Delauney watched Melenique stalk towards the lift, designer suitcase trundling behind her. "Where did you reassign her to?" David looked up from his phone. "Anywhere there's a problem with performance, she's our roving troubleshooter." "I bet she's good at that." Her husband smirked. "Half the time all I need to do is mention her, and …
The next morning began in the bath house as usual. When she heard about the planned outing, Martha scoffed. “Typical, taking holidays while the rest of us work.” Eleanor raised a brow. “Like you work on the afternoons I’m with Sarah?” That earned her a hair toss. Martha had irritatingly pretty hair, all black and …
Maia swiped her access card, beep, green light, open door, phew. It hadn’t been a sure thing by any stretch, but they were in, and the real work could start. Janya slipped past her, a pat to the shoulder his only sign of approval. Approval for her months of grind to get into the company, …
This is a free novella for subscribers to my monthly newsletter, I'd love you to join, and find out what happens... My name is Arianna Goldbest, or possibly FitzMichael. I'm a stain on the family, a dishonour to the name, for I had the temerity to be born out of wedlock. One might presume my …
Merrisa had loved the summer weekends when she was sent down to Grandma’s. In that pretty cottage on the edge of a postcard village, she felt more seen, more heard, than at any time in the showpiece London house her parents called home. Not that they were home much, hence the constant need for Merrisa …
A week passed, with Martha appearing in Maggie’s workroom on the days Eleanor was there, Tilly said she stayed at the forge or roamed about the village on the other ones. On healing days, she chopped and ground and mixed and stirred and strained. It was tedious work, and for all Sarah claimed to experiment …
He was easy enough to ignore on the train, sitting near enough to keep an eye on me, but not encroaching. If I'd had a good book, I daresay I could have blocked thought of him entirely. Unfortunately, all I had was the 'improving stories' Aunt Diddy had pressed into my hand that morning, and …
Three hours later, Tobin headed for the second sitting room, in dire need of a drink, and some peace and quiet. The Queen had not taken the news of Sandar’s imminent departure well and had wailed and demanded and threatened. In truth, she behaved more like a petulant toddler denied a toy than a monarch. …
Rowena stood on the castle wall, on the little tower section where the west wall met the left side of the gate-wall and waited. He had to wave. If he didn’t turn, didn’t see her, didn’t acknowledge her silent farewell with one of his own, then it was over. He didn’t care, and she would …
The following afternoon, she presented herself at Maggie’s front door, and was handed the spindle. “Best get this out of the way before the horde arrive. You can do your carding while you’re weaving tales.” She’d lost the knack in the short time she’d been away. It took several false starts before she managed to …
The DNA of Stories 