Saturday, August 31, 2019

A Familiar Figure - snippet from DAME AUDREY #Medieval Romance for #WeWriWa



Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy!

 DameAudrey

I am continuing snippets from my new medieval romance set in fourteenth century England in and around my hometown of Reading.
Dame Audrey was given a magic brooch by a dying minstrel and instructed to find its owner, the Green Lady of Hawthorns. She has visited the Abbey to ask the archivist, Canon Randolf, if he has heard of this lady. He is keen to acquire the gold brooch for the Church.

The last lines are: Slipping the brooch into my purse, I said in a sweetly pious tone, “By God’s grace, let me pray for guidance; forswearing an oath is a serious matter.”
In this week’s snippet, Audrey walked out before the Canon had time to protest. She has gone to pray in Saint Mary’s Church, a real 12th century church in Reading.
Please excuse my abuse of semicolons to fit. I have also removed some sentences to emphasize the main point.

     A familiar figure knelt at a pew near the altar, the auburn-haired bailiff, Selwyn Drake, with his head bowed on his chest.
     I tiptoed to the fifth row from the front, dropped onto my knees and bent over my entwined hands. Clasping my wooden cross between my hands, I prayed to the Virgin Mary and her heavenly son; I begged for a clue to lead me to the Lady of Hawthorns. No answer came; God’s words had never sounded in my mind; why should they now? 
     Several times during my prayers, my gaze strayed to Selwyn’s bright head and broad back. What was he praying for? I hadn’t seen him in the church last Sunday. He might have attended Mass at another local church, although most yeoman favored Saint Mary’s Church because of its closeness to the finest Butts for their archery practice.
      When Selwyn rose from the pew, I stood also, and watched as he walked along the aisle toward me; his head was still bowed and he looked even more solemn than usual.
     As he approached, I bobbed a curtsy and greeted him, “God be with you, Master Drake.”

 Audrey

Blurb:
Young widow seeks true love in this vivid Medieval romance with a touch of fantasy.
     In fourteenth century Britain, Dame Audrey cherishes her independence as the widow of a wealthy cloth merchant. But several of the wealthier traders covet her profitable business and she fears they will invoke the Abbot’s authority to compel her to marry a man of their choice. Her worst nightmare is suffering under a cruel husband like the hateful jeweler, Henry Goldsmith, who has threatened to curb her lively spirits.
     Audrey joins a pilgrimage to Glastonbury to pray for guidance. The holy relics give her no inspiration nor do her fellow travelers. On the homeward journey, she aids the dying victim of a brutal robbery. She wins the stranger’s blessing and a gold brooch with a green dragon. Back in her hometown, the faerie brooch attracts trouble from thieves of all ranks and the attentions of a handsome yeoman, Selwyn Drake. As her nightmare looms nearer, she grows desperate to preserve her freedom.
     Can the magic brooch help Audrey evade the schemes to force her into wedlock or must she submit to a husband’s will?

DAME AUDREY is on sale for only 99c at: Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay


As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.  
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19 comments:

  1. I have a feeling she got her answer. She just doesn't realize it yet.

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    1. I hadn't thought of this angle, Jessica, but I suspect and hope you're right.

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  2. Yes, what Jessica said. I think the answer is right in front of her.

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    1. He is one answer, although not exactly the answer to the question she asked.

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  3. This snippet is exciting. More, I want more.

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  4. WOW--your descriptive writing drew me right into the scene. I was picturing the Catholic church I attended growing up. Wonderful writing, just wonderful.

    It is on my Kindle, now to find the time to read...

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    1. Great!
      I've often walked past this church and graveyard in Reading, although I've never been inside. Churches haven't changed much in the last thousand years.

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  5. Love this scene. It gives her another insight into him. He's a mystery to her. Congrats on your new release, Aurora.

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    1. Thank you. Yes. This scene is a little different to the action scenes with staff and sword. She learns more about him each time they meet.

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  6. I can't wait to see what he replies to her greeting. I love the medieval 'feel' of this story and really enjoyed the excerpt, complete with the period details.

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    1. Thank you. I think most people in those days conformed with standard religious doctrine. Selwyn might not go to church every Sunday, but he has a special reason for this visit.

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    1. Audrey wonders too. He will explain why he was praying.

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  8. I'm glad he's going to explain his prayers to Audrey, this is so intriguing! Such an atmospheric excerpt, I could visualise it all!

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  9. I want to know his reply to her greeting. Great snippet. You drew me right into the scene.

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    1. Thanks. Maybe not next weekend, since I'll be traveling.

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