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This week we flash back five years from the prologue to visit our hero and heroine during their first meal as husband and wife in February 1810. They marry to fulfill a deathbed promise to Elizabeth's first husband, who was Jack's childhood best friend. Because Jack has to rejoin his regiment almost immediately, their wedding is a hasty, unromantic elopement just over the border from their Northumberland home to Scotland:
“Was there someone else?” she asked. “Someone you wanted to carry to Scotland?”
“What would be the point of telling you if there was?” he snapped. “It can’t be, now.”
She sighed. None of this was his fault, but she couldn’t help envisioning some perfect, golden-haired young beauty, perhaps a general’s daughter, who had danced with Colonel Armstrong and dreamed of becoming his bride.
Awww, not a good way to start a marriage. :(
ReplyDeleteBut where would I be without conflict? :)
DeleteOh, Susanna! This made my heart twist. Such regret from both of them, and yet such tenderness on her part--along with a hefty dose of uncertainty on her part. Lovely bit this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Silver! I'm glad their emotions are coming through even in these brief snippets.
DeleteSuch a sad way to start a marriage but a very good way to start the story. This six sure conveys a LOT and leaves me wanting to read more.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Veronica! I'm finding I enjoy writing marriage of convenience stories.
DeletePoor Elizabeth, you really created a lot of empathy for her in this snippet. Her understanding is amazing, considering how cold Jack is being towards her. Great six sentences :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Clare! I'm glad to know Elizabeth resonates for you.
DeleteI'm reading this now. Love, love, love the terribly unromantic, honor-bound beginning to their marriage. I ache for both these people and I want their dutiful sacrifice to be rewarded with happiness galore.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're liking it so far, and I hope you find the payoff worth it.
DeleteReally, I think the synopsis for almost any story I write is, "Hero and/or heroine makes a tough choice for the sake of duty and/or honor, but it works out in the end." There's a line in the West Point Cadet Prayer (my brother is an alum) that reads, "Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won," and I've made it a sort of mission statement--at least for my characters.
This makes my heartache. Poor girl. Good six, I can't wait to see what happens with these two.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dana. I enjoyed writing their story as they fought their way to happines.
DeleteSuch tension. I feel a little sad for them. Great share!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lauren!
DeletePassing on a wife to a friend? But women were property, then.
ReplyDeleteWell, neither of her husbands ever think of her as property--a little more about that next week. :-)
DeleteYeah, a nicely conflicted mix of jealousy and sympathy. Great six, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favorite candy? http://www.thenuthouse.info/specialtycandy.htm Great pictures there, huh??