Happy New Year, everyone! My first post today is about my historical romance, A Little Death, published by Untreed Reads.
When Abigail marries Nabal in the time of the rebel king David, she quickly discovers her husband's bullying ways and cruelty. Trapped in a loveless relationship but determined to fight, she finds solace in her growing friendship with servant girl Anna. Soon the two women are plotting to kill Nabal, but the increasing attacks from David threaten to destroy all their hopes for happiness.
Here's an excerpt for you:
The sun woke me into a kaleidoscope of strangeness. I did not recognise the tapestries on the walls with their scenes of grape harvesting and revelry, or the smell of wine and spices hanging in the air. Then I remembered. Next to me, Nabal snored away his drunkenness, his fingers still clutching the flagon he’d drained last night before he slept. I wanted to be outside in the pure air, away from the memory of his cruelty. But first there was something I needed to do.
Slipping away from the bed, my body aching and slow, I half-stumbled and had to steady myself against the wooden frame. Nabal’s snoring ceased and I held myself still, my heartbeat as loud as hill thunder. Would he wake now I was no longer beside him? I did not dare to draw breath. One moment went by, then another. Then he grunted, mumbling words I could not hear, moved his vast bulk across the bed, and the rhythmic snoring began again.
I gathered my cloak around me and padded out through the dark hall. The household was beginning to stir but outside I could see sheep and goats scattered over the nearby hills. Soon, I promised myself, I would explore these lands I was wife to, but now my more urgent task called me. I breathed in the scent of vines and lavender and then turned back and spoke to the first servant I recognised, the older man of the previous night.
“Tell me,” I said, “Where is Anna?”
He took me to her, although he was trembling, and then vanished into darkness. She was lying in a room little more than a goat hovel next to the kitchen, her small form hardly making an impression on the mound of straw and weeds. When she saw me, she tried to rise, but cried out and I shook my head.
“No, please,” I said and, crouching down, gasped at the welts on her shoulders. “I am sorry.”
“It is nothing.” Her voice was as gentle as a stream in summer, not as a servant’s should be.
“No, it is bad. Let me help you.”
“Please, you must not. I…”
“Hush, let me fetch water, bathe your wounds. This is not right.”
When I turned, my exit was blocked by a vast shadow which swayed against the door-frame.
“What are you doing, woman?” Nabal spat out the words. “Why are you not at my side when I wake?”
Behind me, Anna whimpered, but I stood in front of her, shielding her from her tormentor.
“Finishing your good work, husband,” I said. “Do you not think this servant needs to learn her duties better? So, with your blessing, she will be my special companion. I will teach her all you want her to know.”
Find out more about A Little Death here!
Happy 2012 to all!
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