Teresa, The Haunted Wordsmith has tagged me in the following Tell the Story Challenge:
https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/a-short-life/
Here is the Picture:
By the clandestine light of a single candle, Elizabeth Darwell opened her journal to write about the events of the day. Sir Percy, an admirable catch, had asked her father for her hand. Her heart fluttered as she considered her future as his wife. He was a man of great status and wealth and she a squire’s daughter, far beneath him, but he had been captured, so he’d said, by her demure beauty and innocence.
Just then, she heard a noise and looked up in puzzlement.
Her beloved was sneaking stealthily into her room. A look of undisguised lust marred his face as He held a half drunk bottle of brandy in his right hand and wiped his mouth with his left.
It seemed he now yearned to destroy the very innocence that had endeared him to her.
It was clear, he wanted a downpayment on their marriage contract and this was something she could not countenance. She had heard of many a noble gentleman who, after taking such liberties had decided that the lady did not meet with their expectations and called off the marriage altogether. When the lady was so much lower in status, it was her reputation that was irreparably besmirched not his.
Desperate not to end up in that fate, she jumped up and ramed the candle into his face and kicked him hard between the legs, where rumour had it a mans greatest weakness lay.
He screamed in agony and collapsed to the floor writhing in pain.
Carefully she went through his pockets and removed any objects of value. A gold watch, a fine leather wallet filled with silver and gold coins and an ornate snuff box.
She would need all those valuables now she had forsaken one fate for another. That of a highwaywoman.
The End
Copyright: Kristian Fogarty 06/February/2019
https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/your-daily-word-prompt-puzzlement-february-6-2019/
https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/your-daily-word-prompt-clandestine-february-4-2019/
I hoped you liked the story, I based it on the fact that the picture reminded me of a Jane Austen novel, so I tried to imitate that style, with, of course, a twist.
So Now, I shall choose a picture and if anyone reading this would like to take up the challenge a write a story about it, please be my guest. 🙂
 To clarify, I nominate YOU, if you’d like to.Â
Have fun.
Wonderful take on the picture prompt.
Enjoyed reading it. Amazing.
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Thank you very much. It was a pastiche of a Jane Austen type of Costume drama, with a twist. 🙂
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A nice Victorian touch.
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Thank you. 🙂
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Welcome
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Ha ha ha! Love the twist. When I found that pic today my mind went to Victorian ghost story.
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It did have a touch of ghostliness about it. Glad you liked the story 🙂
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A well constructed tale. Sir Percy sounds like a very poor catch. However, with a face like hers I doubt she’s going to do well as a highway robber. 🙂
Perhaps she dashes off into the night, dosses down in someone’s barn, and is discovered by the farmer’s son in the morning. Between them and her pilfered goodies, they manage to flee and buy a nice little farm up north. 🙂
Or maybe she’s caught, convicted of theft, and shipped to the penal colony in Australia.
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They both sound like good ideas. The second one sounds particularly good. 🙂
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Love the story
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Thank you very much. 🙂
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Rah! Excellent twist.
I’m saving the dizzy stairs. May have a go later, if time.
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Excellent 🙂
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😮 I guess she wasn’t better than him. Both had bad intentions, the only difference is that she performed them
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She was forced into her actions by his intentions had he not been a bounder and a cad she would have married him and been a good wife instead, I think. 🙂
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So sad for her 😕
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Ah love this! Very good work!
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Thank you very much. 🙂
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I love a story that has a grabber at the end. I also vote for Australia. Nicely done. Cheers.
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Haha, Thank you. Ok, I’ll send her off to Botany Bay. 🙂
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