| Anne Whitfield |
| The Gentle Wind's Caress |
The Gentle Wind's Caress is my latest Victorian
historical saga to be accepted for publication. It is set
in Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall and surrounding areas
of Calerdale, West Yorkshire, England.
Blurb
1876 - On the death of her mother and sister,
Isabelle Gibson must fend for herself and her brother
in a privately-run workhouse. To escape a life of
drudgery and near-rape at the hands of the matronâ
€™s son, Neville Peacock, Isabelle agrees to marry
Farrell, a moorland farmer she has never met. But
Farrell is a drunkard and a bully in constant feud with
his landlord, Ethan Harrington. When Farrell bungles
a robbery and deserts her, Isabelle and Ethan are
thrown together as she struggles to run the farm.
Both are married and must hide their growing love.
Despite the secrecy, Isabelle draws strength from
Ethan and his best friend, Hamish MacGregor, as she
faces the return of her long lost father and Neville
Peacock. And when Farrell returns to claim his wife,
tragedy strikes, changing all their lives forever.
(c) 2006 Anne Whitfield
Available now from your local library.
Amazon UK
Waterstones
Tesco
Format: Hardcover.
Publisher: Robert Hale Ltd UK
The Gentle Wind's Caress is also now available to by
new from the publisher. Click here
historical saga to be accepted for publication. It is set
in Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall and surrounding areas
of Calerdale, West Yorkshire, England.
Blurb
1876 - On the death of her mother and sister,
Isabelle Gibson must fend for herself and her brother
in a privately-run workhouse. To escape a life of
drudgery and near-rape at the hands of the matronâ
€™s son, Neville Peacock, Isabelle agrees to marry
Farrell, a moorland farmer she has never met. But
Farrell is a drunkard and a bully in constant feud with
his landlord, Ethan Harrington. When Farrell bungles
a robbery and deserts her, Isabelle and Ethan are
thrown together as she struggles to run the farm.
Both are married and must hide their growing love.
Despite the secrecy, Isabelle draws strength from
Ethan and his best friend, Hamish MacGregor, as she
faces the return of her long lost father and Neville
Peacock. And when Farrell returns to claim his wife,
tragedy strikes, changing all their lives forever.
(c) 2006 Anne Whitfield
Available now from your local library.
Amazon UK
Waterstones
Tesco
Format: Hardcover.
Publisher: Robert Hale Ltd UK
The Gentle Wind's Caress is also now available to by
new from the publisher. Click here
| Hebden Bridge, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England and surrounding areas that is the setting of The Gentle Wind's Caress. Photographer not known |
Excerpt
Matron held up her hand. “Let us speak with Mr Beale’s cousin and see
what we make of that first, yes? A farmer’s wife is a desirable position.�
Isabelle remembered Sally’s words. Take little steps, Belle, little steps.
Suddenly, she nodded. “Thank you, Mrs Peacock and you, Mr Beale.�
She left them and walked back along the corridor deep in thought. A farm. The
air would be fresh and clean not full of smoke like Halifax. It might be just what
they needed. Hughie was good with plants; he often worked in the workhouse
gardens. He would grow into a fine man living in the clean air and eating fresh food.
Reaching the hallway leading to the kitchens, Isabelle paused and nibbled her
fingertips. Her thoughts ran wild, warming to the idea. She could be a farmer’s
wife, she was certain of that. She could keep chickens and bake bread like her
grandfather’s old cook taught her. She straightened her shoulders at the
thought. Yes, that would do nicely.
Abruptly, a hand clamped over her mouth. Isabelle jerked in terror. Grabbed
around the waist, she was wrenched off her feet and carried into the nearest room
– the linen room. She fought against the restraint, kicking widely, but her skirts
muted any impact she made.
In a swift movement, her attacker banged up against the wall of shelves holding
sheets, towels and pillowcases. Faded light filtered in through a high dirty window
and it was enough for her to see the excited eyes of Neville Peacock. She thrashed
her head but his grip over her mouth pushed her head back hard against the
wooden shelf.
“Keep still, my lass.�
His hold made it impossible to talk and she dragged in shallow quick breaths
through her nose.
“You’ll like it, I promise.� His knee edged her legs apart, but he soon
realised that to lift her skirts he would have to free one hand. He took his hand
away from her mouth and next his tongue bombarded her lips, edging its way past
her teeth.
Bile rose in her throat. She wrenched her face away, but his lips followed,
leaving wet kisses across her cheek. She gagged. Cold air touched her thighs as
he raised her skirts high over her stockings. Furious at the invasion, she growled
and bit his tongue so hard blood spurted into her mouth.
He howled in pain and backhanded her in the face. “You bitch!�
Stars burst before her eyes like fireworks on Guy Fawke’s night. The
confined room spun around her. Dazed, she gripped a shelf to steady herself.
Tears blurred her vision as she spat and coughed.
Neville leant against the opposite wall, one hand over his mouth, his eyes
closed. Blood trickled between his fingers and ran down his chin to drip on his
white shirt.
Isabelle heaved and dashed for the door. Whipping it open, she glanced back at
him before hurrying out.
Matron stopped mid-stride, startled by her flight. Her gaze narrowed as she
swept it from Isabelle to the linen room door.
Wordlessly, Isabelle shook her head and darted away. Her heart pounded,
threatening to explode in her chest. The echoes of her running footsteps bouncing
off the walls sounded loud in her ears.
She had to leave this place!
(c) 2007 Anne Whitfield
Matron held up her hand. “Let us speak with Mr Beale’s cousin and see
what we make of that first, yes? A farmer’s wife is a desirable position.�
Isabelle remembered Sally’s words. Take little steps, Belle, little steps.
Suddenly, she nodded. “Thank you, Mrs Peacock and you, Mr Beale.�
She left them and walked back along the corridor deep in thought. A farm. The
air would be fresh and clean not full of smoke like Halifax. It might be just what
they needed. Hughie was good with plants; he often worked in the workhouse
gardens. He would grow into a fine man living in the clean air and eating fresh food.
Reaching the hallway leading to the kitchens, Isabelle paused and nibbled her
fingertips. Her thoughts ran wild, warming to the idea. She could be a farmer’s
wife, she was certain of that. She could keep chickens and bake bread like her
grandfather’s old cook taught her. She straightened her shoulders at the
thought. Yes, that would do nicely.
Abruptly, a hand clamped over her mouth. Isabelle jerked in terror. Grabbed
around the waist, she was wrenched off her feet and carried into the nearest room
– the linen room. She fought against the restraint, kicking widely, but her skirts
muted any impact she made.
In a swift movement, her attacker banged up against the wall of shelves holding
sheets, towels and pillowcases. Faded light filtered in through a high dirty window
and it was enough for her to see the excited eyes of Neville Peacock. She thrashed
her head but his grip over her mouth pushed her head back hard against the
wooden shelf.
“Keep still, my lass.�
His hold made it impossible to talk and she dragged in shallow quick breaths
through her nose.
“You’ll like it, I promise.� His knee edged her legs apart, but he soon
realised that to lift her skirts he would have to free one hand. He took his hand
away from her mouth and next his tongue bombarded her lips, edging its way past
her teeth.
Bile rose in her throat. She wrenched her face away, but his lips followed,
leaving wet kisses across her cheek. She gagged. Cold air touched her thighs as
he raised her skirts high over her stockings. Furious at the invasion, she growled
and bit his tongue so hard blood spurted into her mouth.
He howled in pain and backhanded her in the face. “You bitch!�
Stars burst before her eyes like fireworks on Guy Fawke’s night. The
confined room spun around her. Dazed, she gripped a shelf to steady herself.
Tears blurred her vision as she spat and coughed.
Neville leant against the opposite wall, one hand over his mouth, his eyes
closed. Blood trickled between his fingers and ran down his chin to drip on his
white shirt.
Isabelle heaved and dashed for the door. Whipping it open, she glanced back at
him before hurrying out.
Matron stopped mid-stride, startled by her flight. Her gaze narrowed as she
swept it from Isabelle to the linen room door.
Wordlessly, Isabelle shook her head and darted away. Her heart pounded,
threatening to explode in her chest. The echoes of her running footsteps bouncing
off the walls sounded loud in her ears.
She had to leave this place!
(c) 2007 Anne Whitfield
| Heptonstall Photographer not known |
Review~
Powerful Historical
In 1876, the death of Isabelle Gibson’s beloved older sister leaves Isabelle and her
young brother at the mercy of the cruel workhouse matron and her lascivious son, Neville
Peacock. Choosing to marry Len Farrell, a man she’s barely met, to escape Nevilleâ
€™s unwanted attentions, Isabelle and her brother are ready to embrace life at Meadow
Farm. When Len’s home proves to be a squalid dump, Isabelle finds she has more to
adjust to than her hasty marriage.
The men in Isabelle’s life let her down and problems pile deep, but Isabelle picks
herself up and does what needs doing. A minister’s granddaughter, she believes in and
clings to the strong family values of fidelity, hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance.
When she falls in love with her married landlord, how will she reconcile her strong moral
convictions with the whispers of her heart and the desires of the flesh?
Anne Whitfield crafts a moving story of a strong woman in her historical novel THE
GENTLE WIND’S CARESS. In an era of workhouses and sharp class differences,
Isabelle Gibson is a woman worthy of love and admiration. She’s a complex woman
who balances the various aspects of her life with considerable finesse.
Laurel Bradley, Author of A Wish in Time
Powerful Historical
In 1876, the death of Isabelle Gibson’s beloved older sister leaves Isabelle and her
young brother at the mercy of the cruel workhouse matron and her lascivious son, Neville
Peacock. Choosing to marry Len Farrell, a man she’s barely met, to escape Nevilleâ
€™s unwanted attentions, Isabelle and her brother are ready to embrace life at Meadow
Farm. When Len’s home proves to be a squalid dump, Isabelle finds she has more to
adjust to than her hasty marriage.
The men in Isabelle’s life let her down and problems pile deep, but Isabelle picks
herself up and does what needs doing. A minister’s granddaughter, she believes in and
clings to the strong family values of fidelity, hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance.
When she falls in love with her married landlord, how will she reconcile her strong moral
convictions with the whispers of her heart and the desires of the flesh?
Anne Whitfield crafts a moving story of a strong woman in her historical novel THE
GENTLE WIND’S CARESS. In an era of workhouses and sharp class differences,
Isabelle Gibson is a woman worthy of love and admiration. She’s a complex woman
who balances the various aspects of her life with considerable finesse.
Laurel Bradley, Author of A Wish in Time