A blooming flower

The first part of this post might sound familiar if you read my post In want of Womanhood.

On Friday night I went to my friends to watch the Christmas Special of Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey always inspires me to want to write more. I know my story doesn't have the same drama as Downton but all the gracefulness and beauty inspire me. So here is some of my writing of the first part of the ball.

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Emmy sat gazing her reflection in the mirror feeling that she possessed some of her childish features no matter how much Kathryn James tried to glamour her up. Emmy could still see the little freckles on the ridge of her nose she also saw a little girl figure with mostly no to curve to it she was still mostly a stick. She had hoped with her new dress and new hair she would see an eloquent woman looking back at her. A woman who has every hair perfectly in place and eyes that can make a man go weak in the knees. Emmy dabbed a tad of Fiona's perfume that had a wonderful fragrance of wild lilies and sweet mint. Fiona only wore it on special occasions and tonight she was allowing Emmy wear it. She smoothed a loose hair as Kathryn had done her hair perfectly earlier and gave her cheeks a little pinch so they would look rosier. Then her hand strolled down her neck till she felt her mother's pearls around her neck. Emmy placed her hand over them rubbing them every so lightly with the tips of her fingers. Fiona a only owned two necklaces her locket that carried Jefferson's picture and that never came off her neck and this pearl necklace, it was the one she wore when she married Jefferson and it was her only her luxury in life. She didn't even let Laurel wear them to her first ball but she was letting Emmy and Emmy knew how important that was.

            "Emmy!" Fiona's call hastened her step.

            She looked at herself one last time to fix that pesky strain of her hair and got up from the vanity. "Lord, let this night go well, let me remember it forever," she said the prayer quickly, adjusted her dress one last time and left the room as Fiona called for her again.

            Everyone was stunned ad they saw Emmy appear on the top landing of the stairs. All had noticed her slight improvements over these last few weeks since Kathryn had been helping her but no one expected to see such a beautiful lady appear when Emmy came around the corner. Laurel almost gasped when she saw the dress wasn't Emmy's but Miss James' dress. "How disgraceful that Emmy would accept charity," Laurel thought. Fiona and Kathryn only grinned ear to ear seeing the beautiful woman before them. Both Caleb and Brandon were taken back and Julia felt a little ping of jealously see how beautiful her cousin was made up.

            Caleb was bold taking her arm when she got to the bottom of the stairs and escorted her to the motor coach.

To read more click here

A Relaxing New Year's Day

Previews of my writings...

Before the Ball 

"A ball how wonderful," Gloria said dancing around the table.

           

"Indeed but Mrs. Taylor hardly needs advice on how to throw a ball, she has thrown the same summer eve ball for the last six years, she must be a seasoned pro."

            "But Miss James must know all the latest trends when it comes to balls," Emmy said to her mother. "She is so well cultured."

            "Yes indeed she seems to have a way of making friends where ever she goes. Nicholas could not have chosen a better partner."

            "Partner? Mother, you make it sound like a business."

            "It is in some respects, and not an easy one."

            "But a marriage should not be a business?"

            "Only in some respects, you will discover a great deal more about it when you get married."

            "If I get married."

            "You must have hope dear Emmy you are only sixteen."

            "You met father when you were seventeen and married him by twenty."

            "Four years is a long time you still get plenty of time," Fiona kissed her daughter on the forehead. 

            "Yes mother."

            Emmy didn't know then if she ever wanted to get married and she didn't know if she was to morn or rejoice over it. She wanted to passion that was for sure but she also wanted adventure, to see the world and everything in it but how could one do that and be a wife and mother? At sixteen she didn't have the answer.

            Gloria distracted her thoughts for awhile as she begged their mother to go to the ball.

            "Are you mad? You are far too young."

            "I will be thirteen soon."

            "Thirteen is still far too young."

            "But?"

            "You will just have to wait till you're older."

            "When will I ever be old enough to do anything."

            Gloria crossed her arms and fell into a chair slumping further than appropriate.

            Fiona turned to Emmy "I think though Emmy you are old enough. You are sixteen and Laurel went to her first ball at sixteen."

            "But I barely know how to dance and I have nothing to wear."

            "Well I can teach you more and you can borrow one Laurel's dress. You just have to promise to be careful with it."

            "Oh I will."

            "Good then its settled, Emmy will be going to her first ball," without keeping a beat seeing Gloria's sad puppy look "and you will go when you are sixteen and not a moment sooner."

            Gloria sighed.

            The girls had a mostly quiet afternoon until a surprise gift came for Emmy more flowers a beautiful arrangement from Miss Dashwood's nursery in town. The card did not say who they were from giving the house mild gossip over dinner time.

To read more click more

Emmy's Fluttering Heart 

That night at dinner everyone noticed the change in Emmy. Even Caleb who took a shine to her and insist that play a hand of cards together and as no one would join in they were left in conversation to themselves Emmy kept doing as Kathryn told her to do and she did glow as Kathryn had predicted. By the end of the game Caleb had requested two dance with her.

            "Well done Miss James," Julia said to Kathryn. "It looks like you might have a new sister."

            "No Caleb is a good brother but he gets amused quickly and then fleets away even quicker. Though I do think she will break more hearts than she realizes."

            "I doubt it, the family has no money."

            "Money hardly matters when it comes to matters of the heart," Kathryn said taking a sip of her champagne cocktail.

            "Besides Aunt Fiona will never let her marry till Laurel is well settled. All their hope depend upon Laurel marrying well."

            "Yes do you know of any attachment for Laurel, she seems so distant."

            "There was a young man the family had hoped would propose but nothing came of it."

            "How sad."

            "Yes it is, Laurel was so alive when he was around."

            "Well we must find someone to replace that man perhaps Nicholas has a friend I could math them up when they come to Boston. Both of them would do well out of the house."

            "You are so kind Kathryn it makes me wish I had such a generous nature," Julia took a large swig of her drink and left Kathryn's side nothing she said was going to un-charm Kathryn away from the Cromwell girls.

            By the time of the ball it seemed Caleb and Emmy were hardly inseparateble. He taught her how to drive around the driveway and he took a keen interest in being shown the woods. As they could not convince anyone else to go out on their walks they were often alone. Emmy loved theses moments alone with him. She imagined them being caught in rain storm with no place to run for shelter, the air would smell fresh as it always did during a summer rain, and he would kiss her. But they were never caught in a rainstorm and when they walked together he was always a gentleman not standing too close to her. He would offer her his hand if they had rocks to step over but would never hold onto to her longer than needed. Those times with Caleb were far better than any moment she had had with a crush and figured this was what ultimately true love; like Guinevere and Lancelot or Romeo and Juliet except a lot less violence and no death, Emmy told herself.

To read more click here

Welcome Mr. Caleb James

Okay I have gotten a lot typing done... woo hoo. I wrote on my last post on this story I had 16,000+ words now 18,000+ words.

Here is my preview to The Introduction to Caleb James 

Summer had begun to turn from cool mornings to warm afternoons back to cool evenings to just warm all the time. Sometimes it was almost unbearable to stand. Emmy one day needed a break and went down to cool herself off by standing in her creek. Since Kathryn James had arrived she had spent little time in her imaginary world so that day when the women were taking their usual afternoon naps Emmy snuck out and headed to the creek.

            The clouds were grey and the air smelt like rain. Emmy knew the smell well and knew it meant a storm was coming on but instead of being sensible and staying in she took her chances and headed out with no protection. The creek and the woods were peaceful and she lost track of time out there it was almost dusk before she realized it. Her feet were still wet from her last wade in so she decided to walk home barefoot.

            Little did she know nature or fate (as she later called it) was conspiring against or for her. For the last hour she had felt an occasional drop of rain but paid no attention to it. But it seemed as soon as she left her rock a dark cloud rolled over her and sent the storm she had long been smelling. She wrapped her arms around her book and ran quickly through the woods to Glenmoore field where she knew a little fort was built to protect drivers on the road from the rain such as this. This little fort would be faster to get to than the house and she would have a warmer reception at the empty fort then at her home, where she was sure to get a lecture both from Grandma Danford and Laurel and a sad look from her mother. She knew they would act as if it was her fault for it to be raining and they would both be upset she had snuck out and acted in a child like manor. Emmy remembered a time when Laurel would chase rainbows with her just to see what was on the other side. She remembered how fun Laurel was once and how she had as big of an imagination as Emmy did but now it all seemed like a distant past. Then it happened, fate, being lost in her remembrance she hadn't realized there was a little rock up ahead waiting for her to lose her footing. And she stumbled and was not able to catch herself. She was later not able to tell people how she fell all she knew was one moment she was running the next she was rolling down a hill trying to stop herself. And that’s when fate, or Caleb James, stepped in.

            He had been driving through to this desolate town at his sisters request when his engine stopped working. And his engine had stopped working then as he was tinkering on his engine it started raining. He saw the fort in the field and trumped towards it and with each step he sunk into the mud. Then it happened he saw a girl running through the field with almond hair and slender figure, he thought she almost looked like a deer. Next thing he knew she lost her footing and fell forward crashing into the ground and rolling down towards him. He picked up his feet from the mud and rushed towards her.

            She barely realized what happened, she could feel her head throbbing the fall was harder than she realized. She felt as every ounce of air was out of her and her lungs felt as if they collapsed.

            "Miss, Miss, are you all right?" A man asked.

            She could not answer him.

            "Are you all right?" he asked again.

             "I, I" she could say anymore.

            "Here give me your arm," he took her left arm and draped it around his neck and scooped her up.

            In his arms she felt as light as a feather.

            "A Danford I assume."

            "Cromwell."

            "Oh Miss Cromwell my sister has written me about you."

            "Emmy."

            "Well Miss Emmy, it is a pleasure to meet you. May I take you home."

            "Thank you."

            Laurel was working on her needle point near the window it was the best light in the parlor. Mother and Aunt Victoria were chatting idly and she had lost her focus on her needle point and was absentmindedly staring out the window. When she saw him,  a stranger, carrying her sister up the drive.

            "Mother?!"

            "What?" Fiona jumped out her seat, startled by her daughters scream.

            "A man has Emmy!"

            "What?" A dash to the window "who is he?"

            "I don't know!"

            Both Fiona and Laurel dashed to the front door. They began to run outside but he was already in the main door.

            "What happened?" Fiona asked flustered.

            " I am alright mother. I fell a bit."

            "Yes mam, I made sure she was all right before I lifted her, just had the air knock out of her and maybe some bruises."

            "She fell?"

            "Yes I lost footing. But I am fine, my head hurts a bit."

            "Come to the couch, I will fetch you both some tea," Laurel said as Fiona escorted them a mad rush.

            Caleb placed Emmy on the chaise as Fiona ran to get her daughter blankets. He took the seat next to her but when Fiona came in with Fiona came in with the blankets he got hop and let Fiona take the seat next to her daughter. Emmy tried to act calm but she could feel him staring at her and she felt flustering.

            "We are so thankful Mr.-"

            "James. Mr. Caleb James."

            "James? Mr. Brandon James and Miss James' brother?" Fiona asked.

            "The very same."

            "We were not expecting you till later this week."

            "Well I was able to get away sooner than I thought. But I do hope my early arrival is not an imposition."

            "No, no not at all. We have plenty of rooms to fill."

            "It just I am sure Miss James will be sad she and Julia  have gone out to call Miss Hester, she is the minister's daughter and runs a small school for under privileged children. She spoke on Sunday and your sister was quite motivated by the story. Your sister is so generous."

            "Yes always has been."

            Caleb stood when Laurel came in with the tea and Fiona quickly explained that the hero of the moment was Brandon and Kathryn's brother.

To read more click here.

Winter Break... Part 2

In my last post on Winter Break  I wrote the number one thing I wanted to do on this break was to work on my story. I have done a lot of writing in my notebook but now I am trying to transcribe it and post it on my blog. Yesterday on my flight home and today I have been typing a lot to bring my computer and blog up to speed. So now I am up to 10 post (yeah it is a slow process). But I have enjoyed it. I will keep posting as I get more work done.


If  you missed it November was National Novel Writing Month and the goal of it is to write 50,000 words. I knew I could never do that but lots of the blogs I followed did and I have a new respect for them. In my story I have written about 34 pages and I have only written 16,000+ words. It would seem like a lot if I was writing a paper but I am trying to write a novel and it is not much at all. Oh well maybe I will finish my novel one day (it is on my bucket list). Thanks for reading...hope you enjoy.


Here is a preview of The James Family (part 3)

That night at dinner Emmy sat next to Brandon.

            "Your sister, Mr. James, tells me you are the British Ambassador's right hand man."

            "I don't know if I would say that, my sister is always too kind."

            "Didn't you just return from a trip to England where you met the Prime Minister?"
            "I did."

            "Well I would say you are quite important then."

            "You are kind Miss Cromwell."

            Emmy laughed, no one ever called her Miss Cromwell, no one called her "Miss" anything she was just Emmy. But she could see laughter was not the right thing to do by the way he looked.

            "I am sorry Mr. James, I was not laughing at you, I was laughing at being called Miss Cromwell, that title belongs to my sister. I am Emmy."

            "How old are you?"

            "Sixteen."

            "It is not right to call a lady by her first name."

            "But everyone does. Everyone calls me Emmy minus Miss Pembers. Though my real name is Emmaline."

            "That's an interesting name."

            "What you mean is odd."

            Brandon saw her sulk a bit. "No I mean not common but beautiful."

            "It was my father's middle name, I was born a month after she passed away. But everyone calls me Emmy. I am not graceful enough to have such a name as Emmaline."

            "Why do you say that?"

            "My Grandma Danford tells me."

            "Well I don't want to dispute your Grandma but I disagree."

            Emmy smiled.

            Then it struck Brandon how much this young girl looked like Marianne his love from Oxford. Their faces could almost be identical with the same almond shape eyes and sweet smile that made her nose crinkle a bit. Before he could speak again her sister Gloria had grabbed her attention. He overheard them talking about the piano.

            "Do you play the piano, Miss Emmy?"
            "Hardly, Gloria and I were discussing how she and Laurel should put on a musical number for you and Miss James. They have the beauty and musical skills. I can barely play hot cross buns."

            "You don't find music amusing then?"

            "To listen to yes, but I cannot play, even though to appease my Grandma I practice. I have neither the ear nor the talent."

            "Then how do you delight your time?"

            "With stories. I love to write stories, one day I hope to be published. Maybe be a great author like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell or the Brontë sisters," she saw his little smile. "I know it's silly," she said lowering her head.

            "Not at all," he saw her smile like she had before. "What do you write about?"

            "Adventure, passion, knights fighting for the girl he loves, princes in Africa. Everything my life is not."

            "What do you mean?"

            "I have live most of life in this house and this little town not very adventurous, and my Grandma Danford tries to stifle out all passion. "

            "Maybe one day you will see the world."

            "Maybe but it is unlikely."

            "Really?"

            Emmy realized maybe she had shared too much. After all Brandon James was a stranger and he seemed so judgmental before. But now he seemed the polar opposite of judgmental and not as cold as Emmy originally casted him as being. But he still was a stranger and Laurel would be ashamed that she had shared even a bit of their financial hardships with a stranger. So Emmy changed topics quickly asking if he played the piano. He said not really. For a bit after that they sat in quietness not knowing really what to say. After dinner the men and the women separated for the men to have a smoke and a brandy.

            "You seemed to be talking to Mr. James," Laurel said.

            "He is very nice."

            "Oh Miss Emmy," Kathryn approached Emmy "thank you for amusing my brother during dinner he seems so lonely so much of the time. I wish he could find the happiness I have found with Nicholas."

            "Is he not married?" Laurel asked.

            "No he is an old bachelor, he is far too devoted to his work and my mother and myself to have time to look for a girl to settle down with. I keep trying to match him with one of my friends but he has shown no interest in any of them. The girl who does capture his heart will be the luckiest girl in the world he is so devoted and loyal."

To read more click here

Next to come... the introduction of Caleb James who plays the Mr. Willoughby character in my story.

Winter Break

Hello lovely readers,

Thanks for much for your continuous support as I took a little time away from this blog as I worked on finishing up this semester. But now it is winter break... YEAH!!!
 

Of course it hasn't actually snowed here.

 The number one thing I want to do besides seeing my family is writing. If you don't know I have been attempting to write a story similiar to the plot line of Sense and Sensability. Sadly though with school I haven't had that much time and energy to write. So if you want to catch up on my writing click here for my story The Sister's of Pine Haven. (I only have written 9 post on that blog so it will be easy to catch up.)

I want to write so much that I even started carrying my little notebook around with me and have written a bit on the T (subway for Boston). Which is quite difficult when I am standing and holding my travel mug of coffee. But I must write... or else I will go bonkers.

I also want to read a lot. I have been reading the same book since October. Usually I am a much faster reader but like I said before no time.  I have been reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. (It is not about the Civil War.) And the only reason I have been able to pick it up and put it down so much is because I watched the minniseries on it a few months ago. I wrote more about the minniseries in my Love some Melodrama? post. I am happy I have a flight home to get some reading and writing in.

I also hope to watch some good Christmas Movies. I have done well on listening to Christmas music thanks to Spotify. (An online service kind of like Pandora but you chose your own music and you can re listen to songs). But I haven't watched many Christmas movies and I want to. (From the classics to the not so classics.)



I am also looking forward to spending unscheduled time with my friends. True, genuine time not just a pass by "hello."

Any way that is my winter break list. I know it will go by too fast and soon I will be in school again, so I want to remember to enjoy the month.

The Dinner Party

While watching the Emmy's I typed up more of my story... that was good home work break. 

To learn more about The James Family click here 

Found at "Will Type For Food"

That night at dinner Emmy sat next to Brandon.

            “Your sister, Mr. James tells me you are the British Ambassador’s right hand man.”

            “I don’t know if I would say that.”

            “Didn’t you just return from a trip from England with him where you met the Prime Minister?”

            “I did.”

            “Well I would say you are quite important then.”

            “You are kind Miss Cromwell.”

            Emmy laughed, no one ever called her Miss Cromwell, no one called her Miss anything she was just Emmy. But she could see laughter was not the right thing to do by the way he looked.

            “I am sorry Mr. James, I wasn’t laughing at you, I was laughing at being called Miss Cromwell that title belongs to my sister. I am just Emmy.”

            “How old are you?”

            “Sixteen?”

            “It is not right to call a lady by just her first name.”

            “But everyone does. Everyone calls me Emmy minus Miss Pembers; though my real name is Emmaline.”

            “That is an interesting name.”

            “What you mean is odd.”

            Brandon saw her sulk a bit. “No I mean not common but beautiful.”

            “It was my father’s mother’s name, I was born a month after she passed away. But everyone calls me Emmy. I am not graceful enough to have such a name as Emmaline.”

            “Why do you say that?”

            “My Grandma Danford tells me.”

            “Well I don’t want to dispute your Grandma but I disagree.”

            Emmy smiled.

            

Then it struck Brandon how much this young girl looked like Martha, his love from Oxford. Their faces could almost be identical with the same almond shape eyes and sweet smile that made her nose crinkle. Before he could speak again her sister Gloria had grabbed her attention. He overheard them talking and heard them talking about the piano.

            “Oh do you play, Miss Emmy?”

            “Hardly, Gloria and I were discussing how she and Laurel should put on a show for you and Miss James. They have the beauty and musical skills of the family. I can barely play hot cross buns.”

            “You don’t find music amusing then?”

            “To listen to yes but I cannot play music, even though to appease my Grandma I practice. I have neither the ear not the talent.”

            “Well then how do you delight your time?”

            “With stories. I love to write stories, one day I hope to be published,” she saw his little smile “I know it’s silly,” she said lowering her head.

            “Not at all,” he saw like she had before. “What do you write about?”

            “Adventure, passion, knights fighting for the girl he loves, princes in Africa. Everything my life is not.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “I have not lived any but this house and this town of Pine Haven. Not very adventurous and my Grandma Danford tries to stifle out all passion.”

            “Maybe one day you will see the world.”

            “Maybe, but it’s unlikely.”

            “Really?”

Welcome Brandon James

I know some of you might have forgotten the story I am writing on the side of this blog, The Sisters of Pine Haven but I have not. I may not be on top of it as much as I would like thanks to grad-school but I am still writing. And now I would like to introduce you to Brandon James...

Brandon James is suppose to play the much the same role as Colonel Brandon played to Marianne in Sense and Sensibility. I love Alan Rickman in this role and I keep picturing him as I write my character Brandon James.

I do hope you enjoy...

Found at That's Miss Kelly to You

By a fortnight end Nicholas returned to Pine Haven with Miss James and her brother Mr. Brandon James. Within an hour everybody could see that she was exactly how Nicholas, described her genuinely kind, warm hearted and very intelligent. She quickly passed Grandma Danford’s interrogation being from a family with wealth as long as Americans history and showing she had proper breeding and would be fine match for Nicholas. Grandma Danford was pleased that Nicholas had made such a match on his own and he was not being forced into a marriage of such good standing, as she had once thought would be the case. Soon all parties fell easily into conversation. All but Miss James brother Brandon James, he was stand-off-ish and not in a sweet awkward way that Ethan Foster was but in a rude awkward way. Emmy thought the way he stood against the wall hardly saying two words together it was as if he was judging everyone in the room.
          
That was not the case Brandon James was not used to this much talking going on at any given moment and did not know how to interact. Brandon had been from his father’s first marriage but his mother passed away when he was three trying to give birth to his younger sister. As his father could not properly tend to business and take care of the child Brandon was sent to live with his aunt and uncle in England. It wasn’t until he was twelve that his father had re-married a Miss Elliot that he came back to America and fully lived in his father’s house. But his heart still belonged in England which is why he went to Oxford for education and began to work for the British Ambassador. With the new Mrs. James his father had another son Caleb and his daughter Kathryn both much younger than him. Caleb and Brandon never saw eye to eye but Kathryn adored her oldest brother and loved all the stories of England, it was the closest she got to real royalty. What both his siblings didn’t know about Brandon was while he was at Oxford he fell in love but when his father met her, he forbid the marriage. The girl came from no standing her father worked in a factory and Brandon only met her by chance while she was visiting her brother who went to Oxford on scholarship and was studying to become a doctor. It would not do for a James to marry so far beneath him. For awhile Brandon and she wrote but one day the letters stopped he wrote her but got no response. When Brandon was finally able to track her where about down he found her six feet under a head stone; Brandon tried to get in contact with her brother but heard nothing. After that Brandon only found delight in his sister. Kathryn was a great harpist and when ever her brother looked sad she would go over and play a little music on her harp. Kathryn never knew why Brandon got a sad look on his face but knew her music would cheer him up. After their father passed away his father passed away Brandon tried to spend more time at the home of his stepmother but was also very attentive to business. Kathryn always thought her brother lived too quiet of a life and wished he would go out to parties when he was invited but parties were too much for him and he preferred to stay in his own home, minus when work took him to England.  


For more on the James family click here. 

Found at My Jane Austen Book Club

Currently Reading

I found out about this book through a blog I follow Austenprose.com. She was having a give away contest and I actually won a copy. I thought this book would be interesting to read as I myself am trying to write a story with kind of the Sense and Sensibility plot line (for my story click here)... so I really wanted to see how another author did it. And I have entered contest before but never won so I doubted I would win but surpisingly I did. YEAH!!!

After I finished The Wild Rose I was trying to figure out what book to read. Unfortunately all my books were in boxes. So I couldn't get at them. Then when I moved the first night I opened my boxes to seek out a new book to read. I didn't know what to read, I have a long list of books to get through. I decided on this one not only because I wanted to see how another author tackeled the Jane Austen classic plot but also I know soon I will be in class with not that much time for fun reading so I liked the idea on reading a new book book but with I plot I knew and loved.

Goodreads.com says this...

Daphne Rivera and her sister Gabby could not be more different.


For fifteen-year-old Daphne, the glass is always half full, a dab of lip-gloss can ward off a bad day, and the boy of her dreams—the one she's read about in all of her beloved romance novels—is waiting for her just around the corner.

But Daphne’s older sister Gabby wishes Daphne would get real. In Gabby’s world, everyone’s out for themselves, wearing makeup is a waste of time, and boys only distract you from studying before they break your heart. The only boy Gabby trusts is her best friend, Mule, who has always been there for her.

Both Gabby and Daphne are still reeling from their parents’ divorce, though in very different ways. While Gabby will never forgive her unreliable father for failing her mother, Daphne idolizes her daddy and is sure that everything would work out fine if her cranky mom would just let him back into their lives.

When a crisis leaves the girls and their mom homeless, help comes from an unexpected source, and both girls are courted by surprise suitors who shake up their views of the world. Suddenly the glass isn’t so clearly half empty or half full . . . and love seems a lot more complicated than they ever could have imagined.

An Interview with author Jennifer Ziegler can be found at Eve's Fan Garden .

Story Saturday

ETHAN FOSTER (PART 1)... PREVIEW

Grandma Danford had no statement to come back to the stranger. She simply cleared her throat and moved on to find out about Nicholas’ education. Grandma Danford had an opinion on all subjects brought up and she freely spoke them as the whole family knew they were indebted to her someway or another. Though Grandma Danford hardly spoke to Ethan, which could be seen as rude to not be gracious to a guest but Grandma Danford was at a loss when some one spoke out. But Emmy did find out that Ethan was from a prominent family in Sussex with a large estate there.Julia said it was such a it was such a shame that he was such a dull because he was very rich. If he had more of personality she would see him as a much better friend to Nicholas.

“Out of all the friends Nick has I find him the least interesting, I do not wish mother insisted for Nick to bring him. Last week he read us some of the the tales of King Arthur and never so much had I wanted Lancelot dead as I did that night. Though I suspect mother has long wanted us to marry, I guess that is why mother insisted on him.”

“So you do not like him?” Emmy asked her shyly.

“Heavens no, English men are so dreary and irksome.”

“He didn’t seem so at tea today.”

“Emmy, he hardly said five words,” Julia laughed at her cousin’s foolish swooning. “I wouldn’t

recommend you falling for him either, you are nearly eight years younger than him and I know you read novels but in real life men of wealthy families do not make unfortunate matches.”

“Thank you cousin for your warning and if my mind was going that way your warning would be wise but it wasn’t, you can have him.”

“Yes cousin,” Julia gave Emmy a smile a smile as if she didn’t believe her.

Emmy wouldn’t admit it to anyone but secretly and suddenly she did have a crush on Ethan. He had a gentle smile and was very sweet to everyone. He also didn’t treat any of the Cromwells poorly because they weren’t in the same rank as he was. And this kind behavior would attract any girl to him. But she soon saw the dreary ways Julia spoke of and though he was sweet she also saw they had little in comm with each other. He had no interest in adventure in seeing anything beyond his nose, he even described the hills of Italy ordinary. How could any one describe the hills of Italy as boring or not want to see the Serengeti Plans, she thought.

“In my foolishness, I have dreamt of my first love so long it is no one wonder I lost my head over Ethan,” Emmy wrote in her journal. She realized Julia had changed and she could not share her secret crush to her. “I have had so many almost love. There was Peter but he pushed me in the creek on the fourth of July, when I was nine. Then there was Andrew, Marcus, Robert, and Finley of course they were just sporadic loves it was Patrick Cooper that was my true love and he hardly noticed me. And while I waited patiently for him I had crushes on another Marcus, a John and a William. But William paid more attention to his pet frogs than girls. And while I had all these almost loves, I dreamed of having my own love it was no wonder I took to Ethan who was kind and noticed the way my eyes shined when he read some Keats. But besides Keats Ethan shows a lack of passion I would need. He would actually be perfect for Laurel.”

For more of the story click here

For Ethan Foster (Part 2) click here

The Introduction

Emmy didn’t know Julia’s true feelings on her up coming visit and looked forward to seeing her cousin come again. Julia had wrote to Emmy about the gossip of Boston but she always wrote saying “I’ll tell you more when I see you.” At last her arrival would end the mystery of who Francis Jackson would marry. It gave Emmy such delight to discuss the people as they were characters in a novel and though she had never met them she them she tried to to imagine their future if she just changed one element of their lives.

Though Emmy craved adventure in her stories and maybe one day in her life. She knew she could not be without there mother, her sisters and her woods but wondered what it would be like to live like her cousin Julia, a young lady in society full of a town’s juicy stories. Always entertaining suitors and going to fancy parties to dance the night away.

“When you are old enough I’ll let you go to Boston.” Fiona would say when Emmy moaned about going to Boston.

“But Julia is only a year older than me and already been presented. Oh mother could I not go to Boston.”

“You will,” her mother kissed her on the fore head.

What her mother meant by “you will” was one day “when I see fit.” Emmy could tell with the tone she used. Emmy also knew it was a bad idea to push on the issue further for the time being. What Emmy really didn’t understand is why Laurel never talked about going to Boston it was if it was the worst idea ever. Surely in Boston Laurel would be the bell of the ball her look were far better than Julia’s and people would not judge her for being poor; she thought they would assume a cousin to the Danfords would be just a rich as they. But Laurel had no interest in leaving her mother or their house. She also seemed to care little for the fact that her cousins were coming and they were bringing a friend of Nicholas’, Ethan Foster, a class mate of Nicholas and a man growing in Uncle Charles’s firm from England and could not return home for the short season. And Emmy seemed to be the only one who found that interesting.

Grandma Danford’s health was almost renewed by the time Uncle Charles arrival came. She even made her way to the foyer to greet them but she thought the air would be too cold to wait for them outside. Emmy thought it was the most pleasant day they had had all season so far and ran to keep a look out. When she saw their convoy she ran back inside and announced their arrival.

“Heavens sake no yelling is necessary.”

“I am sorry Grandma,” Emmy lowered her tone.

“I would hardly call it dignified, maybe a summer with a lady of society like your cousin would be good. But I do hope you act better with your guest.”

“I am sure that is the last yell you will hear from Emmy,” Fiona said.

“I do hope so. Really Fiona if your girls should know how to behave, Laurel is good but if your relaxed ways continue Gloria will be a disgrace.”

“Emmy will behave just fine.”

“I do hope so we can not have our family disgraced.”

Emmy thought she was behaving just fine by not refuting any of her Grandma Danford’s words. And later her mother would thank her for it.

“Mr. and Mrs. Charles Danford,” Thomas said.

“Thank you Thomas,” Charles said patting him on the back.

“Your welcome sir.”

“Mother,” Charles walked in and kissed Grandma Danford’s out stretched hand. “You look more beautiful every time.”

“You are sweet but you are already the heir to my fortune.”

“Mother Danford,”Victoria said greeting Grandma Danford also with a kiss on the hand but she seemed more uncomfortable in the behavior.

“Where are the children?”

“Coming, Nick’s friend Ethan was following and I think they got separated,” Victoria said.

“What kind of driver loses another driver.”

“Ethan Foster, doesn’t have a driver mother,” Uncle Charles said.

“What?”

“Not everyone feels the need for a driver,” Victoria said sweetly.

“They should.”

“Mother, young people are more adventurous these days,” Uncle Danford said trying to laugh it off.

“Not another adventurous spirit in this house,” Grandma Danford said giving Emmy a harsh look that no one but Emmy noticed. However no one missed her next sentiment. “I have my hands full with no adventurous youth and I do hope Victoria your daughter Julia, so refined will be a good influence over her.”

Emmy looked over to Aunt Victoria she looked more embarrassed than Emmy felt. Emmy didn’t know why, what did she have to be embarrassed about her daughter was the talk of Boston for being a refined delight. Emmy couldn’t think of any one who would consider the Cromwell girls as refined delight. Laurel would definitely be considered refined and maybe in some circles Emmy would be considered delightful. Even as Emmy thought of the word as an adjective next to he name, she thought it would be use liberally as no one would dare speak ill of some one related to Mrs. Cornelia Danford. Emmy thought the word that would probably be used to describe her would be childish. One can not be childish and refined at the same time and no heroine in her own right would stand to be thought of as childish. Maybe Grandma Danford was right spending the summer with Julia would do Emmy good, Emmy thought.

These thought were broken by Thomas announcing Nicholas and Julia.

“Grandma Danford,” Nick said grandly sweeping into the parlor “may I present my good friend Ethan Foster from Harvard by way of Sussex.”

“Aw the man who has no driver.”

“Yes mam,” he said with a nod. “The drive is more enjoyable when one experienced every bump behind the wheel.”

Two things were certain, one he had a British accent and second he spoke his mind. Both were so refreshing, Emmy thought. No was to speak their mind in front of Grandma Danford, and no did minus this stranger.

Julia Danford

Emmy loved her cousin Julia Danford. She was the type of cousin any girl would want to have she was the kind of cousin that every girl wanted. She was a year older so she had more worldly experience then Emmy but still loved to escape into the woods and play fantasy. Emmy held these times as her most dear because here she could be herself with out being criticized by her sister or being laughed at her mother for being too young. When Emmy heard Julia was coming back she got together their adventure kit they put together.

At the moment Julia Danford was sitting in the bay window of the front parlor looking down Commonwealth waiting anxiously for Howard Staurt’s new automobile to be in sight. She had waited two days for this sight ever since he wrote promising he was coming into town. Her mother saw the anxious look her carried and noticed the way her daughter was paying no mind to her needle work. And Victoria Danford noticed more and more that since Julia turned seventeen and her debutante ball that had no mind for anything but suitors.

Victoria remembered what it was like to be a young girl and she had suitors but none would do once she met Charles Danford. They were the talk of all Boston being a very handsome couple both in looks and in

prosperity. Victoria looking at her daughter saw much the beauty of herself in Julia and hoped that Julia would on day find the love of her life.

“Julia, why don’t you go for a walk?It is one of the best days we have had all season, some fresh air will do you good.”

“No thank you,” she said dismissing her mother but not really hearing a word she said.

“A man should not for you to being cooped up all day. Show him that you have a life besides him.”

“But Howard told me he would come. He promised me.”

“I know dear.”

“If father wasn’t taking us all to the country for the season I could spend as much time as I liked with Howard Staurt or his brother.”

“His brother?” Victoria asked but Julia hardly heard her.

In Julia’s mind both of the Staurt boys were equally handsome and rich and both would be suitable for

her. Julia looked at herself and know she wouldn’t be any more beautiful than she was right then and she used it to her advantage and took to any caller. All of them gave her some excitement to be admired by a mam. She knew one day she would get married and settled down but for now she saw living freely as completely delightful.

Her mother knowing these thoughts found it good to take her daughter away into the country for the summer. The summer would be crazy season and Victoria felt that if Julia spent the summer in Boston that her reputation would be ruined as an outrageous flirt before she even had the chance to establish herself in good society. A good family name could only carry her so far she thought and worried that no proper man would want Julia if she was known for changing men as often as she changed a dress. Victoria grew up in a society where a woman’s modesty was sought after. A suitor would never come to her home unless they had intentions she only had one suitor before she met the love of her life in Charles Danford. The world had seemed completely to Victoria now with daughter going through one or two suitors a month. To Victoria this seemed no way for her to meet a sensible man who came with the purest intentions. Any man of such standings would think Julia was easily charmed and would be scared to approach her. Victoria had strongly wished they had put off Julia’s presentation into society another year and in that time she would be given proper training in courting behaviors. Victoria had been sent to a school the year before her presentation and when she came out every one agreed that her temper was as sweet as her looks. But Charles blinded by Julia’s sweet smile gave into her wishes.

“Of course Charles didn’t have to deal with the preparations it took to present a daughter and what it meant to have a girl out in society,” Victoria thought “Charles just had to get Nick fitted into a few suits and a tuxedo.”

Now Julia needed ball gowns and she couldn’t be expected to wear the same gown twice. She also need tea dresses for all the functions society now demanded she attend. It also meant Victoria’s social schedule would be dictated by Julia’s outings. Julia always had to have an escort. But the worst part for Victoria was seeing Julia’s behavior to young men. A few days ago her son Nick had called Julia free spirited, if that was free spirited Victoria thought a spirit should be more locked up.

“All Charles had to deal with was signing a check for his daughter’s latest purchases which was followed by glass of scotch and a slight headache,” Victoria thought as she watched Julia stare out the window.

“I don’t understand you,” Charles said a about a week ago “You want Julia to meet a nice man and you

want to take her away to the country.”

“I want her to meet type of man,” Victoria said the husband. “If Julia stays in the city for the season I feel she will ruin herself in society eyes.”

“And what will Pine Haven do? The best society they have is the Melbournes hardly anyone I would allow to court my daughter.”

“I am not looking to match her up. Perhaps delay the process. She is only seventeen years old and I see her losing herself to finding a suitor. Its been weeks since she painted anything and she loves to paint. And all she talks about are boys, she can gossip about them for hours with the her lonely friends.”

“Her friends come from the best families in Boston as you designed.”

“Well they have all changed now that they are in society. Its the oddest thing. But perhaps,” Victoria’s tone changed into a tone Charles knew very well, it was a tone told him Victoria had something up her sleeve. “If Nick comes with us and brings a nice suitable match for Julia and alone in the country they happen to hit it off.”

Charles didn’t pay much attention to his children but knew well enough that Nick had earned quite a reputation for being a man about town. And knew that Nick’s friends were unlikely to be suitable to Julia as they were the same. He brought up this up to Victoria but she dismissed it.

“What about that Foster boy. He would be all right. He has proved himself to be a fine gentleman and he is making his way steadfast through your firm.”

“Indeed but I think our Julia would find him a complete dull.”

“In the country that might change. After all like you said there will be no one around.”

“Doubtful, but we will go and I will invite Ethan Foster tomorrow. But darling I think the only thing Julia will do is moan for society here.”

While Julia initially threw a fit that they were going away, Victoria still hoped a summer away would bring a change in her daughter’s mindset. Now seeing Julia waste her time pining for a man she hardly cared for made her think she had decided wisely.

Eventually Howard did come and Julia was overjoyed. She carried on all evening about his automobile and how she wished she would be staying in Boston so she could take long sunset drives around the city and show it off with him. But her father hardly noticed her ravings and her mother didn’t budge her opinion.

“Oh mother what am I suppose to do all summer knit with Laurel while she goes on for hours about women’s rights and that Cady Stanton woman. Or play those childish games with Emmy who spends most her time imagining adventures that never happen.”

“You used to be joined at the hip with Emmy. You guys had your own little club on top of that rock.”

“Times change. She is a child.”

“She is a year younger. Things do change she might be different.”

“She hasn’t changed. She writes me the stories she makes up and when I share them with my friends they got such a laugh.”

“That is harsh Julia.”

“That is the world we live in. The society you want Nick and I to live in.”

Victoria was happy Charles was not in the room to hear Julia’s harsh words. For it hurt her heart to know that her daughter spoke so cruelly.