To Keep Away The Chill (and other victorian stories)

By Carla René

This collection of Victorian short-stories came about due to repeated requests from my readers, so I'm proud to bring it to you now.

A brief synopsis of each short:

A Shadow’s Passing is the quintessential gothic ghost story, with misdirection and surprises--the perfect steampunk genre story. If you like stories from The Oxford Collection of Victorian Ghost Stories, then you’ll love this one. Find out what happens when Mrs. Trumador’s maid doesn’t show up for work on Monday as expected.

To Keep Away The Chill--this title story settles on a plains family faced with the ultimate disaster...in mid-Winter with no resources but their own family.

A Most Traditional Christmas takes us to London, England and high-Society, and Ella Washington. When her Reverend father dies, and she discovers her Faith was wrapped up in him, she’s now faced with a major life-changing decision.

A Sleep To Startle Us is my lauded short-story about Charles Dickens and his trip to the Field Lane Ragged School. After witnessing the abject pain and suffering of so many, he decides never to write again--long before he ever wrote A Christmas Carol. But a meeting one night with his own soon-to-be-written fictional ghost changes Dickens forever. Titled after an actual Dickens essay, this short weaves historical fact with the magic question, “What if?”

Stone Witch--in 1817 in Robertson County, Tennessee, a prairie family is tormented by a dark entity, that eventually reveals itself as Kate Batts, a well-known witch of the town of Adams. She soon becomes known as The Bell Witch. This is a fictional account of one of those hauntings that lasted for four-years, based on the true story. For more information on this very real and highly-documented and witnessed event, visit the Bell Witch web-site.

The Tapestry takes us on a journey through one woman’s life. A literary fiction that uses three short-stories, it follows the life of Jane, a young girl who dreamed of mighty things, until one tragic event changed that dynamic forever, to an unavoidable end.

Secrets is my previously-published Victorian short that centres on the dark theme of addiction--a malady that was never spoken of in the day, and how one woman ends up entangled in a web of deceit of her own making in an attempt to cover that addiction. Published in January, 2011 by the prestigious Copperfield Review.

Excerpt from The Gaslight Journal--Chapter One included. Reviews have been comparing it to Jane Austen, so if you love her, you’ll love this novel. This is Book I of The Gaslight Series, with Book II, The Lady's Maid, coming in 2012.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carla René
• Release date: Apr 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458108487

Carla René

I am a professional stand-up comedienne, stage/tv/film actor and published author, but am now back in University, pursuing double-doctorates in Astrophysics and Applied Mathematics.I write stuff. Some people think I'm funny.I am on an eternal mission to prove to my parents that they should've used birth control.I have three unruly, whiny, maniacal, co-dependent and I-swear-they-drop-acid-behind-my-back cats who treat me as if I'm the hired help.I want to meet the guy who designed the little plastic thingy inside women's wallets so I can smoosh his head into one.I ask for so little.

Book preview

To Keep Away The Chill

Carla René

Published by GlitterCat Studios, Smashwords Edition

Copyright (c) 2011 Carla René

To Keep Away The Chill

by

Carla René

To Keep Away The Chill copyright © 2011 GlitterCat

Cover art copyright © 2011 Carla René

All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from its author, Carla René. Thank-you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Shadow's Passing

To Keep Away The Chill

A Most Traditional Christmas

A Sleep To Startle Us

Stone Witch

The Tapestry

Secrets

About the Author

TO KEEP AWAY THE CHILL

A Shadow's Passing

As the last embers of the fire died away, she picked up her candle, and climbed the winding stairs of the castle. On her way to her bedchambre, she stopped briefly at the nursery to check on her infant. She set the candle on the dry sink, and peeked into the crib.

So precious.

She then saw Martha, the wet nurse, sitting in the rocker next to the crib, and smiled.

I hope I did not disturb you.

Martha looked tired. You did not.

Has he slept through, tonight?

She nodded.

Mrs. Trumador busied herself rearranging his blankets. When is your next day off?

Friday, mum.

Good. I will be sorely upset if you do not take full advantage of it.

Martha half-smiled.

Are you unwell? Did you have a poor time of it on holiday? Do not tell me you are tired from being back one day, she teased.

Martha sighed. I confess, I do not feel myself. Pains in my belly for a week now.

Mrs. Trumador frowned. Will you promise to visit the physician Friday?

I will.

Just then, the nursery door creaked open.

Mrs. Trumador wheeled about as Martha sprang from her chair. As each woman focused attentions into the hallway, a shadow passed in front of the door. Yet when they attempted to find it, it had vanished.

Martha seemed to mirror Mrs. Trumador’s thoughts, and intercepted. I saw it as well, mum.

What do you think it was? My heart will scarcely return to normal.

Shall I get you some water?

Mrs. Trumador calmed herself. No, thank-you, I am fine now. Will you wake me if you see anything suspicious again?

I will.

Mrs. Trumador bid Martha a good-night, and retired to her room.

*****

At seven A.M., when Mrs. Trumador joined her husband for breakfast, she found him already enjoying his eggs.

Oh, hello dear, he said, while leaning over to kiss her cheek. Did you sleep well?

She bit her lip.

Come, now. What is it?

I am afraid sleep would not come for me. You see, when I checked on Henry before retiring, Martha and I both saw some sort of shadow pass in front of the nursery, and yet, when we entered the hall to follow it, it had disappeared. She frowned. I just do not know what to make of it.

Her husband put down his fork and studied her face.

What is it, dear? she asked.

Dearest, did you just say Martha?

Yes. What is so strange about that?

He placed a hand over hers. I do not know how to break this to you, but I have just learned some very sad news.

Mrs. Trumador began to shake.

To Keep Away The Chill

It was half-one the Saturday before Christmas, and the three girls stared transfixed out the cottage window. The mounting snow fell as lazy as the feathers of a recent pillow fight.

Girls! Do let me know when the doctor arrives, William said, calling round the corner from his wife’s bedroom. He and Jane had oft wished for boys, but were not any less thankful for their hearty girls.

We will! said Elizabeth, the eldest.

At twelve, her sense of familial duty so often overwhelmed William, that he, at times, had to stop and remind himself that she was but a mere child, so mature did she often seem. So good at it, was she, that he caught himself relying too heavily upon it, and always took proper time to chastise himself after the fact.

This is going to be the best Christmas ever! said Mary, the middle girl.

Mmmmn, agreed, Elizabeth said. As long as this beautiful snow continues.

This statement disturbed Martha, the youngest. But will Santa not have trouble getting through the snow?

No, silly, Mary said. Do you not remember that he has magical reindeer to pull his sleigh? They have been trained for heavy snow.

William was always shocked at how Mary’s child-logic also seemed to offer answers to his own sense of questioning.

Soon, Elmer, the orange tabby, jumped into the sill for his own view, and blocked the view of the snow. Which garnered him a stern reprimand.

Just as William chuckled at the unfolding comedy, Mrs. Wilton, their maid, tapped him on the shoulder. Pardon me, sir, but she’s getting worse.

William turned and strode to her bedside.

It had been a week since the fever first struck, and while she’d had days of respite, for the most part, she only continued