In case you feel like you’re seeing double with this post, you probably are. I’ve been having a huge number of problems with both websites due to the WordPress update on a Genesis platform. (If that means nothing to you, carry on).
Apart from all these little posts that keep disappearing, I’ve not blogged much. The edits have taken up much of my time and I have little energy left. I do have a quail and lemon tagliatelle recipe for you, which I will do soon. In the meantime, please allow me to present the cover of my romance, which will be available for sale on Amazon no later than May 1. (I’ll let you know).
Introducing …
And here’s an excerpt from Chapter 10
Chastity watched as the viscount stood and put his black wool coat back on. It was warm enough in the food stall to take it off, but the cold air crept into the rest of the marché and made the outerwear indispensable. She noticed how nice his red scarf looked against his matte complexion, and how well it matched his actress’s coat. He put his arm around her as they walked out, tilting his ear to catch what she was saying while they turned the corner. Just perfect, she sighed.
“Are you finished Thomas?” She forced herself to be cheerful.
“Yup, Mom. You’re the one who’s not.” He pointed at her forgotten waffle on the plate and grinned.
“Ah, silly me.” She laughed. “I must have had too big of a lunch.” She scooted her plate towards him. “Want it?”
“No thanks, Mom. I’m full.” Thomas was silent, spinning the paper plate in front of him. Chastity’s mind was filled with the image of the viscount’s unsmiling face as he walked towards her.
“Mom?” Thomas’s voice was tinged with a worry she didn’t pick up on.
“Hm?” she murmured absently.
“You said I could talk to you about anything, right?”
“Sure thing, sweetie.” She was not looking at him, but at the crowd walking by. “Oh look!” She pointed. “There’s Maude. Shall we go catch her?” With the eagerness only a child could possess, Thomas forgot the subject and raced after her friend, grabbing the back of her coat.
“Tommee!” she squealed, picking him up and twirling him around. “You know, in a year or two I won’t be able to do that.”
“I know.” Thomas grinned as his mom walked up.
“Hey,” Chastity greeted Maude with the bises on each cheek. “Have you seen anything you liked?”
“Well yeah,” Maude said. “I’m interested in the knitted hats and scarves because I’m willing to bet I could make something like that and it would sell.”
“Wait. You knit?” Chastity raised an eyebrow.
“Every scarf and sweater Michel owns.”
“I can’t believe you find the time.” She thought of her own life and how busy it was.
“We don’t have kids, for one thing,” Maude reflected comfortably. “I find it relaxing. It’s orderly, just like Math. Every stitch has its place.”
“Maybe you could teach knitting to your Math students,” Chastity teased. “The boys would love that. Anyway, show me. I want to see what kinds of things you can make. Thomas let’s go see if we can find some other stands with toys in them too, okay?”
He ran ahead by way of answer, even though he didn’t know where he was supposed to go. Chastity admired his energy and laughed. “Don’t go too far Thomas.” He stopped suddenly and darted over to a stall that had stickers and pens, and small desk toys that were propped up on little wires.
“Oh perfect,” said Maude. “He’s stopped just in the right place. There’s the knitted-wear stand.”
Chastity walked over and fingered a tomato-red scarf. “Oh, this one is nice.” She sighed. “Too bad I can never wear it.”
“But this one you totally could.” Maude pulled out a forest green hat with pale green trim. She whispered, “Don’t buy it though. I’ll make you one just like it.”
Manon pulled on the viscount’s arm and headed towards a stand with soaps from Provence. He extricated himself, saying, “I see the mayor over there. I’ll be right back.” Her eyes grew wide, probably at the thought of being left alone, but she schooled her features to hide it.
“Okay chéri.”
“Bertrand,” he said, extending his hand to an older man in an expensive suit that pulled at the waist.
“Ah, Charles.” The mayor returned the handshake. “Are you here on your own?”
“No. Manon Duprey came with me. She’s over there.” The gleam in the mayor’s eye meant he would be expecting an introduction. “I’ll introduce you to her,” the viscount promised with a wry smile.
“In good time, Charles. You know I have to ask you again this year if you’ll consider opening your home for a spring ball.” The viscount started to shake his head, but the mayor went on. “Now think about it, Charles, before you say no. Your father agreed to it in the past, and it did such good for the community.”
“My father agreed to it until the artwork went missing. I just can’t take that risk again.”
“I understand that. I do. But some of the townspeople are pressuring me on this one. The château is no longer a patrimony that belongs to the town, and the people want something in return. If you agreed to this, we would have every available officer on call to keep an eye on things. Think about it, okay Charles? Everyone is hoping for this.”
“I’ll … think about it,” was the most the viscount could manage, although he was sure he would not change his mind.
“Now, let’s see about that introduction.” The mayor clapped him on the back and steered him towards the soap stand where Manon was accepting a brown paper bag with her fragrant collection inside.
“I got almond, green tea, and lemon—” She stopped when she noticed the mayor walking next to the viscount.
“Mademoiselle Duprey.” He took both her hands in his own and kissed them, before pulling her in and kissing her on both cheeks.
“Let me introduce you to Bertrand Le Neveu, the mayor of Maisons-Laffitte,” the viscount said drily. The mayor already had his arm around Manon’s waist and was walking forward with her, pointing out a stand that boasted chocolates made in France. He whispered something in her ear.
“You rogue,” she said, laughing and blushing. She was used to this kind of attention—an older gentleman of position and wealth favoring her with his notice. These gentlemen could be useful to her career, and it wasn’t hard to please them.
“Charles, I’m just going to buy Mlle Duprey some chocolate. You can catch up with us further on.” The mayor dismissed him with a wink.
The viscount nodded, unthreatened. He wasn’t unhappy to be alone and continued down the aisle of the marché. His main goal was to make an appearance and let everyone know he was supporting the town. He didn’t need anything in particular among the goods that were displayed. To kill time, he paused at one of the stands on the corner of the aisle to examine the collection of fountain pens.
“Mommy, it’s starting to snow.” Thomas ran forward again. Sure enough, fat snowflakes were visible against the overhead lights, although they were hidden in the night beyond that.
Chastity and Maude began to walk behind him. “We’ll just follow this row down to the exit and then be on our way. I don’t want to get Thomas home too late.”
“Oh. Guess what,” Maude said. “I saw the actress here—Manon Duprey. She must be here with the viscount.”
Thomas had stopped at the corner stand, which contained horse paraphernalia, so they stood in the aisle just next to him.
“I know,” said Chastity. “I saw them eating at the next table. He didn’t look happy to be here.” Her dimples showed as she lowered her voice. “Mixing with the commoners.”
“His father had more of a reputation for interacting with the people of the town than the current viscount does. Apparently his dad even put on an elegant ball in the château and opened it for the community to come and dance. The mayor has been begging for the current owner to do the same, but so far he’s refused.”
“Thomas wait.” Chastity said, as her son darted forward again.
The two women followed him, and as they crossed the intersection of stalls, she said in a voice louder than intended, “Ha! This viscount.”
A gentleman in a black wool coat at a nearby stall turned his head slightly at her words. Though she lowered her voice, he caught the rest before the women were out of sight. “No surprise that he refuses to host a ball. Why should he lift a finger to do something nice for the town when he clearly has nothing personal to gain from it?”
That cover is absolutely perfect, just perfect!
Thank you, Kris!! (Clearly I am behind on replying to my comments). 😀
Eagerly awaiting the launch of this beautiful book!
Love it. Love you.
XOXO
MWAH! 🙂