Ariadne for Always - chapter 2, part 1 (Book Drawing Example...continued)

Ariadne sighed with relief as the orderlies took Agatha and the baby. She was quite wobbly with exhaustion - but it would never do to collapse in the lobby of the little hospital. She flashed a quick smile, “Thank you so much for your help....”
“Tjaard. Just call me Tjaard.”
“Oh, I remembered your name, I just wasn’t sure how to pronounce it.” Ariadne admitted, while her face reddened at the thought of what a stupid remark she had just made.
Tjaard silently admired Ariadne. Long luxuriant coppery hair, grey eyes, the color of storm clouds, ridiculously long lashes that brushed her cheek as she looked down. Speaking of cheeks, she had the most devasting dimples when she smiled.
“Is there anyone you need to get hold of?” He asked, raising his eyebrows.
Ariadne fought down the impulse to say “I’d like to get hold of you”. “Yes, I need to call my parents. They will be expecting me and Agatha home right about now,” she said, with a fine disregard for grammar.
Tjaard pulled a slim mobile phone from his pocket. “Feel free to make whatever calls you need to.”
“Don’t you need to make arrangements about getting your car back?”
“Oh, that can wait. I wouldn’t dream of leaving you here by yourself.. Miss...?”
“Hastings. Ariadne Hastings.” She looked expectantly at Tjaard.
Tjaard looked back at her quizzically. She went on...”Mother is a huge fan of Agatha Christie, and Father is a huge fan of Mother. I know for a fact the first thing that attracted Mother to Father was his last name. Hastings.”
Tjaard looked thoughtful for a moment, “ah, Poirot’s friend.”
“Yes, once Mother heard Father’s last name she was smitten.” Ariadne reddened again...why was she telling him this? She was obviously babbling. She reached out her hand for the phone. “I’ll just call now, shall I?”
Tjaard stayed just where he was, frankly not wanting to miss a word of what she might say.
“Hello...Oliver? Could you get Mother or Father?” Ariadne sneaked a peek at Tjaard. “Oliver is my brother,” she whispered.
“Oh yes, I can quite see why your mother chose that name,” said Tjaard.
Ariadne goggled at him...no one ever got that connection.
“Do you also have a brother named Hercule?” asked Tjaard, with a boyish grin.
“No, that would be our Jack Russell’s name,” Ariadne giggled, her devastating dimples coming into play again, then turned away slightly as she heard a voice on the phone. “Oh, hullo Mother! I have some good news and some bad news. First the good news, you have a brand new grandson! The bad news is that Jack and Agatha may never be able to use the back seat of their Mini again.”
Tjaard quickly turned his surprised laugh into a cough.

Ariadne for Always - chapter 1, part 2 (Book Drawing Example #3)

“Is there anything else I can do?”, asked the tall stranger - with just the barest hint of an unplaceable accent.
“Would you mind going for help? I need to get my sister to the hospital as soon as the baby is delivered.”
“How far is the nearest hospital?”
“Not above 10 miles....” Agatha chose that moment to yell...and swear in an unladylike fashion. “Oh dear, I think it might be time. Perhaps you could hold your umbrella over us while I see what I can do?” Ariadne backed gracefully out of the car and opened the back door, just in time to neatly catch the baby. As the baby gave a lusty cry Ariadne carefully wrapped it in the man's scarf and handed the small bundle to the stranger. “Could you hold him for just a moment?” The man tucked the baby inside his burberry - where it was warm.
“Agatha, you’ve got a nice healthy looking young man on your hands. Let’s get you tidied up a bit and we’ll see about getting to the hospital.” As she finished up, Ariadne turned to look at the man...and promptly fell in love.
“Oh dear. Thank you so much for your help...Mr....?”
“I think in the circumstances you may just call me Tjaard.”
“Tjaard? What an unusual name. So much for Agatha naming the baby after you. Do you think you could drive us to Nether Wallop?”
“Nether Wallop? Now there’s an unusual name for you." Tjaard said, with a mocking lift of his eyebrow, "I’d be happy to drive you.”
Tjaard gave the now sleeping infant to his mother, then opened the front door for Ariadne. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, “It will be a bit of a squeeze.”
As Tjaard eased his not inconsiderable bulk into the driver’s seat he said,”I don’t mind at all...you’ll have to direct me - I am rather unfamiliar with the area.” Tjaard eased the little car back onto the road. Ariadne noticed that there was a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe parked just in front of where they had been. “Is that your car? It’s rather fabulous, do you think it’s safe to leave it here?” Tjaard gave a nonchalant shrug. “It’s the only thing to do under the circumstances.” I’ll get someone to bring it along.”
Ariadne was slightly horrified at the thought of how wealthy Tjaard must be to be able to shrug off a car like that. Her spirits sank at the thought of being in love with someone who was so very obviously far above her tax bracket. She told herself to buck up - it was an adventure - soon to be forgotten. But she knew she would never forget.
Tjaard was also thinking. He had never beheld such a beautiful sight...never mind the coppery hair hanging in damp tendrils around her face and the unspeakable mess that the delivery had made of her clothes. She was unforgettable.

February Book Drawing Example #2

Betty Keira gave us a sample of a book intro, in the style of Betty Neels. She told me that I had to do one also...here is my offering:

Ariadne for Always by Betty Debbie
Ariadne gripped the steering wheel tightly with her well shaped hands. The icy rain was sheeting down, making it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. The moans from the back seat were getting louder and more frequent. She knew she would never make it to Nether Wallop in time.

"Agatha, we're just going to pull into this lay-by so that I can take a peek at you."


Ariadne twisted around in her seat and knelt on it so she could lean over the back...She needed to look at her sister Agatha, but she didn't think that it would serve any purpose for her to let in the cold and the rain. Agatha moaned again. Louder. When Ariadne had completed her Midder* the previous week - she had had no idea that her skills would be tested so soon AND in the back seat of a Mini.


The front door of the Mini was abruptly wrenched open. A large man, the rain dripping off his umbrella, smiled. Then, addressing the shapely back of Ariadne, said "Perhaps I could be of assistance?"


"Do you have a cloth, some string and a pair of scissors?" asked Ariadne, whose only thought was to safely deliver her sister's baby. Probably within the next few minutes.


The handsome stranger pulled off his scarf, unlaced his shoe and whipped out a pocket knife - the large kind with many attachments...including scissors. In spite of the bustle of delivering a baby, Ariadne took a brief moment to be impressed with the speed at which he produced exactly what she asked for.


*course in midwifery.

Out of date name? Check. Nurse? Check. Large, handsome stranger? Check. Medical crisis? Check.