| 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 matron’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 |
 |
| 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 Neville’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 |