Definitely, and I want to read the blasted thing! I LOVE regency. Well-written is definitely my favorite, but I'll even take something that's not quite up to snuff in the research if the characters are well done. Of course, bad regency is just...worse than a harlequin sugar high.

Do you think, if I asked very nicely, she'd e-mail me what she has so far?

Deena, I have every intention of demanding beta reader privileges on this one.

SUUUUUUSSSSSAAAAAAAN!

Y'all can both beta read what I've done so far if you let me finish this set of scenes first.

After thinking over everyone's opinions and talking it over with my writers' group tonight, I know what direction I'm going. Cordelia sees them, and either overhears him asking her to marry him, or sees them kissing and deduces according to the morals of the time that a person like Lucy wouldn't allow such liberties unless she were engaged. Having assured herself that her cousin is in good hands, as it were, she has no desire to interrupt and tiptoes away. What she doesn't hear is that Lucy decides to make it a conditional betrothal--she'll marry James, but she wants him to meet her family and see just what he's getting himself into in offering to support them before they announce it to anyone.

James then makes sure Lucy gets safely back to the newer, residence part of the castle (she and her aunt and cousins are staying at Portia's fiance's home, a great rambling pile of a castle ranging in vintage from 13th to 17th century), collects his sister from the ball, and goes home. Lucy intends to go straight to her room and try to sleep, but she overhears Julius and Hal arguing, and her curiosity gets the better of her. She walks in on a partial family conclave involving Julius, Hal, and Cordelia. Julius makes a fuss over her, and lays into Hal for what his irresponsibility will mean for her. Cordelia then tells them they needn't worry about Lucy, at least, since she's going to marry James. After some discussion, Cordelia and Lucy go upstairs, and sit in Lucy's room having a nice girl talk. When Portia returns from the ballroom, having stayed until the very end because it is, after all, her betrothal ball, either Hal or Julius tells her what's going on, and she rushes to confront Lucy. Conflict ensues.

Susan! Genius!

Damnit, I knew Cordelia was the move.

"It's all so simple from this perspective."

Hah. Go, Susan! If you need a third beta, I'm up for it.

The cover itself is pale blue, with this ghostly shadowed greyscale 18th century cottage and thatched barn.

Oh, that reads like it looks both beautiful and right.

Dan says he'll not only tell the art department about making the peelaway a piece of sheet music, but also suggest using the sheet music theme as a design element throughout the book.

Oh, that reads even more beautiful and right.

And the cover says "The first in a new series bringing old English mystery ballads into the modern world".

Third time - ice cream. Deb, I'm so happy to 'see' you so pleased!

Susan, I was too late of a catcher-upper to comment on your options, I just read them along with your solution, and I think you did go with the best one. And I join the crowd of the 'can't wait to read'.

Hee! I knew I was checking in for a reason! And Nilly's read it, so she knows whereof she speaks, too.

'night, Nilly and all. Half past one in the morning. Must keel.

I get to beta Susan's book!

Wow, Deb, that sounds marvelous. Good on you! Can't wait to snatch it up in the store!

In fact... hmmm. There's a small bookstore around the corner from my house that loves to focus local authors. I don't know how the whole marketing thing works, but would it be appropriate for me to mention the book to the owner and ask if they'd be interested in hosting a signing? At the very least I can recommend they lay in a good supply and plug the local angle.

Consuela, you betcha, and it would be much appreciated and I would cook you something yummily edible in gratitude.

I've got a PR person at St. Martin's who will send promotional materials for signings and whatnot at my request, so full cooperation would be right there.

Coolness. I have to stop by and pick something up from them anyway, so I'll talk to the owner this week.