Special Guest Post By Christina Young, founder of Gloucester Book Club

Hello,  my name is Christina Young and I’m the founder and organiser of Gloucester Book Club.  I’ve  always loved reading. I’d spend hours as a child curled up in an armchair with adventure stories, ignoring everything going on around me in my fervour to get to the end of a book.

Book groups looked like fun and a great place to meet a few new friends, whilst sharing my love of books.  My frustration at not finding one in my local area, grew to the point where I took matters into my own hands and Gloucester Book Club was born in January 2014.  

It turned out I wasn’t the only one looking for a book group, and numbers quickly grew so large that one meeting a month was no longer enough to satisfy the appetites of Gloucestershire readers.  We have over sixty members and schedule five meetings a month to cater for our members.  We’ve made some great friends, with the social aspect being one of the most important opportunities a book club offers.

Book Club was a life saver over lockdown! When we could no longer meet face to face, our meetings took place online and our strong foundation kept our connections going over those difficult months.  We are now back to face to face groups, but we will continue to hold two online meetings a month because they have proved a popular choice for some.

Book Lounge Podcasts 

During a light bulb moment, about six months ago, I decided to try producing a few group podcast discussions about some of our most popular reads. It’s been a huge learning curve, but so much fun getting to grips with editing and producing.  We’ve still got lots to learn, but we are really enjoying sharing our discussions with a wider audience.  If you’d like to listen, you’ll find Gloucester Book Club on Spotify, Google and Apple podcasts, and AnchorFm.

We read across a wide variety of genres, including contemporary and historical fiction, with some non-fiction and memoir, philosophy and science.  As far as our favourite books are concerned, it’s been extremely hard to choose but here are a few of our most popular, over the years we’ve been reading together.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Tin Man by Sarah Winman, Days without End by Sebastian Barry, Normal People by Sally Rooney, and last but not least Disgrace by JM Coetzee.

What do we love most about books and reading?

It’s escapism and emotional engagement. Books challenge attitudes and views, they allow the reader to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.  They provide diversion and distraction, which is like a form of therapy. They transport the reader to another time and place.  Most of all, they can bring people together to share a common experience which is what makes a book club a joy. 

Find us on Meetup.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Christina Young

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About the Author

Christina Young is a passionate reader who also happens to be the founder and organiser of Gloucester Book Club. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book she’s producing podcasts with her book group and writing flash fiction. A retired nurse, she spends time volunteering and is the occasional co-host on local radio. She has two grown up daughters, a grandson and a much-loved pug. Christina lives in Gloucestershire. You can find out more on Instagram gloucesterbookclub, at https://linktree/gloucesterbookclub and follow Christina on Twitter @lbookclub1 and @christinay1958. 

Gloucester Book Club discuss Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie:

Special Guest Post by Alexandra Walsh, Author of The Music Makers (Timeshift Victorian Mysteries Book 2)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Pembrokeshire, Wales, 2020: Serious illness has forced Eleanor Wilder to leave her life in London, close her antique shop, and return to the family farm in Pembrokeshire. Her instinct is to hide from the world but when her parents bring her to a family reunion at the nearby house, Cliffside, she is transfixed by a set of old family photographs.

London, England, 1875: Born to a teenage mother who couldn’t cope, Esme Blood is adopted by the ebullient Cornelius and Rosie Hardy into a touring theatrical troupe, along with her friend Aaron. When Aaron’s grandparents return to claim him, Esme is devastated and the two promise they will find each other.

The Music Makers takes us from present day Pembrokeshire to the world of the Victorian theatre as two stories entwine. In 2020, Eleanor Wilder is recovering from a serious illness. It has forced her to make drastic changes in her life, one of which is leaving her much-loved vintage emporium in Richmond, Surrey to return to her family home in Newgale, Pembrokeshire. Moving into an annexe attached to her parents’ farmhouse, Eleanor feels as though her life has slipped out of her control as she reacts and copes to her new situation, rather than being able to make her own choices.

After attending a family reunion at Cliffside, a large Victorian house a few miles away, Eleanor is inspired to search into her own family tree. Her mother shows her some old Victorian photographs and one in particular draws Eleanor’s attention: a woman in a spectacular dress made from peacock feathers. The woman’s irreverent grin seems to call to Eleanor across time. On the back of the photograph is the name Esme Blood. Eleanor decides to investigate further, especially as she has heard the name before, and is sure, somewhere in her antiques emporium, she owns items that once belonged to the mysterious Esme Blood.

And so, the scene is set for The Music Makers. As Eleanor reads Esme’s diaries a world of Victorian theatre opens before her. It is glamorous, it is dangerous but above all, in this era where women’s lives were often restricted, it was a world where women from all backgrounds could succeed and triumph. It was this in particular that drew me to the idea of writing something set in this world.

I first discovered these women and their role in the history of theatre many years ago when I was studying for my Theatre Studies A-levels. The Victorian actor-managers and the changing world of the theatre were fascinating, particularly as women were as much a part of this revolution as men. They became stars and were able to earn their own money, giving them autonomy.

In The Music Makers, Esme Blood, my protagonist, grew up as part of The Hardy Troupe of Theatrical Players, run by her adopted parents, Cornelius and Rosie Hardy. As with many entertainers in this era, they began their careers touring the goose fairs and other events around the country. Rosie would tell fortunes before joining her husband on stage as they sang, danced and turned Shakespeare plays into musicals. Until the day, Cornelius and Rosie hired The Firebird Theatre in Soho, London and their troupe of players found a permanent home and respectability.

Growing up with Esme was her adopted sister, Cassandra (Cassie) Smith; Lynette Mason who is Esme’s best friend and partner on stage, as well as Aaron Maclean, Cassie’s cousin and Jeremiah Hardy, the son of Rosie and Cornelius. All the children performed from the moment they were able to toddle across the stage. Esme soon revealed a pitch-perfect singing voice and became a star in her own right.

To ensure the Hardy Troupe did not descend into caricature, my characters, particularly the women, were all inspired by real performers. One was Bessie Bellwood.

Bessie Bellwood (Wikimedia Commons)

Bessie was born Catherine Mahoney, in London, to Patrick Mahoney and his wife, Catherine Ready, who both originated from County Cork, Ireland. Bessie was one of five siblings: Mary, Ellen, Catherine, Ann and James. In 1876, aged 20, Catherine assumed the stage name Bessie Bellwood and made her music hall debut in Bermondsey.

From the beginning, Bessie’s cockney charm and cheeky manner drew in the crowds. Her most popular song was What Cheer Ria?. It tells the tale of a woman who decides to treat herself to a new dress and a fancy seat at the music hall, rather than sitting with her friends in the cheap seats and how disaster strikes. Other songs in her repertoire included He’s Going to Marry Mary Ann, Woa Emma and Aubrey Plantagenet; all of which followed the same fine line, somewhere between cheeky and rude.

On 24 September 1884, she married John Nicholson, a commission agent. Little is known about him and he seems to have been content to remain in the background as Bessie toured prolifically. Described by author, Peter Davison as, “the kind of woman who epitomised the spirit of the halls”, she was one of the great pioneers of music hall.

Yet, despite being known for her ability to shout down her hecklers and her bawdy songs, Bessie was admired by the public for being a devout Roman Catholic who did a great deal to help the poor. She died on 24 September 1896, aged 40, of a heart condition and thousands of people lined the route of her funeral as it passed along Whitechapel Road. She was buried in St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Leytonstone.

While Bessie provided me with inspiration for Esme and Lynette’s sparky, cheeky act called The Skylark Sisters, another music hall star provided me with the source of Cassie’s desire to ‘catch an earl’.

Cassie is Esme’s adopted sister and they have a complicated and combative relationship. From the beginning of the story, Cassie Smith, is determined to marry into the aristocracy, a storyline inspired by the real-life actress, Dorothea Jordan, who became the mistress and companion of the future king, William IV. They met while he was the Duke of Clarence and were together for 20 years, having ten illegitimate children who were given the surname, Fitzclarence, and were acknowledged by their father.

Throughout the Victorian sections, I refer to real events featuring other key women of the era. Lynette Mason, best friend and co-star of Esme, has her heart set on acting rather than singing. She is inspired by Henry Irving, one of the more famous actor-managers from this era, who was building a good reputation at the Lyric Theatre. Alongside Irving, was Ellen Terry, who became one of the most sought after actors of her generation.

When Esme and Lynette set out on their adventures, Lynette is invited to appear in the pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. While, these days, the pantomime is seen as a slightly downmarket but entertaining event to enliven Christmas, in the Victorian era they were seen as legitimate theatre and to star in one was a huge honour. I chose this particular performance for Lynette to enable me to mention another female pioneer of Victorian theatre, Mrs Ellen Elizabeth Nye Chart née Rollason.

Born in Islington, Ellen Rollason was the daughter of a builder but her ambitions lay elsewhere. Working hard to establish herself as an actor, she arrived in Brighton in 1865 where she joined the company of Henry Nye Chart the owner and actor-manager of the Theatre Royal. Two years later, in 1867, they were married, an event which was quickly followed by the birth of their only a child, a son.

Ellen and Henry continued to act together, however, Ellen became increasingly interested in the management side and when her husband died in 1876, she took over the theatre, presenting her first season of plays only weeks after Henry’s death.

Her eye for spotting, and then leading, trends; for making bold choices and her inclusivity of all strata’s of society soon saw her rise to be one of the most successful actor-managers of the era. Ellen was the first actor-manager to extend the traditional ‘season’ of plays, allowing the theatre to remain open all-year round. As the years went by, she replaced the resident cast with touring companies, ensuring a steady stream of successful shows. She pioneered the matinee, and in particular, what became known as ‘flying matiness’. These saw a popular London production, including cast, scenery and props, coming to Brighton to perform the afternoon show before returning to London for the evening performance.

The pantomimes were the most profitable shows and Ellen spared no expense, staging such classics as Aladdin, Dick Wittington and Jack and the Beanstalk. Shows ran from Christmas Eve until February, with at least one performance where the theatre was opened to the staff and inmates of the Brighton Workhouse. More than a thousand people were invited to this free show, offering an afternoon of wonder and excitement, and making Ellen hugely popular in her hometown.

Her bold choices and fearless risks made Ellen a fortune, as well as, cementing her position as one of the greatest theatrical impresarios of the era.

These women were feisty, strong-minded individuals who lived life by their own rules. My characters are a small tribute to the pioneering women of Victorian theatre who helped to pave the way for future generations.

Alexandra Walsh

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About the Author

Alexandra Walsh is a bestselling author of the dual timeline women’s fiction. Her books range from the 15th and 16th centuries to the Victorian era and are inspired by the hidden voices of women that have been lost over the centuries. The Marquess House Saga offers an alternative view of the Tudor and early Stuart eras, while The Wind Chime and The Music Makers explore different aspects of Victorian society. Formerly, a journalist for over 25 years, writing for many national newspapers and magazines; Alexandra also worked in the TV and film industries as an associate producer, director, script writer and mentor for the MA Screen Writing course at the prestigious London Film School. She is a member of The Society of Authors and The Historical Writers Association. Alexandra is currently writing the fourth book in The Marquess House Saga, The Jane Seymour Conspiracy, which will be published in July 2022 by Sapere Books. For blogs, updates and more information visit her website: www.alexandrawalsh.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter @purplemermaid25

Special Guest Post by Heidi Eljarbo, Author of Hidden Masterpiece (Soli Hansen Mysteries, Book 3)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Antwerp 1639. Fabiola Ruber’s daughter, Annarosa, wants to honor her mother’s last wish and have her portrait done by a master artist who specializes in the art of chiaroscuro. Her uncle writes to an accomplished painter in Amsterdam and commissions him to paint his beloved niece.

Someone who chooses to write historical fiction must love history, right? And a way to have double the fun when plotting and writing the novel is doing dual timelines.

The main story of the Soli Hansen Mystery Series takes place in 1944. It’s the last months of WWII, and people are tired, desperate, and hungry. They are hoping and praying for change. Many have lost their homes, their livelihood, and their loved ones.

Soli has joined the resistance. She has gone undercover to preserve valuable paintings and keep them from falling into the hands of Nazi thieves.

Art was important to Hitler. As a young man his dream was to become an artist. Twice, he applied for the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria, but he was rejected both times. He kept painting, and many years later—when his focus was far less romantic—he decided to build the world’s biggest and most extensive art museum in his hometown Linz. Already in 1939, a great and horrible art plunder began.

Rumors about the Nazi art thefts reached curators in Oslo, Norway even before the Germans occupied the country. The National Gallery in Oslo started evacuating their priceless artwork in 1939.

In Hidden Masterpiece, our protagonist works with a resistance group who specializes in finding and preserving art treasures. But the road there is both mysterious and dangerous. Seventeenth century paintings are hidden, and clues and riddles must be solved to find secret places. 

Clandestine operations are organized to keep the enemy from discovering the artwork. With the occupying forces all around, Soli and her friends are constantly looking over their shoulders.

The second storyline happens more than three hundred years earlier. The main character is Annarosa, a Jewish heiress. We join her on a perilous journey from Antwerp to Amsterdam where she is to have her portrait done by a master artist.

In 1639, Amsterdam was a prosperous and growing center of commerce. This period is called the “Golden Age” of Dutch painting. From artists’ studios around the country, unprecedented quality artwork emerged, and Annarosa is there in the middle of it.

In mysterious ways, Annarosa’s and Soli’s stories are woven together. And although Hidden Masterpiece can be read as a standalone novel, it connects with the previous books in the series.

We follow Soli as she walks the streets of Oslo and flees on skis through the snow-covered mountains. Annarosa’s life is quite different, but the two courageous women—separated by three centuries—are united through their love of art.

With a lifelong passion for history, I am happy to share my excitement and joy of the past with you. I hope to show how people handle life's ups and downs. I love historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love, and others you don't want to go near. If the story has elements of hope, magic, and romance in the midst of challenging times, the better.

I hope you'll enjoy Hidden Masterpiece. I certainly loved writing it.

Heidi Eljarbo

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About the Author

Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near. Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter. After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier. Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter. Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical. Find out more at Heidi's website: https://www.heidieljarbo.com/ and find her on Facebook and  Twitter: @HeidiEljarbo

Guest Post by Ron Blumenfeld, Author of The King's Anatomist: The Journey of Andreas Vesalius

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In 1565 Brussels, the reclusive mathematician Jan van den Bossche receives shattering news that his lifelong friend, the renowned and controversial anatomist Andreas Vesalius, has died on the Greek island of Zante returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Jan decides to journey to his friend's grave to offer his last goodbye.

Grandpa Writes a Novel

If internet surveys are to be believed, most debut novelists are thirty-somethings, the outliers being a smattering of teenage wunderkinds and a British woman who in 2019 published her first novel at age 93. “The King’s Anatomist” was accepted for publication in my 74th year, far distant from the crowd of newbies young enough to be my grandchildren and within sight of that extraordinary nonagenarian. But what of it? In the end a novel gets written when the author is ready, willing, and able.

 
When I was a high school senior thinking about a career in medicine, my mother’s employers, rare book dealers, made me a gift of “Andreas Vesalius of Brussels 1514-1564.” They wanted me to know about Vesalius and his great 1543 textbook of anatomy. I gamely waded into the scholarly biography, but gave up after 20 pages; it was quite simply over my head. 

Nevertheless, the book remained on my shelf for fifty years, and when I retired, I gave it another try. I was ready to read it, and discovering the intriguing life of Andreas Vesalius became the inspiration for “The King’s Anatomist.” My grandfather status did not deter me; the writer in me, ageless but at the same time a veteran of life’s ups and downs, was up for the challenge.

With the “Andreas Vesalius of Brussels” as a foundation, I sought books and papers that helped me develop a feel for his personality and those of his contemporaries. And I certainly sought to understand what made his textbook, “The Structure of the Human Body,” a scientific, artistic, and bookmaking milestone. Other books provided a window into the turmoil of 16th-century Europe.

A stroke of luck brought me to a 2014 symposium on the Greek island where Vesalius died returning from a pilgrimage. There I met medical historians, anatomists, and artists with a deep interest in Vesalius, some of whom have been gracious in answering questions that arose during the writing of the novel.

 
My research and writing routine was steady but not rigid. Mornings were best, but I snuck away to write when other time slots presented themselves. I wrote (always on a computer) at home, but also in a corner of the public library or on short but productive solo “retreats.” I required coffee for morning writing sessions, and I often listened through headphones to an eclectic range of ambient music. Just as often, I preferred silence.

For me, much of writing is problem-solving. I resolved major issues with the plot, the characters, and who the narrator would be by writing sketches of the major characters and making a detailed timeline of Vesalius’ life. But I hunkered down to resolve the small problems as well – problems that can distract and annoy readers. 

I also realized that including images in this novel would enrich the reading experience. Takeaway #1: patient, organized forethought makes for confident and efficient writing, and helps avoid stumbling into plot holes or letting characters not remain true to themselves. Takeaway #2: open your manuscript to critiques from trusted beta-readers and your editor; your book will be the better for them.

Declaring the manuscript finished was deeply satisfying, but what followed was a year-long string of rejections and dashed hopes. Finally, my manuscript found a happy home at the indie publisher History Through Fiction. Takeaway #3: Thick-skinned persistence.

In the not-too-distant future, my granddaughter will read her grandpa’s novel. For me it will be well worth the wait.

Ron Blumenfeld

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About the Author

Ron Blumenfeld is a retired pediatrician and health care executive. Ron grew up in the Bronx, New York in the shadow of Yankee Stadium and studied at City College of New York before receiving his MD degree from the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Center. After completing his pediatrics residency at the University of Arizona, he and his family settled in Connecticut, but Tucson remains their second home. Upon retirement, he became a columnist for his town’s newspaper, a pleasure he surrendered to concentrate on his debut novel, The King’s Anatomist (October 12, 2021). Ron’s love of books springs from his childhood years spent in an antiquarian book store in Manhattan, where his mother was the only employee. He enjoys a variety of outdoor sports and hiking. He and his wife Selina currently reside in Connecticut and are fortunate to have their son Daniel and granddaughter Gracelynn nearby. You can find Ron on Facebook and Twitter @BlumenfeldRon

A Light Shines in Darkness, by Elizabeth M Hurst

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Perugia, the Papal States, 1375: Noblewoman Angelina Angioballi has sworn a vow of chastity, to continue serving the poor and avoid a loveless political marriage that is the plight of other women in her life.

I first learned about Angelina di Marsciano during a writing retreat in Umbria, Italy. We were at a wine-tasting event at the nearby Castel di Montegiove. A little way into the tour, the owner mentioned that the castle was the birthplace of ‘Beata’ or Blessed Angelina, and that she had founded an order of chaste, lay religious women who cared for the sick and gave bread to the poor within their community. 

He made one tiny, passing comment about the fact that she had educated girls who didn’t want to marry... and that was it: I was fascinated. Unfortunately, I found little online that told me anything about her – just a single book, written by a modern-day nun who is a member of the order founded by Angelina. As this nun is at pains to point out, nothing was written about Angelina until at least two hundred years after her death; that information which can be found is scant and contradictory.

 
As a novelist, this is both good and bad. Good, because it means you can allow your imagination to tell your story without the restrictions of the facts; bad because there is so much you don’t know, yet you want to remain historically accurate in your representation of the setting of the book and the events that took place.

The answer became clear, eventually. I would research as much as possible for the setting and events, and the plot would be entirely my own invention. So that’s what I did.

I have visited Italy a number of times over the years, so I felt able to describe the landscape, the flora and fauna and the climate without too much difficulty. Learning about life as the youngest child in a pious, medieval noble family in the 14th century was a bigger challenge, and a little daunting, but not insurmountable. Even so, I feel there must have been a couple of things I have got wrong!

Something I really want to get across was the idea that marriage for a fifteen-year-old girl in Angelina’s position was entirely normal. Life expectancy was lower in those days; many people didn’t live beyond middle age, especially the poor. In noble families, once a girl reached sexual maturity, she was expected to marry and produce heirs to secure the family’s wealth and status. 

Marriages were arranged with neighbouring noble families, cementing a relationship between the two houses and creating valuable political allies. The idea of love was not even considered. Neither was the girl’s consent.

It is believed that Angelina took a vow of chastity aged twelve, so this gave me great opportunity to show she has a reason for fighting against the wishes of her family to marry. Although, eventually, she does go through with the wedding to Giovanni di Terni – out of obedient duty and respect towards her family rather than affection for her intended, it must be said.

What happens after that, I doubt any of the characters would have predicted...

Elizabeth M Hurst

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About the Author

Elizabeth M Hurst was born and bred in the picturesque harbour town of Whitehaven in the northwest of England, where the long, wet winters moulded her into a voracious reader of fiction to escape the dismal weather. Having started writing around the age of 40, she later set about creating a freelance editing and proofreading business, EMH Editorial Services. In 2018, she quit the corporate world and concentrated her energy towards her love of the written word. Elizabeth now lives with her partner in the warm and sunny south of France. Find out more at her website https://elizabethhurstauthor.com/ and find Elizabeth on Facebook and Twitter @LizHurstAuthor

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Mistress Constancy (The Armillary Sphere, Story of Lady Jane Rochford Book 1) by G. Lawrence

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Lady of the Tudor Court, servant of queens, courtier, wife, spy... and constant heart. This is the story of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.

In death she would become infamous, yet in life passed often unseen. Jane Parker, daughter of the scholar Lord Morley, leaves her home at a tender age, embarking on a career in the dangerous Tudor Court. 

From the halls of her father's house to the palaces of London, from England to Calais and the Field of the Cloth of Gold Jane will travel, seeing much of this world, and others.

Promised in marriage to George Boleyn, Jane is drawn into the future of his family and their advancement... and as Anne Boleyn catches the eye of the King, Jane becomes part of the tempest about to be unleashed upon England.

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About the Author

Gemma Lawrence is an independently published author living in Cornwall in the UK. She studied literature at university says, 'I write mainly Historical Fiction, with an emphasis on the Tudor and Medieval periods and have a particular passion for women of history who inspire me'. Her first book in the Elizabeth of England Chronicles series is The Bastard Princess (The Elizabeth of England Chronicles Book 1).Gemma can be found on Twitter @TudorTweep.

Excerpt from Traitor's Knot: A romantic action adventure (Quest for the Three Kingdoms) by Cryssa Bazos

Available on Amazon UK and Amazon US

England 1650: Civil War has given way to an uneasy peace . . .  Royalist officer James Hart refuses to accept the tyranny of the new government after the execution of King Charles I, and to raise funds for the restoration of the king’s son, he takes to the road as a highwayman.

Excerpt from Traitor's Knot

From nowhere, a racing black horse flashed past her window, the rider passing close to the carriage. Startled, Elizabeth craned her head, wondering at his reckless pace. Without warning, the coach veered off the road and pulled up, throwing her onto the floor. The others shrieked and braced themselves. They heard panicked shouts from the driver and the deep, jarring voice from another.
   “Stand and deliver!”
   Elizabeth heard the measured clopping of a single horse drawing close and the nervous shifting of their team. She crept to regain her seat. Mistress Pritchett shook with terror, and Elizabeth reached out her hand to reassure her.
   “One inch more and your brains will lie in a pool at your feet.” They heard the click of a cocked pistol.
   Elizabeth froze, fearful that he spoke to her. But with his next words, she knew that he still dealt with their driver.
   “Toss your musket over the side.”
   “You’ll have no trouble.” The driver’s voice cracked, and the carriage swayed and creaked as he scrambled down from the top seat.
   “Everyone out!”
   Elizabeth followed the Pritchetts, nearly stumbling on her skirts. Her foot found the first step and froze. A pair of pistols trained upon her, unwavering and baleful. Slate-grey eyes burned with equal intensity above a black scarf. Although every instinct screamed retreat, Elizabeth descended the coach.
   The highwayman rode a large black horse with a white blaze on its forehead. He commanded the powerful animal by his slightest touch, moving like one, rider and horse, fluid and instinctive. The highwayman wore all black from his heavy cloak to his mud-splattered boots.
   “Richard Crawford-Bowes.” The highwayman’s voice cut through the stunned silence. “Step forward. I would fain make your acquaintance.”
   Sir Richard did not twitch.
   Provoked by the absence of a response, he pointed his pistol at Sir Richard’s stubborn head. “Mark this well—I never repeat myself.”
   “I am he,” he said and stepped forward.
   The highwayman circled Sir Richard with the imposing horse. “This is a unique pleasure, my lord. Are you beating the countryside looking for desperate souls to fill your court, or have you reached your quota?”
   “Now listen here,” Sir Richard sputtered. “If you persist in this venture, I vow to bring you before the assizes and see you hang!”
   The highwayman shrugged. “You deserve nothing more than to share the same fate as the honest men you rob in the name of your Commonwealth. Strange idea that—common wealth. As though the wealth stolen from the King would ever be given to the common man. Deliver your coin or die.”
   Sir Richard’s brow darkened. From his pocket, he withdrew a handful of shillings.
   A shot fired. Elizabeth jumped and smothered a scream, pressing her hand to her mouth. Shouts and shrieks erupted from the people around her. The highwayman lowered his smoking pistol. Sir Richard remained standing, a foot back from where he had been and pale as chalk.
   “My patience is nearing an end,” the brigand said levelling his other pistol. He tucked the spent one in his belt and replaced it with a primed carbine. “A few pieces of silver. I’m sure you have more than thirty.”
   Colour returned to Sir Richard, and his thin mouth pressed into a resentful line. “You will regret this.” He drew a larger pouch from his cloak and took a step forward, but the rogue’s next words stopped him.
   “Take one more step and it will be your last. I care little for the honour of judges and trust their intent even less. Hand the purse to someone else.” His flinty gaze passed over the huddled couple and singled out Elizabeth. “Come forward, mistress. You’re neither fainting nor quivering.”
   Startled, she considered pleading to be left alone but smothered the impulse. She would not show fear to this villain. Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth walked towards Sir Richard. A sheen of sweat beaded his forehead, and his Adam’s apple bobbed in this throat. She held out her hand and tried to keep it from trembling. Her nape prickled as if the pistol pressed against her skin. Sir Richard clutched the purse, glaring at her as though she was the villain.
   “Your purse, my lord,” she whispered. “Please.”
   Sir Richard hesitated for another moment before shoving it into her hands.
   Greedy wretch. Elizabeth’s annoyance with Sir Richard gave her the courage to walk up to the brigand. With every step, her determination grew. She would be quite happy to hand over Sir Richard’s money.
   The rogue motioned her to give him the pouch, and when she dropped it into his outstretched hand, she met his direct gaze. Elizabeth expected to see the cold eyes of a ruthless madman, but to her surprise, she did not. There was a hardness in those grey depths, but also a keen, calculating intelligence that heightened her curiosity. He stared back at her boldly, and she could not look away.
   “My thanks.” His tone was an unmistakable dismissal.
   Elizabeth stood puzzled. Old Nick’s small purse rested under her cloak, the sum of everything she owned. She would have been sick over parting with it but wondered why the highwayman had made no demands on her or the others.
   “Was there anything more, mistress?”

   She was about to shake her head and back away, but the muffled weeping behind her ended thoughts of retreat. Having reached the end of her endurance, Mistress Pritchett began to cry, soft at first and then with more violence. She would have collapsed to the ground had her husband not supported her. Elizabeth grew outraged for the hysterical woman. The audacity of the scoundrel, with all that he dared, awakened her. “Pray, what is your name, sir, so that we may know the coward who threatens us behind a scarf?”

Cryssa Bazos

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About the Author

Cryssa Bazos is an award-winning historical fiction author and a seventeenth century enthusi-ast. Her debut novel, Traitor's Knot is the Medalist winner of the 2017 New Apple Award for Historical Fiction, a finalist for the 2018 EPIC eBook Awards for Historical Romance. Her second novel, Severed Knot, is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree and a finalist for the 2019 Chau-cer Award. For more information visit Cryssa's website. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter @CryssaBazos.