#Elizabeth Dalgliesh

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday the lovely Scottish actress Michelle Duncan.

Born in Perth on April 14th 1978 Duncan studied acting at Queen Margaret University College before studying English and classics at St Andrews University.

Her television roles include Sugar Rush, Doctor Who, Low Winter Sun, Lost in Austen, and a TV film, Whatever Love Means, as Princess Diana opposite Olivia Poulet as Camilla Parker Bowles and Laurence Fox as Prince Charles.

Film work includes: Atonement, The Broken, and as Rupert Grint's love interest in Driving Lessons with Julie Walters. Duncan's role in Atonement was particularly praised by The New Yorker theatre critic Anthony Lane: Duncan's stage work includes Time and the Conways (Bath Theatre Royal/ touring), A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Burning at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Further television work includes: New Tricks Call the Midwife. Duncan lent her voice to an adaptation of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen at Little Angel Puppet Theatre in 2006 alongside Dame Judy Dench, Sir Michael Gambon, Rory Kinear, Claudie Blakley, Rosamund Pike, Claire Rushbrook and Peter Wight. Michelle also played Isobel MacLeish in the Doctor Who story Tooth and Claw. In 2007 she was cast as Portia in The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare's Globe, but was unable to continue after the previews and was replaced by Kirsty Besterman. In 2012 Duncan appeared alongside Amanda Hale in Scrubber, a film written and directed by Romola Garai. In 2013, Duncan appeared in the third series of the BBC TV drama Luther and Case Histories. In 2014, she appeared in the ITV drama Grantchester.

In 2015 she starred alongside Ruth Negga, Douglas Henshall and Tom Brooke in Scott Graham's Film Iona. The closing gala film of the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Michelle’s work has included the great TV Movie Elizabeth Is Missing and two first class TV Series, Baptiste and Hanna. More recently she was in Detctive series Dalgliesh, she is set to appear in the reboot of Rebus, the new series let's us see a younger Detective Sergeant, I can't find a difinative date for it, just that it will be on BBC this Spring.

[jovialyouthmusic]

Past Times

Here’s my attempt at writing a Regency Period Drama. You can catch up on my Masterlist. My MC Elizabeth and her family are visiting her fiancé at his estate south of Edinburgh in Scotland. House guests are expected for the beginning of a series of balls and other amusements similar to the Social Season normally held in London. I’m not attempting to make this super accurate, I’m just fascinated by social history from this era and am having a little fun. My period AU, my rules! 

Word Count 2983

A/N No smut, mostly fluff, but this is an adult blog and will get more explicit so No under 18s

11 Company

After luncheon, the family gathered in the lounge to await the arrival of the next guests. Elizabeth practiced a tune on the piano, and her sister sat embroidering a sampler. It had been decided that after Amelia had been introduced to Tom and Dorothea, she would enquire as to whether Lady Margaret wished her to read to her. Sir James read his newspaper, and Lady Charlotte and Morag played cards together. John stood by Elizabeth’s side turning the pages as she played. From there he had a view of the driveway, and would see any new arrivals.

‘I see a carriage approaching’ he announced as Elizabeth took a break in playing to sip a glass of raspberry cordial. ‘I shall go and greet them outside – will you come with me, Lizzy?’

‘Of course’ she replied, and stood, smoothing back her hair ‘Do I look presentable?’

‘Always, my dear’ he assured her, but Lizzy turned in question to her mother, who nodded in approval. Together the couple went out to greet the guests while the others made themselves ready in the lounge. They arrived with a few seconds to spare, and the carriage, drawn by two fine chestnut horses, drew to a halt in front of the manor. Tom alighted first, and helped Dorothea out before turning to John, who embraced him and slapped him heartily on the back.

‘Welcome, welcome Tom. We will have a merry time now you and Dorothea are here. You’ve met my fiancé, Elizabeth Dalgliesh, if you recall?’ Dorothea made a little curtsey and stepped forward to take Elizabeth’s hand.

‘I well recall how rude Tom was when we met at Duddingston. I am so pleased that his ill manners did not deter you from accepting John’s suit’ she said, smiling brightly.

‘Not at all Dorothea, my mind was made up already and nothing would put me off, I assure you’ Elizabeth replied, and Tom turned to her and took her hand, kissing the back of it.

‘My apologies for my former misbehaviour, Miss Elizabeth. I am pleased John has found such a determined and forgiving soul to spend his later years with’ John dealt a playful blow to Tom’s shoulder.

‘Less of the later years, you scoundrel. You are but two months my junior, Tom’ he asserted. ‘Come inside, you must meet Lizzy’s family. I fear mother is not available yet, but I believe she may join us for dinner later.’

‘I’m sorry to hear she’s indisposed’ Dorothea said ‘I hope you do not mind if I call you Lizzy, my dear’ she said, squeezing Elizabeth’s arm. ‘I am determined we should be firm friends, for we women should stick together when there are such rascals as my husband about’

‘That is most acceptable’ Elizabeth replied ‘Do you know many of John’s other guests?’

‘I do indeed, for I grew up not far away, and know all the gentry in John’s social circle. I am sure that between us we can name each guest and tell each other their temperament, for I am not often in Edinburgh and you are almost certain to know those who visit from the city’ The four young people went inside the house to introduce themselves to the Dalgleish family, then going up to their room to settle in and prepare for dinner. Amelia was loathe to spend time with Lady Margaret, realising that the arrival of guests closer to her sister’s age might afford more entertaining activities. However, Elizabeth instructed her to make sure and read something uplifting and entertaining so that the Duchess might feel more able to take part in the gathering.

Tom and Dorothea chose to go for a walk in the grounds before dinner, and John and Elizabeth joined them. The conversation was lively, and Elizabeth knew it would be easy to share confidences with her female companion. Her friend Rosanna would be coming for but a short visit for the betrothal ball to be held in a week’s time. She herself now had her own beau and was spending much time with his family, so had little to spare for Elizabeth. However, the two young women wrote to each other regularly and kept each other updated on their love lives and other matters.

After their walk, Elizabeth went to dress for dinner. Amelia came into her room.

‘How did your visit with Lady Margaret go, Melly?’ she asked

‘She seemed more cheerful after I had read to her’

‘What did you choose?’ Amelia smiled mischievously

‘Lady Margaret has a collection of gothic novels. She reads much of Anne Radcliffe’s work, so we have chosen a book called The Romance of the Forest. I fear we shall not be reading it in public, but shall choose poetry should there be anyone to eavesdrop’

‘That sounds most exciting’ Elizabeth laughed ‘Who would have though that Lady Margaret had such tastes?’ The sisters helped each other prepare for dinner before going to their parents’ room for approval, and the family descended together. Truly there was no pressing need to dress grandly in the company of Tom and Dorothea, but Lady Charlotte thought it good practice for the upcoming ball and other dinners.

Lady Margaret was present at the meal, and looked a good deal better, having some colour in her cheeks and being more animated in her conversation. After dinner the men withdrew to the study for Sir James to get better acquainted with Tom. The ladies went to the drawing room, the older ones playing cards while the younger women sat and conversed until the men joined them. Dorothea was prevailed upon to play the piano, but Elizabeth was concerned about John’s agility with his injured leg as she played a merry dance tune.

‘I understand if you are not able to take a turn’ she said in a low tone, as music filled the air. Her hand rested on his forearm, and he patted it comfortingly.

‘I can manage the slower dances if I have had some exercise during the day’ he assured her ‘Our walk in the garden helped to ease it somewhat’ Elizabeth pulled out her fan and deployed it as colour rose to her cheeks.

‘Would that we were in the arbour alone again’ she replied ‘Though I must confess having Tom and Dorothea here has enlivened things somewhat’ John smiled

‘Their company is very agreeable, and it is good to have guests closer to our own age’ He patted her arm and raised his voice to address the room. ‘If Dorothea would oblige me in playing something a little more sedate, I invite everyone to take the floor in order to practice for the ball’ he announced.

Dorothea smiled, and Sir James and Lady Charlotte rose to take part, the furniture already having been arranged to make space. Tom asked Lady Margaret if she wished to dance, but she declined and suggested that perhaps Amelia would partner him. She blushed furiously, but Elizabeth reminded her that before long she would be taking part in dances that might cause her to dance with someone with whom she had very little acquaintance, and it was good practice for her. Timidly she agreed, and Tom promised to make her feel at ease.

Eagerly Elizabeth took John’s hand and the partners arranged themselves. Dorothea started to play a tune for the Cotillion. The dance needed only a very few couples, and they managed very well before they went on to attempt a reel. There were a few hitches in the changeover of partners which caused a great deal of laughter, and after that Elizabeth declared that it was a good opportunity to practice with friends so that they would not be embarrassed in wider society.

Lady Margaret had watched the dancing with a smile, and declared that the hour was late and she would retire for the evening. Lord and Lady Dalgleish politely followed her example, insisting that Amelia would also. She pouted a little but dared not complain in front of Tom and Dorothea, so did as she was told.

That left the two young couples to themselves, though Morag declared that she would be sitting in the hall to await Elizabeth’s lone departure to her room.

‘Oh Lizzy, I well remember the restrictions of a chaperone’ said Dorothea, leaning toward her and fanning herself. ‘Mine was an absolute fright and never went out of earshot if she could help it’

‘Morag did allow us a very few freedoms’ Elizabeth confided ‘but now I have accepted John’s proposal she is more lenient’

‘We should play some parlour games’ Dorothea cried

‘With only the four of us, there are few games we could play, my dear’ Tom said ‘Perhaps when there are more young people like ourselves we may indulge, but I have an idea to put to our dear friends’

‘Do tell’ Elizabeth begged ‘I dearly love my parents, but their pastimes can be dull, and I must be careful not to do anything improper for Amelia’s sake’ John looked wary.

‘Beware, Lizzy – Tom’s ideas of fun can be rather – extreme’ he warned her. Tom looked aghast

‘I was but going to propose a card game’ he protested ‘One in which we play for points’

‘Father will not allow me to play for money’ Elizabeth sighed ‘He always was wary of wagers and gambling, and his fears were realised with my former fiancé’

‘I was not thinking of money’ Tom smiled archly ‘I propose we pay with kisses’ Elizabeth gasped and fanned herself furiously, and Dorothea giggled, putting her hand on her friend’s forearm.

‘We have played this before, my sweet friend. You need have no fear of impropriety, for the person receiving the kiss may choose where it is bestowed. You may have a kiss on the hand or the cheek or wherever you will, and the person doing the kissing can also choose if they are uncomfortable’ Elizabeth felt a little thrill at the thought of perhaps gaining a kiss from John despite them not being alone, but she wasn’t sure just how proper it was. John leaned close to her.

‘You need do nothing you feel uncomfortable with, Lizzy’ he assured her ‘We can play for matchsticks if you prefer.’ Elizabeth sat in contemplation.

‘I only fear that mother and father would not approve, but what they don’t know cannot harm them, and we are engaged, after all’ Dorothea clapped her hands

‘Does that mean you will play?’ she asked eagerly, and Elizabeth took a deep breath.

‘Yes, I surely will. Why sit and be dull and proper when we can have a little fun?’ She looked at John, his eyes darkening and glittering at her boldness. He rose to fetch a deck of cards, and the others arranged themselves around the card table.

‘I propose that  we might be make our own rules’ Tom asserted, and Elizabeth looked dubious. ‘It’s simple – we each are dealt three cards, and count up the points, with aces high, and the highest scoring player will be the one to kiss the lowest. The loser may also choose to play a forfeit if they don’t wish to be kissed.’

‘But there is no skill in the game’ John protested.

‘Indeed, it is all chance, and is not love all a matter of chance?’ Tom laughed ‘We see a pretty face and fall in love, no matter what station or class that pretty face might possess’ Dorothea pouted.

‘I suppose that means you may try for the hand of a milkmaid if she be comely enough’

‘That is where society comes in’ John interjected ‘If one is poor, one is unlikely to marry rich’

‘We are fortunate to be comfortable in our way of life’ Elizabeth replied.

‘Indeed, and I believe in helping those in need’ John smiled ‘It is our duty to help those who cannot help themselves, if we can’

‘Enough of this virtue!’ Tom sighed ‘let us play’ He picked up the deck of cards and shuffled. Elizabeth felt her heart beat a little faster as he dealt. Her hand shook a little as she picked up hers , guarding them from John’s sight. She had a queen, a two and a five, which came to nineteen. She flicked her gaze to her fiancée, who smiled back at her reassuringly.

‘Count up’ Tom directed, leaning toward his wife to look at her hand. She batted at him and laid them down. She had but six points, and Tom had twenty, so Elizabeth sighed with relief. John had seventeen points and Tom rolled his eyes. Dorothea laughed.

‘You must kiss me then, husband’ She offered Tom her hand, which he grabbed and kissed, then proceeded to continue with small kisses up her arm to her shoulder, finishing up on her cheek. ‘Fie Tom, one kiss would have sufficed’ she protested.

‘One kiss is never enough with you, my dearest’ he murmured, gazing deep into her eyes. Elizabeth swallowed, and Tom gathered up the cards, handing them to his wife to deal out. This time John had the most points and Tom the least.

‘My dear Tom, I have no intention of kissing you’ he asserted ‘So I charge you to tell my intended the circumstances of our meeting’ Tom winced

‘That is a sad tale indeed’ he said glumly.

‘Only for you’ John laughed. ‘It is your forfeit, and you must do it’ Tom sighed heavily.

‘Very well. Miss Dalgleish, the day I met John he most likely saved my life, for I missed my step on the gangplank to the ship we were to serve on together, and he dove in to fish me out of the water’

‘That water was not the cleanest either’ John added ‘I swear I came out smelling worse than when I went in, and had to pay extra to have my uniform cleaned’ He took the cards to deal them out. Dorothea had the highest score and John the lowest. Tom frowned slightly as she rose from her seat and walked around the table. She leaned down to John and lightly kissed his forehead.

‘See, it is not so difficult’ she smiled ‘Elizabeth, should you lose to my Tom, this is all you must do’

‘This game will not last very long, I fear’ Tom sighed ‘It would also be better played with more participants.’

‘It grows late, and Lizzie’s chaperone is waiting’ John pointed out. ‘We don’t want to scandalise Sir James, we should retire soon.’ Tom nodded sagely, and the cards were handed to Dorothea. She dealt while Tom refilled everyone’s glasses with wine. Elizabeth felt a little light headed as she sipped, and turned her cards over, squinting a little to read them. She felt a flutter as she realised that hers was the highest count, but was dismayed to discover that Dorothea had the lowest. Tom smiled at the two women and his eyes darkened.

‘Surely you will kiss, my dears?’ he said hoarsely, shifting in his seat a little. Elizabeth felt a little dizzy as she rose to walk toward her new friend.

‘Do not fear’ Dorothea said softly ‘You may but kiss my hand’ Elizabeth blushed and leaned over to peck her on the cheek. A scent of jasmine and lavender greeted her, and her skin was soft. Tom’s eyes glittered as John shifted uneasily.

‘You are bold Miss Dalgleish’ Tom said throatily, and she went back to her seat swiftly, picking up the cards to deal again. She calculated that she had a low count, and scanned the faces of the others as they work out their hand. She turned her card over to show them.

‘I have but five’ she admitted ‘Who of you shall be the one to kiss me?’ All eyes were on John as he revealed his cards one by one, being two kings and an ace. Tom threw his hand down with a heavy sigh, and Dorothea smiled sweetly.

‘You and your sweetheart may have at it’ she asserted, revealing a hand of but two sevens and a two, and Tom with a king, a two and a three. John smiled and beckoned her, pushing his chair away from the table and patting his lap.

‘We should do this properly, my dearest, for I think after this we should retire’ She rose and approached, for him to take her hand and gently pull her onto his lap. After a pang of self consciousness, she threw her arms around his neck, surrendering to his warm solidity and inhaling the scents of leather and musk that rose to her. She pressed her forehead to his.

‘I can barely wait to be wed’ she murmured ‘To have the freedom to touch and be touched is my most fervent wish’

‘It is my wish too’ he assured her, gazing into her eyes before their lips met. Everything around her – the room and its occupants – vanished from her senses and she felt only his firm body and his lips, a little scratch from the stubble on his lip and chin that she had noticed developed over the day.

She snapped back to her senses as she heard a tap on the door.

‘Miss Elizabeth, the hour is late’ her chaperone was heard to say. The lovers broke their kiss and again rested their foreheads together.

‘Until tomorrow my dear Lizzie’ John murmured ‘I may perhaps visit you in your dreams’ Elizabeth rose, looking over at her new friends. Dorothea smiled sympathetically, but Tom looked away, somewhat embarrassed.

‘Until tomorrow, my dear John’ she replied, and curtseyed to the other two. ‘I enjoyed our game. It is wonderful to have you here and I hope we will have more fun in the weeks to come’ She went to the door and turned to blow a kiss before she left to go to her lonely bedchamber.

 @sirbeepsalot​ @camillemontespan​​ @dcbbw​ @rainbowsinthestorm​ @katedrakeohd​ @trappedinfandoms​ @kingliam2019​ @nomadics-stuff​ @texaskitten30​ @princess-geek​ @texaskitten30 @fluffyfirewhiskey

[everythingroyalty]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CROWN PRINCESS MARY OF DENMARK (5 February 1972) ✨

On 5 February 1972, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson was born as the fourth and youngest child of Henrietta (née Clark Horne) and John Dalgliesh Donaldson in Hobart on the Australian island Tasmania. Both of her parents were Scottish and she was named for her paternal grandmother (top right, second row) Mary Elizabeth Dalgliesh. Henrietta Donaldson died on 20 November 1997 from complications six weeks after having had cardiac surgery.

Mary graduated from the University of Tasmania with a with a combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degree in 1995, working primarily in advertisement until her engagement in 2003. On 14 May 2004, she married the eldest son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik, in the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark, with whom she has four children.

Over the span of her almost 18 years as a member of the Danish royal family, Crown Princess Mary has been dubbed “an almost activistic royal” for dedication to the vulnerable groups of society and her insistence on using her platform to raise awareness subjects such as social justice, women’s rights and LGBTI+ rights. She serves as patron of the UNFPA and WHO among numerous patronages.

She established her own foundation, Mary Fonden, in 2007 with the aim to fight social isolation based on the belief that everyone has the right to belong. Her work with the foundation earned her a Bambi Award in 2014. She became pioneering in her work with LGBTI+ rights when she agreed to be the patron of WorldPride 2021 – making her the first ever royal to serve as patron of a major LGBTI+ event.

On 2 October 2019, Mary was appointed rigsforstander, a functioning regent when the monarch or heir is out of the country. After having sworn on the Danish constitution, she became the first ever member of the Danish royal family not born into royalty to assume the position of a rigsforstander.

[fdrlibrary]

Scottish American Heritage Month

FDR's mother Sara claimed that she could trace her ancestry back to King Robert III of Scotland. In 1888, when he was 5 years old, Sara had this portrait taken of Franklin wearing traditional Highland dress. 📷: NPx 47-96:146

Though the most famous Scottish American Roosevelt was undoubtably FDR's Scottish Terrier Fala. Named after another ancestor, John “The Outlaw” Murray of Falahill, this rambunctious pup went to live at the White House on November 10, 1940. This drawing is part of a collection (MO 1977.27.1-22) of twenty-two original illustrations of Fala done by Elizabeth N. Fairchild for the book, "The True Story of Fala." The book was written by Margaret “Daisy�� Suckley and Alice Dalgliesh, and published by Scribner Sons in 1942. See more of the illustrations on our Digital Artifact Collection: https://fdr.artifacts.archives.gov/people/1179/elizabeth-nelson-fairchild/objects

[drbibliophile]

In case you think fanfic is lesser...

I’m reading Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James which is her fanfic of what happens to Darcy and Elizabeth about 6 years after the events of Pride and Prejudice.

PD James who wrote the Adam Dalgliesh series.

PD James who is a baroness.

PD James who is famous for her murder mysteries.

So yeah... fanfic is pretty damn real and not lesser, my friends.

[chrismarieisme-blog]

“Without obsession, life is nothing.”

- John Waters, Director

I have often wondered what it is about MFMM that thoroughly enchanted me. I speak only of the TV series in this post.  Though I’ve read a few of the novels, I find that I prefer the characters as portrayed in the TV series.  I’ve always been keen on the serial murder mystery and historical fiction genres, so I am particularly fond of a series that satisfies both of those passions.

For longer than I care to remember, I have been a fan of anything Agatha Christie, of Ngaio Marsh’s Roderick Alleyn, P. D. James’ Adam Dalgliesh, Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley, Colin Dexter’s Morse, and Charles Todd’s Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford mysteries.  I have ventured into the future with J. D. Robb’s  Eve Dallas, and have occasionally explored the dark & disturbing with Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta mysteries (though I can only stand small doses).  Karin Slaughter’s novels are also good reading.  

Crime-solving couples are especially fun.  Similar to MFMM, the Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, set between the First and Second World Wars, tackle social injustice and women’s rights issues.  There is enough of a “slow burn” element between the two main characters to keep it interesting.  Harriet Vane is an Oxford-educated mystery writer.  Lord Wimsey bears a few similarities to Jack Robinson, but on the whole, cannot begin to compare to our beloved Detective Inspector, IMHO.  Interestingly, one of the novels is titled One Gaudy Night.  The series was also adapted for television and broadcast on BBC, though I have not watched it.  Other noteworthy favorites are the Amelia Peabody Mysteries by Elizabeth Peters and Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion and Amanda Fitton novels. 

Film-wise, it’s hard to beat the elegant Nick and Nora Charles for witty banter and on-screen chemistry (and, of course, that little scamp, Asta). 

Each of the above has its share of charming, loveable recurring characters.

I am, however, hopelessly in love with MFMM.  I am fiercely loyal to its endearing and enduring characters, its lavish, beautiful costumes and sets.  This series has everything.  It is as if I know these fictional people personally; I care about them and what happens to them.  I gain a better understanding of them through reading your posts.  I simply cannot get enough of them, which is why I gobble up the brilliant fanfic on AO3 like candy.  It continues their lives in such creative and satisfying (interpret that as you wish) ways. 

And so, despite my sideways-glancing, head-tilting friends and relations, I will proudly & unapologetically reside within this Phandom among kindred spirits, always eager for more of the food that feeds my happy obsession.

Cheers to us all ❤ 

[thepoisonedmartini]

Welcome to Part Four of 15 Years of Mysteries! The Mystery Book Club (at my local library) continued its tour of mystery fiction with several women authors.

Perhaps the biggest mystery of the year, however, was why there wasn’t a selection for May 2007. I’ve not been able to find a single document, file, listing, or source that suggests we read anything for May nor can I determine why we possibly didn’t meet that particular month. In any event, we ended up only reading 11 titles for this particular year.

January 2007 selection

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Synopsis:  31-year-old Amelia Peabody inherited her father’s fortune and his strong will. Now she’s headed for Cairo, accompanied by a girl with a tarnished past, to indulge her passion for Egyptology. Little did she know that murder and a homicidal mummy lay in wait for her.

Thoughts:  The idea was to read the first ever Amelia Peabody mystery and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

  February 2007 selection

Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

Synopsis:  In her third case, Maisie Dobbs sets out to prove whether aviator Ralph Lawton is dead or alive. The investigation brings her to France and reunites Maisie with an old friend who may have a connection to the mystery.

Thoughts:  A wonderful historical series set in the era between the two World Wars.

  March 2007 selection

Death of Riley by Rhys Bowen

Synopsis:  Molly Murphy embarks on a new life in America as a private investigator. She apprentices under Paddy Riley, who specializes in divorce work. But one case leads to murder and an unexpected turn in Molly’s budding career.

Thoughts:  Another entry in the Molly Murphy mystery series and our group’s third time reading the adventures of Bowen’s spunky heroine. Somehow we ended up reading book two after having previously read the third book in 2006.

  April 2007 selection

Cover Her Face by P.D. James

Synopsis:  A young housemaid is found strangled in a locked room. Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard arrives to investigate a household of potential suspects.

Thoughts:  A classically plotted, ingenious murder mystery.

  June 2007 selection

The Old Wine Shades by Martha Grimes

Synopsis:  A curious tale in which a man in a pub relates about a man whose wife, son and dog went missing. The dog came back, but how and why? And was there even a crime? Richard Jury, listening to this Schrödinger’s cat-esque story, investigates.

Thoughts:  This 20th entry in the series reads like a philosophical debate which may not suit everyone’s taste. I found it strangely interesting.

  July 2007 selection

Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert

Synopsis:  A lawyer turned herb shop proprietor is convinced that her friend did not commit suicide. As she begins to investigate, she finds a trail of clues that lead to a killer with more than one target in view. Nominated for an Agatha and an Anthony for Best First Mystery.

Thoughts:  Albert took a conventional mystery troupe (it’s not suicide; it’s murder) and spun it into an entertaining story that introduces the fictitious Texas town of Pecan Springs and its quirky denizens in this series debut.

  August 2007 selection

The Alpine Advocate by Mary Daheim

Synopsis:  Newspaper publisher/editor Emma Lord gets a juicy story to cover when a handsome heir is murdered. Unfortunately for her, she becomes part of the story and the investigation as she pursues her scoop.

Thoughts:  This series debut seemed promising, but it’s a slow start.

  September 2007 selection

The Blackest Bird by Joel Rose

Synopsis:  In the summer of 1841, a popular tobacco shop girl is found brutally murdered, the scion of a firearm fortune beats his publisher to death, and a young Irish gang leader is accused of killing his family. This mix of fact and fiction takes its inspiration from the true crime case of Mary Rogers and its connection to Edgar Allan Poe who fashioned it into the 1842 story, The Mystery of Marie Roget.

Thoughts:  The story as a whole, while interesting comes across as pastiche. Poe’s portrayal seems at odds with the reality of what is known of his character.

  October 2007 selection

Blackwater Spirits by Miriam Grace Monfredo

Synopsis:  In the 3rd series book, a half-Iroquois deputy stands accused of murder, and Seneca Falls librarian Glynis Tryon steps in to clear his name. Meanwhile, a female physician, spiritualism, and the Temperance movement lend turbulence to the story.

Thoughts:  Another tour-de-force historical mystery.

  November 2007 selection

Thunderstruck by Eric Larson

Synopsis:  Larson interweaves the true story of a murderous doctor and Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the wireless telegraph, an invention that becomes instrumental in capturing a murderer.

Thoughts:  Though I had long wanted to read The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America and heard several raves about it, Thuderstruck ended up being the first Eric Larson I read. And I loved it. Larson does an amazing job of breathing life into history, making it both intriguing and entertaining. This was our group’s first time reading a nonfiction title, but it wouldn’t be the last!

  December 2007 selection

Highland Christmas by M.C. Beaton

Synopsis:  Police Constable Hamish Macbeth investigates a string of unrelated petty crimes that strike during the Christmas season.

Thoughts:  This was a very light read, which was very light on the mystery aspect. It really was more like a charming village tale with quirky characters. A breezy read for a cozy winter afternoon, but not one of the author’s best. While the focus of the book group’s discussion was on the monthly selection, we also discussed other Christmas mystery stories the group had read. My contribution – naturally – was recommending Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot’s Christmas.

***

And those were the selections for 2007. Yet again, there wasn’t any particular rhyme or reason for the choices other than trying to pick good reads. And of course there were a couple authors that the group revisited. I was beginning to notice, however, that several of the cozy mysteries weren’t necessary good fodder for discussion. Good reads, sure. But generating topics for discussion? Not always.

In 2004, I began a book discussion group focused on the mystery genre. In the 15 years since, the Mystery Book Club has read more than 150 mysteries, suspense thrillers, and a few true crime tales. Follow along as I take you through the years in a look back at “15 Years of Mysteries.” Stay tuned for part five.

  15 Years of Mysteries: Part Four Welcome to Part Four of 15 Years of Mysteries! The Mystery Book Club (at my local library) continued its tour of mystery fiction with several women authors.

[jenmedsbookreviews]

Today I am delighted to open up the #booklove once more to celebrate the launch of Sandra Imrie’s new book, Connectedness. Happy publication dat Sandra and thanks for visiting my blog. Here’s a little more about Sandra and her books.

About Sandra

Sandra Danby is a proud Yorkshire woman, tennis nut and tea drinker. She believes a walk on the beach will cure most ills. Unlike Rose Haldane, the identity detective in her two novels, Ignoring Gravity and Connectedness, Sandra is not adopted.

Author links

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

…

Connectedness

TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, ARTIST JUSTINE TREE HAS IT ALL… BUT SHE ALWAYS HAS A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY EVERYTHING

Justine’s art sells around the world, but does anyone truly know her? When her mother dies, she returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire where she decides to confront her past. She asks journalist Rose Haldane to find the baby she gave away when she was an art student, but only when Rose starts to ask difficult questions does Justine truly understand what she must face.

Is Justine strong enough to admit the secrets and lies of her past? To speak aloud the deeds she has hidden for 27 years, the real inspiration for her work that sells for millions of pounds. Could the truth trash her artistic reputation? Does Justine care more about her daughter, or her art? And what will she do if her daughter hates her?

This tale of art, adoption, romance and loss moves between now and the Eighties, from London’s art world to the bleak isolated cliffs of East Yorkshire and the hot orange blossom streets of Málaga, Spain.

A family mystery for fans of Maggie O’Farrell, Lucinda Riley, Tracy Rees and Rachel Hore.

About the ‘Identity Detective’ series

Rose Haldane reunites the people lost through adoption. The stories you don’t see on television shows. The difficult cases. The people who cannot be found, who are thought lost forever. Each book in the ‘Identity Detective’ series considers the viewpoint of one person trapped in this horrible dilemma. In the first book of the series, Ignoring Gravity, it is Rose’s experience we follow as an adult discovering she was adopted as a baby. Connectedness is the story of a birth mother and her longing to see her baby again. Sweet Joy, the third novel, will tell the story of a baby abandoned during The Blitz.

Amazon UK ~ Amazon US

Childhood Sweetheart Favourite book from childhood

Little Women by Louisa M Alcott. I guess, like so many women writers, I was motivated by Jo March’s determination to write, despite difficulties and opposition. I was quite sweet on Laurie and couldn’t believe he preferred Amy who I thought vain, superficial and spoiled. I still have my old Collins hardback, the sort with fragile thin paper; I love these books which make reading seem so special. Despite all the remakes, I still prefer the 1949 film – with Peter Lawford as Laurie, June Allyson as Jo and Elizabeth Taylor as Amy – I guess because it’s the one I watched as a child.

First love The first book you fell in love with

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. I still love the series and have all the audio books on my iPod. Actually the first book of the series which I read was Pigeon Post, a present from my parents, and of course after that I collected them all. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read them, always wanting to be a more imaginative John or less flaky Titty. I love their independence, their adventurous spirits, their bravery, their ability to make friends with whoever they meet.

Biggest book crush The book character you’re totally in love with

Adam Dalgliesh. Long before television detectives had to be emotionally challenged alcoholics or depressives, with more problems than their victims, PD James created this wonderful, sensible, poetry-writing, literature-quoting detective with a vulnerable side. One of the last gentleman detectives, Dalgliesh features in fourteen novels written over a period of 46 years. He seems unsurprisingly ageless, a mentor to his crime team, watching, observing, analysing. His inscrutability has a lot in common with Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot though Dalgliesh lacks the grand flourish, that would simply be too out-going for him.

Weirdest book crush Well… duh

Researching art and artists for Connectedness, I found myself drawn to Tracey Emin. I had enjoyed reading her weekly column in The Independent newspaper between 2005 and 2009, so was pleased to find these articles collected in My Life in a Column [Rizzoli]. Her anecdotal tales of her working week, her inspirations and frustrations, her victories and mistakes, gave me an insight into the practical world of a modern artist like no formally-written memoir did.

Hardest break up The book you didn’t want to end

It’s a series, rather than one book. I wish Elizabeth Jane Howard’s ‘Cazalet Chronicles’ would never end. What a master she is of unassuming quiet stories, making you care so much about the three generations of this wealthy family living through the Second World War. The lives of everyone are changed forever but particularly the women in the family; matriarch the Duchy; daughter Rachel and daughters-in-law Sybil, Villy and Zoe; and granddaughters Polly, Louise, Lydia and Clary.

The one that got away The book in your TBR or wish list that you regret not having started yet.

I could be predictable and say War and Peace, which is still on my bookshelf and on my Kindle. But instead I’m nominating Haruki Murakami’s IQ84. I’ve been a huge Murakami fan since first reading Norwegian Wood but the hardback edition of the trilogy is sitting on my to-read shelf. I’m not sure why I don’t pick it up: its length, perhaps [the trilogy is 1300 pages], or the reviews ranging from 1* to 5*.

Secret love Guilty Reading pleasure

Harry Potter. All of them. I listen to the amazing Stephen Fry read the audio books and tend to start with The Philosopher’s Stone and listen to them back-to-back. Why? JK Rowling has created a magical world that feels fingertips away from my own, which I could possibly join if I were Muggle-born. It has everything; good v evil, great fight scenes, wonderful characters to love and hate, and Rowling is so good at the detail and the planning. No fact is included in the early books that does not have relevance in the later books. Stay alert and spot them all!

Love one, love them all Favourite series or genre

Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and now The Book of Dust. Ostensibly for children but which, like an iceberg, both disguise hidden depths of philosophy, thought and backstory enough to satisfy any adult reader. Pullman is excellent at plotting and character. We root for his people in a world not unlike ours, shaped slightly differently and running in parallel, so it is easy to imagine ourselves there. Like Rowling, Pullman is a master storyteller; many adult novelists would do well to read and study him.

Your latest squeeze Favourite read of the last 12 months

The best novel I’ve read in 2018 to date is The Heart’s Invisible Furies by Irish writer John Boyne. It is rare for me to give a book a 5* rating [my usual rating is 3] but I knew quite quickly when reading it that this would be a 5. Honest, sad, laugh-out-loud funny, touching, with paragraphs I just had to read out aloud to my husband. It is about being true to yourself, the need for honesty in relationships, and the power of love. It is the life story of one man, Cyril Avery, but also of a country and its attitudes to sexuality. The story starts in Goleen, Ireland, in 1945; a country riven by loyalty to, and hatred of, the British, at the same time in thrall to its Catholic priests whose rules were hypocritical, illogical and cruel. Cyril narrates his story, starting with how his 16-year old mother was denounced in church by the family priest for being single and pregnant.

Blind date for a friend If you were to set a friend up with a blind date (book) which one would it be?

The two novels I give most often to friends are The Light Years, the first of Elizabeth Jane Howard’s ‘Cazalet Chronicles’ and The Penguin Complete Novels of Nancy Mitford. Both are wonderful books to take you to another world, away from the stress of contemporary life and into the lives of a group of people who you come to care for.

Greatest love of all Favourite book of all time.

An impossible question to answer so I am going to nominate two [if that is allowed]. Both by Jane Austen. A predictable answer, I know, but I cannot lie and choose something else just because other people have chosen Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I love the wit, the observation, the sumptuous descriptions. And then I remember Austen’s circumstances, moving from place to place, dependant on others, watching, writing quietly, and I wonder even more at her achievement. None of the Bronte experience of group supportive writing around a large table. Jane was on her own, without feedback.. Could you do it?

Thanks Sandra. Some great choices in there. I really just get on a read some more of the classics. I’m a very naughty reader. Hope all goes well with your book launch. Don’t forget folks – order links are at the top of the page.

Have a fab day everyone and keep spreading the #booklove.

Jen

  Book Love: Sandra Danby @SandraDanby Today I am delighted to open up the #booklove once more to celebrate the launch of Sandra Imrie's new book, 

[jovialyouthmusic]

Past Times

I have spent some time writing and rearranging this chapter - so much so that when it went way over 4K I realised that it would be better to split it into two shorter chapters. Recent interest in Netflix’s Bridgerton has brought a lot of interest to this period.

I must make some comment about Regency costumes as I understand it from various articles I’ve read. I’m perfectly happy to be told I’m wrong, but I’m not trying to be super accurate, just have a little fun. Knickers or drawers were most probably not worn, as these became more popular in Victorian times (most likely split crotch to make it easier to go to the bathroom). This sounds kind of impractical, but they still wore long chemises and petticoats, and well born young ladies probably had many such garments that were regularly washed for them. Corsets were not quite as restrictive as later times, but they still pushed the bust up and put it on show, particularly in the case of fancy ballgowns - after all, at a ball, young ladies were trying to attract a husband. 

I chose to set my fic in Scotland, but again it’s not terribly authentic, as rather than Dukes and Earls there would have been Lairds and the various clans. However, society in Edinburgh may have been a little more like London - and - my fic, my AU! Also there is a lot written about Regency England, and not so much about Scotland unless you want to go delving into Sir Walter Scott’s novels - and maybe I will sometime soon.

As I’ve probably made all too obvious, most well born young women had no sex education at all, and may have relied on romantic novels (which were in their infancy, but they were available) and perhaps observing animals. They were kept in ignorance so that they would be innocent and unsullied on their wedding night. 

Word count 2638

A/N This chapter is a little suggestive rather than explicit. Basically the first part concerns the MC undressing whilst wondering what her wedding night will be like, and in the second part she asks a married friend all of her burning questions, and gets some frank answers. No under 18s please.

12a Underwear and Undercurrents

It was but a few minutes before Lizzie had gone upstairs with Morag, checked on her sister and retired to her room with a candle. She kicked off her slippers and went to her dressing table to unfasten and brush her hair. She had told Jane that she would undress herself that night, and reached to the back of her dress to fumble with the lacing. It was not easy, but it occurred to her that she should not be helpless, always depending on a maid to dress and undress her. 

She wondered what might happen when she was wed at last and alone on her first night with her husband. Surely the very first thing she might do was to undress. Would she do that in private, or would John be present? Would she undress herself, or would he assist her? Would she slip into bed in her nightgown or would other things happen? The thought sent her pulse racing as the laces loosened and she pushed her dress smoothly off to step out of it elegantly.

She hung her dress up carefully, wondering if on the night it would lay forgotten and discarded on the floor. She stood facing the looking glass in the dim candlelight in her chemise, corset, petticoat and stockings with a critical eye. If she were to undress herself, perhaps John would watch her, she thought with a thrill. Who should disrobe first? Would he take his clothes off himself, or would he ask her to assist? She knew little of the morning dressing routine of gentlemen or of what they did when retiring for the night, but John had a manservant - surely he assisted some of the time?

Perhaps she should practice for the instance of having no maid to assist her, and presume that John would be present and watching. Pushing down the flutter in her belly, she paid it her full attention. She should be graceful and poised – no stumbling or fumbling with strings, bows or buttons, no grimace at any mistake, major or minor. She should not appear too coquettish or unladylike. What should come next after her dress?

‘Stockings’ she whispered to herself. She pulled up her petticoat and ran her fingers along her legs to peel the first  elegantly down. Her breath hitched as she brushed her thighs and bit her lip in concentration. When both were removed, they were hung on the back of a chair, leaving her in her stays, chemise and petticoats, and again she contemplated what to do next.

‘Off with the stays’ she muttered. The one she wore that day was not the tight laced corset that underlay her best and finest gowns, but not as soft as one she might wear at home on a warm summers day. She would not have had a chance of getting out of her formal wear unaided, and she still had to contort herself a little to remove what she wore that night. There was no way she could do it elegantly without a great deal of practice, she thought, but perhaps John would aid her, should she need him to do so. That thought made her feel a little hot, and she took a deep breath.

She reached around awkwardly to unfasten the laces and sighed in relief as she was able to let it drop over her hips and step out of it. She still wore her loose chemise and petticoats. What next? That was easy, for she could not imagine standing before John without her petticoats. She elegantly removed and folded her chemise, putting it aside with her other garments. She stared at herself in the mirror, breasts bare, and could not help but blush. She shook her head. Why should she be ashamed of her body? She was sure John would appreciate her, whatever shape she had. After all, he had been married before and had assured her that his previous wife had enjoyed being intimate with him. She was not entirely sure whether to be grateful that he had experience, or to worry that she would not measure up to expectation, but she put that aside for now.

She took a deep breath and unfastened the drawstring on her petticoats, which fell easily to the floor, leaving her naked. She looked at herself in the mirror, turning round in the flickering light. She realised with a shock that she had never done so before. Her girlish straight lines were developing into the curves of a woman, and she felt as if she looked at a stranger. Her breasts were small and rounded, her waist slim with a little softness about her belly. She had coarse black hair at her mound, her buttocks were round and firm, her legs strong and slender, her ankles trim and her feet delicate. She frowned as she realised that she knew little of what would come next, and her imagination could not fill in the blanks beyond kissing and touching each other as they already had. She could barely picture what John’s appearance without clothes would be, beyond having seen bare chested labourers in the fields around the family farm. She was not even sure if what came next would occur in bed or out of it.

Sighing heavily, she bent to pick up and fold her petticoats, and went to the bed where her nightdress lay ready for her. She slipped the garment over her head and pushed her arms through the short puffed sleeves. The hem of the long cotton garment fell to her ankles, and she blew out the candle and threw back the bedcovers to climb in and draw them over her, certain that it would take some time to fall asleep. She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling for a while, but before long she lay on her side, curling into a ball to imagine herself held safe in John’s arms, and fell deeply asleep in an instant.

------

The following day was warm and bright, and after breakfast she and John went out for a walk, accompanied by Tom and Dorothea, and Amelia tagged along. Before lunch they went back in to play cards and practice playing the piano, for more guests were to arrive the following day, and after that there was to be a ball to introduce her to the local nobility.

After they had taken their luncheon, Sir James, John and Tom declared they would go out shooting game. Dorothea drew Lizzie aside and proposed a walk alone with her. She agreed readily, and the two women set off outside, leaving Amelia and Lady Charlotte to keep Lady Margaret company. The afternoon was overcast but still warm, and Elizabeth wore a simple pale blue dress and matching bonnet, should the sun come out and threaten to redden her complexion.

‘My dear Lizzie, it comes to my mind that you have no older sisters’ Dorothea said ‘Do you have any married friends to hold confidence with?’

‘I fear I do not. My closest acquaintance has but recently acquired a beau. She will be here for the Ball and I look forward to seeing her. I’m sure you will like her.’ she replied as they strolled through the rose garden.

‘Perhaps I may, but I was thinking that I can be your confidante and answer any questions you might have about married life’ she smiled ‘I was lucky to have good advice to prepare me for my wedding night, but not all are so fortunate’ Elizabeth grew wide eyed.

‘That would be most welcome. Mother has told me little, and although John has revealed a few details to me, I would hear from one of my own sex as to some particulars. My previous fiancé did not so much as hold my hand before I discovered his unsuitability.’ The two women came to the little arbour where she had stopped to kiss John only a day or so ago, and they sat together, shielded from prying eyes and ears.

‘Please Lizzie, ask me anything, do not be shy. And Call me Dottie, if you will’ Elizabeth felt a rush of gratitude and tried to marshal the many questions that flooded her mind. She frowned in concentration.

‘Well Dottie, John says to me that there are ways of ensuring that we will not have children straight away, but it puzzles me. I dare not tell him that I know not what causes the bearing of children’ Dorothea nodded sagely.

‘It is so for many genteel ladies. We are prevented from being alone with men outside our family, and many mothers feel it indelicate to go into details.’ Dottie assured her. ‘The lower classes are much more informed than we, for they do not have estates to pass down to their heirs and bloodlines do not matter to them’

‘But lowborn and highborn alike, we all bear children. How does it come about?’ Dotty took Lizzie’s hands in her own and squeezed them gently.

‘Let me first say that you are fortunate, my dear. You have a treasure in John. He clearly loves you, and he is a considerate and honourable man. You may have seen young women of your acquaintance married off to older richer men’ She grimaced in distaste. ‘In some cases, a man cares only about his wife bearing him an heir and ignores her feelings and sensibilities’

‘Of course I know something of that.’ Elizabeth replied ‘I had a cousin who married a Lord some twenty years her senior. She bore him a fine boy, but a year later died in giving birth to a girl. It scares me to think of her passing so young.’

‘That is a danger, to be sure. I have been married a year now, and my mother constantly asks when I will come to be with child. We have tried, but so far have not been successful. I am not sure whether it is a blessing or not’

‘So you have tried? May I ask...’

‘Of course, I was coming to that. Lizzie, may I ask you something personal?’

‘Naturally, Dottie. I have asked you to be frank, so I must be also’

‘Do you – touch yourself when you are alone in your bedchamber?’

‘I – I am not sure what you mean.’ Lizzy felt herself grow hot with embarrassment.

‘Before you sleep, do you explore your body? Does thinking of John inspire you to…’

‘Oh – Mama said once that it was not seemly’ Lizzie mumbled awkwardly. Dotty sighed.

‘That is a shame. Lizzie, I charge you that if you want to be prepared for your wedding night, you should know more about yourself so that you may direct John. Some women discover things about themselves that are very useful when they marry.’

‘What should I do? I do not want to disappoint my husband’

‘Rest assured you cannot disappoint, but you can be more prepared, more aware of your sex.’ She patted her hand ‘How do you feel when John kisses you? You certainly seemed to enjoy it last night’

‘I – yes, it makes me feel – dizzy. I have told him how it makes me tingle’

‘Is there a place where you feel it the most?’

‘Yes’ she lowered her voice ‘between my legs, and there is warmth where I feel the ache on my monthly cycle’

‘That is good, Lizzie. The place where you bleed – your sex - is the place in to which John must place his seed in order for you to have a child’

‘Oh!’ she looked astonished ‘I had wondered, for those that bleed in the romances I have read are in turn relieved or devastated that it signals that they will not bear a child – but of course, it makes sense. But how does he plant that seed?’

‘You have seen pictures and sculptures of naked men, have you not?’

‘Of course, but I don’t see how…’

‘It would be improper to depict men in the state they achieve in order to plant their seed.’ Dorothea smiled ‘Though who decided that, I know not, and there are gentlemen who are rumoured to have art that depicts such things, and titillating depictions of unclothed ladies.’ She moved a little closer and lowered her voice, though they were quite private. ‘When a man desires a woman, and in other instances, his member becomes hard, and often it also grows larger. Then it is possible to enter or penetrate a woman’s sex and plant their seed’

‘That sounds – uncomfortable’ Elizabeth said dubiously, her head reeling at the thought.

‘That depends on your partner’ Dotty assured her ‘I am certain that John will make sure you enjoy it, for it can be the most sublime and heavenly experience. The first time can indeed be painful, but only for a short instance.’

‘Romantic novels would have us believe it is highly pleasurable. Is it really true?’

‘Not always, but very often if you have a considerate partner’ Dotty laughed. ‘What you can do to prepare yourself is to explore your sex when you are alone in your bedchamber. You can discover where you like to be touched, and how. Of course, it is somewhat different when your husband touches you, but it can be better if you direct him as to what pleases you.’ Elizabeth nodded, taking it all in. But still she had questions.

‘You mentioned seed – what is it?’ she asked, and this time it was Dottie’s turn to look uncomfortable. She considered her words carefully before she spoke.

‘His seed - is rather like milk or cream, thick and white, and shoots from his member at the climax of the act. There is a great deal of pleasure for him, after which he grows soft again. You will have a similar climax which they say is essential for bearing children, and necessary for your health. You say that John has inferred that you may delay having children. He most likely means that if he withdraws his member before he emits his seed, you may remain childless, as it will not reach your womb to bear fruit.’ She patted her hand ‘There are other things you may do that give you both pleasure without penetration and emission of seed, but I will leave you to discover that for yourself.’ Elizabeth frowned, almost overcome at the bombardment of information, but relieved that she knew more of what was to come upon her marriage to John.

‘This may sound silly – but what is special about marriage that facilitates the creation of a child?’ Dotty laughed.

‘Nothing at all my dear, one does not have to be married to have a child. That is but a ceremony. It is a piece of paper, a contract made between you and your husband and sanctified by the Church and by law. Without that, any two people of any rank in society may have physical relations in this way.’ Elizabeth drew a deep breath.

‘You have opened my eyes, Dotty. I am so grateful to you for telling me what I need to know. Why it is all kept so secret I cannot fathom’ Her friend patted her hand.

‘You must show no sign of knowing these things, save to your fiancé. In turn you may instruct your sister before she is wed – but only if you are certain of her affections. It would not do to have such knowledge without a serious and certain offer of marriage. Now Lizzie, unless you have more questions, perhaps we should continue with our walk’

‘I have much to think about indeed, and I think that is enough for now’ Elizabeth rose, and they continued their walk, speaking easily of trivial things before returning to the house to prepare for dinner.

@sirbeepsalot​ @camillemontespan​​ @dcbbw​ @rainbowsinthestorm​ @katedrakeohd​ @trappedinfandoms​ @kingliam2019​ @nomadics-stuff​ @texaskitten30​ @princess-geek​ @texaskitten30 @fluffyfirewhiskey

[jovialyouthmusic]

Girl’s Night Out revisited

I’m posting this as part of Wacky Drabbles, prompt no 62 - it won’t be hard to find as it’s in the first paragraph... and finally, Lucy gets to go to Las Vegas with her gal pals and the long suffering author of all their fics.

3 Vegas, Baby!

I stared at my phone. Lucy wanted a trip to Vegas, and I had almost no idea what Vegas was like. Okay, wow, you just dumped a lot of information on my lap and gave me no time to process it. I grumbled at Google. Still, I gathered together what I’d seen, closed my eyes and concentrated.

‘Ohmygodit’severythingIimagined’ Lucy gasped as we stood with Sophia, Charlotte and Lizzy on a virtual version of Las Vegas Strip as daylight faded. All around us, the casinos were lit up garishly in all imaginable colours, flickering patterns strobing across the frontages.

‘I’m glad you like it’ I said warily ‘It’s not really my kind of place – I’ve had to do some research’

‘Well it’s fucking fantastic’ Lucy enthused ‘You’ve got the casinos just right – and please tell me you’ve got Adventuredome’ I took a look on my mobile phone, discovering it was an amusement attraction on the strip by Circus Circus, which I knew of from watching old James Bond films.

‘I have now’ I said, and the street flickered and wavered, changing to accommodate a huge metal and glass dome, lit up from within with a pinkish light.

‘Score!’ cried Lucy ‘Come on girls, we can drink later – I want to go on the Sling Shot!’ She grabbed on to Sophia’s arm and started off toward the structure. Charlotte swallowed, regarding the building with trepidation and Lizzy stood transfixed, her eyes as big as saucers.

‘What is this place?’ she asked faintly ‘These lights – the noise…’ Charlotte beckoned me over as the other two women made their way to the dome’s entrance.

‘Are you sure this is a good idea for Elizabeth?’ she asked ‘She’s used to candle light and chamber music, not neon and hip hop. I myself have never been to a place quite like this’ I grimaced.

‘Lucy caught me by surprise’ I replied apologetically ‘Is this your kind of thing? Sophia looks like she’s going to give it a go’

‘I’m not really fussed’ Charlotte admitted ‘It looks bit loud and fast for me’ I sighed.

‘Well rather than missing out, why don’t you take Lizzy round the children’s rides? Maybe that will be enough’

‘I – we have fairs in Edinburgh’ Lizzy said dubiously ‘There are carousels and coconut shies – is it like that?’

‘A bit more extreme, but that’s where it all started’ Charlotte replied.

‘There are some gentle rides like the carousel, but there are bigger, faster rides. It’s all perfectly safe, though they may look frightening but there’s zero risk as long as it’s within the writer’s control – and I’m the writer, so…’

‘Well, this is Lucy’s choice, so we should probably go in’ Charlotte said ‘Are you ready, Lizzy?’

‘I – as ready as I’ll ever be’ she said guardedly ‘and as Lucy says, it all looks fucking fantastic’ Charlotte blanched.

‘I don’t think you should use that word’ she said quietly.

‘Why not?’ she asked innocently. Charlotte looked across at me

‘When in Rome…’ I started, but stopped as Lizzy’s face brightened.

‘Are we in Italy?’ she asked

------

I left Charlotte and Lizzy climbing on the painted horses of the carousel and caught up with Lucy and Sophia, who were queuing up for the Sling Shot. The ride consisted of a huge column that rose to the ceiling of the dome, with a platform at the bottom on which was a ring of seats equipped with safety restraints. The column was lit up to the top, the lights pulsing in rapid ascending and descending patterns. Once the passengers had been strapped into the seats, they would be cranked up to the top, and then dropped at speed, stopping just short of the bottom. The thought made my stomach turn over.

‘They have rides like this in Edinburgh at Christmas’ Sophia said ‘I went on one or two when I was a student’

‘You two go ahead and take the ride’ I said ‘I think it’s a bit too much for Lizzy, and Charlotte said she’d look after her.’

‘Oh damn’ Lucy said ‘Why would anyone not want to go on this beauty? I can’t wait’

‘It takes all sorts to make a world’ I said wryly, adjusting my glasses.

‘Come on Les, let’s get strapped in’ Sophia said brightly, taking my arm. She was obviously of  the same mind as Lucy. I shook my head

‘I don’t think they allow folk with glasses’ I asserted nervously ‘you know, I might lose them’

‘Oh don’t be silly, just take them off’ she grinned, taking them from me and putting them in her bag.

‘But I can’t see’ I protested. Lucy shrugged.

‘You don’t need to - you’ll probably have them closed anyway. Plus you really shouldn’t need them here. You can have perfect virtual eyesight’

‘Now hold on…’ I protested, but before I knew it, I’d been strapped into one of the seats with Sophia on one side and Lucy on the other. The young man attending the ride walked round checking everybody, then stepped outside the wire safety fence. The machinery started up and the platform started to rise toward the ceiling of the dome, which was packed with rides. We could see the rollercoaster snaking its way around, and an assortment of other rides, some looking quite vicious and nausea inducing, and other gentler rides, which I was sure the other two women were trying out. I gripped the handles on the safety harness, envying them all of a sudden.

‘I don’t – how often do they test these things?’ I quavered ‘Are we nearly at the top?’

‘It’s virtual - perfectly safe’ Sophia pointed out. The seats jerked and stopped, and started to rotate around the pillar. I looked down between my dangling feet at the ground a long, long way away. We stopped turning, and my stomach lurched as I heard the machinery click into drop mode.

‘Oh shit…’ I muttered ‘What the fuck did I do to deserve this?’

[jovialyouthmusic]

Returning Soon

After the conclusion of Silver Service, I’ve decided to go back to my period drama Past Times - here’s an extract as Lizzy and her family visit John’s family estate south of Edinburgh. I’ve tagged those who commented etc on the last chapter - as usual if you want on or off the list, let me know x

‘Mother will be down to dinner shortly’ John smiled ‘She asks that we wait, and she will attend us. Would you all care for a cordial in the meantime?’ Amelia’s face lit up, as she loved sugary drinks, which her mother rarely allowed due to the effect on the young woman. She tended to become more animated and subject to flights of fancy, but at a pleading look, her mother accepted for all three of them. Sir James was already enjoying a pre dinner glass of brandy in a fine balloon glass.

‘Oh, is this raspberry?’ Elizabeth asked as a servant brought round a tray of glasses of clear red liquid.

‘Indeed it is’ John replied ‘You will have seen the fruit bushes in the gardens – we had an excellent crop last year. Perhaps you might like to try our raspberry brandy later’

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[jovialyouthmusic]

Girls’ Night Out Revisted

I’m posting this as part of the Wacky Drabbles challenge. Prompt is in bold. If you’re confused, here’s a post that will explain all

2 The Girls Regroup

Elizabeth Dalgleish dreamed of her Captain, and how wonderful it would be when they were married. When she awoke, she was to dress for her wedding, hopefully the happiest day of her life. But voices disturbed her slumber – familiar voices that reminded of something that might have been a dream, but how the wild and outlandish things that she had seen and experienced could possibly come from her imagination, she had no inkling. Perhaps she was going mad for longing of her sweetheart.

‘She’s waking up, stand back, we don’t want to frighten her again’ The name Charlotte drifted into her mind.

‘But she knows who we are’ Lizzie kept her eyes tight shut so she could try and work things out, and the next name that came to her was Sophia.

‘She might just think it’s all a dream – if she even remembers. It’s been a while’ It was all coming back to her. Was that Queen Charlotte?

‘I don’t even know how you got to her on the night before her wedding, I’ve barely written the bit before her engagement’ That had to be Les.

‘Virtual timelines are seriously weird’ Lizzie could no longer wonder what the women were talking about as she clearly remembered Lucy. Her eyelids fluttered open to find herself in her own bedchamber with the four women grouped around her.

‘Is it time to get dressed?’ she asked ‘Is it my wedding day?’ Sophia’s face conveyed sadness.

‘I’m sorry Lizzie, no it isn’t. You’ve been waiting some time I’m afraid’

‘I’m sorry to bother you – but we have a question for you. No hurry, take your time to wake up’ Les said. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. Charlotte produced a glass of water for her and she drank thirstily.

‘We were out together somewhere strange’ she said ‘I met all of your beaus’ She blushed to remember how the women’s sweethearts had danced and taken their clothes off for entertainment.

‘You did, sweetie’ Lucy said ‘Do you remember us asking if we could do it again for each of us?’ Lizzie frowned in concentration.

‘I think so’ she replied, getting out of bed and reaching for her robe to draw around her shoulders, more for modesty than for warmth. She wore a long nightdress, but as it was warm, the fabric was a fine clinging muslin. No matter that previously she had worn a figure hugging dress and translucent leggings, she felt indecent in her nightclothes.

‘Well’ began Charlotte ‘We’ve a favour to ask. We each think we should be first to celebrate but we can’t decide who’ Lizzie raised her eyebrows. Sophia sat on the edge of the bed.

‘It’s like this – Lucy thinks she should be first because her story was the first Les wrote. Charlotte thinks – well she thinks I shouldn’t be first because Les has written about me most recently’ she sighed ‘But then both she and Lucy have already had their weddings – and Lucy had two. I’m not even engaged’

‘Why don’t you have one big celebration?’ Lizzie asked, still not entirely sure she was truly awake.

‘Oh, just once?’ Lucy exclaimed ‘That’s hardly fair. How about a road trip? I’ve always wanted to go to Vegas’ Charlotte looked thoughtful and Sophia raised her eyebrows. Lizzies eyes grew wide – she’d always wanted to travel, and John had promised her they would once they were married. They were due to go to the Continent on the first stage of their honeymoon. She wasn’t sure where ‘Vegas’ was.

‘Paris would be nice’ Charlotte mused. Les smiled and Lizzie nodded enthusiastically. She’d certainly heard of Paris, but due to relations with France being strained, they wouldn’t be going there on their honeymoon.

‘Distance no object here’ Les said. ‘In my world you have to have money to travel, and it takes time. You can be anywhere you could imagine in the wink of an eye here. Personally I’d love it, travel stresses me out where I come from’

‘Well that sorts out where to go’ chimed in Sophia ‘and that will probably dictate what we do. But we still haven’t decided who goes first.’

‘We can pace ourselves’ Les said ‘It sounds like Lucy’s idea would be pretty hectic, but Paris might give us a chance to recover’

‘I bet Paris has some pretty cool nightclubs’ Lucy grinned. ‘Come on Soph, where do you want to go?’ Sophia pulled at her earlobe in thought.

‘Definitely by the sea – some tropical island perhaps’

‘Doesn’t sound much like a girl’s night out’ Lucy grumbled.

‘Everyone’s different’ Charlotte pointed out ‘And like Les said, we need to pace ourselves. I’d rather have a sophisticated tea party. Perhaps we could have a beach party for Sophia’

‘Champagne in Paris and cocktails on the beach?’ Lucy asked hopefully.

‘That would be acceptable’ Charlotte said primly. Meanwhile, Lizzie had been thinking about their schedule.

‘Sophia, you aren’t even engaged to be married?’ she asked. Sophia shook her head

‘In our times many couples stay together for life without marrying, but it would be nice. I don’t want a big wedding’ she said wistfully. Lizzie was shocked at the impropriety of it all, but the women were her friends and had been kind to her.

‘Then we shall do something special for you’ she suggested ‘Which means you should go last of all to give us time to plan – how does that sound?’ The three other women nodded their assent.

‘Lucy is itching to go and paint the town red’ Les said ‘So I vote we go to Vegas first, and then have a more sophisticated and restful soiree for Charlotte’ Lucy whooped with excitement.

‘At frigging last - Vegas here we come!’

[jovialyouthmusic]

Sunday Sixish

Thanks to Bridgerton, I’ve had some inspiration for Past Times. I may post the chapter of their marriage night as a standalone with different names, as I wrote it months ago and I now intend that Elizabeth has some idea of what is expected of her. However, here’s a snippet of the next regular chapter. Elizabeth and her family are staying at John’s estate for the summer, and two of his friends have come to stay.

Under the cut, a sneak preview of the next chapter of Lythikan Liaison.

Past Times

The carriage, drawn by two fine chestnut horses, drew to a halt in front of the manor. Tom alighted first, and helped Dorothea out before turning to John, who embraced him and slapped him heartily on the back.

‘Welcome, welcome Tom. We will have a merry time now you and Dorothea are here. You’ve met my fiancé, Elizabeth Dalgliesh, if you recall?’ Dorothea made a little curtsey and stepped forward to take Elizabeth’s hand.

‘I well recall how rude Tom was when we met at Duddingston. I am so pleased that his ill manners did not deter you from accepting John’s suit’ she said, smiling brightly.

‘Not at all Dorothea, my mind was made up already and nothing would put me off, I assure you’ Elizabeth replied, and Tom turned to her and took her hand, kissing the back of it.

‘My apologies for my former misbehaviour, Miss Elizabeth. I am pleased John has found such a determined and forgiving soul to spend his later years with’ John dealt a playful blow to Tom’s shoulder.

‘Less of the later years, you scoundrel. You are but two months my junior, Tom’ he asserted. ‘Come inside, you must meet Lizzy’s family. I fear mother is not available yet, but I believe she may join us for dinner later.’

Lythikan Liaison

‘You’re welcome to eat with us this evening, but we won’t be indulging in anything physical with Marco around’ Marcia said, and Bastien frowned. Playtime was over.

‘I’ll have to check in with my Captain at some time today so I’m not sure I’ll be free.’ he said regretfully. ‘I need to be up early tomorrow so I’d be better off going back to staff quarters.’ Marcia moved closer to Bastien and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, putting his hand on hers.

‘This is probably goodbye then, at least in private.’ she said softly ‘I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.’ He pushed his chair back and pulled her onto his lap.

‘It’s only been a short while, but I’ll miss you, I think’ he replied, smiling fondly. ‘I’m not sure what the arrangements are for bringing young Olivia back, but perhaps we’ll meet again soon.’ She draped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

‘I’d like that’ she said. ‘You definitely have some Lythikan blood in you – I’ve never known a foreigner who could keep up with us as well as you do’ 

@sirbeepsalot​ @fluffyfirewhiskey​ @katedrakeohd​ @kingliam2019​ @camillemontespan​ @texaskitten30​ @bascmve01​ 

[jovialyouthmusic]

Girls’ Night Out

So - I have a confession to make - I think I didn’t post the ‘final’ chapter. Here it is. If you haven’t read the previous chapters  (which won’t make a whole heap of sense if you haven’t read my other fics) or if you need your memory refreshed, here’s the link to the Masterlist.

Word Count 1502

No warnings, but my blog is generally Not suitable for under 18s The ending leaves things open for each of the gals to have their own celebration - who knows when I will write them but hey...

7 All Together Now

When Bas and I arrived at the club where the four men had been performing as strippers, things had calmed down a little. They had morphed back into being fully clothed, though it was plain Lucy was disappointed. She was the first to spot me, and had the decency to look embarrassed.

‘Uh hi, Les’ she said brightly ‘Thanks for helping us with the mock up – this place rocks. We’ll have to visit more often.’ I folded my arms and stood in front of her.

‘None of that now, I hear you dragged a certain Elizabeth Dalgliesh around the clubs and bars.’ I scolded. ‘She’s only accustomed to genteel regency balls at the Assembly rooms and the occasional glass of wine with dinner.’

‘She had a great time!’ She protested ‘She loved the cocktail I got her, and I made sure it wasn’t too strong.’

‘Bas here tells me she passed out when the strippers came on’ I went on, determined she wasn’t going to pull the wool over my eyes. She looked at the floor

‘Well she was doing fine up until then’ she mumbled. I sighed

‘Well I guess you had good intentions. I’m going to go and check up with her now.’ Bastien patted my arm.

‘Hold on, we need to look the part’ he suggested.

‘Good thinking’ I closed my eyes, and before we left to join Elizabeth and John, we were dressed fit for a regency ball, I in an empire cut gown in sapphire blue, he in navy breeches and white stockings, polished black leather dancing shoes, a crisp white shirt and military coat tails resplendent with brass buttons and a high collar.

‘My lady’ he intoned, holding out his arm for me to take by the elbow.

‘Very handsome’ I smiled, and in the blink of an eye we were outside the assembly rooms waiting in line to enter ‘I thought we could be announced properly’ I said aside to him ‘If you’re agreeable, I’d like you to divert Morag’ He raised his eyebrows

‘How would you like me to do that?’ he asked.

‘I think you should ask her to dance’ I smiled up at him ‘How could she resist such a handsome partner?’

‘I need a back story’ he mused ‘To start with, should I use my name? Perhaps a cousin of John’s? Who am I to you?’ I thought fast.

‘If we go along that line, we can also turn up at their wedding.’ I murmured ‘I’ll be your sister. I’d thought perhaps Morag had a husband back at her father’s estate, but if she’s a spinster that would probably be more believable. She’s sacrificed her personal life to look after Lizzy and Amelia. Perhaps she had a sweetheart that died young, or went away to sea and never returned.’

‘I could make out that I knew her sweetheart’ Bastien replied

‘Oh that could work, it would keep her busy. We’d better not make it too tragic though, I don’t want to upset her’

‘So – I’m an officer in the Navy, and her sweetheart served under me. He was tragically lost overboard in a storm – which she’s already aware of. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news’

‘Sounds like a plan. Lesley is a Scottish place name and surname, so I’ll use that – Lesley Lykel has ring to it.’ I pondered for a moment ‘Gordon sounds like a suitable name for you, don’t you think?’

‘Very well – Lieutenant Gordon Lykel it is, and his sister Miss Lesley’

‘Wait, how will John and Elizabeth know us? Will they realise who you are?’

‘She knows my name, and I’ll drop some heavy hints. John will recognise you, don’t forget – he’s met Sophia’s Bastien’ By now we were at the front of the line and the footman tasked with announcing those who attended turned to Bastien.

‘Name please’

‘Lieutenant Gordon Lykel and Miss Lesley Lykel’ We were announced to the crowd of people, not attracting a second glance save for one or two women whose gaze alighted on him, for them to raise or flick their fans coquettishly. The room was high ceilinged, lit largely by natural light from a glass dome above and refracted through crystal chandeliers. Gilded friezes cast a golden light down on the assembly of finely dressed people. With a practised eye, Bastien scanned the room.

‘There they are’ he said, and we made our way around the edge of the room to them to the strains of a string quartet. Some folk were already dancing, with lines forming and moving back and forth, the dancers circling and swapping partners. Lizzy looked pale and sat fanning herself while John stood by her side, and Morag nearby. John looked up when he saw Bastien, who approached him, hand outstretched, and Lizzy’s face coloured a little, no doubt remembering the strip routine she had only recently witnessed.

‘Cousin John, how good to see you’ he said, loud enough for Morag to hear. Her eyes narrowed as he bowed to Lizzy, taking her hand and barely touching it with his lips ‘Charmed to meet you Miss Dalgliesh, I’ve heard all about you. Lieutenant Lykel at your service – and my sister, Miss Lesley’ I dropped a curtsey, and heard Morag let out a small gasp as John shook his hand firmly. Before Lizzy had a chance to acknowledge me, Morag came forward hesitantly.

‘Lieutenant Lykel’ she said ‘My sweetheart Hamish served under you at sea’. Bastien straightened up and turned to her, taking her hand, putting his other palm to his chest.

‘My dear lady’ he said ‘You must be Morag. He spoke of you often. Please, come with me and we can talk’ He took her elbow and led her some distance away.

‘Are you Les? Do we owe our existence to you?’ Lizzy asked, wide eyed

‘After a fashion’ I replied ‘Gordon here is another version of Bastien – or Sebastien, who you just met. I hope that’s not too confusing’ She smiled faintly.

‘I have seen many strange things in the past few hours’ she said ‘It was very stimulating, but I’m happy to be back somewhere more familiar.’

‘Well, you two can have a little time together now that Bastien has distracted Morag’ I smiled.

‘But what about you?’ Elizabeth asked ‘You can’t stand alone, it wouldn’t be proper, it would be sure to bring Morag back’ There was a commotion by the door and I looked over.

‘I don’t think I’ll be alone for long’ I said wryly.

‘Coo ee! Les, it’s us!’ a familiar voice sounded from across the other side of the hall. John snorted with laughter.

‘You’re right – our friends have followed you’ He waved back at Lucy, who moved straight across the room, scattering dancers as she did so. Charlotte glared at her and steered ‘her’ Drake around the edge of the room, along with Sophia and Bastien. Lucy’s partners scurried after her, apologising as they went. All seven of them were dressed appropriately but Lucy’s behaviour turned heads as she made for John, Elizabeth and myself in a straight line.

‘Hey, we thought we’d gatecrash before we make ourselves available for read throughs’ Lucy explained ‘You don’t mind, do you, Lizzy? I’ve always wanted to dress up like…’ she paused and looked thoughtful ‘You know, like a Jane Austen novel’ Lizzy looked confused

‘Jane who?’ she asked. By this time Brad and ‘Lake’ had reached us as well

‘Sorry Les, Luce got away from us’ Brad apologised. I shook my head.

‘Well never mind, you’re all here now, which is kind of what I had in mind anyway – you dragged Lizzy into your world, so it’s only fair you get to experience hers.’ I replied as the others reached us.

‘Lizzy, this is amazing’ said Sophia ‘So grand – I’m impressed’

‘Are you alright, Lizzy?’ asked Charlotte ‘You passed out when John appeared’

‘I’m fine now’ she smiled, ‘Welcome to my world’ John smiled and shook hands with Brad, Drake and Bastien.

‘Welcome, gentlemen’ he said ‘You’re dressed impeccably’

‘We can all dance now’ cried Lucy, watching the assembled men and women weaving and spinning their way through a cotillion. ‘We did a little research before you turned up, Les. It’s a doddle - you can borrow Brad, he’ll see you through the steps’

‘What?’ I asked ‘You want me to dance too?’

‘Of course darling’ she said, linking arms with me ‘Without you none of us would be here at all.’ She gave me a squeeze. ‘Next time you can come round the clubs with us’ she said. I raised my eyebrows.

‘Next time?’ I asked incredulously

‘Yes, next time’ she beamed, and counted on her fingers ‘You’ve got Charlotte’s State wedding, and Sophia and Bastien are engaged. When are you going to write them up? For that matter, how about a belated one for me?’ I passed my hand over my face.

‘What have I started?’ I groaned…

To be continued?

@ravenpuff02​ @trappedinfandoms​ @rusticsupplies63k @katedrakeohd​ @sirbeepsalot​ @burnsoslow​ @texaskitten30​ @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria​ @kimmiedoo5​ @kingliam2019

[jovialyouthmusic]

Catch up

From left to right, top row; King Brad (Liam), Lucy Valois (MC), Drake Walker from Two’s Company. Middle row; Queen Charlotte (OC) Captain John Lykel (OC), Elizabeth Dalgliesh (OC). Bottom row; Drake Walker from Charlotte’s Choice, Sophia Turner (OC), Bastien Lykel

Okay, so for those of you that haven’t read my stuff – and I’ve been around a couple of years so you might be reading newer stuff and missed it – here’s a little catch up for the ‘Girl’s Night Out’ series, which was based on the fanfiction I have written for Choices The Royal Romance. My blog is not suitable for over 18s as there is plenty of smut – also fluff and drama. It is not a dark blog, and I am older than most of the writers in the fandom – but in my head I’m the same age as my MCs…

Lucy Valois or Lucy Rys Walker came about because I found it so hard to choose between Drake and Liam. I renamed Liam as Brad, thinking Choices was all a bit of a laugh and it was kind of ironic – then I got bitten by the TRR bug and fell for Drake – hard. Anyway, I wrote Two’s Company, Three’s Allowed in which Lucy marries Brad but pines for Drake so hard that the King invokes a Cordonian law that makes marriages with multiple partners legal, and they welcome Drake into their marriage. It started out fluffy and angsty and developed into a smut fest…and Lucy came into her own in Girl’s Night Out as a party animal.

Charlotte Rys or Princess or Queen Charlotte is my main but original character in Charlotte’s Choice and Uneasy Lies the Head. Charlotte is Constantine’s only heir, Drake her childhood friend, and Brad (or Liam) is a bartender they meet on her hen (bachelorette) party in Edinburgh. Again, there is fluff, drama, angst and smut.

Sophia Turner is my OC in Protect and Serve and Silver Service and more, which I wrote because the faceclaim for Bastien is HOT and I kind of wished he was a LI in TRR. Sophia is English and comes to work at the Palace just before Liam’s social season in which he meets Riley. Sophia falls for Bastien Lykel – it’s a big romance with plenty of fluff, smut and drama.

Elizabeth Dalgliesh is my OC in Regency period drama Past Times featuring a supposed ancestor of Bastien Lykel. It’s fluffy and of course a slow burn, as well bred young ladies barely knew about sex before they were married. Lizzie finds out her intended is a brute, manages to break off the engagement and is wooed by the dashing Captain Lykel. It’s kind of Jane Austen (though nothing near as well written) in Edinburgh.

Add to this the premise in The Many Lives of Drake Walker which features myself as a fanfic writer able to go through the screen and interact with the characters, and you might just understand my Girl’s Night Out series in which all the above female characters get together virtually to celebrate Lizzie’s pre wedding night. The various love interests manage to interfere, and when it’s all over, the girls demand that I write a hen night for each of them – even though two of them are already married – one of them twice.

So, you can read the drabbles I’m going to attempt to write without having to plough through the rest of my work - or you can dip in to my other meanderings and hopefully enjoy. I’m happy to answer any questions on the stories, just message me xx

[jovialyouthmusic]

Girls’ Night Out

A multiple AU piece of fun featuring my female LIs

Lizzy found it all a bit much to cope with - what will our heroines do next?

Word Count 1502

A/N Although this is the last of Lizzie’s hen night - there may be more to come in the future 

7 Happily ever after?

When Bas and I arrived at the club where the four men had been performing as strippers, things had calmed down a little. They had morphed back into being fully clothed, though it was plain Lucy was disappointed. She was the first to spot me, and had the decency to look embarrassed.

‘Uh hi, Les’ she said brightly ‘Thanks for helping us with the mock up – this place rocks. We’ll have to visit more often.’ I folded my arms and stood in front of her.

‘None of that now, I hear you dragged a certain Elizabeth Dalgliesh around the clubs and bars.’ I scolded. ‘She’s only accustomed to genteel regency balls at the Assembly rooms and the occasional glass of wine with dinner.’

‘She had a great time!’ She protested ‘She loved the cocktail I got her, and I made sure it wasn’t too strong.’

‘Bas here tells me she passed out when the strippers came on’ I went on, determined she wasn’t going to pull the wool over my eyes. She looked at the floor

‘Well she was doing fine up until then’ she mumbled. I sighed

‘Well I guess you had good intentions. I’m going to go and check up with her now.’ Bastien patted my arm.

‘Hold on, we need to look the part’ he suggested.

‘Good thinking’ I closed my eyes, and before we left to join Elizabeth and John, we were dressed fit for a regency ball, I in an empire cut gown in sapphire blue, he in navy breeches and white stockings, polished black leather dancing shoes, a crisp white shirt and military coat tails resplendent with brass buttons and a high collar.

‘My lady’ he intoned, holding out his arm for me to take by the elbow.

‘Very handsome’ I smiled, and in the blink of an eye we were outside the assembly rooms waiting in line to enter ‘I thought we could be announced properly’ I said aside to him ‘If you’re agreeable, I’d like you to divert Morag’ He raised his eyebrows

‘How would you like me to do that?’ he asked.

‘I think you should ask her to dance’ I smiled up at him ‘How could she resist such a handsome partner?’

‘I need a back story’ he mused ‘To start with, should I use my name? Perhaps a cousin of John’s? Who am I to you?’ I thought fast.

‘If we go along that line, we can also turn up at their wedding.’ I murmured ‘I’ll be your sister. I’d thought perhaps Morag had a husband back at her father’s estate, but if she’s a spinster that would probably be more believable. She’s sacrificed her personal life to look after Lizzy and Amelia. Perhaps she had a brother who died young, or went away to sea and never returned.’

‘I could make out that I knew him’ Bastien replied

‘Oh that could work, it would keep her busy. We’d better not make it too tragic though, I don’t want to upset her’

‘So – I’m an officer in the Navy, and her brother served under me. He was tragically lost overboard in a storm – which she’s already aware of. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news’

‘Sounds like a plan. Lesley is a Scottish name, so I’ll use that – Lesley Lykel has ring to it.’ I pondered for a moment ‘Gordon sounds like a suitable name for you, don’t you think?’

‘Very well – Lieutenant Gordon Lykel it is, and his sister Miss Lesley.’ He looked thoughtful ‘Wait, how will John and Elizabeth know us? Will they realise who you are?’

‘She knows my name, and I’ll drop some heavy hints. John will recognise you, don’t forget – he’s met Sophia’s Bastien’ By now we were at the front of the line and the footman tasked with announcing those who attended turned to Bastien.

‘Name please’

‘Lieutenant Gordon Lykel and Miss Lesley Lykel’ We were announced to the crowd of people, not attracting a second glance save for one or two women whose gaze alighted on him, for them to raise or flick their fans coquettishly. The room was high ceilinged, lit largely by natural light from high windows and a glass dome above, and refracted through crystal chandeliers. Gilded friezes cast a golden light down on the assembly of finely dressed people. With a practised eye, Bastien scanned the room.

‘There they are’ he said, and we made our way around the edge of the room to them, to the strains of a string quartet. Some folk were already dancing, with lines forming and moving back and forth, the dancers circling and swapping partners. Lizzy looked pale and sat fanning herself while John stood by her side, and Morag nearby. John looked up when he saw Bastien, who approached him, hand outstretched, and Lizzy’s face coloured a little, no doubt remembering the strip routine she had only recently witnessed.

‘Cousin John, how good to see you’ he said, loud enough for Morag to hear. Her eyes narrowed as he bowed to Lizzy, taking her hand and barely touching it with his lips ‘Charmed to meet you Miss Dalgliesh, I’ve heard all about you. Lieutenant Lykel at your service – and my sister, Miss Lesley’ I dropped a curtsey, and heard Morag let out a small gasp as John shook his hand firmly. Before Lizzy had a chance to acknowledge me, Morag came forward hesitantly.

‘Lieutenant Lykel’ she said ‘My brother Hamish served under you at sea’. Bastien straightened up and turned to her, taking her hand, putting his other palm to his chest.

‘My dear lady’ he said ‘You must be Morag. He spoke of you often. Please, come with me and we can talk’ He took her elbow and led her some distance away.

‘Are you Les? Do we owe our existence to you?’ Lizzy asked, wide eyed

‘After a fashion’ I replied ‘Gordon here is another version of Bastien – or Sebastien, who you just met. I hope that’s not too confusing’ She smiled faintly.

‘I have seen many strange things in the past few hours’ she said ‘It was very stimulating, but I’m happy to be back somewhere more familiar.’

‘Well, you two can have a little time together now that Bastien has distracted Morag’ I smiled.

‘But what about you?’ Elizabeth asked ‘You can’t stand alone, it wouldn’t be proper, it would be sure to bring Morag back’ There was a commotion by the door and I looked over.

‘I don’t think I’ll be alone for long’ I said wryly.

‘Coo ee! Les, it’s us!’ a familiar voice sounded from across the other side of the hall. John snorted with laughter.

‘You’re right – our friends have followed you’ He waved back at Lucy, who moved straight across the room, scattering dancers as she did so. Charlotte glared at her and steered ‘her’ Drake around the edge of the room, along with Sophia and Bastien. Lucy’s partners scurried after her, apologising as they went. All seven of them were dressed appropriately but Lucy’s behaviour turned heads as she made for John, Elizabeth and myself in a straight line.

‘Hey, we thought we’d gatecrash before we make ourselves available for read throughs’ Lucy explained ‘You don’t mind, do you, Lizzy? I’ve always wanted to dress up like…’ she paused and looked thoughtful ‘You know, like a Jane Austen novel’ Lizzy looked confused

‘Jane who?’ she asked. By this time Brad and ‘Lake’ had reached us as well

‘Sorry Les, Luce got away from us’ Brad apologised. I shook my head.

‘Well never mind, you’re all here now, which is kind of what I had in mind anyway – you dragged Lizzy into your world, so it’s only fair you get to experience hers.’ I replied as the others reached us.

‘Lizzy, this is amazing’ said Sophia ‘So grand – I’m impressed’

‘Are you alright, Lizzy?’ asked Charlotte ‘You passed out when John appeared’

‘I’m fine now’ she smiled, ‘Welcome to my world’ John smiled and shook hands with Brad, Drake and Bastien.

‘Welcome, gentlemen’ he said ‘You’re dressed impeccably’

‘We can all dance now’ cried Lucy, watching the assembled men and women weaving and spinning their way through a cotillion. ‘We did a little research before you turned up, Les. It’s a doddle - you can borrow Brad, he’ll see you through the steps’

‘What?’ I asked ‘You want me to dance too?’

‘Of course darling’ she said, linking arms with me ‘Without you none of us would be here at all.’ She gave me a squeeze. ‘Next time you can come round the clubs with us’ she said. I raised my eyebrows.

‘Next time?’ I asked incredulously

‘Yes, next time’ she beamed, and counted on her fingers ‘You’ve got Charlotte’s State wedding, and Sophia and Bastien are engaged. When are you going to write them up? For that matter, how about a belated one for me?’ I passed my hand over my face.

‘What have I started?’ I groaned…

To be continued?