First Impressions – (223 words)
“You’re one of those, aren’t you?”
The sneer in his voice was nearly palpable. She looked up from the book nestled in her hands. Close-fitting shirt. Chiseled jaw. Eyes radiating . . . something. Eyes an entirely too-alluring shade of blue. “One of what?”
“Austen fans. Jane-ites.” His lips flattened.
She bristled, her own eyes narrowing.
“Always expecting some fop,” the man went on, “to come prancing out of disgusting lake water, shirt plastered against his pecs.”
She snorted. “As if you’re much better? Wanting every woman to be Pamela Anderson in her Baywatch days, our chests heaving at the mere thought of you?”
A wicked dimple creased his cheek. “Wet T-shirts do suit her.”
She snorted. Jerk.
He swung into the seat beside her, lacing an arm over her shoulders. “I prefer brunettes anyway, you know,” he whispered against her hair.
She reached up and ran her fingers over his familiar cheek. “Happy Anniversary, babe.”
“Back ‘atcha.” Brushing his lips against hers, he murmured, “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
Grinning, she poked him in the side. “Remember our first impressions of each other, all those years ago?”
“Who could forget?” He gestured toward the book. “You’re my Elizabeth.”
“And you, my Darcy.”
“Sans cravat, of course.”
An eyebrow arched up. “Well, we can always fix that . . .”
Pride and Prejudice, people! This week’s novel inspiration is Pride and Prejudice! You know I HAD to write (especially after putting this sticker on my car yesterday), and was grateful to do so, after missing last week due to, well, a few too many irons in the fire. Here’s what we were given as guidelines around which to structure our 200 (+/-25) word tales:
Bringing the class to classic, this week it’s all about one of literature’s most celebrated novels, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. If you’ve not read this book, don’t be prejudiced by thinking P&P a simple, superficial romance: Austen’s tale hands us a cleverly biting censure of wealth and the sanctimonious strictures of societal class, even while warmly extolling the value of family, respect, and love.
Story elements (base your story on any TWO of these elements; be sure to tell us which two you chose.)
* Conflict: man v man (not gender specific); man v society
* Character (choose at least one): a mother desperate to marry off her daughter(s); a handsome, slightly snobbish landowner; a witty young lady; a cad; an immature flirt; a cynical patriarch; a gorgeous optimist; an overbearing, pompous aunt.
* Theme (choose one): love, family, marriage, class divisions, superficiality of wealth
* Setting (choose one): a ballroom, a sitting room, a garden
I chose conflict (man vs woman), character (a cad and a witty young lady), and theme (love). Always was an overachiever.
Do let me know what you think – and/or ride your Tattersall’s horse on over to Flash Friday Fiction and leave some love for my fellow writers. Or, you know, dash off an Austen-worthy classic yourself!
Once Upon a True Love’s Kiss Anthology, featuring USA Today Best-selling author, Julie Johnstone, who joins best-selling, award-winning authors, Katherine Bone, Collette Cameron, Jillian Chantal, Samantha Grace, Alanna Lucas, Lauren Smith, and Victoria Vane in this delightful limited edition, containing eight tantalizing kiss-and-tell stories. Meet dashing, wildly charming rogues, spies, pirates, rakes and their extraordinary, intrepid heroines as they whisk you along on sweet to sizzling romantic romps in these wickedly entertaining historical romances.
