#perilouslyclose

*hugs*

Screw the men, BOBBED HAIR. I just can’t. And the potential of the race is just amazing for plot and character and subtext. I’m glad it’s half term - might have some time for writing! It’s funny actually (for me anyway) because I have a vague original idea in my head and the heroine is called Miss Hunt and she arrives in the early 20th century (never decided whether it was just pre-war or early 20s) in a country neighbourhood to shake things up and the two aristocratic brothers at the local estate make jokes about Miss Hunt hunting and then there’s a hunt and there’s subtext and fabulous sassiness so I’m looking forward to seeing Downton's version of this frankly excellent plot opportunity. :P

Also, CORA. Let’s talk Cora! I was so happy with her story last week and that scene on the London streets was beautiful - so nice to see her speaking freely and to someone who cared. I’m afraid of where they’re going with it but it’s lovely for now. I was definitely thinking of you when watching it!

For anyone interested:

“Miss Hunt does not hunt? I do like a good paradox,” began Charles Bailey, “but it’s a great shame for all the rest of us who do.”

“Miss Hunt does not hunt on horseback,” replied his brother after a moment of silence.

“Eh?”

“Only that I would not go so far as to say that Miss Hunt does not hunt at all.”

Charles glanced from his brother across to the lady in question, holding court with the vicar’s wife on the other side of the room, and back again. He raised his eyebrows.

“Ah, I see. The hunting is a metaphor. I shall leave that sort of thing to men with a university education. I’m only sorry that I won’t see our lovely neighbour out in the field tomorrow.”

The lovely neighbour had overheard. Touching her companion’s arm in excuse, she made her way across the room until she was standing before the brothers.

“I always know when I am being spoken about, you see,” she said with a bright, apologetic smile, “and I can’t bear to be left out of the fun.”

“My brother is upset that you do not hunt,” explained Adam.

“Is he? How very obliging of Mr. Bailey. But I’m afraid there has been a little mistake, gentlemen. It is true that I have not hunted before but that is not quite the same thing as saying that I do not hunt.”

“So will you be joining us tomorrow then?” inquired the younger man. “Do say you will, Miss Hunt!”

She tilted her head to one side and smiled at him before her gaze slid momentarily to his brother. “What do you think, my lord? Would it be entirely proper?”

Adam smiled faintly. “You must be the best judge of your own conduct, Miss Hunt.”

Her eyes opened very wide. “Must I? Dear me, you are the only one who thinks so. But in that case I shall not hesitate to do exactly as I please – I always do in the end, you know – and promise to be with you both in the morning. If I am to settle here I must adopt all the local customs and you will find me as keen to shout ‘Tally ho!’ and blow my horn as any natively bred countrywoman.”

“I’ll look after you, I promise, Miss Hunt,” responded Charles. “It can be alarming at first to be surrounded by all the hounds, but you will not need to be afraid.”

“Oh, I am not afraid. Excuse me, my lord, Mr. Bailey.” She raised her glass to them both and melted back into the party.

They do look pretty chummy…

I get the impression McGovern held him to ransom and demanded at least one storyline of her own this year. 

Rules: In a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just ones that have touched you. Tag ten friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!

Tagged by esteoflorien

Correspondance (1923-1941) - Vita Sackville-West & Virginia Woolf

Shâb ou la Nuit - Cécile Ladjali

Tour B2 Mon Amour - Pierre Bottero

A Doll's House - Henrik Ibsen

The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins

Mercure - Amélie Nothomb

Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

Huis Clos - Jean-Paul Sartre

tagged by catherinedemedici and misscrawfords

Rules: In a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just ones that have touched you. Tag ten friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. 

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber. 

Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. 

Sappho Goes to Hollywood by Diana McLellan. 

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. 

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. 

Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. 

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. 

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster.