Hidden Talents

By Dayle A. Dermatis

Tilly's magical abilities got accepted to Miss Rosina Wakenshaw's School for Talented Girls. Unfortunately, her own particular Talent remains stubbornly hidden, and she feels like a fraud.

 

In two days' time, the class and their Talents will be presented before Queen Mary. Tilly wants to stay behind, but her best friend, Gwendolyn, insists.

For better or for worse…

 

An unusual gaslamp 1920s short story that readers won't soon forget!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soul's Road Press
• Release date: Jul 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393371441

Dayle A. Dermatis

Dayle A. Dermatis is the author or coauthor of many novels (including snarky urban fantasies Ghosted and the forthcoming Shaded and Spectered) and more than a hundred short stories in multiple genres, appearing in such venues as Fiction River, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and DAW Books.Called the mastermind behind the Uncollected Anthology project, she also guest edits anthologies for Fiction River, and her own short fiction has been lauded in many year's best anthologies in erotica, mystery, and horror.She lives in a book- and cat-filled historic English-style cottage in the wild greenscapes of the Pacific Northwest. In her spare time she follows Styx around the country and travels the world, which inspires her writing.To find out where she’s wandered off to (and to get free fiction!), check out DayleDermatis.com and sign up for her newsletter or support her on Patreon.* * *I value honest feedback, and would love to hear your opinion in a review, if you’re so inclined, on your favorite book retailer’s site.* * *For more information:www.dayledermatis.com

Book preview

Hidden Talents

Hidden Talents

Dayle A. Dermatis

Soul’s Road Press

Contents

About This Book

Hidden Talents

Beautiful Beast

Beautiful Beast

About Beautiful Beast

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

About the Author

Also by Dayle A. Dermatis

Be the First to Know!

Powerful Girls

About This Book

Tilly’s magical abilities got accepted to Miss Rosina Wakenshaw’s School for Talented Girls. Unfortunately, her own particular Talent remains stubbornly hidden, and she feels like a fraud.

In two days’ time, the class and their Talents will be presented before Queen Mary. Tilly wants to stay behind, but her best friend, Gwendolyn, insists

For better or for worse…

An unusual gaslamp 1920s short story that readers won’t soon forget!

Hidden Talents

Tilly sat forlornly on the low, whitewashed dock that extended just far enough out into the pond.

Her formerly pretty straw sun hat, the lavender one with the silk flowers, dripped.

She dripped.

Behind her, up the sloping garden lawn, loomed the disapproving bulk of Miss Rosina Wakenshaw’s School for Talented Girls. Although inside the windows were tall and the rooms bright, right now the dark stone exterior matched Tilly’s sullen mood.

Tomorrow, the graduating class of eight girls—of which Tilly was one—would leave on the journey to be presented before Her Majesty, where Her Majesty would be told of each girl’s Talent.

Which Tilly alone did not have.

Oh, she’d tested well when she’d arrived, showed all sorts of magical ability, mastered all the basics. But every magic user eventually showed a clear, specific Talent for something. A Talent clarified what the girl would do with her life.

Weatherworking. Animal communication. Herbology.

Tilly!

She didn’t have to turn around to recognize the voice of her best