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...“What are you doing, Harry?”
“Doing? I’m killing you. A little accident. You were trying to help me when you slipped and banged your head and drowned. Brotherly love.”...
Emma Cookson's thrilling story moves towards a dramatic conclusion.
Robert Dyce heads towards a confrontation with his wicked brother Harry.
Emma Cookson continues her intensely dramatic tale set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
"With the dawn, the dead apparently rose up and walked. At least, Cosmo did...''
The survivors begin to assess the damage and loss of life after flood waters swept through a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th century. Emma Cookson continues an epic tale.
...The toll was immense. Whole families had disappeared. But the sight of the lifeless body of an innocent child made the tragedy touchable...
The remaining residents of a Yorkshire mill valley begin to count the costs of ravaging flood waters.
Emma Cookson continues her gripping novel set in the 19th Century.
..."Beth," he cried at the heavens, for perhaps she was already there.
Brickwork collapsed nearby and splashed into water and he thought he heard an echo of his voice. He stopped breathing for it had been no echo...
Emma Cookson continues her thrilling tale set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
...Cosmo coaxed the three girls along the beam until they were beneath the broken part of the roof through which they could see the stars...
Emma Cookson continues her thrilling tale set in 19th Century Yorkshire.
"Life had prepared him for loss. He knew how to accept hardships and disappointments...''
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic novel set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
...On the bed, the girls were staring at Zac with hope. Robert payed out the rope and kept it as taught as possible. Water bubbled around the bed which had become a breakwater, with bushes and broken planks gathered against it...
Emma Cookson continues her highly-dramatic tale of love and retribution set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
...families stood on the road and stared over the wall at their hamlet, stupefied by what they saw. The river still raged and men were ripping through the thatch of a roof to reach survivors...
Emma Cookson continues the gripping tale of a flood which swept through a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th #C~entury.
... Bodies and debris were scattered across the valley floor and public houses became mortuaries...
Emma Cookson continues the dramatic story of folk caught up in a 19th Century flood which swept through a Yorkshire mill valley.
...Water gushed and spouted and children screamed and beams groaned. He braced his body against the ladder and wrapped his left arm around a staunchion. A boy fell past him into the water and he grabbed but couldn’t reach him and children screamed above him in the darkness...
Emma Cookson continues the dramatic tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century in a Yorkshire mill valley.
...Beth saw Richard whisked away from the door and the torrent burst in, there was a tremendous crack and the house began to collapse...
Emma Cookson continues her heart-stopping tale set in a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th Century.
...A man with a lantern was running across the bridge and now Tyler could hear other noises. He stared up the river and his mouth dropped as he saw the rush of water. It hit a house on the bridge and spray foamed into the sky and the house teetered and was torn away..
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic novel set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
...He opened the door and saw the flood almost upon him. The house took the full force of waves and debris and it crumbled and was swept away, with him, his wife and daughter in it...
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale which is based on a 19th Century disaster in a Yorkshire mill valley.
...n't move," she said, and realised the foolishness of the remark. None of them could move. All they could do was wait and hope the debris still battering the house didn’t break the whole structure down...
Flood waters flood down a Yorkshire valley, bringing death and destruction.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale.
...Goodwell slept soundly and with optimism and did not awake until the windows of the house smashed and the waters were engulfing him. He drowned, believing he was in the midst of a nightmare...
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale set in the 19th Century in a Yorkshire mill valley.
...James was not sure whether or not he was still alive or passing through the maelstrom to death until a current took the beam of wood and slipped it sideways into a mill dam that had not burst and he was in calm water. He kicked his feet and the log glided to the shore and he pushed the child onto the banking and slowly hauled himself onto dry land...
The damn bursts and waters rush down the valley, extinguishing life after life...
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale.
..."Up," yelled Jenkins, needlessly, for that was where they were heading, onto the first floor and then up again, to the top floor and up again, over the machines, to scramble into the rafters as the water burst the windows and the doors below...
A damn has burst and water comes thundering down the valley.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic story set in 19th Century Yorkshire.
...He dived beneath the surface near the altar and felt in the blackness and touched clothing and pulled and an upended pew rolled through the water and splashed over his back. He pulled again and whatever he was holding came free and he kicked upwards...
Harry struggles to rescue his wife as flood waters come thundering down the valley.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale set in the 19th Century.
...Shortly after one o'clock in the morning, the embankment of Lumb Top Reservoir gave way and released 86 million gallons of water that weighed 300,000 tons...
Emma Cookson's novel, set in a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th Century, reaches a horrifying climax.
...It was a rumble like approaching thunder. He instinctively stared up the valley but could see nothing for the trees and graveyard monuments, but he knew the reservoir had finally burst...
Emma Cookson's tale, set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valey, moves towards a dramatic climax.
Robert Dyce is told a shocking secret.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale of love and revenge set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
Harry rides up onto the moors, there to discover that a dam is about to burst.
Emma Cookson continues her thrilling tale set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill valley.
..."Then take a warning down the valley. Tell them the dam will burst. Tell them all the way to Helston." The young man looked at his friend and hesitated. "Go, for God's sake, and shout the warning loud. Shout flood, and shout it all the way to Helston. Go."...
Robert Dyce rides up onto the moors and sees that the damn is about to burst and flood the valley.
Emma Cookson continues her thrilling tale.
...The chair fell over when he stood up and he was still unsteady. Unsteady but ready. By God, he was ready. He took a silver candlestick and went upstairs. Ready or not, here I come...
Emma Cookson continues a dramatic story of love and revenge set in a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th Century.
..."The river, sir. She's running fearful high and there's talk about the reservoir. She's said to be full and leaking."
"The reservoir? You fear it will burst?"...
Emma Cookson continues her brilliantly engaging novel set in a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th Century.
“Might I suggest the Bull Inn? From its windows you’ll be able to watch Robert Dyce ride to these offices in the morning.” He smiled, satisfied and happy. “His last ride as a free man.” He sighed. “Isn’t life wonderful?”
Emma Cookson continues her thrilling tale set in a Yorkshire mill town in the 19th Century.
Beth Pallister finds out the astonishing truth concerning the wealth of the wealth of the man she loves.
Emma Cookson continues her brilliantly readable tale set in a 19th century Yorkshire mill town.
..."Emma tells me you have a sweetheart," she said. Zac's eyed widened in surprise. "Did you think it was a secret?" she teased...
Jane has a heart to heart talk with an old friend.
Denis Kilcommons continues the enthralling story of love and revenge set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill town.
Robert Dyce is summoned to Musgrave Hall to hear an unexpected offer from his brother.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatically gripping tale set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill town.
Beth cries herself to sleep at the thought of losing the man she loves.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Robert watched Beth perform. Her voice, with its golden lilt, captivated the pit and the great unwashed sang along with her on the chorus. Their affection swept across the theatre and even the chickaleary occupants of the gallery stopped throwing orange peel and nut shells whilst she was on stage....
At long last Robert Dyce realises that he loves Beth.
Emma Cookson continues her romantic and dramtic tale set in a 19th Century Yorkshire mill town.
Robert Dyce receives bad news from his new friend Cosmo.
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic novel of romance and revenge set in a Yorkshire mill town.
Harry and Jane have a quiet Christmas at Musgrave Hall.
Emma Cookson continues her gripping tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
Robert Dyce learns that Beth really does want to pursue a stage career in London.
Emma Coikson continues the engaging story of love and revenge set in a Yorkshire mill town in the 19th Century.
Robert and his frioends enjoy a memorable Christmas - but there is a cloud on the horizon.
Emma Cookson continues the gripping 19th Century tale set in a Yorkshire mill town.
...The dining table groaned with dressed lamb, garnished with watercress and lemon wedges, a roast goose, a herb pudding, roast ribs of beef served with horseradish and fricassees of turnips and white mushrooms. Chickens, with boiled and peeled hogs tongues, crouched around a cauliflower on a large platter. Their presentation was set off with green spinach and pieces of toasted bacon...
Robert and his guests enjoy a memorable Christmas feast.
Emma Cookson continues the utterly absorbing tale of love and revenge set in a small 19th Century Yorkshire mill town.
...But as the church bells rang after the service, and the congregation spilled outside, he began to wonder what he had started when he became the centre of attention for many of the townspeople who wanted to wish him the season's greetings, and workers who wanted to thank him...
Robert Dyce finds himself the centre of attention on Christmas Day.
Emma Cookson continues the brilliant tale of a man possessed of a fortune returning from America to his home town in a Yorkshire valley.
"I'm fortunate to be able to call you friend, Cosmo." Robert leaned forward and placed his hand over the back of the hand of the small American. He gripped it tightly. "A friend prepared to speak his mind without fear, even though sometimes I know I'm without humour...''
Robert Dyce hears some sharp words of advice from Cosmo.
Emma Cookson continues the gripping tale of love and revenge set in a Yorkshire town in the 19th Century.
..."It's so easy to forget that people starve and children die tangled in looms and in mines. I've been lucky, Cosmo, to have acquired the wealth I have, and I intend to share my luck with as many of the unfortunate slave workers as I can."...
Robert Dyce confirms his revolutionary views to his American friend.
Emma Cookson continues her brilliant and dramatic historical novel.
...We are the centre of a great Empire and yet children work in our factories. Childen work in our mines. But we have wealth, all right. Take a walk up Edgerton. The few have fine lives and full tables and look to the future. Most of us wonder where the next meal is coming from...
Ace storytellers Emma Cookson capture the mood of an age as she continues her dramatic tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Cosmo folded the newspaper and placed it upon the table and turned his thoughts to another pretty pickle. That of a detective who formed a friendship with the criminal he had been sent to apprehend...
Novelist Emma Cookson at last reveals why detective Cosmo Pinkerton has come all the way from America to a quiet corner of Yorkshire.
Harry Simms plots the downfall of Robert Dyce.
Emma Cookson continues her gripping story of love and revenge set in a Yorkshire valley in the 19th Century.
...Life, as well as death, had always been convenient for Harry. His brother had always got what he wanted...
Robert Dyce is forced to consider why he hates his brother Harry so much.
Emma Cookson continues her not-to-be-missed story of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Harry looked at the glass in his hand and put it on the table. He carried his breeding as easily as he wore his shirt. Harry Simms was elegant even when he was not trying. He was a gentleman, and that was not a comment upon his nature, but upon his birth and his upbringing.
Beth had seen him before, at a distance, but had never spoken to him. His name had been whispered throughout her childhood, in the way that the bogeyman was mentioned, but he didn't seem to be a bogeyman. The class difference between the brothers was obvious. Robert might also be a gentleman, but of a different quality...
Jenny has a surprise meeting with Harry Simms.
Emma Cookson continues her gripping yarn set in the 19th Century.
Harry still finds time to do business at the funeral of the man he murdered.
Emma Cookson continues her enthralling story of love and revenge set in a Yorkshire valley in the 19th Century.
...He and Arthur had had much in common. Arthur had been so far removed from his family in Sussex that he had now acquired a small plot of land in a rainswept churchyard in Yorkshire. Not really fair, when he had been hoping for a plantation in the Indies with dusky maidens willing to roll his cigar upon their inner thighs...
Emma Cookson continues her must-read novel of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Arthur’s face contorted between fear and anger. He knew he was moments from death and, at the last, the anger won and he stared defiantly up the bank.
“Damn you, Harry. I swear I’ll come back and take you to hell where you belong.”...
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Mind, to quote his father, remaining financially stable had, at times, been a close run thing. Three ventures had been attempted and three ventures had failed. The final one had been a success for two years until the ship, in which they had invested, sank in a storm in the Biscay. It had been carrying slaves, an illegal cargo since Britain had abolished slavery, and, in consequence, a highly profitable one...
Two rogues plot a further drunken adventure.
Emma Cookson continues the vigorous tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...I have an idea or two. Thought we might discuss them. Damn good ideas. Make a fortune. Just short of the funds to put them into practice.”...
The Honourable, and dissolute, Arthur Petty returns from Australia to visit his old friend and partner in lust, Harry.
Emma Cookson continues her vivid tale of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century Yorkshire.
Robert Dyce arranges a grand picnic.
Emma Cookson continues her engrossding story set in the Nineteenth Century of love and revenge.
..."One of these days, Beth, you will push me too far. I love you dearly, but there are some liberties you should not presume to take." He forced a smile and raised a hand to his hat at a greeting from across the field. "I think, perhaps, it's time we rejoined your parents and called a truce before the heat of our words precipitates a coldness neither of us desires."...
Robert Dyce fights to control his temper after being told some home truths about his motives.
Emma Cookson continues her brilliant story, set in the 19th Century, of love and revenge.
...Robert said, "It is likely to become even more entertaining later. I have heard the men from Skelmanthorpe have arrived."
Cosmo looked blank. "Skelmanthorpe?"
Gertie laughed, and said, "It is a village in which it is said that a whole man does not exist, having lost fingers, ears or noses, owing to their love of personal warfare."...
There's wild goings-on at Brockley feast.
Emma Cookson continues her superbly entertaining tale set in a Yorkshire valley in the 19th Century.
...During their conversations, the plan began to formulate in Robert's mind. He had discovered it was easy to be accepted as someone else and his conscience was untroubled by lying to Bunsen. Their friendship was sealed by chance as they left the bordello in the early hours and were attacked by footpads. Bunsen cowered while Robert shot one and pistol whipped the other...
Emma Cookson continues her dramatic tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...He saw a drunken Sioux at the Fort and was not impressed, but the savages who attacked them on the second day of their journey west were a different breed. They were aloof, arrogant and terrifying. Big Tom Black said they were Cheyenne and, as he was the only one of them with frontier experience, they accepted his word and his guidance...
Emma Cookson, continuing her gripping story of love and revenge set in the 19th Centgury, tells of hero Robert Dtce's early days in America.
...He had paid £3 5s for a steerage berth aboard the 2,000 ton clipper Emma Fields from Liverpool to New York. His ticket guaranteed him 18 inches on a bunk plus luggage space. He had little luggage but he stocked up on provisions, on the advice of a sailor he met in an alehouse, and kept the £100 his mother had given him as his inheritance in a money belt around his waist...
Emma Cookson continues her engaging tale of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Robert had retained a fondness for box seven and reserved it every night he was in town. The rabble in the pit booed him with good nature as a matter of course, for they believed he’d become the sole proprietor of Singing Jenny's affections.
He acknowledged their misconception with a smile and a wave of his hand but deterred, with a steely gaze, approaches from gentlemen who wished to make his acquaintance, and who were now obliged to pay other young ladies for surreptitious visits to their boxes.,,
Emma Cookson continues her gripping story of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Beth turned from the window and flopped on the bed. That old goat Ferguson had taken her childhood innocence but there was no point harbouring regrets. Was innocence such a fine commodity anyway? Perhaps she should have thanked him for removing what could have been an encumbrance. If she’d escaped his clutches with her innocence preserved, it might have acquired false significance...
Emma Cookson continues her tale of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century.
..."As I was saying, we are all interested in the improvement of our class for, as Mr Disraeli says, our Queen reigns over two nations, those of the rich and the poor. She rules an empire that has banished slavery but a nation in which slavery thrives in mills and factories and mines.”...
Robert Dyce declares that he thinks it is time for England to abolish the slavery of Englishmen.
Emma Cookson continues an enthralling story of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...“Every year, the embankment weakens. In bad weather, you can see the leaks. If we experienced an extended and severe rainfall, the wall would not hold. The waters would ..."...
Robert Dyce confronts his brother Harry about the safety of the local reservoir.
Emma Cookson continues her must-read story of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
"Jane sat by the window, the needlework idle in her hands. Time heals, the vicar had said, but it hadn’t yet healed. She doubted it ever would.';'
Emma Cookson continues her wonderfully engaging story of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century.
..."Safe as houses, Harry. It never gets full. We run it off. If the weather gets bad, we leave the sluices open. What’s this sudden concern?" He laughed. "The great unwashed down the valley could do with a bath, if a few gallons slopped over the top."...
Industrialist Obadiah Frost his more interested in maintaining his production and profits than in repairing a leaking dam.
Emma Cookson continues the gripping story of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
..."Has anybody discovered what exactly needs to be done to make the reservoir safe?"
"Oh yes. We have a surveyor's report that is quite detailed. Its most pertinent detail is the cost. Full repairs would mean the expenditure of £7,800."...
Emma Cookson continues her well-researched and believable novel of love and revenge set in a Yorkshire mill valley in the 19th Century.
...Cosmo Pinkerton was still slightly surprised that he was now engaged upon a mission that had brought him across the Atlantic from their offices in Chicago to the streets of Bradfield.
He had arrived that morning from Liverpool and had been impressed by the town's newly completed railway station, with its pedimented porticoes and Corinthian columns. As another admirer had observed, it had the appearance of a stately home for railway engines...
Cosmo, newly arrived from America, has come to town asking after Robert Dyce.
Emma Cookson continues her novel of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
Robert Dyce, newly retu8rned from America, reveals to his relative Beth how he made a huge fortune.
Emma Cookson continues her engaging story set in the 19th Century.
...Robert had been told by Arnold Pallister that the mills were once more being run in the old fashioned way, under-age children were employed, hours were long and wages had been cut. Only lip service had been paid to the diluted legislation that had been passed.
Perhaps he could make a difference?...
Emma Cookson continues a vivid story of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Beth sang, as she had sung as a child, without accompaniment, and her voice swept out of the windows and those on the bridge fell silent as they listened to the eloquence of the popular verse that told the tale of the hardships and long hours of a seamstress, but which easily translated to the lives of every working man, woman and child...
Emma Cookson continues her novel of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Heads turned when they entered the town and Beth enjoyed the attention. Her dress was modest but new and her shawl expensive and she wore a bonnet whose brim framed her face. With Robert by her side, she knew they cut a dash...
Emma Cookson continues her engrossing tale of love and revenge, set in the 19th Century.
...Perhaps it was because she was a stranger that he felt able to talk about his past and to unburden himself. Perhaps because he thought his tale of woe might impress her and make her reconsider her condemnation. Perhaps because putting it into words might lead him towards his next course of action...
Robert Dyce tells Singing Jenny his story, and in return he hears hers.
Emma Cookson continues her tale of love and revenge set in the 19th Century.
...Memories returned and he glanced sideways at a dressing table. His wallet lay upon it alongside the Samuel Colt revolver. For a moment, he wondered if the wallet contained all that it should and he felt her reading his thoughts and sensed they were unworthy...
Robert Dyce wakes from his drunken slumber to discover that he has spent the night in Jenny's bedroom.
Emma Cookson continues a tale of romance and revenge set in the 19th Century.
"My lords, ladies and gentlemen," he said stridently, and the mob in the pit brayed with laughter, "and those deceivers among you whose matrimonial partners believe you to be attending a meeting of charitable works." More laughter and knowing looks at the boxes. "Friends, patrons and countrymen, lend me your eyes and ears and senses, for the return on stage of that darling child we would all love to crush to our bosom, our own, our very own, Singing Jenny."
Emma Cookson continues her evocative 19th Century tale of passion and revernge.
...Singing Jenny, the star attraction of Burke's Music Hall, was in the box of Titus Hirst, a man of substantial property and girth, who could usually be satisfied with a quick fumble between songs....
Emma Cookson continues a story of passion and disaster set in the 19th Century.
...His ride from the hall had started in anger and despair. He had travelled 6,000 miles only to arrive hours too late. He leapt from the saddle outside the church with vague intentions of disrupting the service, when an elderly man stepped from the shadow's of the lych-gate and said, "Master Robert."...
Emma Cookson continues her engaging new novel of passion and disaster set in the 19th Century.
..."Mistress Jane gets wed today." He banged the planks on the trestle behind him. "I'm setting the tables for the feast."..
Robert Dyce, returning to his home in Yorkshire after making his fortune in America, hears ther worst possible news.
Ace story teller Emma Cookson her novel which is available on Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005966G30
Today is a Red Letter day for Open Writing. We begin the serialisation of a new novel by ace professional story-teller Emma Cookson.
This story of passion and disaster set in the 19th century can be purchased on Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005966G30.
