Whispers In The Dark

By Elizabeth Marshall

Having left Australia to start a new life in York, Stacey Dodge is about to face her first Christmas away from friends and family, but a casual stroll around the ancient city sees Stacey torn even further from loved ones. Accidentally hurled through time, she finds herself in eighteenth century York, in the arms of a man who might just be worth staying for...

This is a short, time travel romance story of about 20 000 words. It can be read as a standalone story or as part of the Highland Secret Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Marshall
• Release date: Oct 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301337750

Elizabeth Marshall

Elizabeth Marshall is an associate professor at Simon Fraser University, where she teaches courses on children’s literature, childhood, and popular culture. She is the author of Graphic Girlhoods: Visualizing Education and Violence (2018) and co-author with Leigh Gilmore of Witnessing Girlhood: Toward an Intersectional Tradition of Life Writing (2019).

Book preview

Whispers

In

The Dark

by

Elizabeth Marshall

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Published by Deborah-Ann Brown at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Deborah-Ann Brown

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, either living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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DEDICATION

With all my love always, I dedicate this book to my family; Andy, Sean, Kelly, Steve, Dave, George, Emma, Rose, Gerard, Lucy and Joyce.

And my dear friend across the big puddle, in Australia, Stacey Dodge.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Peff Soulsby, once again, I thank you most sincerely for the superb job you have done with the editing of this story. It is an absolute pleasure to work with you on these books and I am really grateful to you for the time and effort you have put into making this story the best it can be.

My dear friend, Stacey Dodge, without you there would be no story of an Australian girl called Stacey, who is accidentally hurled through time and forced to come to terms with a demon, an immortal stag and a lover. Here’s to all the adventures Stacey is yet to have. From across the big puddle, I send you my love and never ending friendship.

Ally Parkes, Nicole Kranias and Nicole Mackley it has been such fun getting to know you whilst writing this story and your help and advice has been invaluable. Really looking forward to the adventures all the characters are going to have in ‘Immortal Shadows’ and ‘A Legend is Born’. Bring on the laughs and a lot more fun.

Carl Heathcote – a villainous giant with a demon for a boss. But does he have a big soft heart, or is he rotten through and through? – We will have to wait and see in ‘Immortal Shadows’.

Clare Longden who will be appearing as villainous Carlos Heathcote’s wife in ‘Immortal Shadows’. Thanks for volunteering your hubby as the model for the character of Carlos. I’m sure he still loves you very much.

Andrew, Sean, Kelly, Steve, George, David and Emma Rose, you guys are always there in the background, tidying up plots, reading, editing, cover-designing, making coffees, cooking dinners, putting little ones to bed and being the best friends and family anyone could ever wish for. Without you there really would be no stories. I love you all.

Jenny Lindon and Josie Anne Milbourn for your dear friendship, kindness and encouragement I thank you both most sincerely.

Lady Mary Rose Caslin, thank you for taking the time to help me. You are a kind and generous lady and I feel very blessed to call you my friend.

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CHAPTER 1

‘Hey Sis, OMG I Love your nails, so bloody perfect but how the hell are you going to play your guitar with them?’

Stacey smiled at her practical little sister, and cast her eyes from the laptop to the corner of the room where her Epiphone Les Paul stood. For a moment she stared at the guitar. A painful knot tightened in her stomach as an image of her and Nicole jamming together filled her mind. She felt the vibration of the amplifier in her ears, the rough metal of the strings on the tips of her fingers, the comfortable mould of the instrument against her as she picked out the notes to ‘Come As You Are’. If only thoughts could conjure more than memories. She laughed out loud as the idea of diving into the ocean and swimming home passed through her mind. With the right tides she could be home in… say a few weeks. Perhaps she might get lucky and catch a ride with a dolphin. She breathed deeply, remembering the smell of ozone, salt air and seaweed. She closed her eyes and the sound of waves lapping at the shore reached her ears. Her eyes sprang open as an unforgiving gust of wind lashed at her flat window. Wiping a tear from her cheek she returned her attention to Nicole’s email.

‘Sheri misses you. She keeps asking when Aunty Stacey is coming home. Did you see the picture I posted on Facebook of her dressed in her Christmas Angel costume? It’s the one you bought her last year. It’s a bit tight now but she looks just as cute in it as she did last Christmas. It’s baking hot here. We are all so jealous of you. I’m sure you will get loads of snow in York. We keep imagining you curled up in front of a fire surrounded by Christmas lights and decorations."

Stacey lifted her head and stared at the cold, impersonal room in which she sat. She hadn’t bothered hanging a single decoration, no lights sparked on a tree and the stark white radiators that heated her flat were a far cry from the open fire her family imagined.

‘I hope you got your parcel, Sis. We posted it weeks ago. Mum and Dad have also sent you one and so has Ally.’

Stacey instinctively reached for her cell phone, but then remembered that Ally would still be asleep. She pulled a tissue from her handbag and wiped her tear-stained cheeks. With a heavy heart she closed the email from Nicole. She would finish reading it later. She missed Australia, she missed her friends, especially