No Hedge-born Churl - Snippet from 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!

I am continuing snippets from my new medieval romance set in fourteenth century England in and around my hometown of Reading. I’m still embellishing the story, and I hope to publish it this month. You can see my cover here. 
Audrey, my heroine, countered the attack of a robber, and met the hero, Selwyn Drake, the Sheriff’s bailiff. She is impressed when he proved the tawdry woman was lying about owning the red purse in the robber’s bag. Now, you’ll meet the villain.  

You can read last week’s snippet here – https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2019/07/you-are-mistaken-snippet-from-medieval.html

     The doxie’s cheeks reddened and she edged backward. 

     “Not so fast!” he barked, “I saw you approach this lady and distract her before the robber struck.”

     “Me?” she whined, “I’m an honest woman, a brewster.” Pointing a shaky forefinger, she said, “My alehouse is across the street in Pissinalley.”  

     Five more people appeared, running out of the alley and clamoring for their lost purses or jewelry. I knew one well, far better than I wished.

     The merchant, Henry Goldsmith, the loose folds of a crimson surcote showing under his fur-trimmed cloak, stabbed his forefinger at the velvet pouch, crying, “That red purse belongs to me.”

     “Sir,” Master Drake said, “you must come with me to the reeve’s hall and give testimony to the crime before you can receive your goods.”

    Glaring at the bailiff, Henry Goldsmith protested, “Preposterous. I’m no hedge-born churl. Who are you to fling orders at an eminent town merchant?”

Blurb:

Travel to Chaucer’s England in this gritty 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?

Discounted to 99c for August - Gargoyle Hunt

Superheroes at college, snarky animals, living gargoyles and devious aliens living among us.

Danger is the last thing on Estelle’s mind when she visits the University of Oxenford for a summer course. But, mysterious thefts from the archives and shadowy figures on the ancient walls propel her into action. With Toby five thousand miles away, Estelle and her winged horse must hunt for the culprits alone. Soon they are embroiled in a mixed bag of aliens and ancient magic. Toby’s unexpected arrival throws her into turmoil and spurs events into a climax. Under pressure from his family to succeed, Toby is trapped in a web of deceit. The two supers have a week to catch the crooks and salvage his reputation.  

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