WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #49

We left off and Evangeline was being nagged by a disquieting thought...

Had she been discovered and this was but a game of cat and mouse for the dark stranger, or had he happened upon her and recognizing her decided to follow her movements? Much as she'd love to shadow him today, she wasn't prepared and so, the hunt would begin in earnest tomorrow. Utilizing one of her carefully crafted disguises she'd wait for him to show. As this was where he 'lost' her, she theorized he'd resume the search in the same area, hoping to stumble across her again.

Strolling down the street, stopping every now and then to test the ripeness of a fruit, or smell the flowers from the ever present flower girl, she wondered who or what he'd become tomorrow. His last two creations had been ingenious and she would have missed him today if not for that scarf. First rule of being a good spy - never, ever draw attention to yourself. She tutted and shook her head. Cavendish drummed that into her head day and night for weeks prior to them joining Viscount Castlereigh's delegation to Spain in 1808.

Ah, Cavendish.

So, she is about to hunt the hunter and is appreciative of his creativity, but who is Cavendish?

For information about what Weekend Writing Warriors is all about and their ever pesky rules of keeping your creative juices corralled to eight-ten lines, click HERE. From there you can also click on other authors links and read what they've contributed this week.

Always with love,
Sue B

WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #48

Welcome back my fellow Weekend Warriors! I took a break for a couple of weeks and recharged my batteries. I have a few health issues which preclude me from typing, and I was a bad girl continuing to 'mouse' around, and... well...my body said 'STOP'. Naturally, I did.

So, I read a lot, caught up on all the movies I've seen 30+ times each and baked. Baked and baked and baked. I need to get back to writing to bring my blood sugars down.  LOL  My family thought this was fabulous, but then, I live in a testosterone laden house and they love the fact there were fresh cookies and cakes to be snacked on.

We left off with Evangeline sneaking out of the church to evade her unknown stalker.

Upon exit, she shaded her eyes from the bright sun and crossed the pretty garden, enclosed by a high wall. She wasn't worried about becoming entrapped within the enclosure, the gate to the garden never closed properly and was one of the spots she and a courier met to exchange documents and money. Within seconds she'd pushed through onto the alleyway which ran alongside the east side of the church.

She had only minutes to spare before her shadow realized she no longer remained in the building, so she practically flew across the street and entered a stairwell that led to a small apartment above the book store. Once inside she removed the dark blouse with its fake bosom and tugged off the blonde wig, allowing her long mahogany curls to cascade down her back in messy curls as she hastened toward the window. Although the wig made her head unbearably itchy on hot days such as this, it was a necessary evil to keep her identity secret. Her shadow was on the lookout for a buxom strawberry blonde, he wouldn't think twice about the petite brunette exiting the book store.

Partially concealed by the gauzy curtain, she watched the front of the church, anticipating it would not be long before he appeared and was not disappointed. Minutes after her escape, the man burst through the main doors, and glanced up and down the street in search of her. She almost laughed out loud at having evaded him, but a disquieting thought nagged at her.

So, what is bothering her? Make sure to come back next week and find out, until then please check out other authors participating in this fun writing exercise by clicking HERE.

Always with love,
Sue B

WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #47

Welcome to another instalment of Weekend Writing Warriors where authors showcase a portion of their work in a miniscule frame of 8-10 lines. Cruel and Unusual punishment, I assure you. However, these are the constraints within we all work (although some of us use creative punctuation and break every grammar rule to stay within the confines).

Have said that, here is my contribution for the week, continuing on where Evangeline has entered a church to escape the man who's been following her these past few days. Just as she sat down, he entered so she dropped to the floor and rolled under the pew.

Enjoy.

She gathered her skirts close to her legs, grateful they didn't swish. Having determined she was being watched or followed, she'd carefully chosen a dark muslin gown, choosing not to wear a corset or any type of bulky underskirt. The last thing she needed was the creak of whale bone or the rustle of petticoats to give away her location, or impede a hasty retreat.

Every nerve in her body tensed as she strained for any sound, any noise that would indicate his location in the sanctuary.

There - a soft shuffling noise near the confessional. Did he think she was careless enough to conceal herself in the most obvious spot? She almost sniffed aloud with disdain. The door latch to the confessional clicked and she belly crawled along the cold marble floor toward a side stairwell used by the priests to enter and exit the building.

Keeping low, she slipped behind a large column and crept down the hall. When she was sure no one from within the chapel could see her, she straightened and hurried down the short corridor, her soft soled slippers not making a sound.

Clever Evangeline! I'm enjoying this heroine.

To learn more about Weekend Writing Warriors and to link with other authors partaking this weekend, please click HERE.

Always with love,
Sue B

WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #46

Welcome back everyone. Are you all ready for the next year of school, or back to work? I've got grandkiddo #2 ready to rock and roll. This is his last year with us and then he and his dad (after the wedding in June) move out. More news on the home front - grandkiddo #1 wants to move in with us so she can be with her dad and brother. I might be ferrying two kids around this year. Yikes!

I'm sure I retired. I know I gave notice and get a pension cheque, but I'm still working hard. What is wrong with this picture....? I love 'em to death, but - man - I cannot wait to be just the grandma, fill them up with candy and shoot them home. Upside to all of this is when my son marries, I gain some more grandchildren as his fiancé has two little ones. Christmas just doubled in fun.

Enough of that, let's get on with this week's Weekend Writing Warriors. We left off with Evangeline wondering if the man following her was friend or foe. She felt of stirring of recognition when she finally caught a glimpse of his face, but she can't be sure. Was he friend or foe?

When her contact from England failed to show at the designated time and place three months ago she'd begun to see the enemy in every stranger, in every greeting and today she suspected the enemy finally had a face.

Turning from the window, she continued down the street until she came to the church. Mounting the stairs, she breathed a prayer that God would grant her one more day. One more day to find a way back to England and continue the work she and her husband were commissioned with two years ago to rid France of a tyrant.

She pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside, allowing her eyes to adjust to the quiet darkness before moving further into the sanctuary. Hopefully her shadow would also be hindered when he finally chose to come inside, unless he waited across the street, like he had the past three days.

Keeping a routine was important in determining whether he was dangerous and she'd allowed him to keep an eye on her, but today - today - the tables would turn. The hunter would become the hunted.

She moved down the aisle and slipped into a row of pews near the front of the church just as the creak of the front door and a brief flash of sunlight alerted her to the fact someone had entered the building. She laid low on the seat, dropped to the floor and rolled beneath the bench.

 The tension mounts....

Please take the time to check out other author's contributions and for further guidelines on how Weekend Writing Warriors work HERE.

As always, hug someone you love today.

WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #45

Can you believe summer is almost over and school starts in a few short weeks. Wait... I hear angels singing.

This is the last year our son and grandson lives with us full-time. Next year my son is getting married (come on June 30th) and then - THEN - I'm fully retired and can enjoy the peace and quiet of my home with hubby. Don't get me wrong - I love them to pieces but I've raised my children and we are too old to chase after a nine year old.

Now, down to business. I'm branching off on another story (I know, I know, but I love having the iron in a few fires). This is from An Elaborate Ruse, which will be Evangeline's story. You may recall Evangeline and her husband were both in France. While she returned to England, her husband the Earl of Anstruther remained in France and forwards secret documents to her and Lord George. This is the beginning of Chapter One where Lord George has finally tracked her down, although she doesn't know who he is - at first.

Evangeline cast a furtive glance over her shoulder and confirmed her suspicions. He blended into the crowds with ease and if she hadn't been intrigued by the color of his scarf, she may never have noticed him.

Walking at a sedate pace she paused in front of a small café, ostentatiously to peruse the multitude of mouth-watering confections arrayed in the window. Instead, she scanned the busy street reflected on the pane. A smile lifted the corner of her mouth as she spotted him, chatting up a little flower girl, her basket full of violets and roses.

He was clever, this rogue who'd been following her for most of the morning. Right now he'd removed the distinctive scarf from around his neck and replaced it with a soiled rag and wore a cap pulled low over his forehead. She shifted further down the window and when sunlight lit his face for a brief moment, she felt a flash of recognition.

Panic began to crawl up from her belly. Was he friend or foe?

I hope you enjoyed my entry this week. An Elaborate Ruse will not come out until Fall 2018 - unless I light a fire under my butt and get her finished early. Please take the time to visit other authors who partake in this fun weekend blog hop by clicking HERE.