RW: What's your
story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about YOU?
RA: I am James W.
Collins V, scion of the Collins family and attorney to the Aldens and other prominent
families. I know that sounds rather stuffy and boring, but Ms. Allyn, who wrote
my story, One Day’s Loving, saw more than the surface description. I am a man
of deep convictions and passion. I despise injustice, and when my client—Miss Persephone
Mae Alden’s grandfather—wrote a will that would have forced his three
granddaughters into prostitution, I had to find a way to act.
RW: Can you tell us
about your hero/ine?
RA: Miss Alden has
two older sisters who appear to be more daring and outspoken. For various
reasons, they left her alone with her dying and misogynistic grandfather. I’d
encountered Miss Alden briefly during my business meetings with her grandfather
at the Alden manse. She was always reserved and self-effacing, but a proper
hostess for her grandfather. In addition, she was quite pretty. I’d often
thought I might marry a quiet little woman like her. I was definitely wrong in
my estimations of Miss Alden, but it turned out she was still the right woman
for me.
RW: What problems
do you have to face and overcome in your life?
RA: As a prosperous
attorney and the heir of a Brahmin family, I’ve been pursued by money-hungry
females all my life. Dealing with a woman like Mae Alden, who desired money
only to be able to fulfill her family’s obligations to the poor was refreshing.
My work has kept me too busy to court potential wives. Also, I was approaching
a time in my life when having a family was important. By birth, disposition,
and circumstance Mae was the ideal wife.
RW: Do you expect
your hero/ine to help or is s/he the problem?
RA: I had expected
Mae would be happy to marry a man of my standing. Oddly, she resisted the idea.
In fact, she claimed she wanted nothing to do with marriage. Although I must
give her credit for not spouting a bunch of twaddle about love. She is a most
unusual woman, and I admire her greatly for her courage in the face of her
circumstances.
RW: Where
do you live?
RA: Boston
Massachusetts.
RW: During
what time period does your story take place?
RA: The summer of
1870
RW: How
are you coping with the conflict in your life?
RA: I am pursuing
Mae Alden with all my energy. She will eventually understand that our marriage
is best for both of us.
RW: That’s
all the questions we have for you. Thank you for speaking to us.
RA: You are most
welcome. Perhaps, if you encounter Ms. Alden you could put in a good word for
me.
RW: I’ve never been
to Boston, but if I should happen to go back in time and find myself there, I’ll
be happy to.
About
Rue Allyn:
When not writing, spending time
with her spouse, or attending conferences, Rue travels the world and surfs the
internet in search of background material and inspiration for her next heart
melting romance. She loves to hear from readers, and you may contact her at contact@RueAllyn.com. She can't wait to hear from you.
Blurb:
Persephone Mae Alden is the invisible Alden sister, quiet,
industrious, generous, kind-hearted, loyal and reliable. The words used to
describe Mae remind her of a well-trained dog. She’s not happy about it, but
what can she do? She likes her quiet life and would be seriously upset if she
had to defy convention like Edith or act on instinct like Kiera. But everything
changes when necessity forces her to bravery and she must choose between love
and family.
A horrifying bequest convinces Boston attorney James W.
Collins V that Mae Alden needs a husband, and she’s just the type of wife he
wants. The two of them will be a perfect match. Refusing his offer makes no
sense, so why won’t the woman accept?
Excerpt:
James watched her approach. Her green eyes gleamed, and her
lips smiled. Care still shadowed her pale complexion, and worry sat heavy on
her slim shoulders. That would end soon. Her movements were graceful, her
manner welcoming and gracious, her appearance all that was proper, if a tad
dowdy—due to her parsimonious grandfather no doubt. That too would change.
James would see her dressed in finer things, silks and jewels. Nothing garish.
Pearls perhaps. Yes, luminous pearls to emphasize the inner light that shone
with her every gesture and word. A smart man would give her pearls.
“I thought we agreed on first names?”
Her cheeks pinked. “You are correct, James. I’ve been
distracted. Which reminds me, I’ve forgotten to thank you for arranging the
return of the carriage and hiring a permanent coachman.”
“Think nothing of it. Having a coachman on staff should assure
that you are safe when going out. As for your distraction, that is
understandable given recent events.” Taking her hand, he bowed over it. When he
raised his head and his gaze met hers, he noticed the blush deepening on her
cheeks.
He swept his empty hand toward a side table where a good-sized
packet rested. “I’ve brought the promised papers for your signature. Nothing
terribly complex, simply documents that must be signed so you may receive your
stipend and your grandfather’s businesses may continue uninterrupted over the
next two years.”
“Please sit down.” She gestured to a chair and then seated
herself on a divan nearby and studied him. “You’ve come to deliver these
documents yourself instead of sending them by messenger. Was there something
else you wished to discuss?”
He blinked. He’d imagined her too worn with worry to consider
the reasons for his visit. Regardless, she was right. He had something very
intimate to discuss with her.
James swallowed. The moment had come, and somehow he expected
proposing would be easier. He should have thought how sudden his offer would
appear. For indeed it was. Certainly no untidy emotions were involved. She had
a problem, and he had a solution. It was that simple.
Nonetheless, he felt slightly awkward and—if he gave it
thought—no small amount of trepidation. He did not understand himself. Why was
he suddenly filled with dread so great that his tongue tied and he struggled to
breathe? Perhaps such emotions were natural. Never before having proposed
marriage, he could not know. However, allowing such nonsense to stand in the way
of a perfectly sensible offer was absurd.
Be business-like. That is the foundation of all our
interactions to date. Surely Mae will be most comfortable with a professional
approach and therefore more amenable. He swallowed once more and cleared
his throat.
“It has not escaped my notice that your grandfather has been
less than kind in his bequests.”
“Grandfather did not see kindness as a virtue.”
“Yet,” he forged on, “you have been everything that is kind
and gracious. You’ve borne much with little or no complaint, and unlike your
sisters, you have persevered. You remained with Mr. Alden throughout a protracted
and difficult illness.”
“I love my sisters; please do not think unkindly of them.”
“Your loyalty does you credit. However, it concerns me that you
will see no reward for that loyalty and may very well suffer for it.”
“James, I am certain—”
He raised a palm to forestall her comments. “Please, hear me
out.”
Her brows rose, but she nodded and fell silent.
“I have great admiration for you and would not see you suffer
needlessly. Therefore, I believe you should marry.”
Her brows arched higher. “Have you a candidate in mind for my
future husband?”
Some of the tension left his shoulders. Excellent, she was
considering the idea, which gave him hope of her acceptance. “I had thought to
wait until my term as executor of the Alden estate was complete, but that
contemptible clause has made me reconsider. I believe any delay would be to
your detriment, causing you no little embarrassment and exposing you to the
attentions of men of unsavory character. Thus, I am willing to transfer my
executor’s duties to another attorney. Miss Alden, would you do me the honor of
becoming my wife?”
* * * *
Mae felt the blood rush from her face. She could not have been
more shocked had he asked her to remove her clothing. His proposal made her
feel utterly exposed. Which was odd, since there was nothing unusual or
invasive about a proposal of marriage. No, she was being silly, once again
reading more into his expression than could possibly be there. He’d phrased his
offer in businesslike terms. His features showed kindly disinterest of the sort
one bore toward pitiable children.
However, his features were also set, frozen, as if indifferent
to her response. She’d seen her grandfather arrange his face just so before a
business appointment. James’s expression when added to his words caused her
momentary panic. He could have been negotiating a contract for all the emotion
he displayed. There was nothing in a contract to cause panic, yet anxiety
twisted her stomach and made her slightly ill.
“Miss Alden.” He moved to her side, taking her hands in his.
She heard him as if from a distance.
“Are you all right? Shall I ring for smelling salts?”
She shook her head, staring at him in horrified wonder. She
finally found her voice. “No!”
Heavens, she hadn’t meant to shout. Nor had she meant to be so
blunt. Frankness was no way to maintain a safe and secure reserve. Yet,
recalling the time in his office, she showed an alarming tendency to forget her
self-preserving methods in his presence.
“No,” she murmured with greater moderation, taking back her
hand. “I am fine. You simply surprised me.”
The look of concerned doubt on his face melted her heart, but
he would look so for anyone suffering a shock, president or pauper. She
shouldn’t take his innate thoughtfulness for anything more—just as she must
reject a proposal made out of pity.
She tapped her fingers against the settee, angry and
embarrassed to be the object of anyone’s pity. However, she suppressed the
irate spark—temper was unproductive and harmful.
He nodded, but he regained her hands in a gentle clasp. “You
will need time to think.”
Yes she would need time to think, but not about his
proposal—and for the rest she had almost two years. “You honor me, James, but I
fear I cannot accept.”
Contact
Rue Allyn:
Website: http://RueAllyn.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RueAllynFriends
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RueAllyn
Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Rue-Allyn/e/B00AUBF3NI/
Buy
Links for One Day’s Loving:
Crimson Romance: http://www.adamsmediastore.com/one-days-loving
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Rochelle, thank you very much for inviting me to visit with you and your followers and to share a little of one of my favorite books.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. It was my pleasure.
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