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Monday, June 23, 2014

Wash Line Monday!

Our Monday meme shines a light on apparel. From Regency to Steampunk, and everything in between, we dress our characters to reflect the story we want to tell.

In comments, and in 300 words or less, give us a snippet from your novel that describes what your heroes, heroines, or bit players are wearing. Don't forget your buy link and website/blog link. Have fun!


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Come see my snippet on Exquisite Quills' Wash Line Monday!    

20 comments:

E. Ayers said...

When the heroine is a bridal dress designer, it hard to pick just one outfit. From WITH THIS RING on sale for 99 cents starting sometime today and ending on June 28. http://amzn.com/B00L1EN72C

She looked at her clothes and pulled on a beige knit dress that fell to just below her kneecap. The short plum-colored bolero sweater made her look even longer when paired with the elongated dress. Dropping a multicolored set of beads over her head and slipping on a pair of wild-printed, way too high, Karina Karr heels, she was ready to face the day as a new entrepreneur.

Rose Anderson said...

Loving Leonardo (book1) by Rose Anderson
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004XDGWL6

...........................................

In a color scheme that would have inspired Pierre-Auguste Renoir to
fetch a blank canvas, she wore a cream-and-blue cotton confection
accented by a blue-and-cream rose-bedecked bonnet, reticule, and
parasol. Excitement shone brightly in eyes the pale turquoise-blue of a
clear autumn sky. Ripping off her cream lace gloves, she jumped from her
chair to thrust her hand at me. “Sir Nicolas! Thank you for receiving
me on such short notice.”


Americans. Chuckling to myself, I bowed over her smaller hand.
“Miss Schwaab, what a pleasure to see you again.” They had the oddest
mannerisms. Not rude, exactly; rather forthright without the stodgier
affectations of the Empire. On the whole, Americans reminded me of
impressionist artists. The artists violated the rules of academic
painting, and Americans violated the rules of conventionality.
As a student of nuance, I very much liked it.

..........................................

Sample the first chapters
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971


Get to know Rose
http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

Jane Leopold Quinn said...

With a clatter of easels, boxes of paints and glass jars of brushes, Gil set up on her porch. A stiff breeze swept across the space but a rattan wind screen at one end did a good job of protecting them. The day had started out cloudy and threatening rain and still held that promise. He had work to do before he could give in to the weather.

Faye had greeted him at the door, looking almost as adorable as she'd looked the night before. Today she wore light makeup and left her hair loose and wavy the way he'd asked her to. Denim cropped pants and a tight red sweater made her look like a teenager. She had to be in her early forties but it didn't matter to him. She was very attractive no matter her age. "Let's get started, shall we Faye?"

"Would you like some coffee or something else to drink?"

"Not right now but I'll take you up on that later, okay? Why don't you stand over there." He indicated the corner of the porch. "Lean one hip on the railing." When he came close, he was enthralled by the warm vanilla fragrance infusing her hair. He lifted a hand to touch the cloud-soft mass. She stilled, then shivered as if waiting for him to make a move. He wrapped his fingers in the silky strands.

She uttered a little cry, more of a whimper. Her lips parted, her eyes widened and met his with a flustered look. At that moment he wanted her fiercely. Before he'd known anything about her, she'd seemed fragile. He didn't know much more now but a woman who still wore her wedding ring a year and a half after her husband's death must have loved him very much. A woman like that would have depths of emotion.

From A Promise at Dawn
http://www.amazon.com/Promise-Dawn-Jane-Leopold-Quinn-ebook/dp/B00KX8KGL2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403188592&sr=8-2&keywords=a+promise+at+dawn

Jane Leopold Quinn
http://janeleopoldquinn.blogspot.com

Susan Burns said...

In "Entangled," my hero, through past life regression, finds himself in 1717 Scotland in another body, his past life.

His clothes were old, not shabby, but garments one might have worn in the past. All the materials covering his body were black, from the roughly tooled leather forming his shoes to his stockings and breeches, his shirt and judge-like robe. "And what's this god-awful stiff thing around my neck?" He pulled it off.

"A preacher's collar," a voice said.

www.susanburnsauthor.com (writing as sbk burns)
amazon sbk burns page: http://www.amazon.com/S.-B.-K.-Burns/e/B00GFWV5PQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Unknown said...

Hi all, this snippet is from "The Hunter's Bride" one story in my fantasy anthology "Loves, Myths, and Monsters" by Melange Books.

After Daren dashed off, Theo snooped around. Glancing through the kitchen, she noticed John’s note for his father, read it, then abruptly left as Daren re-entered with check in hand.
“Theo! Theo!” he called, as the front door slammed. But the howling of man’s best friend grabbed his attention. “Rolly! I’m comin’, boy.”
Hurrying back into the kitchen to reach the back door, he found John’s note instead. “Oh, shit!” he yelled and ran into his bedroom. Quickly donning his uniform, he grabbed his gun and raced out the door.
Leaping into his cruiser, he drove like a demon toward the canyon located six miles away in the hills. Meanwhile, with one hand, he used his vehicle telephone and called the sheriff, “Richard, listen to this! John and some other kids are camping in the canyons tonight.”
“What!” yelled the sheriff. “So that’s where my grandson is. He said he was staying at a friend’s house tonight, but the friend called twice lookin’ for him.”
“Meet me there,” Daren said, and slammed the gas pedal to the floor.

MELANGE IN PRINT AND EBOOK:
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/joannemyers/LMM.html

LULU in print
http://www.lulu.com/shop/joanne-myers/loves-myths-and-monsters/paperback/product-21546632.html

AMAZON KINDLE STORE
http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Myths-Monsters-Collection-Urban-ebook/dp/B00JL3J4P4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1397151617&sr=1-1&keywords=Loves%2C+Myths+and+Monsters

Margaret Fieland said...

Here's a snippet from my work-in-progress. i
The driver grinned, and Rob realized he'd been broadcasting his thoughts. If any Terran realized he had mind speech abilities, he'd be in danger of arrest for violating the anti-psi laws. He flushed as he followed the man down the block and around the corner. His new friend rapped on the door. It opened to reveal another of the tall, dark aliens, this one with an arm full of tunics.
"Ragesh, I'm still putting away the merchandise. I hope you don't mind waiting," the man said in Aleyni.
"Oman, this is Colonel Walker, the Belan who is now in charge of the base. He's in need of some clothing. I invited him to eat with us. Perhaps he's acquainted with some of your family."
Oman nodded and waved them into the shop, placing the pile of tunics on an already-heaping counter. "Yes, one of my rolor'in is cousin to one of his, ah, wives." Oman spoke common.
Rob shifted from foot to foot. He'd married Carol and would have married Laura if such a thing had been possible under Terran law, but most of Carol's family didn't bother with Terran formalities and instead swore rolor in the Aleyni fashion. In addition, most of Carol's siblings participated in four-way relations in the way the Aleynis did. His own father had two wives but adhered to Terran customs and had married one of them.
"What kind of clothing were you looking for?" Oman asked. He pawed through the piles on the counter without waiting for Rob's reply, pulling out several pairs of loose pants and matching tunics. "Here, I believe these will fit." He waved Rob toward a dressing alcove.
Rob emerged from the alcove, still wearing one of the outfits. He placed two more of the loose pants and four of the tunics on the counter. "I'll take the ones I'm wearing and these others also." He glanced around the shop, which overflowed with merchandise, spying a display of sandals on the far wall. "I could use a pair of sandals as well."

You can buy the previous novel in the series here:
http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Bonds-Novels-Aleyne-Book-ebook/dp/B00E5SGVSS/ref=la_B008E6QBFU_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403534308&sr=1-6

and check out my blog:
http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/

James D said...

This is from a WIP, my next Dream Series book (due out in October)...

A couple of days later, I was at the hospital, chatting with a patient, and she had the TV on in her room. She was watching an old rerun of “I Dream of Jeannie” and I had my brainstorm. Brian could dress up as Major Nelson, and I could be Jeannie.

It sounded like fun, at the time. And Brian was fine with it. But, now, looking at myself in the bedroom mirror, I realize just how terrible an idea it was.

I look ridiculous with this awful blonde wig And Barbara Eden might have been around my age when she played Jeannie, but I don’t have anything like her body. Our measurements don’t exactly match – I have too much belly and not enough chest to properly wear this outfit! And, to top it off, I don’t have the faintest idea how they managed to keep her navel covered. Unless I tape these horrible harem pants to myself, I’m going to be showing my belly button to half the town – not to mention most of my coworkers and all my children’s friends.

Here's the link to my books on Amazon...http://viewAuthor.at/JJDiBenedetto

ManicScribbler said...

What a great idea :) - I've enjoyed peeking into all these wardrobes. Here's a short excerpt from my latest romance with suspense, The Nightclub; released last week (http://amzn.com/B00KYW2Z8O):

"So this is one of Lily's dresses, is it? What's her wardrobe like?"

Laura twirled in her elegant, figure-hugging dress that glittered and shimmered under the light. Cut low in the bodice, it clung to her form until it reached the thighs and then fell into soft folds, mermaid-style. "More of the same. She said I could borrow whatever I wanted, but Petra chose this one while Lily did my hair."

"It has gold in it—how did she do that?" Bibi asked, standing on tiptoe to scrutinise Laura's upswept hairstyle.

"It's just a spray. She said it would brush out. So you think I'll do? I must say I'm feeling a lot more nervous than I thought I would. They'll be down in a minute, so let's get the rules sorted. Lock the door after I leave and don't answer it to anyone, even Mr Zawadzki. Don't stay up too late and don't worry about me. Watch some TV, or better still, finish that book you should have read last week, so I can test you on it at the weekend. If we're going to enrol you for your GCSEs, I want to make sure you have the best chance of passing."

Bibi grimaced. "I will, but I wish I could read something less depressing. Why is all this literature stuff so sad?"

"So you'll think about it, maybe; or because it reflects life more accurately? I don't know. I'll have another look at the syllabus to see if there's anything humorous in the last section." Laura took a last look in the mirror, pulled a wry face and shook her head. "I have so much make-up on, I look plastic. How can anyone feel comfortable like this? Now wish me luck and I'll see you in the morning."


D'Ann said...

Thank you! These are great! This is from Ride A Falling Star:
“You have a good mother,” Ava said.
“Yes, ma’am, I do. And she’d be mighty happy to have you stay for a few days until you get all this sorted out.”
Ava didn’t hesitate. “No. I’m not dragging your family into my mess. It’s bad enough you’re caught up in it.”
“Okay then.” He blew out an exasperated breath. “You have a friend or relative you could call?”
Her laugh was brittle. “No close friends. My mother threw me out when I turned eighteen. Said no daughter of hers was going to be a stripper.”
His eyes, when he glanced her way, lit up with merriment. “You’re a stripper?”
“I am certainly not.” She glared at him. “I’m a professional dancer. A showgirl.”
He whistled. “One of those fancy gals who wears a dead chicken on her head? And not much else?”
“It’s not a chicken of any sort—they’re ostrich feathers. And yes, I wear headdresses.” She continued to glower at his profile. “I don’t ever dance nude.”
“I remember you now.” He flipped on his blinker and took the exit ramp near the Thomas and Mack rodeo arena. “My buddies and I noticed you tonight in the chorus line. You were the tall blonde on the end. We thought you were a knockout.”
“Thanks.” She glanced sideways at him. “I think.”
“I mean you’re still hot.” He glanced at her plain brown sweater and black leggings. “I just didn’t recognize you without the turkey on your head, and wearing clothes—”
“I was wearing a costume on stage,” she repeated, “and it’s not a dead bird.”
He took a right turn into a motel parking lot. “We can hole up for the rest of the night and figure out what to do in the morning.”
“Okay.” She reached for the door handle. “Thanks.”

BUY: http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Falling-Star-Callahans-Lindun-ebook/dp/B00KC4R7YG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1401161246&sr=1-1&keywords=ride+a+falling+star

Unknown said...

From Chaperoning Paris, Soul Mate Publishing

Gigi dropped her clothes in a heap on the bed and decided to try on the red dress in her room.
She had to send it back, but she finished with the zipper. Then she stared at herself in the mirror. She looked better than she imagined in the A-line. Movie stars wore dresses that flattered in this fashion. Now she understood. She snapped a picture of herself in the mirror for the memory then tugged the zipper to take it off.
But the zipper stuck.
She tried harder, but the zipper refused to move. Wiggling hadn’t helped. Then the phone rang. She told herself to breathe and picked up the phone. “Hey.”
“Gigi, we’re downstairs. Students are hungry. Hurry up.”
“You were supposed to call me before you left,” she said. She stared at herself in the mirror. She needed to get the dress off.
“There wasn’t time. Let’s go.”
Sean’s voice sounded apologetic. She held the phone for a minute. “Okay. Be right there.”
Inhaling, she stared at the price tag. One more time, she reached around her back with her arms and tugged on the zipper. No luck. The dress refused her commands.
She dropped her hands to the side and stared at the door. She’d set up a payment plan and give him this money back if she wore this out.
She gulped. The phone rang again. She saw it was the front desk and hurried out to the elevator.
She stepped into the lobby a minute later and heard Sean say, “Wow.”
Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KWNB4LE/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_XufQtb15K4ZKT

Angela Drake said...

From my novella, Somewhere Down the Line.
My Amazon page: http://tinyurl.com/mnqpk3r
Blog: http://angeladrake.blogspot.com

***
She chose a skirt in soft blue crinkle gauze that fell to just above her ankles, and a white peasant-style sleeveless blouse with a drawstring scoop neckline. A pair of Grecian sandals with blue rhinestones on the straps completed the ensemble. She hadn’t worn anything like this in years, but she didn’t feel forty-plus and had no intention of looking her age today, either. All she needed was a pair of dangle earrings. Maybe a pair of hoops…?

Lifting the lid on her jewelry box, she removed the top tray and began rifling through what lay below. Finding her jewelry from back in the day, she retrieved a perfect pair of filigree dangles—but it was a challenge to remove them, as they were knotted with a silver chain. Her heart pounded as she began the untangling process, for hooked through the earrings was a cheap carnival heart necklace.

A lump formed in her throat and her fingers trembled, hindering her progress.
When the chain was free, Alana held it up, gazing at the heart’s single word inscription. The earrings forgotten, she slipped the necklace over her head, letting the pendant nestle between her breasts where it had lain so very long ago, and she gave a sigh. How could she have forgotten this one important link to Trey? This simple piece was the only tangible item she’d had from him for all these years.

Unknown said...

Then in my other new release of last week, Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Pinder/e/B00AULD58I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1403542285&sr=8-1

Jay strutted, all proud of himself, handing over a purple dress on a hanger. Reaching for it, she brushed past a box attached. “You bought shoes.”
“I wanted the best and told Sandra. She picked everything out.”
“We’ll talk later.”
She’d yell at him later. Picking up the dress, she dropped the shoes on the bed. The purple had a modest-cut jeweled neckline and one sheer long-sleeved arm, all made from silk. The right leg had a cut on the leg, but until she put it on, she’d never imagined the slit went up to her hip.
She stood up and stared at herself in the mirror. Her entire leg could show if she stepped forward too fast. She could not wear this. Sucking in her dress, it would be modest and pretty if not for showing off that much leg. One wrong move and she’d show everything to the world. Staring at the wall brought her clarity back. She had no choice in what to wear. She’d have to be super-careful tonight.
Biting her lip, she sat on the bed and gazed at the box. Opening up to look at the shoes, she almost dropped them. Louboutin? The silver shoes cost more than her severance pay.
“I can’t wear this,” she called out through the door.
He called back, “Let’s go. It’s fine. I get a discount with my cousin. She picked everything out for you.”
Going to the door, she touched the handle while calling out, “It’s not nearly enough. I won’t be comfortable.”
His voice sounded close. She exhaled and listened. “You’re there to be my date, convincing people we’re dating. The red-carpet look is what I need. Please, Penny. You promised.”

Michele Drier said...

From SNAP: All The Jazz, Book Eight of The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles (pub date June 30, 2014)
My Amazon author page: http://amzn.com/e/B005D2YC8G

***
She took her time getting ready for dinner. Not as much as the previous night, but she still wanted to please Nik. Tonight, she was hoping they’d get back to their earlier intimacy.
It had been almost a week since that humiliating and dreadful trip from L.A. Now that she felt they were on steadier ground, her need for him, for his love, for his touch, was almost more than she could bear.
She chose a deep red silk dress, strappy evening sandals and a light cashmere shawl in case he wanted to walk after dinner. What she took time over was the lingerie under the dress. French lace. As red as the dress. Black stockings held up with a red garter belt. It was so light on her skin that she felt naked and sinfully sexy.
Maxie’s description of being a donor for Jean-Louis was wonderfully erotic and Jazz toyed with the idea that this may be time.

anne stenhouse said...

Thank you for the opportunity to share. My extract is taken from Mariah's Marriage when Mariah decides to wear something beautiful rather than sensible. Mariah's Marriage by Anne Stenhouse is available from most online stores. Here's amazon, US http://goo.gl/pASdjp

Mariah screamed.
Tilly closed the door. “Even with the pillows muffling, miss, that’s going to carry down the stairwell,” she said briskly. “I’ve laid out your brown stripe because I didn’t think you’d want to inflame Mrs. Wilson further by going down in one of the new gowns.”
Mariah rolled onto her side and glared at her maid. “Then I do not agree with you for once,” she said. “I am the one who has been wronged here and my aunt will not intimidate me. I have suffered at the hands of a master manipulator. She holds no fear.”
Tilly took a deep breath and folded the brown stripe over her arm. She pulled open the large oak cupboard and hung the dress away before lifting out a morning gown of palest cream silk. She pattered about the room finding clean linen and fresh stockings while Mariah splashed her face with warm water from her basin and tried to muster her thoughts.
Tilly dropped the dress over Mariah’s head and knotted its ties behind. “You can stand up now, miss. That dress is so beautiful with its piping around the sleeves an’ all. I think there’s a handkerchief of your mama’s in just that shade of peacock blue,” she said and rummaged in one of Mariah’s drawers. Triumphantly, she waved the square of cloth around. “Let me just pin this at your breast,” she said and did so with a small brooch from the dresser.


Sandra Nachlinger said...

Derek stared in his rearview mirror and took another look at Elly as he left the driveway. That tight T-shirt fit her like a coat of paint, and when she bent to pick up the shovel and he’d caught a glimpse of pink panties cupping her butt, he was pretty sure his mouth fell open.

Damn.

He let out his breath in a whoosh.

And the taut muscles in her legs—long legs that went from pink-painted toenails all the way up to heaven. Derek felt a stirring in his jeans when a snapshot of that vision clicked in his mind.

Damn.

And when she asked if he saw anything else he wanted, he’d had to bite back the answer that came to mind. Oh, yeah.

Excerpt from BLUEBONNETS FOR ELLY

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bluebonnets-Elly-Sandra-Nachlinger-ebook/dp/B00I86E3F6/

Blog: http://SandraNachlinger.blogspot.com

Sandra Nachlinger said...

Great description. Definitely sounds like she's ready for anything.

Jean Joachim Books said...

A personal shopper, provided by the store, took them through Henri Bendel’s, a chic, small store with elegant clothes and beyond-her-budget prices. The lady helped Erica pick out a smashing long gown for the premiere and after party. She and Gunther agreed the red dress was the best. Erica almost passed out when she saw the price tag. Five thousand dollars!
Gunther added a fistful of silk blouses and half a dozen pairs of pants for her, plus some men’s shirts. He dropped his American Express card next to the register. The tailor in the store assured him the hemming of the dress and pants would be finished by four o’clock and delivered to their hotel. One glance at her watch told Erica there wasn’t time to hit Bergdorf’s.

Excerpt from LOVERS & LIARS
Nominated at best book of 2013 by LR Cafe
http://jeanjoachimbooks.com/hollywood-hearts/lovers-liars-hollywood-hearts-book-6/

Veronica Scott said...

From MAGIC OF THE NILE:
My Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/1jKelrQ
“I’m humbled by your generosity, your majesty,” Tyema said to Ashayet as the queen’s own maid helped her niece arrange the intricate folds of the garment Tyema was now to wear to today’s meeting. Pure white linen, crisply pleated, with a dyed blue hem, offset by lotus flowers worked in golden thread, the garment made Tyema feel as if she were a queen. Twirling, she relished the feel of the fabric swishing around her ankles. Even the lingering tightness of her new sandals couldn’t detract from her satisfaction.
The queen laughed. “You notice I offer no jewelry from my husband’s treasury. Sharing my gems would be generosity!”
The queen’s maid set to work applying Tyema’s makeup with skillful hands, the kohl and malachite tints drawn from a set of beautifully shaped, cobalt blue bottles, with stoppers of ivory carved in the shape of birds and flowers. Once that work was completed Renebti brought the ebony case, inlaid with ivory and turquoise, which bore the treasure of Sobek’s temple— the six emerald Tears he’d given Tyema so long ago. As Renebti raised the lid, kneeling in front of her aunt, the queen stood and came to admire the gems, bouncing the baby on her hip. The tear-shaped raw emeralds were set into a golden collar, surrounded by highly detailed renditions of crocodiles embossed in the gleaming metal. Bigger than a man’s thumb, the largest Tear sat in the center, with one only slightly smaller directly below it, offset on either side by the four remaining gems. As she lifted the collar from the box, the stones threw off green glints to sparkle on the wall and floor, the sun making the gems flash and gleam.

Psyschae said...

From The Layover
M/M contemporary romance

The bar's newest arrival scanned the tar-darkened decor for a prime seat. Tall and lanky and topped by a black western hat, he was a good head and a half taller than the seated crowd. The wide-brimmed felted hat was the first of his dress to be removed. Sandy blond hair stuck out in wild tufts, resisting the quick comb of his tapered fingers. A set of aged spurs fixed to the heel of his black boots jangled as they struck against the scarred wood floor, their tone contrasting the smooth jazz melody.

A bolo lay close against the top button of his shirt, the silver Concho sunburst a simple contrast to the bold plaid print of the once-upon-a-time pressed western shirt. Slipping out of a weather-stained insulated workman's coat, he knocked himself clean of melting snowflakes. No longer hidden, a pair of worn jeans hung comfortably on his hips, secured with a wide silver-buckled belt, a piece he spent a good minute fussing over before finally ordering something to drink.

Damn. Hello, tall, tan and handsome. Maybe his prospects weren't dead in the water. Locke found a niche for his tongue between his back molars while he watched the newcomer toe up to the bar. The sexy cowboy’s five o'clock shadow scraped the faded collar of his shirt. His shirt pulled tight over his back as he leaned in to speak in the bartender’s ear. Well-defined muscle rolled under the taut cloth running the full length of his spine to the cover of denim over his backside. Aged by use, his jeans clung in near perfection to the curvature of work-refined buttocks.

For blurb, cover and buy links, please visit http://cvmadison.com/works-by-c-v-madison/the-layover/

Vamp Writer said...

"Immortal Relations Coming Out" http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18. Gary's vampire daughter Eviana is marrying the Canadian Police Officer Vicktor, in Russia as arranged for by Vladimir Kolukov, family friend and Russian President. This is Gary’s POV:

Eviana wore the same dress Magdalena had the day she and I wed, with minor alterations since Eviana was not quite as tall but had an ample bust and wanted a plunging neckline. Aside from these and the dazzling white color, it had the same haut-couture cut as the light blue, lacy, scalloped, and layered, shape-hugging dress Magdalena had on when I met her.
When my friends threw our surprise wedding I hadn’t noticed the flowers I now saw which smelled so sweet…Gardenias hanging in twists around and down the polls placed alongside as well as in back and in front of the wedding venue. As I walked Eviana down the aisle, I could hear her thoughts of overwhelming love for Victor and the beauty of it was so intense it was all I could do to keep from crying. I could also hear Victor’s concern that he might faint due to the picture of loveliness walking toward him. I sent him my thoughts; Steady on young man, the ceremony will be over soon and you’ll have a long time to enjoy your life with this wonderful lady. I can read her thoughts and confirm her deep love for you. I'm proud to welcome you into the family as my son-in-law! What is it the Brits say, keep a stiff upper-lip. Well, just keep SOMETHING stiff for a little bit longer. Then I smiled at him and he smiled back. I think he took courage in the stars he saw in her eyes and at this realization I felt tears on my own cheeks.
Once again, Vladimir had a gift of a dazzling five carat Red Ruby mounted in a Gold ring, it looked to be a twin to the one he gave us when I wed Magdalena. This ring was also from the Hermitage collection and Victor placed it on Eviana's finger, now his bride.