Today on my blog, I’m delighted to welcome back Nancy Jardine for the book blog tour for Novice Threads, part of her Silver Sampler Series. Nancy has kindly provided an excerpt for you to enjoy (see below).
You can follow the full tour here:
https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/04/blog-tour-novice-threads-by-nancy-jardine.html
Novice Threads by Nancy Jardine
A thirst for education. Shattered dreams. Fragile relations.
1840s Scotland
Being sent to school is the most exhilarating thing that’s ever happened to young Margaret Law. She sharpens her newly-acquired education on her best friend, Jessie Morison, till Jessie is spirited away to become a scullery maid. But how can Margaret fulfil her visions of becoming a schoolteacher when her parents’ tailoring and drapery business suddenly collapses and she must find a job?
Salvation from domestic drudgery – or never-ending seamstress work – comes via Jessie whose employer seeks a tutor for his daughter. Free time exploring Edinburgh with Jessie is great fun, but increasing tension in the household claws at Margaret’s nerves.
Margaret also worries about her parents’ estrangement, and the mystery of Jessie’s unknown father.
When tragedy befalls the household in Edinburgh, Margaret must forge a new pathway for the future – though where will that be?
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/NTsss
An Excerpt from Novice Threads
To The Asylum
“We needed to get her out of the house. Kate told me that Doctor Oliver and that other specialist doctor, the one who visited last Monday, are coming back around now with other reinforcements.”
Margaret stared at Jessie, suppressing both her horror and elation. “Reinforcements as in strong-armed helpers?”
Jessie nodded. “Helen Duncan is being removed this afternoon to a special hospital facility.”
“Oh, goodness!” Margaret was shocked but knew it had been long in coming.
“The Master was anticipating that Helen wouldn’t go quietly from their bedroom, so he wanted Rachel elsewhere for a while. It’s just as well the weather is in our favour this afternoon.”
After a few minutes of silence from all three of them, Margaret looked to Jessie. “Was the errand a little white lie?”
Jessie’s grin was a forced one. “I couldn’t bear to see that lunatic being carted out. I might have strangled her in the corridor before they even managed to get her downstairs.”
Rachel was still asleep when they returned almost an hour later.
“You go in the basement stairs, Margaret, and see what’s going on. I’ll take Rachel around to Tom’s and wait for news.”
Margaret wasn’t sure if it shouldn’t be the other way around, though she complied. At the kitchen door, she peeked in. Kate was at the table her head in her hands and she was sobbing her eyes out.
“Oh, Kate!” Margaret bent down and hugged the housemaid’s shoulders. “Was it so awful?”
Kate raised her head, nodded, and gulped down her tears. “You’ve never heard the likes of the wailing when they all but dragged her down the stairs. Mister Duncan didn’t quite make it out of the front door behind them all. He was sick on the doorstep. If Robert hadn’t been next to him, I swear he would have swooned and fallen down the steps. He was so torn up by the whole affair.”
Margaret squeezed Kate’s shoulder. “Is it safe to bring Rachel back inside?”
Kate jumped up, furiously wiping away her tears and back to her organised self. “I’ll help you and Jessie. Tom’s away, driving the carriage to take the Master and Robert to the Edinburgh Royal Asylum. We don’t have much time to get Rachel settled before the others come home from school.”
Margaret felt Kate clutch at her hands.
“Jessie and I have been asked not to tell them anything till the Master returns, but how we do that I don’t know!”
Author Bio:
Nancy writes historical and contemporary fiction. First Century Roman Britain is the setting for her Celtic Fervour Series. Victorian and Edwardian history has sneaked into two of her ancestry-based contemporary mysteries, and her current Silver Sampler Series is set in Victorian Scotland.
Her novels have achieved Finalist status in UK book competitions (People’s Book Prize; Scottish Association of Writers) and have received prestigious Online Book Awards.
Published with Ocelot Press, writing memberships include – Historical Novel Society; Romantic Novelists Association; Scottish Association of Writers; Federation of Writers Scotland; Alliance of Independent Authors.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.nancyjardine.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nansjar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJardinewrites/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-jardine-a919b03a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nansjar2023/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nansjar23.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/nanjar/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nancy-jardine
Amazon Author Page: viewauthor.at/findmybookshere
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5139590.Nancy_Jardine
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