Wacky Wednesday: A Little Help From A Friend

A tall man, elegantly dressed in perfectly tailored light brown suede trousers tucked into dark brown riding boots with silver buckled straps that show off strong legs, enters the room. Under his short brown riding coat, he wears an embroidered vest of burgundy and a stylishly tied white linen cravat tied at his neck over a white high collar. His light brown hair with its golden highlights as if he's spent time in the sun is worn tied back in a neat queue that rests fashionably over the back of his high collar. His face is handsome with a strong brow, straight nose, square jaw and eyes the color of warm brandy shadowed by thick dark lashes. His full mouth is firm yet yielding. He bows elegantly and when he stands erect that full firm mouth has spread into an endearing smile that now makes the shadow of a dimple evident in his left cheek.

Greetings dear readers. Joshua Embry, at your service. My dearest friend, Mrs. Valentini, has asked me to attend you today. I hope you don't mind my appearance in her stead. She feels she has overdone recently and I do believe she might have suffered a brief fainting spell on an evening past but she will not confirm this with me.

He takes a seat, crossing his long legs casually as he fingers the edge of one of his sleeves.

I've only just arrived back in Virginia after an extended stay in England under the tutelage of my uncle in his financial firm. Oh, my pardon. I promised I would inform you of my state. I am living in this the year, 1799, and am quite happy to be home again in the rolling hills of Virginia on my father's farm, Green Mount. It truly is fine to be at home again. Family is important and sorely missed after two years away.

His eyes lower and he teases at some lint on his leg. When he raises his face, he wears a slight frown.

Mrs. Valentini is writing my pathetic story. I call it pathetic because, fool that I am, it seems I have lost the love of the only woman I desire. It helps not that I have returned home with a future wife in tow that I have no desire for whatsoever.

He sits up straight in his chair and drops his raised foot to the floor.

Oh, please, do understand that I have not coerced some young woman to marry me whom I have no desire for but instead I have been trapped in an arrangement that I feel I must honor yet do not have any want of - whatsoever.

He leans back in his chair with a very audible sigh. He glances away then back.

Miss Bradford is - well, for lack of another term - quite a harpy. I know it is not desirable of me to speak so about a woman to whom I am about to become officially betrothed but seriously, she is one of the most odious people I have ever encountered. Second, possibly, only to her brother, Martin Bradford - a most irritating and pompous man. 

He sighs once more. His expression of sadness evident to all even as he tries to hide it.

'Tis Miss Pelt that has captured my very heart. I believe she's owned it since we were children yet it appears she no longer holds any desire for me. I once thought she did and I begged her to wait for my return from England. It was only two years, my dears, is that too long to ask a woman to wait if she loves a man?

He sighs again.

I wrote to her even before I reached the shores of England but never received a response. I wrote so many times yet she never answered.  After close to a year, I quit tearing my heart out on paper. I wrote to my sisters. Only Emily, dear innocent Emily, had the courage to tell me of the man who came to Green Mount to see Miss Pelt. I believe she said he was from Charleston where Anna, - er, Miss Pelt, went to school.  I don't think Emily understood the implication but I knew then that I had lost my true love.

He shifts in his chair uncomfortably.

I cannot relieve myself of my love for her. I thought that when we saw each other again here at Green Mount - oh, my pardon, I forgot to inform you that she is the governess for my darling Emily. Of that I do not envy her for my sister is quite a handful. I thought that once she saw me that all would be as it was but I have not been able to get even a brief moment with her. I need so to explain that I have no desire to wed Miss Bradford but I know not how to address the situation to my father or to the harpy, herself. I wish not to dishonor my father's good name by breaking a contract that has been so long in existence. I have decided that arranged marriages are not always a good thing. I also have to admit my own cowardice in attempting to beg my freedom from this unwanted committment.

Would it be so terrible in this new age of ours for me to marry a governess? We fought for our freedom from a cruel monarchy yet are still kept prisoner by such outdated societal expectations.

I must admit to knowledge that she has no father and that her mother was never married but I care not for it is Anna - er, Miss Pelt - that holds my heart so dear not society. Society be damned, I say. If I wish to marry a bastard girl then I should be allowed to do so.

He suddenly blushes and covers his mouth. He squirms uncomfortably in his chair. Dropping his hand to pull at his cravat, he gives a small smile even as his cheeks remain flushed with emotion.

My most sincerest apologies, my dears, I should not have expressed myself so passionately. I do apologize for abusing your sensibilities so. Please forgive my outburst.

He bows his head a moment then continues in a much more composed manner.

Mrs. Valentini has told me that she has a plan to resolve my situation and bring me together with my beloved Anna, - er, Miss Pelt - but it's more than that. I fear how to leave this contract without angering my father and losing his respect forever.  When milady asked me to step in for her, I had no intention of telling you my complaints but somehow I feel as if a load has been lifted from my shoulders. I know you are her dearest friends and quite informed in the ways of romance so perhaps you might have an idea of how I can remedy my plight. How do I tell my father, a most respected man, that I have no wish to continue my contractual duty to Miss Bradford but instead wish to marry my sister's governess?

Oh my word, I nearly forgot my purpose for being here. Mrs. Valentini has requested me to present you with the blurb - whatever that is - for FAMILY AFFAIR by a Miss Debbie Macomber and to inform you that she is giving away a print copy of this piece of literature.  I'm not sure of what giving away literature is about but I am willing to oversee it's happening. I'm not sure as to when Mrs. Valentini will return but I am willing to carry on any discussion that may incur or questions that may arise. I would also very much enjoy your recommendations for my plight.

And so now, I present the blurb.

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles, a twinkle lighting his warm brown eyes.

Blurb for FAMILY AFFAIR:

Contains Debbie's novella "Family Affair" originally published in 1994 in Purrfect Love, a Harper/Monogram multi-author anthology, and "The Bet," a short story by Darlene Panzera

Rediscover the joy of #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber's delightful tale of unexpected love, second chances, and a cat named Dog.

Lacey Lancaster has always longed to be a wife and mother. However, after a painful divorce, she decides it's time to lay low for a while in her charming San Francisco apartment with her beautiful Abyssinian cat, Cleo.

Everything would be wonderful, except for her utterly impossible neighbor Jack Walker. When he's not arguing day and night with his girlfriend, begging her to move in with him, he's chasing down his cat named Dog, who seems determined to get Cleo to succumb to his feline advances.

Then Lacey discovers the awful truth-Cleo is in the family way and Dog's to blame. She's furious that neither Jack nor his amorous animal seem too upset about the situation.

But Lacey learns that things are not quite as they seem. Jack's "girlfriend" is really his sister-and his intentions toward Lacey are very honorable. And though she's not quite sure about Dog, Lacey begins to discover the tender joy of falling in love all over again.

                      *                       *                     *                      *                      *      

GIVEAWAY:

I hope you will make my dear friend, Mr. Embry, welcome and feel free to converse with him, he has free reign of the blog until my return. I should only be gone a day, perhaps less but in the meantime, I've got a print copy for 1 lucky commenter. Remember the formula for entry:

Comment + email address =  ENTRY

This Giveaway of FAMILY AFFAIR by Debbie Macomber will run through 11:30 PM EDT on Friday, August 24, 2012. One lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified by email (see why email is important) and I will announce to everyone the name of the winner in a special post on Saturday. Giveaway is OPEN to US Residents Only.  Good Luck!

Joshua Embry: [looking around cautiously before lowering his voice]

 I look forward to your comments, my dears, and any assistance you can provide me in solving my plight of the heart. Thank you.

Well, my dear ladies, it seems this contest is NOW CLOSED! I expect that Mrs. Valentini will be giving me the name of the lucky lady who will be receiving Miss Macomber's literature very soon. Thank you all for joining me here. It was a most delightful visit. Farewell until we meet again. Adieu.

Happy Reading Everyone!

FAMILY AFFAIR by Debbie Macomber, Avon Romance, originally published 1994, newly republished along with a novella, THE BET by Darlene Panzera, the winner of an Avon Contest, available now in print and ebook format.