Tag Archives: Christmas Story

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Karla Darcy!

Miss Darcy hopes you all will have a very merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year. She loves all the holiday traditions associated with Christmas, don’t you? In Regency times it was always exciting when the Kissing Bough was hung. It’s similar today to the hanging of mistletoe. Miss Darcy can remember in her younger days how her heart would pound with anticipation that she might earn a kiss and also pound with fear that no one would step forward to claim one. Ah pray forgive Miss Darcy for launching into a moment of nostalgia. In our home the kissing bough was suspended in the center of the hallway. Apples tied to red satin ribbons dangled from a circle of rosemary. Mistletoe was nestled in the heart of the greenery and the shiny apples swayed, caught in the errant draughts of the hallway. Such lovely memories.

In Twitter, nine year old Gillian invites her neighbor Chad to the Christmas party at her home. Here’s a quick peek at the kissing bough in this romantic story:
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Final FiveKissesChad did come to the Christmas party and, despite the fact he was heir to the Earl of Elmore, he fit in well with the other guests. While the adults congregated in the drawing room, the children were permitted to play games in the kitchen and the back parlor, with occasional forays into the dining room for sustenance.

The party wore on, becoming less formal. Chad and Gillian, along with the other children, took turns hiding behind the draperies in the foyer to watch as the ladies were kissed beneath the mistletoe. When the squire’s wife took over the piano and began to pound out “Bernie Bough”, the adults returned to the drawing room, much to the children’s disappointment.

“Just when things were getting interesting,” Chad said.

“There’s still one apple left,” Gillian said, staring up at the kissing bough.

“Go on, Gilly!” someone shouted. “Stand under it and pay the forfeit.”

Gillian hesitated. It was not that she was reluctant. She’d had her eye on the apples all evening and felt one kiss was a small price to pay for her favorite fruit. However she’d never been kissed before and was not eager for the other children to discover her ignorance.

Stalling for time, she said, “There is no one who can reach the apple.”

There were giggles and a rustle of movement among the children. Gillian squirmed in embarrassment, wondering how she could get out of the awkward situation. Suddenly Chad stepped forward.

“I can reach the apple,” he said. His voice cracked on the words but he winked to indicate he was quite willing to save her as she had saved him a few days earlier.

Gillian relaxed, determined to enter into the spirit of the game. With exaggerated gestures, she sashayed across the hall, pantomiming the simpering young women she had watched earlier. She flipped her curls with one languid hand and fluttered her eyelashes outrageously in Chad’s direction.

He played along, acting the part of the amorous gallant. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a snowy white handkerchief. He fluttered it under his nose then made an elegant leg, sweeping the hand holding the handkerchief close to the floor. He straightened up, leaned forward and kissed her with a resounding smack. On tiptoes he reached up and unfastened the apple which was presented to her with great ceremony, amid the cheers and applause of the other children and some of the adults who had come to investigate the cause of such hilarity.

Everyone said it was the greatest fun, almost like watching a play. Gillian laughed along with Chad and it was only later when she was tucked up in bed that she had time to think about the evening. Her first kiss had been much different than she had expected. She was surprised that Chad’s lips had been so warm and firm. More surprising yet was the funny, shivery feeling she had in the pit of her stomach when he kissed her. It was like falling, a curious but not unpleasant sensation.

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Miss Darcy loves to hear from you! Although her correspondence is extensive, she always has time for faithful readers. She answers all inquiries as etiquette requires! Three fastest ways to reach her?Leave comments below this post.

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Your faithful correspondent,

Miss Karla Darcy

PS: There is much to be learned in the coming months as Miss Darcy sifts through the rumors and gossip. Surely you don’t want to be left in the dark!

Subscribe to Miss Darcy’s musings and as a special thank you present you can collect your free e-book. You’ll find the sign up in the right sidebar below Miss Darcy’s photo here: Blog

If you’re on her announcement list, Miss Darcy will send you infrequent emails to make you privy to any news items worthy of her attention, offers of free books and pre-publication announcements for members only. You can sign up here: Announcement List

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Holiday Blog Hop! Miss Darcy is Thrilled!

Another day, another chance to win great prizes!

Miss Darcy is so excited to be a part of the Holiday Blog Hop. This is the first time that she will be participating with so many authors for a gigantic giveaway. Devil take it! The Holidays are exciting enough but now the opportunity to win big prizes is something that has all the Daughters of Sweet’s Racing Club aflutter. Just imagine the opportunity to win a Kindle Fire or a basket of signed books! Christmas is such a wonderful time of year! Miss Darcy was so delighted when one of the members of the DSRC gave her the Christmas novella The Five Kisses, the romantic story of Gillian and Chad. Such a sweet relationship and there are kittens too!

https://twitter.com/KarlaDarcy

On Miss Darcy’s portion of the Holiday Blog Hop you can win a $20.00 Amazon gift card. Think of the possibilities. We started yesterday with the first entries and prizes. Every day this week, you will have more chances to win and add more prizes To begin all you have to do to see the details of Miss Darcy’s raffle is to click HERE.

And after you’ve entered to win at Miss Darcy’s site, be sure to check out the chance to win the Kindle Fire and other wondrous things at The Holiday Blog Hop! This is your opportunity to meet 60+ authors from around the world. Some may be new to you and others old friends. You may enter the giveaway contests at each of the author’s websites. Free books and other delightful swag may be yours if you enter. You can go to as many of the author’s blogs as you want. Miss Darcy is planning to visit every one! You’d have to be tottyheaded to miss such a chance. Click on the picture and you’ll be transported to the main page.

 holiday-blog-hop-3aMiss Darcy loves to hear from you! Although her correspondence is extensive she always has time for faithful readers. She answers all inquiries as etiquette requires! Three fastest ways to reach her? Leave comments below this post. Miss Darcy loves these.

Join her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karla.darcy.3

or Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KarlaDarcy

Your faithful correspondent,

Miss Karla Darcy

PS: There is much to be learned in the coming months as Miss Darcy sifts through the rumors and gossip. Surely you don’t want to be left in the dark!

Subscribe to Miss Darcy’s musings and as a special thank you present you can collect your free e-book. You’ll find the sign up in the right sidebar below Miss Darcy’s photo here: Blog

If you’re on her announcement list, Miss Darcy will send you infrequent emails to make you privy to any news items worthy of her attention, offers of free books and pre-publication announcements for members only. You can sign up here: Announcement List

Comments Off on Holiday Blog Hop! Miss Darcy is Thrilled!

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Karla Darcy’s Special Raffle for You

Miss Darcy has discovered a $20.00 Amazon gift card but she has no time to shop with all her other social engagements. She is so excited about the coming holiday season. It’s her favorite time of year. You’d have to be tottyheaded not to love Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course you do have to deal with the relatives who tend to behave shabbily when they are in their cups. But what can one do?  Miss Darcy would love to give the gift card to someone who could put it to good use.  As usual she is up to the mark on fairness so she’s devised a wonderful raffle run by Rafflecopter who will choose the winner of the $20.00 gift card.  She wouldn’t want you to think that she’s poor spirited so as a special bonus she’s giving away fifty, yes you heard me correctly, fifty free copies of The Virtuous Ward to the first fifty who enter the contest.  Miss Darcy certainly wouldn’t want you to feel left out. Come join the fun! Enter the raffle below.

 

The LIKE button is under the title on the Amazon book page.

And the tags are toward the bottom of the page and look like this and don’t forget to click on the agree with these tags:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Miss Darcy can’t wait to find out who won the $20.00 gift card. She’ll post the winner as soon as she knows.

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