Guest Post: A Day in the Life of Perry by Jenn LeBlanc

I have several constants in life that define me:

Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.

Born and raised in a household of other people’s children in this beautiful state —very nearly with a camera in hand— I never left. I started my own family, got used to the curls, went to college, built a CJ, and started a business, all with a camera in hand.

I always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. My fingers were never as quick as my mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside me. When my second daughter was born her inherent traits kept me pinned— my only escape the keyboard. Spending my days in parenting chat rooms I got highly adept with one-handed typing and I can still type just about as fast with one hand as I can with two. It’s a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. I recently finished my first novel but I quickly realized: I was born a photographer.

From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of MY book my control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.

I live and thrive off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. I wear shorts and flip-flops year-round —much to the chagrin of my friends and family— and I am currently working on the illustrations for my second novel.

Follow the blog or twitter for up to date information!

A Day in the Life of Perry

By Jenn LeBlanc

I was so excited to hear that Aislynn was interested in a typical day in the household of a viscount, because it meant I could go visit my Perry for a day, follow him around, see what he was up to, check out his new place...

I arrived at Westcreek early, long before sunrise, because I know Perry has been taking to his new duties as a landowner, husband and guardian. I figured he would be rising early to tackle the day, but when I got the manor it was quiet. The servants bustled about, a breakfast was being laid on the sideboard in the breakfast room, but there was no sign of Perry or Lilly.

I smiled and nodded to the servants, who assumed I belonged there, and wandered from room to room. Barren study, empty library, abandoned parlor, I took the main stairs two at a time, my beautiful new gold glittery heels clicking on the steps.

I wandered the first floor rooms (you know how in England the first floor is actually the ground floor, and the second is the first and so on...) so I wandered down one wing until I heard the low grumble of Perry’s baritone, and paused. I think I was headed toward the family suites, I’m not sure because I really hadn’t spent much time at Westcreek.

When I heard Lilly’s sweet voice in response I KNEW I’d found them so I started down the hallway, only to stop abruptly when the laughter turned to squeals and then...something else altogether. At first I was afraid to move, my fancy new shoes being a little too clicky on the wood floors, but I heard giggles behind me and I turned to find Amelie and Maryse standing at the top of the stairs and waved. They screamed at me and I took the opportunity to run and give them hugs, hoping their squeals of delight covered the fact that I’d been outside Perry’s bedchamber.

I was excited to see the girl’s since the last time I’d seen them they were well established at Eildon with Gideon and Francine. I remember 14 and 16, but I don’t remember being so bouncy. We bounced our way downstairs to breakfast and I made a mental note-

7 a.m. Perry wakes up Lilly...and stuff.

Breakfast was ahhhhmazing. Though my trainer isn’t going to be too happy about the hollandaise sauce.

Perry walked in around 8 (an HOUR later!) to find me and he stood me up and spun me around. THAT was exciting and worth the entire trip. I asked about Lilly and he grinned quite wickedly, letting me know she might stay abed a bit longer with a wink. We caught up while he broke his fast. They had been living at Westcreek full time for about a month. After breakfast he asked me to follow him to his study where he had some sort of paperwork to finish, I have no idea what. Listening to him chat about Lilly and their plans was incredibly endearing to me considering what they had been through.

So 9 a.m. Perry does paperwork. :)

After his fun with files he stood and led me out to the foyer where he asked if Lilly had been down yet, and I could tell that she hadn’t by the slight droop in his smile. He looked up and smiled at me and we were off through the house like that. He led me through the back to the stables where he asked the stable master to prepare his phaeton. Then he turned and explained that he usually went for a ride after being cooped up in the house for such a long time.

I giggled, I mean, the papers took him an HOUR. We talked about his life out here away from London, then the master brought around the phaeton, he help me up (woo woo!) and climbed aboard, taking up the reins.

Apparently he went for a drive everyday to occupy his time while Lilly slept in. At least, that’s the gist I got from it. But it was nice to see his land, to see the work he was doing and how excited he was in this new life.

As we returned I could see a slash of crimson on the back steps against the pale blonde of the large stone manor, I knew who it was before i turned to look at the broad grin that had broken across Perry’s face. It was magical, this. I squeezed his arm and told him to be off with her while I spent a little more time with the girls. He tried to insist I had traveled far to see him, but it didn;t take much convincing to get him to go. So

11 a.m. Perry is off with Lilly...again.

They returned around 2 p.m. about the same time an old friend of his, Baron Endsleigh, arrived from London for a visit.

Of course then we had all sorts of pleasantries, Amelia had not met Lord Endsleigh but had heard much about him, and apparently he was having difficulties with someone he cared for deeply. He needed to speak with Perry. Of course, I completely understood so I spent the next while with Lilly while Perry and Lord Endsleigh went to the study.

We went to the greenhouse, which was absolutely magical, she likes to spend time here in the afternoon caring for the flowers and fruit trees and plants. In the center was a little oasis with a large chaise and some pillows and blankets, some books, and a basket of sewing. After a bit Perry showed ap and asked if Endsleigh would mind showing me the library. Which he then couldn’t find, and I had already seen. But we both knew it was a rouse anyway.

Endsleigh grudgingly explained his predicament, apparently the girl he’d loved all his life was to marry someone else. I feel for him, she sounds like a one of a kind girl. But it doesn’t sound like there’s anything to be done about it. Sometimes I really hate propriety. He thought Perry might have some ideas considering that he married someone not of the gentry. He did not though.

The rest of the day was spent with Perry chasing Lilly around the house. Really. Every time he took me to see something he was looking for her. He did have time to show me his plans for their private railcar, which I must say does in fact outdo Gideon’s, much to my surprise.

Dinner, of course, was a feast, what with Endsleigh visiting, or I suppose you could call it hiding from his predicament, and the sisters and myself. And Perry and Lilly disappeared shortly after. All in all it was a very uneventful day. Though I did love meeting Endsleigh and chatting with Perry when he wasn’t thoroughly distracted, which he was, often. Of course I wouldn’t expect anything less.

I loved visiting with him, even for an afternoon.