They made it to the hidden door without being spotted. And, saints be praised, there was a loud kerfuffle on the dance floor precisely at the right moment. It distracted everyone, including Lord Tristram, just long enough for Anya and Charlotte to open it and slip into the dimly lit corridor behind. Anya paused to …
There's a book called The 3am Epiphany, which sounds like some dodgy enlightenment book but is actually a bunch of writing exercises, this is exercise 151. Prince Kristoff from the neighbouring kingdom of Gavernia was visiting, accompanying his sister on what was ostensibly a marriage discussion but was doubtless an information-gathering exercise, to see how …
Coming up with a plan to communicate Charlotte’s displeasure to her distant fiancé required tea and cake.Once the maid had finished setting out the cups and left the room, Charlotte fixed worried eyes on Anya and asked. “What do we do?”Anya retreated into a sip of tea to delay her reply. What did she know …
“They don’t like to… restrict… his enthusiasm and creativity.” Lesley’s friend, Janet, raised a brow. “So he’s an undisciplined, spoiled brat.” Lesley focused on her coffee. “Yes. And they won’t do anything, even when people say things.” “What about his school?” “Natalie’s homeschooling him. She says the education system is a relic of the industrial …
Rebecca watched the raindrops chase each other down the giant wall of glass facing her desk. It was a glorious view on sunny days, but on ones like this, when the clouds came low and the rain looked like it was ready for a re-do of the forty days and forty nights flood story, it …
“But he never leaves his room, other than for meals and to go to school, it’s just not healthy. He’s a growing boy, he needs to get outside, run about, get muddy with other boys.” “Does he look unhealthy to you?” “Well, no, but…” “Have you ever actually been into his room?” “Certainly not, I …
Theo wound up his enthusiastic description of his employer with the emphatic, “He is a veritable prince among men.” Silence. And not of the awed variety. Eventually, one of the older men at the table in the corner said. “You’re not from round here are ya.” Theo’s face – never good at hiding his thoughts …
For those who've read Sackcloth and Sky, a scene from Zain's point of view... The boy put the bowl on Zain's desk, yet another time-wasting exercise from the kitchen. He had more important business than eating unappetising little snacks. He breathed in, a memory rose. One of the gruel Lyra would bring him during those …
Myrah hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on her brother’s marriage proposal, she’d been snipping flowers for the vase in Mother’s sitting room and found some lovely late-blooming roses behind the bower. She was bent over, coaxing a particularly reclusive flower from behind its thorny guards when voices had hit her from the raised floor of the …
“Dad, Dad, Dad! What’s brown and sticky?” Damian wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. “I don’t know, what?” “A stick!” Emily flopped into the armchair, giggling at her own joke. That actually a pretty good one, definitely better than yesterday’s. He chuckled. “Nice, I’ll have to remember that, tell the guys at work.” …
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