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ci5hqI promised 2 of these a month, but my life got a bit complicated so I fell behind. Here's a rec for a cold February evening, however!
Title: In His Majesty's Secret Service
Author: I can't remember if this is her real name or not, so I'm just going to use initials here: L.S
Location: Proslib CD (file name is: majesty.txt)
Brief Description: A historical AU--one of my favorites, in fact, set during the reign of Charles II. Doyle, the son of an Earl, is a dissolute wastrel as far as society knows, but in reality he works in what we would call intelligence for Charles. He is playing a dangerous game with a French spy who desires him as well as government secrets. Doyle meets Bodie one night, while traveling, when Doyle's coach is attacked and Bodie joins in the fight. Bodie was raised in a Puritan household (!) but, not unnaturally, didn't really fit in. He's off to London to seek his fortune. Doyle takes him in and introduces him to society. Bodie eventually comes to understand the game Doyle is playing and, in typical Bodie fashion, starts playing his own game. *g*
You'll find sword fighting, rescues, vengeance, intrigues, and--yes--romance. The period details are marvelous, the dialogue rings true, and the secondary characters are well-rounded and believable (including the hissable villain). I love it. Oh, and it's long! Perfect for late-winter doldrums. Go. Read.
Title: In His Majesty's Secret Service
Author: I can't remember if this is her real name or not, so I'm just going to use initials here: L.S
Location: Proslib CD (file name is: majesty.txt)
Brief Description: A historical AU--one of my favorites, in fact, set during the reign of Charles II. Doyle, the son of an Earl, is a dissolute wastrel as far as society knows, but in reality he works in what we would call intelligence for Charles. He is playing a dangerous game with a French spy who desires him as well as government secrets. Doyle meets Bodie one night, while traveling, when Doyle's coach is attacked and Bodie joins in the fight. Bodie was raised in a Puritan household (!) but, not unnaturally, didn't really fit in. He's off to London to seek his fortune. Doyle takes him in and introduces him to society. Bodie eventually comes to understand the game Doyle is playing and, in typical Bodie fashion, starts playing his own game. *g*
You'll find sword fighting, rescues, vengeance, intrigues, and--yes--romance. The period details are marvelous, the dialogue rings true, and the secondary characters are well-rounded and believable (including the hissable villain). I love it. Oh, and it's long! Perfect for late-winter doldrums. Go. Read.
But first, a taste:
"What are we to do tonight?" Bodie asked.
"The Duchess desires our company, Mountjoy is having games, DeCastres too. You have your choice, my dear." Doyle sealed his missive and fanned the wax.
"Would you mind," Bodie said hesitantly, "if I didn't go tonight? I confess I'm a bit weary."
"Too much?" Doyle smiled to himself. "I have been running you, tis true. Perhaps you would prefer a visit to Therese? You can wear yourself out and sleep *very* soundly."
"No my lord. I think I'll go straight to bed, by myself, in fact." It was odd that Doyle had never noticed the tiredness in Bodie's voice before. Usually he was the most observant of souls. He turned in his small chair and regarded his friend with concern. "Are you ill? Shall I call someone?"
"Thank you, no, I'm well enough. perhaps I've not yet adjusted to City hours."
Unconvinced, Doyle stood up and approached Bodie, searching his face to be sure. "William, you would tell me if you were ill?" A new thought widened his eyes and sharpened his voice. "No one has attempted..."
Amusement lit Williams' face. "No, my lord, I am, as yet, your plaything."
It was said as a jest but the words shivered through Doyle. He reached out and gripped Bodie's shoulder. "You will never be a plaything, William, that is for toys and whores. When you play it will be because *you* choose to." The amusement faded and Bodie's blue eyes were suddenly dark with another emotion. Doyle's breath was a hard lump in his throat, unwilling to go up or down, frozen by the singing desire coursing through his body. I want him, God help me. Doyle's mind was panicking but the panic was quickly smothered by the passion that seemed to surge back and forth between them.
"M... my lord?" Bodie stammered in a whisper. Doyle's hand slid up to caress his cheek and with the slightest of movements Bodie leaned into it. Neither of them had any will to stop and their bodies moved closer. Bodie was reaching for Doyle when the handle of the library door clattered and they spun away from each other as though they'd been burned. Bodie walked quickly to the writing table and retrieved the note.
"Shall I set this out for you, my lord, on my way up?" Even to his ears, Bodie's voice sounded odd.
"If you please." Doyle was facing Jennings who'd entered with a tray of brandy. "Thank you, Jennings, but I believe we're retiring early tonight. Amazingly, there is nothing I care to do and Mr. Bodie informs me he is tired."
"Very good, my lord." Jennings backed out again without a blink.
Bodie came abreast of Doyle and would not meet his eyes. "Good night, my lord."
"Good night, William." Doyle watched him go, moving without his usual bounce up the stairs. There was an ache inside his lordship and he recognized it for what it was. With a sigh he made his own way upstairs....
[Just a note to say that my text file from the CD had formatting that ran altogether. If yours does the same...well, really, the story is worth the effort!]
"What are we to do tonight?" Bodie asked.
"The Duchess desires our company, Mountjoy is having games, DeCastres too. You have your choice, my dear." Doyle sealed his missive and fanned the wax.
"Would you mind," Bodie said hesitantly, "if I didn't go tonight? I confess I'm a bit weary."
"Too much?" Doyle smiled to himself. "I have been running you, tis true. Perhaps you would prefer a visit to Therese? You can wear yourself out and sleep *very* soundly."
"No my lord. I think I'll go straight to bed, by myself, in fact." It was odd that Doyle had never noticed the tiredness in Bodie's voice before. Usually he was the most observant of souls. He turned in his small chair and regarded his friend with concern. "Are you ill? Shall I call someone?"
"Thank you, no, I'm well enough. perhaps I've not yet adjusted to City hours."
Unconvinced, Doyle stood up and approached Bodie, searching his face to be sure. "William, you would tell me if you were ill?" A new thought widened his eyes and sharpened his voice. "No one has attempted..."
Amusement lit Williams' face. "No, my lord, I am, as yet, your plaything."
It was said as a jest but the words shivered through Doyle. He reached out and gripped Bodie's shoulder. "You will never be a plaything, William, that is for toys and whores. When you play it will be because *you* choose to." The amusement faded and Bodie's blue eyes were suddenly dark with another emotion. Doyle's breath was a hard lump in his throat, unwilling to go up or down, frozen by the singing desire coursing through his body. I want him, God help me. Doyle's mind was panicking but the panic was quickly smothered by the passion that seemed to surge back and forth between them.
"M... my lord?" Bodie stammered in a whisper. Doyle's hand slid up to caress his cheek and with the slightest of movements Bodie leaned into it. Neither of them had any will to stop and their bodies moved closer. Bodie was reaching for Doyle when the handle of the library door clattered and they spun away from each other as though they'd been burned. Bodie walked quickly to the writing table and retrieved the note.
"Shall I set this out for you, my lord, on my way up?" Even to his ears, Bodie's voice sounded odd.
"If you please." Doyle was facing Jennings who'd entered with a tray of brandy. "Thank you, Jennings, but I believe we're retiring early tonight. Amazingly, there is nothing I care to do and Mr. Bodie informs me he is tired."
"Very good, my lord." Jennings backed out again without a blink.
Bodie came abreast of Doyle and would not meet his eyes. "Good night, my lord."
"Good night, William." Doyle watched him go, moving without his usual bounce up the stairs. There was an ache inside his lordship and he recognized it for what it was. With a sigh he made his own way upstairs....
[Just a note to say that my text file from the CD had formatting that ran altogether. If yours does the same...well, really, the story is worth the effort!]
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no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 07:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 01:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 08:14 am (UTC)I really appreciate every kind of tip for reading, and I never read a historical AU.
Wouldn´t I miss the Capri? Bodie and Doyle only on horses...???
But nevertheless the cutout sounds very familiar.
But I really have to stop myself! There are enough stories to read, without searching for the Proslib CD!
(At the moment I´m on page 357/688 of “Waiting to fall” from Rob. )
Damn work! Again late...
Thanks for tip!
...really sounds interesting... Damn work!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 01:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 09:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 10:12 am (UTC)I'm always especially grateful for CD recs, like Magenta I'm never sure where to start, there are so many stories on there!
Thank you very much for this!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 01:08 pm (UTC)Proslib is overwhelming. I am hoping to do a lot of recs to the CD. I have many favorites! *g*
no subject
Date: 2008-02-23 10:44 am (UTC)I adore AUs, and love how perfectly our lads fit in to any period. This was wonderful - I loved the set up, and how they immediately clicked and their relationship developed, and their first kiss was...oh, gorgeous! A couple of bits were very gruesome, weren't they! And yes, a very hissable villain! Is there a sequel? The ending definitely left things wide open for a sequel!
I am hoping to do a lot of recs to the CD.
Fantastic, I shall look forward to them. Thank you very much for this one, I may never have read it otherwise.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-23 04:17 pm (UTC)Yay! I'm so glad! I agree that they way in which they immediately clicked was just perfect in this one. Maybe that's part of the reason why I do enjoy AUs--that sense of rightness when they meet each other, as if something was missing before. In the "real" world they're partners and it's a different dynamic. I like the OTPness of AUs, I guess. *g*
It is a bit gruesome in places, yes. And yet never over-the-top, I don't think. I don't know, it just really worked for me. There is no sequel that I know of, alas. I would definitely like more from this world!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 02:26 pm (UTC)And I do love those black and white icons. I wonder, do you have to have some extra facility to achieve that effect? I've only used the basic Microsoft Office Picture Manager.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 03:28 pm (UTC)Thank you! Any tips or pointers are most gratefully received with regards to the CD, as I do find it quite overwhelming!
I do love those black and white icons.
If you use your 'Adjust Colour' facility you should be able to convert any pic to black and white I think. This icon was already these shades, I haven't done anything to it - it's au naturel! *g*
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 02:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 04:02 pm (UTC)You can obtain a copy of the Proslib CD for a minimal cost.
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 10:54 pm (UTC)And now you've come up with this rec which sounds right up my alley. And it's long, you say? I may just print the whole thing out, all ready to be snuggled up in bed with in my little country cottage.
Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2008-02-19 11:49 pm (UTC)Yay! I'm so glad to help! *g* I know exactly what it feels like to need a story for a holiday, and you sort of know what you want but nothing is quite right.... You need a long (this is long!), satisfying read that takes you away from your holiday enough to feel illicit and yet not too far away, since you are, after all, on holiday. *g* This is perfect for that! Or at least I think so. Enjoy! Report back. *g* But mostly, have a great holiday!