This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Halle J Ladd will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
In this charming children’s story, you’ll meet two dear friends; Little Possum and Little Sweetpea! Possum and Sweetpea live in a magical garden together, happily playing in the sunshine and growing alongside the verdant patches of greenery.
Come along the adventure as we learn how two very different creatures can become the best of friends!
About the Author:
Halle J Ladd has had experience as a teacher in mainstream schools and special needs. She specialised in a school library for some time and engaged children of all ages and abilities in these roles. She has a Master’s of Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) and loves to see the enjoyment of books through young eyes.
Little Sweetpea Teaches Little Possum A Lesson is a young children’s book with plenty of pictures. The pictures are hand-drawn art. In this story Sweetpea is a small, but growing sweetpea pod. She enjoys growing in the sun and drinking water.
Little Possum is tricky and hides in a tree. He usually sneaks up on his food, but Little Sweetpea wants to teach him a lesson. She begins a friendship with Little Possum and tries to help him find food.
She points out the blackberry vines in the garden. She selects and offers a bunch of blackberries to Little Possum and he likes them. Now, Little Possum knows how to get his own blackberries.
The story book has lovely rhyming and little children will enjoy the rhymes and sweet story.
Book Details: Book Title: Face Value – DIY Secrets to Beauty and a Younger Face by Gregory Landsman Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18 yrs +), 67 pages Genre: Beauty & Grooming; Health & Wellness; Self Help Publisher: Hill of Content Publishing Release date: 2020 Content Rating: G.
Book Description:
FIND SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS USED IN EXPENSIVE BEAUTY CREAMS IN YOUR OWN KITCHEN!
Following the success of the best selling first edition, the new revised version of Gregory Landsman’s Face Valueis jam packed with simple DIY secrets to beauty and younger looking skin that can achieve powerful results in a very short time. Featuring an entirely new chapter on rejuvenating night serums, Face Value will
change the way you think and approach beauty as you discover that utilizing natural ingredients can provide real and lasting solutions to give you a natural glow and a younger looking face.
Find recipes to…
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Stimulate collagen production
• Improve skin firmness and elasticity
• Protect skin from damaging free radicals
• Rehydrate, tighten and tone the face
• Restore the skin’s radiance and natural pH levels
• Reduce age spots, pigmentation and blemishes
With Face Value, you can achieve younger looking skin without having to leave your own kitchen!
Book Excerpt – FACE VALUE
The simple do-it-yourself treatments in Face Value target our greatest skin concerns such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving firmness and elasticity and protecting skin from damaging free radicals.) Every formula contains high doses of the most powerful ingredients such as Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Retin A and potent antioxidants used in the most expensive creams on the market.) All are touted as anti-aging, stimulating skin cell regeneration and improving the texture of your skin. The good news is that most of it can be found in your own kitchen!) In more than 30 years of dealing with faces every day, I worked across the globe in the fashion and beauty industry. I could see that the daily stresses of life show up on our faces, and have a profound effect on the way skin visibly ages, even on supermodels.) With this in mind I put together Face Value; a complete skincare manual that offers real solutions and real choices that really work!
Each of these treatments have been tried and tested by people from the four corners of the world and I have used them in my career for years with great success.) Whether it is a treatment full of firming and plumping hydrators or smoothing exfoliators, these formulas will feed your skin from the outside in, restoring radiance and stimulating collagen production.
With Face Value you can create a personalised plan for the issues that concern you most; whether it is saying ‘bye bye’ to age spots, fine lines, blemishes, sun damaged skin or uneven pigmentation.) Without a doubt our faces say so much more about us than what we look like. They are a pure reflection of our health, vitality and spirit. Through my years of experience in the fashion industry. I have come to believe that B.E.A.U.T.Y. is based on the principles of …
Balance, Enthusiasm, Acceptance, Understanding,Trust & You
I believe that:
Balance in our lives unfolds from the inside out.
Enthusiasm lies within the way we think and feel about ourselves.
Acceptance is the path to making peace with ourselves and others.
Understanding ourselves gives us clarity and wisdom to know what we want, and importantly, what we don’t.
Trust attunes our heart and mind so we can nurture spontaneity and adventure in our lives, and know that…
You have what it takes to create the life and love you know you deserve and to never settle for anything less.
I took every photograph in this book as an expression of my belief that as in nature, where every flower is different from the next, we are a living embodiment that beauty is individual.
While Face Value is about learning to nurture your face and your body with great natural products that work, it is also about knowing that the beauty we find outside ourselves is a very small aspect of what lies within.
I have been fortunate enough to cross paths with people who have helped me understand this; each in their own way showing me that the essence of our beauty lies not in our physical characteristics alone, but in the heart of our character.
While I have seen supermodels in Paris dressed in Chanel and women in India dressed in rags, the one truth that reveals their beauty, regardless of who they are, is the truth of their smile.
So whether you are indulging in a skin rejuvenating bath or giving yourself a three-minute facial – Enjoy! After all, B.E.A.U.T.Y. is about good living and great loving, it is about feeling more, healing more, living more and loving more. “You are whole and beautiful for no other reason
than you are human.” – Gregory Landsman
The complete solution to PREMATURE AGING. The simple,
effective, science-based methods in these three books give everyone the
opportunity to achieve younger, healthier looking skin at any age…for
next to nothing!
Get your skin back on track after the holidays with the most powerful anti-aging ingredients found in everyday foods.
Fulfill a new years resolution to look your best self at every age
with simple effective methods to achieve younger, healthier looking skin
that will take years off the face.
Spend some time nurturing yourself and take years off your face for next to nothing.
This new year get the same results as expensive cremes without having to leave your kitchen.
Each book stands alone, focusing on a different method to achieving younger looking skin i.e. Face Value – DIY topical treatments; Face Fitness – facial exercise; and Face Food – anti-aging foods). Together they represent the ultimate guide to younger, healthier and more vital looking skin at any age.
“With knowledge and know how we can counteract and prevent premature
aging, as small changes make a big difference to the way we age over
time.” Gregory Landsman
Meet the Author:
Gregory Landsman is one of the most noted global beauty and wellness experts in the world, a best selling author of nine books, and a TV host who specializes in using food to take years off the face
naturally.
Having worked in the beauty industry for 30+ years Gregory believes that looking youthful goes well beyond waging war on wrinkles, and that how we age is 100% controllable. His natural methods are used globally by models, shown in universities and recommended by doctors.
Often referred to as ‘The Beauty Advisor’, Gregory’s books and global TV program Face Lifting Food show viewers how to create quick skin-boosting meals and powerful skin treatments using everyday foods to achieve younger, healthier looking skin at any age.
Gregory is a strong voice for inclusion. His book, Faith Lifting Prayers is a celebration of humanity and captures his journey of extremes; from Apartheid South Africa to working at the height of the fashion industry, and his fundamental discovery that regardless of what we do, how we look cannot be separated from how we feel. This is why all of his books, even those about looking younger, all feature his own quotes and
philosophy about the importance of feeling good in our skin. His book A Lifetime of BEAUTY also shares messages for early teens and middle years about embracing our differences and our individuality; finding happiness; and standing strong in a world that often judges us for the way we look. This book is endorsed for inclusion in the education system.
Book Excerpt – FACE VALUE
The simple do-it-yourself treatments in Face Value target our greatest skin concerns such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving firmness and elasticity and protecting skin from damaging free radicals.) Every formula contains high doses of the most powerful ingredients such as Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Retin A and potent antioxidants used in the most expensive creams on the market.) All are touted as anti-aging, stimulating skin cell regeneration and improving the texture of your skin. The good news is that most of it can be found in your own kitchen!) In more than 30 years of dealing with faces every day, I worked across the globe in the fashion and beauty industry. I could see that the daily stresses of life show up on our faces, and have a profound effect on the way skin visibly ages, even on supermodels.) With this in mind I put together Face Value; a complete skincare manual that offers real solutions and real choices that really work!
Each of these treatments have been tried and tested by people from the four corners of the world and I have used them in my career for years with great success.) Whether it is a treatment full of firming and plumping hydrators or smoothing exfoliators, these formulas will feed your skin from the outside in, restoring radiance and stimulating collagen production.
With Face Value you can create a personalised plan for the issues that concern you most; whether it is saying ‘bye bye’ to age spots, fine lines, blemishes, sun damaged skin or uneven pigmentation.) Without a doubt our faces say so much more about us than what we look like. They are a pure reflection of our health, vitality and spirit. Through my years of experience in the fashion industry. I have come to believe that B.E.A.U.T.Y. is based on the principles of …
Balance, Enthusiasm, Acceptance, Understanding,Trust & You
I believe that:
Balance in our lives unfolds from the inside out.
Enthusiasm lies within the way we think and feel about ourselves.
Acceptance is the path to making peace with ourselves and others.
Understanding ourselves gives us clarity and wisdom to know what we want, and importantly, what we don’t.
Trust attunes our heart and mind so we can nurture spontaneity and adventure in our lives, and know that…
You have what it takes to create the life and love you know you deserve and to never settle for anything less.
I took every photograph in this book as an expression of my belief that as in nature, where every flower is different from the next, we are a living embodiment that beauty is individual.
While Face Value is about learning to nurture your face and your body with great natural products that work, it is also about knowing that the beauty we find outside ourselves is a very small aspect of what lies within.
I have been fortunate enough to cross paths with people who have helped me understand this; each in their own way showing me that the essence of our beauty lies not in our physical characteristics alone, but in the heart of our character.
While I have seen supermodels in Paris dressed in Chanel and women in India dressed in rags, the one truth that reveals their beauty, regardless of who they are, is the truth of their smile.
So whether you are indulging in a skin rejuvenating bath or giving yourself a three-minute facial – Enjoy! After all, B.E.A.U.T.Y. is about good living and great loving, it is about feeling more, healing more, living more and loving more. “You are whole and beautiful for no other reason
than you are human.” – Gregory Landsman
To receive a free copy of Gregory’s e-book, STOP SKIN AGING PREMATURELY, which includes a list of the most powerful cortisol lowering foods go to: https://gregorylandsman.com/
The Winter Heals Marie McGrath (Honey Cove, #2) Publication date: January 12th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
It was almost impossible to heal when everyone was out to get you.
Shelby Rowe was stuck between two worlds—the one she wanted and the one everyone else wanted for her. As the daughter of a prominent family in Honey Cove, Shelby’s life was out of her control. Her friends, interests, and even her love life was controlled by others.
When a new girl moves to town, Shelby’s life was turned upside down as she gets a glimpse of what life could be like—no obligations, no pressure. As the Christmas break begins, Shelby is left stuck between what is expected and what she feels is right. Split in half, Shelby has to make decisions to correct her life and heal her spirit.
Will she allow others to control who she is? Or will she finally go out on her own?
Luke watched me as I eyed Priscilla and Tabitha from across the room. “Don’t panic, Shelby. You’re by far the most beautiful one in this ballroom tonight.”
“Thanks, Luke, but I’m not worried about what anyone else looks like.”
He nodded and smiled, but it didn’t quite make it to his eyes.
I probably wouldn’t have believed me either. I wasn’t fully lying, just wasn’t the entire truth. Priscilla had a chance to outdo me; it was just her insecurities that came back for her. If she had more confidence, people wouldn’t hate her as much for the nasty things she always inflicted on others. Although, I supposed someone else could say similar things to me. I certainly hadn’t always been the nicest one around. I had done plenty of cruel things, things I still was ashamed of, but I tried to change. That had to account for something, right?
Priscilla and Tabitha spotted me and strutted my way.
Luke tightened his grip around my arm and into his chest. Did he think I needed protecting?
Tabitha leaned forward to air-kiss my cheek. “Shelby, darling. You look fabulous.”
I reciprocated the gesture. “As do you. This color is stunning on you.”
She smiled and swished her dress against her ankles.
Priscilla’s eyebrow arched as she came closer for a hug. “Beautiful accessories, Shelby. It all really makes your eyes pop.”
I strained to smile, knowing anything they uttered about my appearance was merely a nod to social etiquette. It wasn’t genuine, at least not in the way I longed for a true compliment.
“Your mother outdid herself this year, Shelby,” Tabitha said.
“I’ll let her know you think so.”
Luke cleared his throat and nudged my side with his elbow.
“Sorry, ladies, how rude of me. You know Luke, obviously, but he’s my date.”
Luke grinned from ear to ear. “Ladies, you both look radiant this evening.”
They both curtsied.
“Well, we would love to stay and chat all night, but we must socialize with the guests. I’ll see you two later.”
I pulled Luke to stand at the second Christmas tree halfway between both exits.
Luke’s eyebrow rose. “Why did we walk away from them? We should be mingling with everyone.”
I snorted. “Please, Luke. I will mingle with the people who matter. Those two don’t matter. They will just gossip about anything they hear anyway, not worth our time.”
“Then who should we talk to, in your opinion? I think they matter to everyone else. If you aren’t flaunting me to your friends, what will people say?”
“They will have plenty to say, and we can discuss things with them when we are stuck at a table for dinner.”
“I suppose.” Luke moved his arm around me and hovered his right hand on the small of my back.
I bit the corner of my lip to avoid from shivering—or worse, cringing at his touch. It wasn’t awful, but it was more than I wish I had to endure.
“You know, you never told me if I looked dashing or not,” Luke said with a devilish grin.
I smiled. “You and I both know you do, especially with all of your matchy-matchy to my dress color.”
Luke feigned shock. “Is that a compliment from Shelby Rowe. Oh man. Alert Santa we’ll have a blizzard.”
I rolled my eyes. “Dramatic much?”
“Not at all. I only seem to get snarkiness from you.”
I shrugged. “Not always.”
“I apologize. You’re correct. I get snarky Shelby unless we’re pretending to be together. In which case, I get hushed-tone snarky Shelby.”
I giggled. “Is that so? How does one emanate snark in a hushed-tone kind of way?”
“I think you know how.”
I smiled and looked into his hazel eyes. Okay, so he could be charming when he wanted to.
“There it is.”
“There’s what?”
“A genuine smile.”
My father, with my mother in tow, strutted toward us. “Shelby and Luke, how splendid. You both look exquisite,” my father said. “Are you ready to meet a few people, Shelby?”
I followed my parents as Luke accompanied me. I straightened my frame and plastered a smile on my face. It was showtime.
An older couple stood to the side of the ballroom.
My father shook the older man’s hand and clapped his back. “Mr. Wyatt, this is my daughter Shelby and her date, Luke Warrington. Shelby, Mr. Wyatt is the head of sales at Rowe Industries.”
I curtsied as Luke shook the man’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Wyatt,” I said.
“Hello again, sir,” Luke added.
My mother looked between us all but stayed silent. Her voice echoed in my head, “A true Rowe woman is seen but not heard. She makes her presence known but never overshadows the man she is with.”
Author Bio:
Marie McGrath lives in a small rural town in Maryland. She hopes to inspire others with her stories. Her favorite genres to read are YA Romance and Contemporary Fiction. She loves the color turquoise, tigers, and listening to music.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Promise in Provence by Kyle Hunter, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: A Promise in Provence
Series: Provence
Author: Kyle Hunter
Publisher: Monceau Publishing
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Genre: Christian contemporary romance
Lauren is at a turning point. If only she knew where to turn. Her long-term relationship with Mark is fading fast. Instead, she feels drawn to Jean-Pierre, an attractive Frenchman she’d met the previous summer. When she’s laid off from her job as a chef, she decides to go see him in Provence, France.Mark can’t get Lauren out of his heart, even though it’s been close to a year since she asked him to give her space. When she goes to France, he’s afraid he’ll lose her for good. That is, until he decides to go there, too, as a last-ditch effort to win her back.At first, Lauren is angry that Mark follows her to France. But a joint desire to help a young refugee boy leads them to work together. Lauren finds herself torn between the two men. Worse, she’s confronted with obstacles in helping the boy and even greater obstacles within herself.
Kyle Hunter loves to read and write stories about strong women (and men) who still have flaws, but are ready to pursue their dreams, even if it takes them out of their comfort zone . . . or their country. She writes inspirational romance novels and women’s fiction with a twist: her characters sometimes go places. Take a trip with them and experience their journeys. See how their lives unfold as they make decisions to trust God (or not) in their next steps, learning about themselves and their faith, and finding love along the way! Kyle lives in North Carolina but spent over a decade in France, where some of her characters find themselves.
The main character is a young woman who is trying to find out who she is and where she belongs. She’s had a fairly long relationship with Mark, but her feelings for him have cooled. She doesn’t like her job, working in a high-stress restaurant kitchen.
She’s emotionally bouncing from one thing to another and is stringing Mark along, although she doesn’t want to. Her chance to make a change comes when her job will be paused for a few months. She has history in France, where she met a suave chef.
She decides to go to France for a long visit and see if she has feelings for the chef. Mark is devastated because he’s held onto hope of Lauren’s love. But, she’s leaving and won’t say one way or another how she really feels about him.
She comes across as a fickle woman who has severe commitment issues and has no idea what she wants. But underneath it all, she has emotional issues because of a tragedy early in her life.
The reader will long to see any resolution. Will she stay in France and fall in love with the chef or go back to America with Mark? Can she find a way to heal? Her faith in God is important to her, but can she finally have God’s peace? The reader will want to finish this book and find out.
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 12, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 19, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
During a celebratory outing in Las Vegas, high school teacher Shane Rawlings is involved in a tragic car accident that kills his best friend. He isolates himself on Bainbridge Island, buried in survivor’s guilt until he begins receiving several mailed index cards, each detailing challenges for him to venture out of his self-imposed exile.
Emma Jacobs is a famous actress embroiled in a scandal by her cheating ex-boyfriend who escapes to Bainbridge Island and meets Shane by chance at the local grocery store. Shane and Emma grow closer with each completed task until Emma’s agent arrives in town and pulls her back to Los Angeles. An upset Shane discovers her celebrity status when he’s suspended from his teaching position, causing Emma to end their relationship.
Realizing his mistake, Shane flies to Los Angeles, hoping to persuade Emma to take him back. Faced with disapproval from outsiders, Shane and Emma fight for their love and his healing.
Author Bio
Yvette Geer is the author of the multicultural romance novel, The List. As an avid reader of romance and mystery books, Yvette enjoys creating worlds where opposites attract, set against the backdrop of some of the country’s most iconic cities. Currently based in Northern California with her husband and two girls, this “military brat” traveled often as a kid, from the Midwest to England. She continues to marry her two passions for traveling and writing through road trips and other adventures. She rounds out her artistic need by playing piano and dabbling in photography. She continues to highlight and celebrate the positive outcomes of different lives colliding in her blog, The Swirl Effect.
If you like to read about new books, read great reviews, and enter giveaways please sign up for my newsletter.
How can a mother just stand by when her daughter is being cozened into sin?
It’s 1360, eleven years since the Black Death devastated all of England, and six years since Emma Ward fled Meonbridge with her children, to find a more prosperous life in Winchester. Long satisfied that she’d made the right decision, Emma is now terrified that she was wrong. For she’s convinced her daughter Bea is in grave danger, being exploited by her scheming and immoral mistress.
Bea herself is confused: fearful and ashamed of her sudden descent into sin, but also thrilled by her wealthy and attentive client.
When Emma resolves to rescue Bea from ruin and tricks her into returning to Meonbridge, Bea doesn’t at first suspect her mother’s motives. She is happy to renew her former friendships but, yearning for her rich lover, Bea soon absconds back to the city. Yet, only months later, plague is stalking Winchester again and, in terror, Bea flees once more to Meonbridge.
But, this time, she finds herself unwelcome, and fear, hostility and hatred threaten…
Terror, betrayal and deceit, but also love and courage, in a time of continuing change and challenge – Children’s Fate, the fourth MEONBRIDGE CHRONICLE.
CAROLYN HUGHES was born in London, but has lived most of her life in Hampshire. After completing a degree in Classics and English, she started her working life as a computer programmer, in those days a very new profession. But it was when she discovered technical authoring that she knew she had found her vocation. She spent the next few decades writing and editing all sorts of material, some fascinating, some dull, for a wide variety of clients, including an international hotel group, medical instrument manufacturers and the government.
She has written creatively for most of her adult life, but it was not until her children grew up and flew the nest several years ago that writing historical fiction took centre stage in her life. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Portsmouth University and a PhD from the University of Southampton.
Children’s Fate is the fourth novel in the MEONBRIDGE CHRONICLES series. A fifth novel is under way.
You can connect with Carolyn through her website www.carolynhughesauthor.com and social media:
Giveaway to Win a $15 / £15 / €15 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
‘Beatrix!’ called Mistress Brouderer, standing at the entrance to the workshop. She gestured to her to put down her work and come up to the shop. It was almost time to stop their work, for the light was fading and it was becoming difficult to see their stitching.
Lucy looked up at Bea, her eyes wide.
Bea secured her needle in the cloth. ‘I wonder what she wants?’ Lucy bit her lip.
Bea hurried along the passage, thinking Mildryth might have told their mistress of Bea’s constant questioning about Alison. She was uneasy as she slid into the shop.
‘Ah, Beatrix,’ said her mistress, turning. ‘I want you to run an errand for me.’
‘An errand?’
‘Indeed.’ She picked up a linen-wrapped parcel of what Bea presumed were handkerchiefs, judging by the parcel’s size and shape. ‘I want you to take this to Master Marchaunt in Jury Street.’
Bea was a little startled. She thought customers usually collected their purchases from the shop, though sometimes the mistress paid a snotty street lad to take a package to their house. Occasionally, Mildryth, or even Mistress Brouderer herself, delivered the finished work, if it was valuable, like that embroidered cotehardie made especially for this very man. Mistress Brouderer had worked the coat entirely herself and even Bea could see it was very fine. Master Marchaunt must be rich, and probably very vain, to have commissioned such a handsome thing.
‘Why me?’ said Bea.
Her mistress tutted. ‘Why do you always have to question everything, Beatrix, instead of simply doing as you’re bid?’ Bea shrugged. ‘You should be pleased I’m trusting you to do this.’ Which Bea thought a bit strange, given she evidently trusted that snotty lad to do it. She just nodded.
‘Good. Now, you know where to go, don’t you?’
Bea rolled her eyes. Jury Street was only a short walk away. ‘’Course I do.’
Mistress Brouderer pursed her lips and Bea knew she thought her wilful. None of the other girls talked back to her, not even Mildryth. Yet Bea never meant to be ill-mannered. ‘Am I to bring back payment?’
‘It’s not necessary to risk carrying coin through the streets. Master Marchaunt will pay me later.’
Bea took her cloak from the hooks beside the door. Mistress Brouderer peered outside: it was late afternoon, and already quite dark, with heavy cloud blotting out any last glimmer of winter sun. Bea wondered why she couldn’t have gone earlier, before the gloom of evening threatened. Yet it was typical of Mistress Brouderer to wait until the light had faded, so as not to waste good stitching time, as she always put it, and Bea decided not to argue any further.
She stepped out into the street. A chilly wind was getting up.
‘I’d pull your hood up tight about your ears if I were you,’ said Mistress Brouderer, handing Bea the parcel. She tucked it underneath her cloak then, turning left out of the door, hurried away towards the merchants’ district.
All the houses on Jury Street were high and wide, with large windows, a few of which were filled with glass. As far as she knew, only one building in Meonbridge had any glass-filled windows – the de Bohuns’ manor house. Many of the houses on this street had great signs hanging high up on the front wall: she’d already seen three barrels, and two sets of shears. Master Marchaunt’s house was not the only one to have what looked like an enormous woolsack dangling overhead.
The heavy wooden door was set back from the street, beneath the jutting overhang giving shelter to a large window, shuttered now against the evening. Bea stood before the door and looked about her.
‘When you reach the door,’ Mistress Brouderer had said, as Bea was leaving, ‘be sure no one sees you knocking.’
It seemed an odd command, but her mistress had insisted, though she didn’t explain why. Few people were still abroad, for business had ended for the day. But the street was not entirely empty, for two men were standing some distance away, deep in conversation. Should she wait until they’d gone? Yet wouldn’t hovering seem even more peculiar than knocking?
She rapped sharply upon the door.
As Bea waited for a servant to come, a sudden gust of wind whisked off her hood, catching at her hair and tousling it about her face. She was trying to tidy her hair when the door was opened.
‘Aha! The young embroideress, I presume?’ said a man’s voice.
She looked up, still trying to tuck loose strands of hair behind her ear. The man was smiling. His clothes were nothing like a servant’s, so was this Master Marchaunt himself? If so, he was younger than she’d expected.
‘My kerchiefs?’ he said, and she drew the parcel from her cloak and held it out to him.
He took it and grinned. ‘Has the wind snatched away your tongue?’ Bea giggled. ‘No, sir. Just messed up my hair.’
‘Come inside a moment to compose yourself.’
It scarcely seemed necessary to go indoors, when all she had to do was hand over the parcel. But she was curious to see inside this rich man’s house and, as Master Marchaunt stood aside to let her pass, she stepped over the threshold…
