The End of Childhood

By Cynthia Sally Haggard

A Short Story about my five times Grandmother, set in 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars.

 

What if your Master began flirting with you, courting you, and talking about making you his wife? Would you be able to refuse?

 

"You be careful Miss, or you'll end up in trouble," remarked Martha the Cook one day, out of the blue. "I can see the master has taken a fancy to you," she continued.

 

Fourteen-year-0ld Susan was puzzled. Hadn't she been brought into Mr. Clayton's home as a companion for his daughter Maria? Hadn't he promised her father to look after her, so that when the time was right she would make a good marriage?

 

So why did he keep staring at her and making embarrassing remarks? Why had he told her she was blooming? Why had he given her a ring? And what was she to do about his repeated attentions?

It didn't seem right when his wife was upstairs, dying.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spun Stories Press
• Release date: Nov 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201520281

Cynthia Sally Haggard

Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, inhabiting the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist. Her first novel, Thwarted Queen, a saga about the Yorks, Lancasters & Nevilles whose family feud inspired Game of Thrones won the 2021 Gold Medal IPPY Award for Audiobook. Her second novel, Farewell My Life, a dark historical about a hidden murderer and how far he will go to control the women around him, won the 2021 Independent Press Award for Women's Fiction. Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA, in June 2015. When she’s not annoying everyone by insisting her fictional characters are more real than they are, Cynthia likes to go for long walks, knit something glamorous, cook in her wonderful kitchen, and play the piano. You can visit her at spunstories.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn & BookBub ✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠✠ Thank you for reading my novel. If you enjoyed it, please POST A REVIEW. Customer reviews count for a lot when readers are considering buying a book, so your honest review is important and appreciated. TELL A FRIEND. I’d love to see people talking about my book online! Take a picture with your copy, post a link to your favorite social media site and let me know what you think - every little post helps! Thank you so much for your support - I can’t wait to hear what you think of Thwarted Queen! Warmly, Cynthia.

Book preview

TITLE PAGE

The End of Childhood

A Short Story about my 4-times Grandmother, set during the Napoleonic Wars

Cynthia Sally Haggard

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © Cynthia Sally Haggard 2022

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this

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This book may not be sold, copied, or plagiarized. Thank you for respecting

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All rights reserved

ISBN ~ 979-8201520281

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Published by Cynthia Sally Haggard, Washington DC, USA

www.cynthiasallyhaggard.com

Cover Design by Tim Barber of Dissect Designs.

THE END OF CHILDHOOD

TEN THOUSAND POUNDS, Clayton. That’s my price.

I haven’t got the money.

Come now! I hear you’re to marry an heiress with thirty thousand.

Why should I pay? Your daughter is a slut.

Papa bared his teeth. I think you should be very careful what you say. I have witnesses.

Chatham, Kent

April 1808

This cannot go on, murmured the doctor in a low voice. Look at her, she hardly has the strength to hold her head up.

Mrs. Clayton was propped up in bed, her face matching the color of her fine linen.

Mr. Clayton turned down his mouth. She is my wife.

The doctor gave him a sharp look. More babies will kill her.

Mr. Clayton nodded briefly, but his blue eyes hardened as he stared at his wife. Suddenly, he caught sight of me. There was something about his smile