May
Inspired by…
Normally, we save our writerly inspirations for the Saturday Salon, but it’s been a while since I’ve talked about Captain Martin and his meddling mother. And since a novella featuring these two will be releasing this summer, I thought maybe I’d mention him again. After all, the story was entirely inspired by Lady Beaufetheringstone’s ballroom.
(For a recap visit: In which Sabrina Darby drags yet another man into Lady B’s home.)
Lady B: Inspired by my ballroom? How lovely!
Sabrina: Well, I hear that your ballroom and gardens will be featured in many of the Authoresses’ new novels.
Lady B: And so my home should be immortalized. That is the purpose of art, naturally.
Sabrina: Naturally. And art plays a role in my little novella, too.
Lady B: What is it called?
Sabrina: Amazing, Lady B! You are on tonight. Almost as if you had played wingman before.
Albert: << squawk >> Wingman! << squawk >>
Sabrina: In any event, the story is titled The Short and Fascinating Tale of Angelina Whitcombe.
Lady B: So that is the actresses’ name!
Sabrina: Ah! You remember that bit of rumor. Well, I won’t substantiate if it’s true or not…at least not yet. My cousin asked me to be discreet, and while I know in just two and a half months, no one will be able to contain the scandal…the least I can do is give her a bit more time to prepare.
Lady B: Miss Darby, we have all been around the Ballroom long enough to know how this works. Time is irrelevant. I want you to invite Miss Whitcombe to the Ballroom, especially before she heads north for Yorkshire.
Sabrina: I most definitely will. I assure you Lady B, that the next time I help host one of your balls, Miss Whitcombe will attend. In the meantime, speaking of Yorkshire, my sister is heading there next week for a walking tour. (I’m totally jealous!) Which reminds me, Lady B…in advance, I can tell you this much about Miss Whitcombe. When I asked her for packing advice for my sister, she gave me the following list:
• sturdy shoes
• warm outerwear
• a sketch book, to record the many picturesque sights
While I’m certain my sister will trade a sketchbook for a camera, I know she has the first two items on the list. I’ve been trying to tell her that, if she insists on copying Angelina, she’d best be open to meeting a completely ineligible but perfect for her alpha male. She steadfastly contends that she is not the heroine of a romance book. Of course, we know better, do we not Lady B?
Lady B: Every young lady is a romance heroine waiting to happen.
Sabrina: Exactly!
Albert: << squawk >> Wingman! << squawk >>
In any event, I’ve asked her to spy on John and Angelina and give us all the juicy details as they get to know each other in that ruin of a castle. But aside from that somewhat difficult task for a 21st century real woman, what advice would you give a young woman travelling alone in Yorkshire? And does anyone have travel plans for the summer?
May 17, 2012
1:22 am
what advice would you give a young woman travelling alone in Yorkshire?
I would advise her to also consult with Miranda Neville’s Celia Seaton.
I am jealous of your sister’s walking trip, too! I am fond of walking, as are most of my favorite literary heroines. And I’m especially eager to hear more about Angelina and John!
May 17, 2012
8:23 am
Celia endorses sturdy shoes and warm outerwear, having wandered the moors barefoot in her shift. She would recommend taking an amnesiac dandy for company.
May 17, 2012
9:37 am
A really sexy amnesiac dandy, that is…
May 17, 2012
11:29 am
Is there any other kind? (If so, don’t tell me.)
May 17, 2012
11:48 am
Haha, I’m sure that Celia does!
May 17, 2012
11:49 am
All these great walkers!
May 17, 2012
1:53 am
I agree with Tessa and if Celia isn’t available, I’m sure Miranda will have ample advice in her place. A walking tour in England would be fabulous. I’m jealous, too. Haven’t any advice since I’ve never been to Yorkshire or anywhere in England, that’s on my someday list. : )
As for summer plans … I’m hoping we’re making a trip to the beach, but I say ‘if’ rather than ‘when’. Although, my dh did come home last night and asked if May 19th was a good day to leave … for a moment, I sounded like Albert, “May 19th! May 19th! Are you crazy!?” It turns out he was looking at the wrong date on the calendar. So we still don’t have a date. Perhaps ten years ago, I would’ve said, “sure, let’s go.” No way now. Too much to do. Oh, but I do need a week at the beach.
Oh, Sabrina, I’m so excited about the novella. Can’t wait! Yay!!!
May 17, 2012
11:54 am
The beach sounds wonderful! We’ll be spending at least weekend at the beach this summer since that’s where my in-laws live.
(And I’m excited about this novella, too. So much fun to force recalcitrant heroes to talk in the name of love!)
May 17, 2012
7:37 am
I would tell her the advice I was given and ignored – the roads in England are not like they are in America’s cities. In America, the city streets are more or less a grid, so you can find the river or what you want eventually, in England, when it says go this way, there normally isn’t a short cut.
I was in Portsmouth with friends and my friends, Mags & Kathleen, (Kathleen, being the Brit) and we went WAY out of our way to get to this spot, which was closed when we got there anyway. I wanted to take a short cut home and by myself, walked towards the water. I got SOOO lost that I went to a restaurant and called for a cab. I was never so happy to see that guy in my life. Kathleen told me, I told you so, when we saw each other again.
As for our summer vacation – Mom and I are having it at the beginning of summer (right AFTER Memorial Day weekend) and going to Ocean City, NJ. We have a hotel on the beach with a balcony. It will be nice and peaceful.
May 17, 2012
8:21 am
Jamie, do you know G.K. Chesterton’s poem “The Rolling English Road?” Here’s the first verse.
Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode,
The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.
A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire,
And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire;
A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread
The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.
May 17, 2012
9:38 am
Love it!
May 17, 2012
11:28 am
Love that poem!
May 17, 2012
11:55 am
Perfect!
May 17, 2012
6:36 pm
Fabulous! I demand a recitation.
May 17, 2012
11:55 am
Yes, that is excellent advice. Especially as she’s going to be making many transfers on the trains, etc.
And you are going to the beach, too! Sounds wonderful!!!
May 17, 2012
8:25 am
Hope your sister enjoys Yorkshire, Sabrina. There are so many wonderful places, as well as gorgeous scenery. I hope she has Castle Howard and Fountains Abbey on her list.
May 17, 2012
9:00 am
Ah I have so much love for yorkshire I can’t express it in words.
My primary advice would be not to be freaked out be the accent, even though they sound harsh and are a bit blunt yorkshire folk are very friendly. Go to York of course, a Richmond, and middleham and kendal. And take a boat out on windermere.
Most importantly, do get lost, its how you find hidden treasures.
May 17, 2012
9:13 am
My dear sister,
I am bewildered and gratified by the considerable advice your unexpected revelation of my plans has procured. Certainly, I shall take care not to lose my way – although as you know, with or without a guidebook, I have a tendency to wander in the wrong direction. I comfort myself that any mishaps will simply become delightful anecdotes to bore my relatives and friends with as I detail all the sights I have seen and the acquaintances I have made. Indeed, I look forward to meeting Miss Whitcombe and Captain Martin quite as much as I anticipate the walks.
Yrs,
D
May 17, 2012
11:57 am
Lol. Hi sister! (She does actually have a tendency to get lost…) I don’t remember which places you are seeing, but if you look up there are a bunch of suggestions in the comments.
May 17, 2012
9:41 am
I recommend eating lots and lots of Yorkshire pudding! I adore Yorkshire pudding and eating it in Yorkshire (after years of eating my mother’s delicious version) with roast was an absolute dream!!
May 17, 2012
12:00 pm
I love Yorkshire pudding. My husband’s grandmother always made the best and luckily my MIL knows how as well. Oh, now I am hoping I won’t be on this gluten-free diet come the holidays!
May 17, 2012
2:26 pm
I want Yorkshire pudding for lunch.
May 17, 2012
4:13 pm
haha I used to do that in my uni days, have Yorkshire puddings, peas and gravy for lunch just cos no one was there to tell me I couldn’t
May 17, 2012
11:05 pm
Thank you for sharing some more information about your new novella Sabrina!
Can’t wait!!
But now I’m craving Yorkshire pudding and have no idea where I’d be able to get any, lol.
My big travel plans this summer are going to CA for the RWA conference at the end of July (so excited!!!!) Will probably also try to squeeze in a quick trip to NYC next month too.
Your sister’s trip to Yorkshire sounds fab! I love walking tours too-they’re so much fun! The only advice I have is to remember that Brits drive on the other side of the road. When I visited London with my family a few years ago, I nearly got run over because I was looking the wrong way while trying to cross the street! Luckily, got yanked back in the nick of time.