Sarah sighed as she looked at the mess drowning the sitting room. She just could not be bothered. That was the problem with long projects and unchanging days, apathy came to visit and refused to leave. She nudged a discarded jumper out of her way with one foot. Ennui would be so much more satisfying. …
It wasn’t fair. Not only did Piety have a name that fooled everyone into thinking she was as angelic as she looked, she also moved across the ballroom floor like a willow in the breeze. Anya had heard her own dancing described as ‘efficient’ and ‘technically correct but…’ a few too many times to want …
All the guests had arrived, at least all the guests Anya’s parents deemed worthy of a personal greeting, and conversation bubbled across the ballroom, accented by the chink and ting of porcelain and crystal. The Fortescue family were known for the quality of both their chef and their cellar, and the visitors were making the …
Anya stomped across the manor’s lawn to the woodland beyond. Whose stupid idea had it been to invite Lord Bernard to visit? He was a chauvinist of the worst kind, and she was two insults and a superior smirk away from smacking him over the head with the dining room’s carriage clock. Even her father …
Anya lay on her back in the dirt and contemplated moving. She didn’t think anything was broken or otherwise damaged but sitting up felt a little bit beyond her. She gazed up at the slope she’d just tumbled down. Steep, long, more rocks than was comfortable for a flailing human, and just enough undergrowth to …
They stopped for the night in the next village, even though it was barely afternoon and the castle could be seen on a hill in the middle distance. Oren said they needed time to prepare. His version of preparing was to take a pint of ale into the garden behind the inn and snooze. Mara …
Tessa stared back at the three people staring at her. “What?” “We can’t change her look completely; people would notice and comment.” Max was ignoring her, sort of. Bel nodded. “Yeah, right, we need to enhance it. Dial it up.” Juno was frowning. “But do we dial it up by going outrageous, or high class?” …
Rai slipped into the main hall of the temple, all but unnoticed among the crowd gathered to hear this week’s sermon from the High Priestess. It was the usual drivel; service to the church, service to the crown, a humble life is a holy life, so work hard and give all your money to me. …
Kit opened yet another door and ushered Eva into a room far too large to feel as cosy as it did. It was a lovely mix of a sitting room, library and study, with comfortable chairs and a sofa tucked around a fireplace at one end, bookshelves covering the back and side walls and a …
Eva strode into the glass and marble foyer of the offices housing her great aunt’s lawyers, she was very good at appearing comfortable in places designed to intimidate and the receptionist looked slightly put out at Eva’s breezy greeting. “I’m sorry, but Mr Harrison is not available this afternoon. He’s in very important client meetings.” …
The DNA of Stories 