Isabella the Vampire Slayer
A while back, the casting of Rachael Leigh Cook as Catherine Morland came up and I started riffing on casting other young American actors for various roles in NA. I suggested Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz (Buffy and Angel) to play Isabella Thorpe and Captain Tilney. This, of course, got me thinking about how their other roles might influence certain scenes in the novel...
Catherine, looking up, perceived Captain Tilney, who had appeared before them between one second and another, although she had not seen him enter the Pump-room; and Isabella, earnestly fixing her eye on him as she spoke, soon caught his notice. He approached immediately, and took the seat to which her movements invited him. His first address made Catherine start. Though spoken low, she could distinguish, "What! always to be watched, in person or by proxy!"
"Psha, nonsense!" was Isabella's answer in the same half whisper. "Why do you put such things into my head? If I could believe it -- my spirit, you know, is pretty independent." She rummaged in her reticule, and a large wooden stake fell out, which she hastily picked up and stuffed back into the bag.
"I wish your heart were independent. That would be enough for me." He squinted at the sun as it angled through the large windows and inched toward their seat. "I cannot stay long, I think."
"My heart, indeed! What can you have to do with hearts? You men have none of you any hearts."
Or souls, Catherine reflected.
He stared hungrily at the creamy skin of her exposed throat, which she stroked invitingly with her fingers. "If we have not hearts, we have eyes; and they give us torment enough."
"Do they? I am sorry for it; I am sorry they find anything so disagreeable in me. I will look another way. I hope this pleases you, (turning her back on him,) I hope your eyes are not tormented now."
"Never more so; for the edge of a blooming throat, er, cheek is still in view -- at once too much and too little."
Isabella turned back suddenly and struck Captain Tilney with more force than Catherine could have believed possible in such a delicate girl. He turned back toward her, his eyes burning, a low growl emanating from his lips...
finis
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