Search of the Moon King's Daughter - Linda Holeman - Hardcover

Emmaline's life changed in the moment her needle finished the last golden loop of the embroidered apple on the cuff of a blue watered-silk gown. All she was thinking of was the oatcake, the sweet taste of it flooding her mouth.... ***** It was February 2 Candlemas although the day of festivity was like any other for Emmaline. She had promised Tommy she'd buy oatcakes on her way home from work, a small treat to mark the day of celebration. But long before finishing time, Fanny Shoesmith arrived with her message: "Emmaline! Emmaline, you're to come quickly." Emmaline stood, the dress in her lap falling into a heap on the floor. The scrawny girl panted in the doorway of the sewing room, while a heavyset woman, her arms crossed over her broad chest, stood beside her. "What is it, Fanny?" Emmaline asked, staring at the girl. "Is it our Tommy? Has something happened?" "No. 'Tis Cat, Emmy. Your mother's been hurt bad." The words came out in gasps as Fanny tried to catch her breath. "I've been sent from the mill to fetch you. The overlooker wants your mother out and she can't walk on her own and she's calling for you. She won't let anyone else near her." As Emmaline approached the door, the woman gripped Emmaline's forearm. The movement made the nest of keys hanging from her thick waist jingle cheerily, the sound a sharp contrast to the scowl on her face. "You get back to work," she said, gesturing with her chin toward the pool of blue silk on the floor. "You're not going anywhere. Not until your day's work is done." Emmaline wrenched her arm from the woman's grasp, sending the keys dancing. She grabbed her shawl from the hook beside the door. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Brill, but I've got to go to my mother. You heard. She's been hurt." Mrs. Brill's heavy eyelids lowered, and she gave a sniff. "How do I know this to be true?" Fanny bobbed at the woman. Her tongue gray and slightly furry darted out to lick her dry lips. There was the beginning of a sore at the corner of her mouth. "Beggin' your pardon, Missus, but it's true. I seen it with me own eyes. Terrible, 'tis. Blood everywhere." There was an unmistakable gleam of excitement in her eyes. "An' her hand oh, it's crushed to near a pulp, so 'tis, as it were caught in the machine. I seen it with me own eyes," she said again, the word "pulp" coming out louder than necessary. Fanny licked her lips a second time and pressed her own narrow hand to her throat. As Emmaline brushed past Fanny, color flushed high on Mrs. Brill's doughy cheeks. "Emmaline," she called, striding after her. "You come back here. I haven't given you permission to leave. Emmaline! I'll tell your aunt!" But Emmaline was gone, running along the dim hall, away from the sewing room. Mrs. Brill's lips tightened. She looked down at Fanny, and then gave the girl a sudden thump on the side of the head with her knuckle. "Ow," Fanny whined, pulling her head away. "Weren't my fault, Missus. I were only doing what I were told." "Be off with you," Mrs. Brill said. "Go on back to the mill, you filthy urchin." "Yes, Missus," Fanny answered, and turned and ran in the same direction as Emmaline. Something made her look backHoleman, Linda is the author of 'Search of the Moon King's Daughter - Linda Holeman - Hardcover' with ISBN 9780887765926 and ISBN 0887765920.