Miss Eliza Hill

October Character Interview

Patricia Parrington ~ October 15, 2025

Hello my lovely readers and fellow book-lovers! For those of you who are new here, I, your Halloween-loving host Patricia Parrington, have the pleasure of interviewing characters from books all over the world.

Today we have here with us Miss Eliza Hill from the adult Christian historical romance A Heart to Treasure by Dienece Darling. Dienece is a former Georgian Belle turned Aussie and she loves reading and writing Christian historical fiction. She prefers paperbacks, but ebooks make acceptable substitutes whenever the pocketbook is running a little thin or the library can’t order the paperback in.

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Meet Eliza

Welcome to Fable Features!

[Patricia leans forward and moves a giant carved pumpkin off the coffee table.]

There we go! Now I can see you. I had some free time last night, so I began decorating for Halloween.

[She smiles at her guest.]

I’m excited to get to know you! So tell me, what’s a typical day look like for you?

[Eliza pulls her bewildered gaze off the pumpkin, wondering what Halloween is and why anyone would carve a face into a vegetable. But she’s too polite to ask.]

I used to help my father in his drapery shop, showing fabrics to customers, helping them pick out the most stylish and complimentary colors, and advising which fabrics ought to be used for what purposes. Yet, my favorite task was settling Father’s accounts. I’d spend hours lining up all the numbers and finding out where errant little sums went wrong.

[Eliza sighs.]

But I’m not allowed to do that anymore. Obadiah is a gentleman, and I’m to be a lady once I marry him. So, my days are filled with sewing useless adornments on perfectly functioning items, talking, and drinking tea. It’s all very dull.

I love Obadiah, but sometimes, I wish he wasn’t gentry.

That does sound dull. Let’s say Obadiah wasn’t gentry and you could choose to do what you would like. What would you choose?

The shop. I’d go right back to my father’s shop, tallying up all those lovely numbers and helping customers.

That does sound nice! And you seem quite skilled with numbers.

What would be your weapon of choice?

[Eliza laughs.]

A stick.

[A twinkle appears in her eye.]

I’m quite skilled with sticks masquerading as swords. My youngest sibling is the only boy in our family, and poor Max needs someone to play with him.

Although, I don’t suppose that’s fair. Obadiah spends a good deal of time with Max. It’s one of the things I dearly love about my betrothed. He’s so wonderful with all my family but most especially with Max.

But when Obadiah was at Oxford, Max became terribly lonely. Our own father works from dawn to dusk and sometimes even later, so I played soldiers with Max. And I became quite accomplished with a stick if I do say so myself.

[Eliza sits a little straighter with a smug smile on her face.]

[Patricia chuckles and mimes swinging a stick through the air.]

That does sound like a wonderful weapon. I’ll have to practice the art of stick wielding.

[She leans back against the couch cushions.]

You speak so fondly of this Obadiah. Tell me, how did you two meet?

He came to my father’s shop in desperate need of new clothing. His mother had died the year before, and his father . . . Well, the less said about him the better.

At seventeen, poor Obadiah was still growing and about to burst out of everything he had.

[Eliza laughs.]

Actually, he did burst out. Although, it was in the gallant service of rescuing me, so I ought not to laugh.

You see, a stray cat had found its way into the shop, and while I tried to reach the cat up on a top shelf, the ladder slipped. There I dangled off a shelf high up in the air, screaming for my father who had stepped outside.

Obadiah came rushing in and lifted me down as if I weighed nothing, but it cost him his coat. Those broad shoulders of his split the seams. He was quite embarrassed about it. And yet, he went right up that ladder and rescued Peregrine for me—Peregrine was the cat, by the by. He still comes around whenever he wants to be fed.

When Father returned, I insisted we replace Obadiah’s coat as thanks for his service since Peregrine had shredded his coat sleeve to ribbons. Obadiah protested, but Father agreed to my terms, providing him with our finest broadcloth and paying a tailor to make it up.

After that, Obadiah kept coming by the shop in his dapper new clothes even though he no longer needed our services. He said it was to check on the cat, but I think you can discern the truth of that statement all for yourself.

[Eliza grins.]

[Patricia grins as well.]

Oh yes. Clearly he was visiting for reasons beyond checking in on a cat.

[Patricia taps her chin.]

Do you have any pet peeves?

I am not familiar with the word peeve, but I have heard of pet. Obadiah calls Peregrine my pet. Only, that black cat isn’t the least bit domesticated, so I do not think one ought to apply the term pet to him even if he is dear to me. He’ll scratch if you get too close to him.

Which, now I think on it, makes him rather peevish. Is that what you meant by pet peeve?

You know, that certainly works. Don’t want to peeve the cat!

What are you most scared of?

[Eliza shifts uncomfortably, looks down, and fidgets with the skirt of her white round gown. When she lifts her head, a strained, polite smile graces her lips, and she speaks quickly, almost too quickly.]

I am scared of a few things, but mostly, that the wedding will never occur. It seems there has been one delay after another.

Just last year, I thought we were going to have to wait another five years to wed after Obadiah was sent down from Oxford and nearly ruined his chances of joining the church. But thankfully, Obadiah’s father sorted everything out with Oxford, and Obadiah’s to take orders soon.

So, all my worries came to naught after all, even if Obadiah nearly . . .

[Eliza closes her eyes and breathes deeply through her nose several times until her shoulders relax. She flexes her hand twice then opens her eyes.]

But as I said, nothing came of it. And hopefully, nothing will come of my fears now either.

[Patricia nods and offers a comforting smile.]

That’s good, focusing on the positives. I’m glad to hear nothing terrible happened. And hopefully your wedding will come soon! That’s very exciting. Let’s move on to our next question, yes?

If you had to choose between super strength or super speed, which would you choose?

[Eliza cocks her head a moment, wondering what super is but decides it must be the same as superfine, and when she combines that with strength, a soft smile spreads across her face.]

I’ve never heard it phrased that way, but I rather like superfine strength. It puts me in mind of Obadiah. He has the broadest shoulders I’ve ever seen on a gentleman, and it’s because of his forge out in The Blean—Oh!

[Eliza covers her mouth with her hand for a moment then takes it down.]

But you mustn’t tell anyone about that. ‘Tis a secret. Obadiah doesn’t even know that I know about his forge. Although when I did find out, it certainly helped to explain why Obadiah always smelled faintly of smoke and the impressive breadth of his shoulders—no, wait! How was it you put that? Superfine strength. I do rather like that. It suits Obadiah quite well because he’s so very fine and strong.

But I hardly need that myself when I have Obadiah. Which I suppose would leave me with superfine speed.

[Eliza cocks her head to the side and gives a little hum.]

That could prove quite useful. I could use it to slip into my father’s shop and work whenever the boredom of being a lady overwhelms me, and no one would be the wiser. My father wouldn’t scold me to “Think of Obadiah.” And Obadiah couldn’t look hurt that I went.

Yes, superfine speed would do me quite nicely.

That does sound like a fitting talent to use in your situation! Especially if Obadiah is already very strong.

[Patricia glances at a paper and laughs.]

Oh, I love this question. What’s the weirdest thing a guest has done at your house?

[Eliza jerks back.]

I have never had “weird sisters” in my house, or anyone associated with witchcraft. And I would thank you kindly not to bandy such accusations about. Obadiah’s father is most strict, and if rumors were to circulate about . . . Well, about the question you just asked me, he might withdraw his permission for us to wed. That would never do. So, please, for my sake, do not speak of such things.

Although, I can see from your face that perhaps I’ve misunderstood. Mother says that sometimes I let my emotions have too free a reign.

Have I misspoken?

[Patricia scratches her head, thinking.]

Hmm, yes, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. What about the word strange? Or odd? My apologies for using the word weird. I’d completely forgotten how it has changed over time! I meant no offense. But I would love to hear if you have any stories of a guest doing something rather bizarre.

Oh! Odd. Now that, I have an answer for, but I’m afraid it’s another Obadiah story. At this rate, you may wonder which of us you are interviewing. But truly, he did the oddest thing one day.

He’d come to call on me, but only my mother, Max, and myself were home. Since Mamma couldn’t very well leave me alone with Obadiah in the parlor when she went to fetch the refreshments, I went with her. When we came back, Obadiah was on the floor playing tin soldiers with Max, teaching him the correct ranks and formations.

It was the oddest and most endearing thing I’d never seen.

Aww, that’s adorable! He sounds more and more like such a wonderful man.

What would you say is your greatest treasure?

[Eliza’s face softens instantly. She digs through the side of her gown’s skirt and slips her hand into the slit made in the seam to access the detachable pockets she ties around her waist underneath. She pulls out a white bit of cotton with the initials OH embroidered in blue in one corner.]

Obadiah gave me his pocket handkerchief the day we rescued Peregrine.

[Eliza grins.]

I told you my pet was peevish. He scratched my cheek when my father startled him, and Obadiah so gallantly whipped out his handkerchief for my use.

I ought to have laundered and returned it. It’s one of the few remaining articles crafted by Obadiah’s dear departed mother, but I cannot bear to part with it. I even sleep with my pockets tied on over my nightshift just so it can stay with me always.

That’s so sweet! And I’m sure Obadiah doesn’t mind letting his beloved hold onto it.

[Patricia tucks her paper away with a sigh.]

Well, time does go by fast. We’re already at the final question! If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

[Eliza answers immediately.]

That Obadiah would call me Eliza and not Elisabeth. My mother named me Eliza on purpose, but Obadiah says it’s not genteel enough. So, he calls me Elisabeth. He uses the French spelling with an “S” out of deference to my mother who wanted to set me apart from all the English Elizabeths cramming the countryside, but it’s not the same.

I should have told him so the moment he put forth the idea, but I didn’t. And I still haven’t. And I know I must soon, but I haven’t gathered the courage yet.

It’s just . . .

[Eliza looks away.]

Have you ever been afraid to tell someone something? So very, very afraid?

[Patricia nods quietly, understanding glimmering in her green eyes.]

[Eliza’s quiet for a moment.]

I must admit that I wasn’t completely honest with you earlier. I do fear the wedding will not take place, but that is not what I most fear. And yet . . .

[Eliza twists Obadiah’s handkerchief.]

Part of me fears that if I put it into words, it will come true. That as long as it remains unspoken, it may never happen.

Perhaps that is foolish.

[Eliza offers a wry smile and shifts in her seat. She takes a deep breath.]

But you asked, and I wasn’t truthful. So, I must make amends for that.

My greatest fear is that one day Obadiah will regret marrying a shopkeeper’s daughter. There is so much that is different about us, and I fear we may not be able to reconcile it all. What is important to him as a gentleman is meaningless to me, and what is so important to me, he doesn’t understand.

And I fear that one day our love will not be enough to overcome that.

That sounds very tough. Thank you for sharing that with me.

[Patricia sits quietly for another moment.]

Thank you for listening. I think it helped to speak of it after all.

[Eliza stands.]

I appreciate your kind invitation to call upon you today.

[Patricia smiles softly and stands.]

I appreciate you coming out to chat with me as well. And I truly hope you and Obadiah are able to find something that works for both of you, that makes you feel loved and heard.

End of interview.

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Want to Read More?

Eliza’s author, Dienece Darling, can be found on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and at her website, https://www.dienecedarling.com/. You can buy her books here, including A Heart to Treasure.

Graphics created by the author. Character art by @cottonbro.

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See Ya Next Time

Aaand that's all the time we have today. Thank you, readers, for coming. And thank you, Eliza, for letting us get to know you! See y'all next time.

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If you would like to submit a character to be interviewed for a future issue of Fable Features, please send an email to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Fable Features.

Please note that erotica and content with excessive vulgar language will not be accepted.

If you have questions you'd like Patricia Parrington to ask in a future interview, please submit them to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Interview Questions.