...should take you to another world ~
whether that be the Regency, the Middle Ages, the English Civil War or even the First World War. I hope this can be said of A Sense of the Ridiculous.
Excerpt From 'A Sense of the Ridiculous'
The
inn had been quiet for less than an hour when a door creaked on the
landing above. On the alert at once, he tiptoed to stand by the
crockery cupboard. His eyes by this time being well accustomed to the
darkness, he had no difficulty making out the dreamlike form when it
came drifting down the stairs. It paused at the bottom for what
seemed like an eternity before moving, one cautious step at a time,
towards him.
“And
where do you think you’re going?” he asked the wraith.
Jocasta
squealed and threw the shoes she was carrying at him with some force
before turning to run back upstairs.
“Ow!
Damn it,” he cursed as one hit him. “Stop that.
’Tis
me, Richard.” He grabbed her by the wrist, curtailing her flight.
“Just a minute, madam. I want a word with you.”
“Ouch,”
she yelped. “You are hurting me. Let me go.”
He
slackened his grip but did not release her. “I thought we had
decided Ned and I would take the night watch.” Jocasta said
nothing. “Do you wish me to lock your door?” He caught the
movement of her hair as she shook her head. “Do you promise you
will go back to bed?”
Still
there was silence. The ticking of the clock was deafening—so loud,
in fact, had he missed her answer?—and then finally she muttered in
a little voice, “Very well.”
He
let her go, and without another word, she turned and went back up the
stairs. Pleased that he was beginning to get her measure, Richard
followed the passage to the door into the yard. There he paused
before retracing his steps to the entrance hall. It was not that he
did not trust her, but… All was peaceful on the upper floor. He
waited a minute or two and then, after a mental kick for his lack of
faith, headed for the stables once more.
However,
as he closed the yard door, a tiny sound somewhere above his head
made him stop and listen. There was a rustle and a minuscule snap, as
manifest as a gunshot to his ears—which were straining for the
least sound—though he doubted he would have noticed it ordinarily.
Holding his breath, he waited again. The night was cloudy and there
was no moonlight, but he could make out the shape of the garden door
as it very slowly began to open. She certainly did not lack courage,
this girl. He stood with legs apart and arms folded across his chest,
right in front of the door. He surmised that, expecting him to have
gone to bed, she had climbed down the creeper which grew up the wall
around her window.
Slipping
through the garden door, she closed it behind her with a tiny click
and turned straight into his chest. Her screech of alarm died in her
throat, curtailed in an instant by his calloused hand over her mouth.
As she pressed back against the rough wood of the door, her fear gave
him a somewhat wicked satisfaction.
He stepped closer in as menacing a manner as he could summon. Her
chest heaved, indicating the rapid thumping of her heart,
and she tried to edge along the wall towards the house. Grinning into
the darkness, he barred her way with a brawny arm and leaned against
the stone. Putting his hand in a similar position on her other side,
he pinned her against the wall. Several seconds elapsed before he
spoke. He did not want to frighten her, but she should realize the
foolishness of this escapade.
If you enjoyed this extract and want to know what happens next, 'A Sense of the Ridiculous' is available in E-book form for kindle, mobile or pc from www.musapublishing.com or:
http://prod-www.kobobooks.com/ebook/A-Sense-of-the-Ridiculous/book-K6BaNBLOiEG2Yd4B098llQ/page1.html
Also Overdrive and Rainbow, among others.
It does not appear to be obvious in some lists as there is another Heather King, so please shout about it! If you have read it and enjoyed it, I would love to hear your feedback and please tell your friends. It was written in unashamed homage (but in my own voice) of the Queen of Regency, Georgette Heyer, so if you love her books and fancy something new, do try A Sense of the Ridiculous.
Fun Quiz:
How many words can you make out of A Sense of the Ridiculous?
And don't forget there are just six days left until the closing date of A Ridiculous Short Story Competition!
Happy writing and reading. Love Heather.
Fun Quiz:
How many words can you make out of A Sense of the Ridiculous?
And don't forget there are just six days left until the closing date of A Ridiculous Short Story Competition!
Happy writing and reading. Love Heather.
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