Your opinion on which next story

Yes, it is that time once again. Time for the ramblings of Melanie.

This time is one of my favorites and least favorites in the year. Why? Because of all the delicious produce. I grew up in a farming community in central Illinois. When the produce came on, you were busy. Green beans, peas, and other items as well. Most of those were canned. Tomatoes were cooked down or used a sieve to get the “meat” of the fruit without all the seeds. My grandmother’s brother lived in southern Illinois, and my grandparents would go down to get a box truck load of peaches and of strawberries. I am starting to drool.

So yes, I have been busy putting up stuff. I finished the last half of peaches  last night and they are now tucked in the freezer. Tomatoes and apples tomorrow, maybe pickles and plums. It is a lot of work, but in the middle of the winter months, it is so good to have this yummy local raised produce to enjoy.

Now, back to what I am here for. Am having my next book edited, and am working on 2 more stories. It is going to be fun to see where each story goes. I am going to post a bit of each to see which story you all wish me to work on first.

 

Story #1

Chapter 1

     Fitzwilliam Darcy had hidden himself in the poorest section of London. It had been three months since he had been shot and left for dead, all in a betrayal of one who had been a dear friend.

        Elizabeth, what must you think of me? Our wedding…you must hate me for not arriving at the church to say our vows. If I had been well, I would have been there. The bullet’s damage to my shoulder and the fever which came from the infection left me too weak to make my way to Meryton that day. How will I make this up to you? I pray you will forgive me, though I believe it will be difficult, as your sister is now wed to the traitor I would have been proud to call brother.

            Why had Charles Bingley changed? He had always been so amiable and caring. Then he became a lecherous viper, striking me just before our wedding. I discovered I had been considered dead, as no one had seen me since the shooting, nor had anyone even known of the shooting. It was believed I had left the country and was hiding away from my now jilted bride’s family. Nothing could have been furthest from the truth. If I had been able to contact you, my love, I most certainly would have. But to contact you now, you would be in the same danger in which I have been.

            What was it I missed in Bingley’s behavior? I believed him to be one of the best men I knew. He was to marry Elizabeth’s elder sister, Jane. I pray that my disappearance will delay such event. Let the pain of her sister keep Jane from marrying that viper.

            My dearest, what must you think of me? Do you believe the worst of me or that something dreadful happened? My family would have been there for the wedding. What do they believe has happened? Please, God, watch over Elizabeth and her loved ones. Do not allow them be harmed by Bingley.

                                                        ~~**~~

        Elizabeth Bennet had walked around the park which encircled her father’s home. Her favorite place was Oakham Mount, one place she felt at peace. It allowed her the ability to think without the interference of the rest of the world.

            Since Fitzwilliam Darcy had failed to show at their wedding, Elizabeth had not wished to speak to anyone. She knew that her family were attempting, in their own ways, to aid her. But how does one find comfort when they were heartbroken?

            At the top of Oakham Mount, Elizabeth could enjoy the peace of the early morning. As a child, Elizabeth had believed herself to be a princess, seeing her father’s kingdom from on high. As she grew, the location was always special to her.

            Now, after what she had endured over the previous fortnight, it was a reminder that she was a daughter of a lowly squire, one of five daughters, all unmarried.

            Would the Bennet family ever recover from what had happened? Jane was to marry, though the eldest of the sisters had decided to postpone her marriage. Though Elizabeth had begged her beloved eldest sister to go ahead with her wedding, Jane had remained steadfast. If she did not wed Mr Bingley, their entire family would feel the repercussions by none of the Bennet daughters would find a respectable marriage.

            Why would William be so cruel? I never should have believed it possible for him to behave in such a manner. No, I do not have the right to call him William. He is Mr Darcy. I must never forget that I have no right to speak informally of him. Obviously, I will not need to worry of his returning to Hertfordshire. Mr Darcy has repaid me for my ill behavior when he first asked for my hand. How foolish I was to believe his sweet words of loving me. Never again will I allow a man such control of my feelings.

            It would be best if I were to leave England. Perhaps I could go to Ireland, or to the Americas. Uncle Edward might have connections for me to find a position, as a clerk at a shop. No family would wish for such a disgraced woman to be a governess or even a nursemaid. My only hope was to leave England and find another way to earn my keep.

            Would contacting Uncle Edward place them in danger of society turning against him. I would not wish for him to have difficulty and lose his business for me. It was none of his blame, but he and his family could be ruined just for being my family. The only way I can protect my loved ones is to leave to parts unknown, allowing my family to recover from my being jilted.

            The more Elizabeth thought on the matter, the more she came to believe leaving was the best option for all of them. Jane could marry Mr Bingley, her other sisters could find husbands, her parents would not have to support all their daughters being spinsters, their other relations would not be made to suffer.

            Over the coming week, Elizabeth made her plans. She had saved her pin money for years, and her father had given her money for her trousseau. When her order arrived before the wedding, Elizabeth had been far too busy to return her father’s funds, as Mr Darcy had purchased the clothing. Elizabeth decided to tell a few lies to save her family.

            When her then fiancé refused for her father to purchase the clothing for her future, the man from Derbyshire had made it possible for her the freedom from the life he would have condemned her to after leaving her at the alter. He gave her the financial ability to leave all she knew and begin again, far away.

            First, she would need to write a letter to her aunt. Helen Gardiner was well had been a dear friend as well as her aunt, ever since she married Elizabeth’s uncle, Edward Gardiner.

            In her letter, Elizabeth would claim to be preparing to visit her father’s aunt, who lived in Dorset, and would be leaving Longbourn, the only home she had ever known, at the end of the week. Knowing Aunt Helen, Elizabeth was certain she would send a return letter immediately, sharing words of wisdom and comfort.

            When the return letter arrived, Elizabeth spoke to her parents. “Aunt Helen asked for me to come to London to assist with the children. With Aunt increasing, Uncle Edward wishes to lighten her load.”

            “Yes, that would be helpful for both Helen and for yourself. You will have a chance to recover from what has happened. When you return, we will discuss what we will do for the future. It will allow me to contact some of my university friends to see if they have knowledge of a position as a governess or another situation.” Mr Bennet stated. “You go and pack your trunk. I will have Mr Hill send one of the stable hands to Meryton to learn the schedule for the mail coach heading for London.”

            “I thank you, Papa. It will give me time to consider not only my future, but the future for our family.”

            “I have spoke with your Uncle Phillips and he believes we have a case against Mr Darcy, which would include him paying the settlement he had settled on you in the marriage contract.”

           “Please, Papa, I want nothing further from Mr Darcy. No matter what such a case would do, my future is forever altered. Bringing such would only keep the situation current in society, which will continue bringing shame to our family.”

            “It is Mr Darcy’s shame, not ours. He should be made to pay for the humiliation you and our family is suffering.”

            “We will speak more of this when I return home from London. By then, perhaps Uncle Phillips will be able to tell us more.” Elizabeth wanted to end the conversation and be on her way before she lost her nerve.

            The stable hand returned to say that there was a post coach leaving Meryton in two hours. The next issue would be getting her father to allow her to go on the post coach without a maid. Luck had it that an elderly lady was to be on the post coach, which would be enough to preserve her dignity.

            By the end of the day, Elizabeth was on her way from her father’s estate. When the coach stopped just north of London, Elizabeth exchanged coaches, choosing the coach heading for Liverpool.

           

 

 

 

Chapter 2

To hide her identity, Elizabeth decided to change her name to Elizabeth Blaine. She wished she was not required to leave her family and the only home she had ever known. What happened was not their fault, and Elizabeth was determined to protect them as much as she could.

         Climbing on board the post coach to Liverpool, the young lady plucked up her courage, determined to start a new life. As Miss Blaine, she would find work in Ireland.

            In her childhood, Elizabeth remembered the stories her father had read to her of Drogheda. She had always wished to visit there, though it had always been a dream, for Elizabeth knew she would be unable to make such a journey.  But now, Elizabeth Bennet was no more. Elizabeth Blaine would be allowed to make such a trip on her own. When she arrived, she would find employment. The funds she had with her would allow Elizabeth the time to find what would be best for her future. If frugal, she could make the money she had last at least six months.

            The first items she would have to address when she arrived in Ireland  would be a place to stay and food. Then she would begin searching for employment. Elizabeth was pleased that the clothing she brought with her were the ones most simple, as would be best for working.

          “Forgive me, Papa. I could not see my family ruined. Please know that I love you too much to cause any of you harmed.”

            With that, Elizabeth made her way to the docks of Liverpool to learn of the ships which would transport the young lady to her future.

 

 

Or this other story. This one, Elizabeth’s husband (who is Italian) is murdered by his brother and she has to flee for her life, with their newborn child. She meets Darcy on the ship she is sailing on to return to England.

 

Chapter 1

        Elizabeth was holding her infant daughter in her arms as she boarded a ship which would take her from her husband’s country of Italy, returning her own native lands of England. It had been two years since she left her family’s home in Hertfordshire, where her father owned a modest estate.

            Nearly two and a half years previously, Elizabeth met Antonio Canali while she was in London, visiting her aunt and uncle. Mr Edward Gardiner was a man of business, though well known in society for his investments and his supplies of spirits in his warehouses.  He and his wife, Helen, were invited to many balls and dinners in society, and when their niece visited, she would join them to the events.

            It was at a ball at the home of Mr and Mrs Featherton, who were close friends Gardiners, where a handsome gentleman from a prosperous Italian estate. Mrs Featherton was certain she saw the makings of a couple, as they only had eyes for one another through the evening. The pair had the dinner set of dances, allowing them to enjoy each other’s company after the set, being partnered for dining together.

            The next day had Antonio calling at the Gardiner home, which became a daily event. After a month, Antonio asked for a courtship. Then came a betrothal after three months. The wedding was held a month later. The newlyweds stayed in Hertfordshire, using the dower house on the Longbourn estate.

           Antonio and Elizabeth had been married for a year when he received word of his father being in ill health. They made the journey to Italy, to the Canali estate.

            A mere two weeks after their arrival, Antonio’s father died. The physician stated that Lorenzo Canali had died from a heart condition, though the man had been fit when his son had gone England.

            The couple had discovered prior to making the journey to Italy that they were to be parents. Antonio had begged for Elizabeth to remain in England, with her family, as he did not wish to take her to a foreign country, after a long voyage. He was not certain of his homecoming as well, as he and his younger brother had been at odds for many years.

            His brother, Francesco, had always been jealous of his elder brother. Not only was Antonio older and the heir to their father’s estate, Francesco was furious when his brother had married for love. In his way of thinking, Antonio was the perfect son and husband.

       Francesco had been the black sheep of the family. He thought he should have everything, the family estate, the wealth which had been accumulated over several generations, everything that was his brother’s by birth. When he was old enough, Francesco was sent to England to attend Oxford. The education only made the second born son angrier, wishing for what his brother was being given simply by being born first.

            With their father ill, Antonio was not certain how his brother would behave.  The fear of what his brother might do to Elizabeth and their child made the gentleman more protective than ever before.

        Elizabeth had other plans, as she was not allowing her husband to make the journey without her at his side. His wife reminded him of their vows, in good times and bad.

            When they arrived in Italy, they were greeted by his father’s carriage and servants, including his father’s steward. They made their way to the family estate, while Antonio asked many questions of the steward, not pleased with what he was learning.

        Antonio’s brother had been stealing from their father; not just money, but he was taking anything which was of value to pawn. With their father so weakened, and rarely left his bedchamber, Francesco had no one to stop him. Being a degenerate, Francesco always had debts.

            As soon as they arrived at the manor house, Antonio exited the carriage quickly, turning to assist his wife, and hurried her inside the house. A simple  nod was given to the butler and housekeeper as the couple hurried past  them.

 

 So, which story do you think I should go with?