Social Graces

spiderweb with dewEven though the heroine of my novel, Golden Threads, was kicked out of the manor when her parents were burned at the stake, she was already twelve years old and had been raised to be a lady. Not only had she learned to read and do mathematics, she knew how to embroider, ride a horse (if badly), and run a household. She had learned how to welcome guests, and how to treat servants. Although she was friendly with the village children, she was the Lord and Lady’s eldest, and thus set apart from them. As a small child she was naturally their leader in all of their games. As she grew older, her education and responsibilities kept her away from most of the village children her own age. She knew how to treat them, with respect, but not how to form close bonds.

When she lost all that, and had to struggle to keep herself and her brother alive, the village children she’d once led scorned her, all except Matthew and his siblings. She only connected with the few older women who helped her: women like Matthew’s mother.

Now that she’s living in modern-day England, she finds it even more difficult to make close friends. How does a witch with her history bridge the gap? Perhaps it doesn’t matter, because it’s time for her leadership skills to begin to re-emerge, and for her to make use of her childhood lessons in the social graces expected of the eldest daughter of a wealthy landowner.

You can find the newest chapter of my serialized novel, Golden Threads, here, or find all previous chapters by clicking on the novel’s title or the menu link. I love comments, and try to respond to all of them. I do reserve the right to reject any comments for any reason.

Back to Top