying the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh
had her two nephews visiting and invited the parsonage occupants for tea. As
the great visitors were already visiting the parsonage, the gentlemen waited
the ladies change their attire so the five of them could walk together the
length of the small park from Hunsford to Rosings Park.
Wings
Collins’ Parsonage
‘This letter just arrived, that is why he
didn’t receive it before he left Rosings. Go, take it to him!’ Rodgers urged
the scullery boy.
‘Hanna doesn’t like when we wander around
the house.’ The boy scratched his head but was saved from his doubt by said
maid who took the note and returned to the front of the house.
‘Pray, sir, is it the greatest house you’ve
seen, Rosings?’ Ashton, Elizabeth’s lady’s maid asked, eyes wide.
‘No, it is as grand as Pemberley.’
‘Oh, I’ve heard of that at Meryton.’
He nodded. ‘I remember you there, miss.
Tell me, is Agatha still employed at Lucas Lodge?’
‘No.’ Ashton shook her head popping a
cherry in her mouth. ‘She’s here!’
As if on cue, the lively girl appeared
flushed in the kitchen. ‘Ashton, come quickly because they are to…’ She stopped
short seeing in the parsonage’s kitchen the man with whom she had danced at the
inn a few months before. ‘…have tea at Rosings. Oh, hello, hello, Rodgers.’
He smiled at her. ‘Agatha.’
‘Come, Ashton!’ She took the other girl by
the arm wanting to escape the man as soon as possible and started babbling as
soon as they climbed two steps of the servants’ stairs. ‘Can you believe this?
The man dances with half of Meryton, then takes that silly girl Ronda behind
the barn and all of a sudden is here in our kitchen! And Hannah is also on fire
because Mrs. Collins made her wait to say something again but she was somewhat
revenged because by making her wait, the men heard what the ladies were
saying.’
Ashton winced. ‘They keep talking about the
same thing; Miss Elizabeth’s secret, wasn’t it?’ She bit her lip as Hannah
walked by them with a sassy smile.
‘It is done, lad.’ She said hen she entered
the kitchen. ‘Your master has received the letter.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’ Rodgers said. ‘You are
housekeeper, if I understood.’
‘Sort of, certainly don’t have the respect
a housekeeper deserves.’
‘Mmmm…’ Rodgers pressed his lips. ‘Because
I heard the maids saying something about a secret the lady from Hertfordshire
keeps talking about, I mean, a secret should be kept a secret.’
‘Save your breath, lad. I wouldn’t tell you
anything even if I knew what it was. Both ladies here come from Hertfordshire
and aside from receiving two letters from London that put both of them in quite
an uproar, nothing else to report.’ Hannah eyed him sideways. ‘You come here
once a year and never had any interest in the parsonage. Why now?’
Rodgers shrugged. ‘Now my master leaves his
aunt talking by herself and comes here before I had a chance to deliver him the
mail.’
‘He is always in a haste to leave Rosings
as soon as he arrives. I have seen it all the years I worked at the big house.’
Hannah snorted. ‘What ‘s the difference?’
‘I believe the difference has come from
Hertfordshire.’
‘Ah!...’ She raised her brows and both of
them nodded. ‘Then I could tell you that this
difference-’ She gave him a funny look and he nodded understanding. ‘…she
has received a letter with a coat of arms on the seal.’
‘Which coat of arms?’
‘Ha! How am I to know, lad?’ She chuckled.
‘Get it so I can take a look?’ Rodgers
asked. ‘I can tell master will want to know and he can be generous…’ He winked,
Hannah chuckled.
‘What I can do is tell you that the difference is rather fond of long
walks every morning after breakfast. How is that for generosity?
Hmm... secrets.
What's not to love in them?
chapter 2
Collins’ Parsonage
‘This letter just arrived, that is why he
didn’t receive it before he left Rosings. Go, take it to him!’ Rodgers urged
the scullery boy.
‘Hanna doesn’t like when we wander around
the house.’ The boy scratched his head but was saved from his doubt by said
maid who took the note and returned to the front of the house.
‘Pray, sir, is it the greatest house you’ve
seen, Rosings?’ Ashton, Elizabeth’s lady’s maid asked, eyes wide.
‘No, it is as grand as Pemberley.’
‘Oh, I’ve heard of that at Meryton.’
He nodded. ‘I remember you there, miss.
Tell me, is Agatha still employed at Lucas Lodge?’
‘No.’ Ashton shook her head popping a
cherry in her mouth. ‘She’s here!’
As if on cue, the lively girl appeared
flushed in the kitchen. ‘Ashton, come quickly because they are to…’ She stopped
short seeing in the parsonage’s kitchen the man with whom she had danced at the
inn a few months before. ‘…have tea at Rosings. Oh, hello, hello, Rodgers.’
He smiled at her. ‘Agatha.’
‘Come, Ashton!’ She took the other girl by
the arm wanting to escape the man as soon as possible and started babbling as
soon as they climbed two steps of the servants’ stairs. ‘Can you believe this?
The man dances with half of Meryton, then takes that silly girl Ronda behind
the barn and all of a sudden is here in our kitchen! And Hannah is also on fire
because Mrs. Collins made her wait to say something again but she was somewhat
revenged because by making her wait, the men heard what the ladies were
saying.’
Ashton winced. ‘They keep talking about the
same thing; Miss Elizabeth’s secret, wasn’t it?’ She bit her lip as Hannah
walked by them with a sassy smile.
‘It is done, lad.’ She said hen she entered
the kitchen. ‘Your master has received the letter.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’ Rodgers said. ‘You are
housekeeper, if I understood.’
‘Sort of, certainly don’t have the respect
a housekeeper deserves.’
‘Mmmm…’ Rodgers pressed his lips. ‘Because
I heard the maids saying something about a secret the lady from Hertfordshire
keeps talking about, I mean, a secret should be kept a secret.’
‘Save your breath, lad. I wouldn’t tell you
anything even if I knew what it was. Both ladies here come from Hertfordshire
and aside from receiving two letters from London that put both of them in quite
an uproar, nothing else to report.’ Hannah eyed him sideways. ‘You come here
once a year and never had any interest in the parsonage. Why now?’
Rodgers shrugged. ‘Now my master leaves his
aunt talking by herself and comes here before I had a chance to deliver him the
mail.’
‘He is always in a haste to leave Rosings
as soon as he arrives. I have seen it all the years I worked at the big house.’
Hannah snorted. ‘What ‘s the difference?’
‘I believe the difference has come from
Hertfordshire.’
‘Ah!...’ She raised her brows and both of
them nodded. ‘Then I could tell you that this
difference-’ She gave him a funny look and he nodded understanding. ‘…she
has received a letter with a coat of arms on the seal.’
‘Which coat of arms?’
‘Ha! How am I to know, lad?’ She chuckled.
‘Get it so I can take a look?’ Rodgers
asked. ‘I can tell master will want to know and he can be generous…’ He winked,
Hannah chuckled.
‘What I can do is tell you that the difference is rather fond of long
walks every morning after breakfast. How is that for generosity?
Hmm... secrets.
What's not to love in them?
chapter 2
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