Alex breathed in and centred himself, if Grandma could chop wood, a hale and healthy man in his twenties would have no problem. The axe felt strange in his hands, warm, heavy in a way that spoke more of possibility than actual heft. The wooden handle worn smooth from years of use, the steel head, …
Grandad was a hoarder. He picked up the oddest things at second-hand shops, and charity places, and car boot sales, always saying. “You never know when something like this will come in handy.” Everything was then taken down to the old shed at the back of the garden, where no one but Grandad ever went. …
Rowena strode down the tower stairs, and through the main courtyard. If her husband had turned to look back at her, she’d have stayed. And he started to. He was going to turn. And then he stopped. Maude had made some sweeping gesture and his attention had moved to her, rather than the wife he …
Isabelle would have given a great deal to be a fly on the wall at her grandmother’s next grand tea. Just what that ‘great deal’ would have been remained unexplored, as the Dowager Empress showed her the hidden way into her favourite sitting room, already set for a larger-than-usual tea gathering. The hidden way included …
Every now and again, I go through Ursula Le Guin's book on writing Steering the Craft and do some of the exercises in there. It was the first fine day since he’d arrived on the island, his first chance to get out and breathe. To walk, and think, and escape the suffocating care of his …
Sophia looked down on the young couple between the guards. Given their situation; found guilty of threatening the stability of the kingdom and standing before the thrones, they probably should be looking a little more cowed. But Lord Grayson was looking smug and his wife, Lady Roselin was positively smirking. As well she might, under …
“You didn’t mention that in your report.” The man gulped. “You hold an important position and your time and attention is in such demand, it is necessary to only present information of the utmost relevance.” I leaned back in my chair, pinning him with what I’m told is a decidedly unnerving stare. “Relevant to whom?” …
Reba led Byron up the back stairs to the old minstrels' gallery, now a dusty, dark balcony overlooking the dining hall of the inn they'd tailed the two men to. It also happened to be Reba's preferred accommodation in this town. Probably not a coincidence. Their quarry had settled at a table with a clear …
It was a week before the three of them were able to reconvene to discuss Charlotte’s situation. They met at Hatchards and spent a pleasant half hour choosing new books. Anya was allowed one novel if she also chose two ‘improving’ or educational books. Both Piety and Charlotte had no such restriction and each left …
Anya, Charlotte and Piety, newly engaged and brimming with romance, were spending the morning together. Ostensibly embroidering handkerchiefs for Piety's trousseau, in reality to share news. Piety concluded her gleeful report of a 'conversation' with Lord Peter, her fiancé with. “It's simply delightful being betrothed. You'will both find it charming, I'm sure.” Charlotte inspected her …
The DNA of Stories 