Jenny Kane: Coffee, cupcakes, chocolate and contemporary fiction / Jennifer Ash: Medieval crime with hints of Ellis Peters and Robin Hood

Category: Contemporary Romantic Fiction Page 55 of 56

Romancing Robin Hood: On Tour!!!

Yippee!!! I’m on tour with Robin Hood- what more could a girl ask for? Romancing Robin Hood I would love you to visit me at each of the stops- where you can learn all about my new novel, my writing, and me! This is where you can find me!!

8th September http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/ Interview
9th September http://yougottaread.com/ Interview
10th September http://carolburnside.com/blog/ Guest blog
11th September http://sizzlinghotbooks.com/ Guest blog
12th September http://lynelleclarkaspiredwriter.blogspot.com/ Guest blog

Thanks everyone!!! See you there. Happy reading, Jenny xxx

OUT NOW!!- Romancing Robin Hood

Today’s the day!!

Romancing Robin Hood, my second full length novel under the name Jenny Kane, hits the e-shelves today!! (Paperback coming soon)

Switching from the modern romance (or lack thereof), of Grace Harper, to the fourteenth century tale of Mathilda de Twyford (the fictional heroine Grace has created within her own novel), Romancing Robin Hood is a tale of friendship, romance, the medieval criminal nobility, and a teenage obsession with Robin Hood…

Romancing Robin Hood

 

Romancing Robin Hood – Blurb

Dr Grace Harper has loved the stories of Robin Hood ever since she first saw them on TV as a girl. Now, with her fortieth birthday just around the corner, she’s a successful academic in Medieval History, with a tenured position at a top university.

But Grace is in a bit of a rut. She’s supposed to be writing a textbook on a real-life medieval gang of high-class criminals – the Folvilles – but she keeps being drawn into the world of the novel she’s secretly writing – a novel which entwines the Folvilles with her long-time love of Robin Hood – and a feisty young girl named Mathilda, who is the key to a medieval mystery…

Meanwhile, Grace’s best friend Daisy – who’s as keen on animals as Grace is on the Merry Men – is unexpectedly getting married, and a reluctant Grace is press-ganged into being her bridesmaid. As Grace sees Daisy’s new-found happiness, she starts to re-evaluate her own life. Is her devotion to a man who may or may not have lived hundreds of years ago really a substitute for a real-life hero of her own? It doesn’t get any easier when she meets Dr Robert Franks – a rival academic who Grace is determined to dislike but finds herself being increasingly drawn to…

***

If you’d like to buy a copy, Romancing Robin Hood is available in all e-formats, from Accent Press and all good e-retailers including-

Amazon UK

Happy reading,
Jenny
xx

 

Exciting Times…

Hello lovely readers- my apologies for leaving it so long since I’ve written a blog, but my goodness I’ve been busy busy busy…

Here’s a potted summery of everything that’s going on!

To my great delight, from 18th September my very first contemporary romance, Another Cup of Coffee, will be available, not just via the Internet, but in bookshops!!! So if you fancy a read, and you can’t see it on your local bookshop shelf, don’t be afraid to ask your nearest bookseller- they’ll be able to get a copy in for you!!

E-book Cover

I can’t even begin to describe how excite I am about this! It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to spot my first copy of Another Cup of Coffee on a bookshop shelf!! If any of you happen to be in the Devon area, then on 29th September, I’ll be holding a book launch- details here.

As well as getting ready for this re-launch, I have been busily writing a brand new follow up novella to last years seasonal story, Another Cup of Christmas!! I am thrilled at how popular this series is proving to be!! The new novella (so far untitled) will be out in November in good time for Christmas.

christmas mock-up

If that wasn’t enough to keep me out of mischief, my next new full length novel, Romancing Robin Hood, is out in e-format on 5th September!! I’ve been busy making sure it’s all ready to hit the e-shelves. It is already available to pre-order, so if you want to make sure you get your copy the second it hits the Kindle/iTunes world, then you can order your copy from Amazon now!!

Romancing Robin Hood

Oh- and I’ve been working hard sorting out my very first children’s picture book as well (more on that soon!!)

Happy reading everyone.

Jenny xx

 

 

 

 

BOOK LAUNCH PRESS RELEASE for Another Cup of Coffee

PRESS RELEASE AND BOOK LAUNCH!!!!

Another Cup of Coffee

E-book Cover

E-book Cover

Jenny Kane

Published by Accent Press Ltd, (September 18 2014, price £7.99 (paperback ISBN 9781783751129. eBook ISBN 9781909840874

FROM BONDAGE TO BARISTAS

After a decade of writing successful erotica, mum-of-two Jenny Kane has turned her from kink to coffee to launch her first women’s fiction novel.

Another Cup of Coffee tells the story of a successful businesswoman Amy Crane, who is forced to face her broken-hearted past when a mysterious mixtape lands on her doormat.

Set around coffee shops, where Amy and her friends used to meet, Another Cup of Coffee is partly-inspired by Jenny’s own relationship with her local coffee shops, where she has spent many hours with her laptop writing her raunchy reads. Her first erotic stories were published in 2004 under the name Kay Jaybee earning her a reputation as the ‘Queen of Kink’ with such novels as The Perfect Submissive trilogy.

KayJayBeehome

But last year Jenny felt it was time for a change of style and secured a book deal with award-winning publishers Accent Press, who were impressed with her style of writing. Another Cup of Coffee was released in eBook earlier this year and will be launched in paperback on September 18. Her second novel Romancing Robin Hood is also due out in eBook in September.

 

Jenny explains: ‘Another Cup of Coffee was inspired by a decision that I didn’t make when I was an archaeology student many years ago. For 13 years the plot for this story bubbled away at the back of my mind, but somehow there was never time to actually write it down.

 

‘I was very nervous as I wasn’t sure if I could write mainstream fiction as well as stories of spanking and domination, and knowing I’d have to build up a new readership all over again was daunting, but I’m very glad I took the gamble. I have had lots of positive feedback from readers, although it has been noted by many that one of the characters, Kit, spends all her time in a café writing erotica!’

 

Jenny will be returning to her favourite coffee shop Costa Coffee, Bampton Street, Tiverton, Devon to launch Another Cup of Coffee on 29th September 2014, from 10.30am to 4pm.

 

For review copies and interviews, please contact Alison Stokes, Media and Publicity Manager, Accent Press Ltd. Tel: 01443 800353 or email: alison@accentpress.co.uk

 

About the author: Despite a background in history and archaeology, Jenny juggles her writing with her work for a Distance Learning Company. She lives with her husband and two children, but spends a large part of her time in local coffee shops. Jenny’s sequel to Another Cup of Coffee, Another Cup of Christmas, is available as an ebook, and her second full length novel, Romancing Robin Hood, will be released later this year. As Kay Jaybee, she has written over 90 stories including The Perfect Submissive Trilogy (The Perfect Submissive, The Retreat, Knowing Her Place, Xcite 2011-14. www.jennykane.co.uk

 

Christmas in August

Every year since I began to write I’ve dreamt up an annual festive story- which means that for the past ten years I’ve been making it Christmas on paper during the summer months!

This year, as sunshine blasts the country, I’ve been conjuring up frost covered scenes based in the Cotswolds- where Megan Johnson (last seen waitressing in Pickwicks Coffee House in Another Cup of Christmas) is helping her old college friend Izzie Spencer-Harris (well, Isadora actually- but she hates that!) get her brand new business, The Cotswold Art Centre ready in time to host the renown Cotswold Choir’s annual carol concert.

Cotswold in snow

All was going according to plan, until a storm sends a branch crashing through the roof…will everything be ready in time? And how does the carpenter, Josh Parker, fit into the scheme of things…?

Well, I’ll just go and slap on some sun cream, and go and decide which carols my made up choir is going to sing…

I’ll be back with more news about this, the third book in my Another Cup of…series, very soon!

christmas mock-up

Happy Reading,

Jenny xx

 

 

Pre-Release News: Romancing Robin Hood

The e-format version of my latest novel, Romancing Robin Hood, is out on 5th Sept, and is available for pre-order NOW!!

romancing robin hood

Out as an e-book in September (paperback in October), Romancing Robin Hood is part contemporary romance, and part medieval mystery-

Pre-order your ebook from Amazon UK and Amazon.com 

BLURB-

What happens when your love is stuck in the past…

Dr Grace Harper has loved the stories of Robin Hood ever since she first saw them on TV as a girl. Now, with her fortieth birthday just around the corner, she’s a successful academic in Medieval History, with a tenured position at a top university.

But Grace is in a bit of a rut. She’s supposed to be writing a textbook on a real-life medieval gang of high-class criminals – the Folvilles – but she keeps being drawn into the world of the novel she’s secretly writing – a novel which entwines the Folvilles with her long-time love of Robin Hood – and a feisty young girl named Mathilda, who is the key to a medieval mystery…

Meanwhile, Grace’s best friend Daisy – who’s as keen on animals as Grace is on the Merry Men – is unexpectedly getting married, and a reluctant Grace is press-ganged into being her bridesmaid. As Grace sees Daisy’s new-found happiness, she starts to re-evaluate her own life. Is her devotion to a man who may or may not have lived hundreds of years ago really a substitute for a real-life hero of her own? It doesn’t get any easier when she meets Dr Robert Franks – a rival academic who Grace is determined to dislike but finds herself being increasingly drawn to…

****

Happy reading,

Jenny

xx

A Funny Sort of Heaven

old books

Some people feel at their most relaxed playing sport, others sit watching their favourite television programme; some read, or knit, or sew, or hang-glide, or do whatever it is that floats their boat (including boating), to help them feel, well, like themselves!

I do all these things (apart from the sport, hang-gliding, boating….) OK, I hardly do any of it. I read a lot, watch a bit of TV sometimes, and I can knit when I need to, but what I really like to do, to feel totally at peace and 100% me, is to hide in a room- preferably one that smells ever so slightly musty- that is filled from top to bottom with old books and maps. Not just a library- but an archive.

I admit, it’s not the most obvious place to find inner peace, but for me, to be able to immerse myself in a haven of historical documents is escapism of the highest quality.

History books

To be lost in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls from the fourteenth century (which contain land purchases, and criminal records), or to pour over old maps, records of births and deaths, to feel the satisfaction of tracing the life, death, or (more frequently for me), the criminal career of a figure form the past, is both absorbing and fascinating. It’s like being a time-distanced detective in search of an elusive story from a character long departed.  Or perhaps I’m just an eccentric… (No need to answer that!)

Recently, I had the great pleasure of being take to visit the wonderful resource, the Devon and Exeter Institution, by the ultra lovely, Michael Jecks (yes-THE Michael Jecks!!). This beautiful building houses a historical heaven, and I have every intention of getting back there to soak up the ‘dusty book’ atmosphere at the next possible opportunity! Just being there made me want to write a medieval murder mystery on the spot!

The Devon and Exeter Institution

The Devon and Exeter Institution

For me, one of the joys of writing Romancing Robin Hood, has been revisiting many of the historical texts I grew to know and love (and a few I’d happily never see again- the handwriting was so challenging), when I initially researched the real historical criminals of the fourteenth century for my PhD. I have been like a pig in muck, like some jelly in custard, like my daughter with a pile of chips…. you get the idea!

romancing robin hood

Not that you should expect Romancing Robin Hood to be set in the past- well, not completely in the past. But with its leading lady, Dr Grace Harper, a lecturer in medieval studies who has a serious Robin Hood obsession (and who only technically lives in the present day), how could it be anything but a half modern/half fourteenth century tale…

The release date has been set for October- then you’ll see!

Happy reading everyone…

Jenny xx

Romancing Robin Hood: Final Pre-Publication Edit Time!

I always await the arrival of the pre-publication edits from my publisher with a sense of trepidation. Until that point, there is no way of knowing if my work has reached the standard they expect- and I admit, paranoia does set in a little while I’m awaiting my editors verdict!

It is with a sense of relief however then, that my editor declared Romancing Robin Hood a great read- I hope you agree once the time comes!!

This is my last chance to get my novel just as I want it. It’s a buffing up, polishing, and tweaking process that I enjoy very much. The final chance to play with my brand new novel before I hand it over to be enjoyed, criticised, and reviewed…

romancing robin hood

If you want to check out the blurb- just follow this link.

And if you fancy reading a little bit of the introduction- just follow this link.

So, I’m off to make a start- while I’m gone, why not enjoy a few Robin Hood pictures!

RH- Michael and Judi

RH- E Flynn

RH- RoS 2

Lytell Geste

Happy reading everyone- I’ll be back with a publication date for you soon.

Jenny xx

Happy Birthday Blog: A Romancing Robin Hood Preview

I’m getting to the age where I’m beginning to wonder if I should even mention my birthday! On the other hand- I’m a sucker for balloons, ice-cream, and the excuse to eat rather more cake than usual! So bring it on!!

This year I’m celebrating with my lovely family, and a walk over beautiful Dartmoor. This is a place that inspires me the second I catch glimpse of it, on each and every visit.

Great Mis Tor 2

For years I’ve intended to write a story based on the moors of Devon, and yet somehow time, and other work commitments, haves never allowed it. This year though, it has to happen- even if it’s only a short tale…ummmm…I can feel the ideas brewing…

And talking of brewing- let’s all settle back with a cuppa-(coffee for me please)- and a nice big slice of birthday cake, and contemplate the meaning of life, the universe and everything- apparently now I’m this particular age I should know the answer…

No? Okay- let’s read this instead… a sneaky exclusive peep from chapter one of my forthcoming novel, Romancing Robin Hood!!! Enjoy!

romancing robin hood

Raising a cup of tea to her lips, Grace lent back against her pine chair and blew carefully through the steam which rose from the liquids surface, before taking a sip from the third pots worth of tea she’d ordered that afternoon. The scolding drink slid down her dry throat, a throat which her friends joked must be layered with asbestos such was her ability to drink tea down almost directly from the kettle.

Staring through the teashop window, Grace watched the summer time shoppers stroll by in a never ending stream of flip-flops, t-shirts and a staggering variety of different lengths of shorts. It was as if everyone on England had decided to expose as much flesh as possible, as wholeheartedly as possible just in case burst of late June heat this was the only sun they saw all summer.

Grace drew her wandering attention back to the reason for her weekday escape from the office. With constant interruptions from research students and fellow academics alike, Grace had been finding it increasingly impossible to marshal her thoughts for the opening chapter of the book she was trying to write.

Two hours ago she’d gathered up the print out of the manuscript so far, and headed for the quiet of Mrs Beeton’s tearooms. She’d read it twice already, and now sped through it again. A notebook lay next to her teacup, and Grace added an additional point to the rough list she’d made of things to check out and expand on, before sighing into her cup and turning back to watch the stream of pedestrians pass by the window flourishing a vast array of swinging carrier bags.

Writing a book in the academic world was a bit like running an incredibly slow race with your legs glued together, and at least one arm tied behind your back. Everything took so long. The research, the checking, the double checking, making sure you were one step ahead of everything else already published on your subject, and racing (tortoise style), to get your book out there before a similar historian, in a similar office, in a similar university, produced their book on an identical subject in a similar fashion. Then of course, there were the constant interruptions. Students and fellow lecturers always wanted something. Then there were the secretaries, who were forever after some pointless piece of administrative paperwork that the occupants of the ivory tower had decreed it necessary to add to the already overwhelming mountain of documentation in circulation.

‘At least,’ Grace mumbled to herself as she picked her sketchy book plan and chapter draft back up, fanning herself with it in an attempt to circulate some air in the stagnant air of the café, brought about by a week of unusually balmy late June weather, ‘no one else studies what I study in quite the way I do.’

Admitting defeat, and stuffing her work back into her large canvas bag, which was more suited to the beach than land locked Leicester, Grace pulled out the square envelope that had arrived in the post that morning, and pulled out the card within. It showed a guinea-pig wearing a yellow hard hat and driving a bulldozer.

The card could only have come from Daisy. Grace read the brief message again. Daisy’s familiar spider scrawl, which would have been the envy of any doctor, slopped its way across the card, illustrated that it had been written in haste. Grace could picture Daisy clearly, a pen working over the card in one hand, a packet of pet food in the other, and probably her mobile phone tucked under her chin at the same time. Daisy could multi-task with the prowess of a mother or three.

Daisy however, wasn’t a mother of any sort. She had long since vowed against human children, and after her degree finals had swiftly cast aside all she had studied for in order to breed rabbits and guinea pigs, house stray animals, and basically be an unpaid vet and rescue shelter owner. Her home, a suitably ramshackle cottage near Hathersage in Derbyshire’s Peak District, was the base of an ever changing and continually growing menagerie of creatures, which she always loved, and frequently couldn’t bear to be parted from. Grace smiled as she imagined the chaos that was probably going on around Daisy’s wellie booted feet at that very moment.

It had been the cards arrival in the post that morning that had made Grace think back to her youth; that strange non-teenage hood she’d had, and of how it had got her to where she was now. A medieval history lecturer at Leicester University.

Grace had met Daisy fifteen years ago, when they’d been students together at Exeter University, at the tender age of nineteen, and they’d quickly become inseparable. Now, with their respective thirty-fourth birthdays only a few months ahead of them, Daisy, after a lifetime of happy singleness was suddenly getting married.

She’d managed, by sheer fluke, to find a vet called Marcus as delightfully dotty as she was and, after only six months of romance, was about to tie the knot. The totally un-wedding like invitation Grace now held, announced that their nuptials were to be held in just under two months time at the beautiful Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. Daisy had then added a postscript saying that she would personally shoot Grace if she didn’t turn up, and she’d throw in some mild torture of an especially medieval variety, if she didn’t agree to be her bridesmaid.

‘A bridesmaid!’ Grace grimaced as she mumbled into her cup, ‘Bloody hell, it makes me sound like a child of six. If I was married or had a partner I’d be maid of honour, but no, I’m the bloody bridesmaid.’

Swilling down her remaining tea Grace got to her feet, and carried on muttering to the uncaring world in general, ‘Robin Hood, you have a hell of a lot to answer for,’ before she hooked her holdall onto her shoulder and began the pleasant walk from the city centre, down the picturesque Victorian lamp-posted New Walk, towards the University of Leicester, and an afternoon of marking dissertations.

RH- RoS 2

It was all Jason Connery’s fault, or maybe it was Michael Praed’s? As she crashed onto her worn leather desk chair Grace, after two decades of indecision, still couldn’t decide which of the two actors she preferred in the title role of Robin of Sherwood.

That was how it had all started, “The Robin Hood Thing,” as Daisy referred to it, with an instant and unremitting love for a television show. Yet, for Grace, it hadn’t been a crush in the usual way. She had only watched one episode of the hit eighties series and, with the haunting theme tune from Clannad echoing in her ears, had run upstairs to her piggy bank to see how much money she’d saved, and how much more cash she’d need before she could spend all her pocket money on the complete video collection. After that, the young Grace had done every odd job her parents would pay her for so she could purchase a myriad of Connery and Praed posters with which to bedeck her room. But that was just the beginning. Within weeks Grace had become pathologically and forensically interested in anything and everything to do with the outlaw legend as a whole.

She’d watched all the Robin Hood films and vintage episodes of Douglas Fairbanks Junior and Errol Flynn, Richard Greene, Sean Connery, and Barry Ingram. As time passed, she winced and cringed her way through Kevin Costner’s comical but endearing attempt at hero status, and privately applauded Patrick Bergin’s darker and infinitely more realistic approach to the tale. Daisy had quickly learnt to never ever mention Russell Crowes adaption of the story- it was the only time she’d ever heard Grace swear using words that could have been as labelled as Technicolor as the movie had been.

The teenage Grace had read every story, every ballad, and every academic book, paper and report on the subject. She’d hoarded pictures, painting, badges, stickers, along with anything and everything else she could find connected with Robin Hood, his band of outlaws, his enemies, Nottingham, Sherwood, Barnsdale, Yorkshire, and so it went on and on. The collection, now over twenty years in the making, had reached ridiculous proportions and had long since overflowed from her small terraced home to her university office, where posters lined the walls, and books about the legend, both serious and ridiculous, crammed the overstuffed shelves.

Her undergraduates who’d chosen to study medieval economy and crime as a history degree option, and her postgraduates’ whose interest in the intricate weavings of English medieval society was almost as insane as her own, often commented on how much they liked Dr Harper’s office. Apparently it was akin to sitting in a mad museum of medievalism. Sometimes Grace was pleased with this reaction. Other times it filled her with depression, for that office, its contents and the daily, non-stop flow of work was her life- her whole life- and sometimes she felt that it was sucking her dry. Leaving literally no time for anything else- or anyone else. Boyfriends had come and gone, but few had any hope of matching up to the figure she’d fallen in love with as a teenager. A man who is quite literally a legend is a hard act to follow…

****

More news on Romancing Robin Hood coming soon…

Happy reading,

Jenny x

 

Meet My Main Character with Jane Jackson: Crosscurrents

Today I’m delighted to have my friend, and fellow Accent author, Jane Jackson, visiting. Why not grab a cuppa and settle down to learn all about the main character in Jane’s latest book, Crosscurrents- and then read a tasty extract…

 

Meet My Main Character.

Santo Innis is a Cornish engineer who served his apprenticeship at the world-renowned Perran Foundry and was later seconded to two respected companies in London building marine steam engines.

Crosscurrents is set in Cornwall in 1830. The first trials of the Cornish multi-tube boiler using high-pressure steam actually took place here in Falmouth. But while some in the Admiralty were keen to move from sail to steam in the interests of shorter voyage times and increased productivity, many were dead set against it.  Contradictory demands for speed and economy were impossible to meet and created intolerable pressures for engineers whose companies were bidding for Admiralty contracts.

Cross-Currents-B

What should we know about him?

After his parents were killed when he was a child, Santo was brought up in his Uncle George’s house. George Curnock is the head brewer and joint owner of Curnock’s Brewery run by his brother Arthur. George’s only child, his son, Treeve is a maltster. Two years older than Santo Treeve has always bitterly resented him. Santo’s engineering skill has impressed shrewd businessman Richard Vaughan, heir to country estate owner, Frederick Tregarron.  Despite the difference in their class and background, their shared interest hot air technology has drawn Richard and Santo into friendship.

What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?

A ship taking part in boiler trials explodes killing all on board, among them the chief engineer who was Santo’s friend and mentor.  Santo’s row with Tregarron costs him his job.  With his newly-developed marine engine fitted into a bare hull supplied by Richard, Santo – in debt and in love – agrees to take part in a risky venture that will solve all his financial problems. Instead he loses everything.

What is the personal goal of the character?

Appalled by the number of deaths caused by high-pressure steam boilers exploding, Santo has developed a revolutionary new engine driven by heated air.  In love with Bronnen Jewell he feels he cannot propose to her until he has proved himself and cleared his debts.

Where can we read more about it?

The book is called ‘Crosscurrents’.  You’ll find more about it at http://www.amazon.com/Crosscurrents-ebook/dp/

When will it be published?

Published by Accent Press, the ebook is available at:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crosscurrents-Jane-Jackson-ebook/dp/B00L9CIS66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403690361&sr=8-1&keywords=crosscurrents+jane

The paperback edition at:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crosscurrents-Jane-Jackson/dp/190962439X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1404760782&sr=1-2

 

Here is an excerpt:

 

‘Mr Innis.’ Now her pulse raced for a very different reason. ‘What are you doing here?’ The instant the words were out she wished she could call them back. ‘I – I didn’t mean – it’s – I wasn’t expecting –’ aware she was babbling she caught her bottom lip between her teeth and bit hard.

‘Not interrupting you, am I?’

‘No.’ She swallowed. ‘No.’

Stepping inside he half-turned so the dwindling light fell on her face. ‘I – er – you got on all right with the engine?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. I didn’t have a minute’s bother. Well, I did, but it was my fault,’ she added quickly as concern drew his brows together. ‘I was busy and the fire nearly went out. But soon as I got ’n going again the engine worked and so did the pump.’ She saw him look round.

‘Mother not with you?’

‘She’s ill. I wouldn’t let her come. It don’t take both of us to do the skimming.’

‘That why you were so busy? You were here by yourself?’

After a brief hesitation she nodded. ‘Please don’t tell –’

‘None of my business.’ He gestured towards the dense frothy head on the fermenting beer. ‘You did all this on your own? I call that a proper job.’

Her heart lifted at the compliment. She tucked it away, a small treasure to be examined later when she was alone, and shrugged shyly. ‘If you could have seen me this morning, running back and forth –’

‘I wish –’ he began softly then stopped, clearing his throat. ‘I’ve just been up with Mr Vaughan. He’s going to write to Mr Rowse at the quarry. Invite him to come and see the engine working.’ Holding his hat in front of him he was turning it round and round by the brim. ‘I thought I’d stop by and let you know, seeing it was your idea. Truth is,’ she heard his throat click as he swallowed. ‘I wanted to see you again.’

‘Oh.’ Suddenly self-conscious about her appearance after the long demanding day, she tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

‘You don’t mind?’

She felt a trembling inside. ‘No.’

‘Is it all right if I stay a while?’

She was glad the gathering dusk hid her fiery blush. Uncertain, wanting, fearful, she blurted, ‘Why?’

‘I want – I’d like – to know you better.’ He waited. ‘If you don’t mind.’ She could feel his gaze. ‘Would you rather I went?’

Feeling as if she was standing on a cliff edge unable to see how deep the drop was, she took a deep breath and jumped. ‘No.’

In the gloom his teeth flashed in a quick grin that softened the harsh planes of his face. ‘I’m some glad of that.’

This morning, seeing him focused and sombre she had guessed him to be in his thirties. But that smile told her she had over-estimated. Yet she sensed he didn’t smile often.

She smoothed the front of dress. ‘It’s just –’

‘The minute you want me to go, you just say. All right?’

She nodded. Placing the journal under the chair she sat down and folded her hands in her lap. He dropped his hat on the bench and sat beside it, half-facing her, his hands loosely clasped between his parted knees.

Bronnen moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. ‘You said you haven’t long been back in Cornwall?’

‘That’s right. I was four years in South Wales at an engineering company Mr Tregarron put money in. From there I went to Hall’s Engineering Works in Dartford for three years. They built the engine in the steam packet Mercury. She’s being used to test a new boiler. Next week I’ll be aboard her for a few days.’

‘Did you always want to be an engineer?’

‘Yes. But my uncle wanted me to be a brewer.’

‘Your uncle?’

‘George Curnock.’

‘No, I meant, what about your father? Surely he –?’

‘My parents died when I was small.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’

His voice hardened. ‘Father drank. It made him – when Mother tried to save me we both paid.’ He had tipped his head so she couldn’t see his face.

Bronnen touched his forearm in silent sympathy. Then, afraid she had gone too far on such short acquaintance she started to withdraw her hand. But before she could, he covered it with his own. His callused palm was warm. He didn’t look at her.

‘My uncle and aunt took me in. But that didn’t sit well with my cousin Treeve. He couldn’t abide having this cuckoo in their nest.’

Bronnen gasped.

Santo’s head came up. ‘What?’

‘That’s what my father called me.’

‘He never did!’ The shock in his voice was oddly comforting. ‘Why?’

‘I don’t know. Most of the girls I grew up with are married. P’rhaps he thinks it’s time I was. But even if there was someone, I can’t leave my mother.’

His hand tightened on hers. ‘Why’s that then?’

‘What you said about your father drinking? Mine does too.’ Tonight he had kicked her like a stray dog.

‘That’s how your mother couldn’t come today?’

What was she thinking? He was a stranger. Bronnen stood up quickly. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’

On his feet in an instant, a head taller, broad-shouldered and so close that she started to quiver, he caught her hand.

‘Listen, what I just told you I’ve never told a living soul. What you’ve told me stays between us. Don’t ask me to go yet.’ His voice was low and hoarse as the words tumbled out. ‘I know I said I would. And I will, if that’s what you want. Is it?’

‘No’, she whispered.

Lifting her hand he pressed her palm against his chest. She felt the strong steady beat of his heart. Hers was fluttering like a trapped bird.

*****

JanegreenRS

Many thanks Jane!

If you’d like to discover more about Jane and her work, then check out her website- www.janejackson.net

Happy reading everyone,

Jenny xx

 

 

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