The Snow Rose
Page 38
‘Well, that explains it. It must be in the blood, the desire to be the centre of attention, to make promises that the world takes notice of. Perhaps what happened to our Beloved will happen to this one. He’ll run his little kingdom and not trouble the outside too much.’
‘I’m not sure, Sissy. It’s a different place now, with all the technology and the computers and whatnot. People don’t live the way we did, all shut off. There are connections now, all over the world. And what if this one is right, and there is trouble coming?’
Sissy tuts. ‘You’re starting to fall for it already. You watch, it will be the same thing all over again, just a bit different. The world changes, Matty. And yet it stays the same. War, pain, disease and death, all the fear and hatred. But it’s balanced by compassion and love and a search for peace. Even though the Beloved was wrong, the ladies here had a happy life. Maybe it will be the same again. It all goes on, over and over.’
There’s another long pause and Matty says, ‘Do you think that poor lady has found her peace?’
‘Matty, I think she has. She knows that life must go on, and that hiding here is no way to do it. She was tempted, I think. It’s easier to shut your mind to things than to face them. We know that. It’s the story of our family. It’s why we’re here, alone, at the end of our lives.’
‘Are we alone?’ asks Matty, looking about. ‘Is the little one here?’
‘Not today. She comes and goes. We’ll see her less and less, I suspect. That’s as it should be.’ Sissy knits on, rocking gently back and forth.
‘And will we see the poor lady again?’
‘Oh yes. She’ll be back. And when she comes, I might give her the snow rose. What do you think of that?’
‘That’s a lovely idea, Sissy. Yes. Let’s do that.’
‘To remind her she’s not alone. The little one is with her.’ Sissy nods. ‘Yes. That’s what we’ll do.’
On the sideboard, the snow rose is fully open now, more delicate and more exquisite than ever.
Acknowledgements
Once again, my great thanks to everyone at Pan Macmillan, in particular the marvellous Wayne Brookes, my editor, who is so incredibly supportive and brilliant; and to Alex Saunders, always kind, cheerful and helpful. I’d like to thank Katie James and everyone in the publicity department, and Amy Lines and the fabulous marketing department. Thank you, of course, to the sales force for their amazing championing of their books. I love the warm welcome and great atmosphere at Pan Macmillan whenever I visit.
Huge thanks to Anne O’Brien for a sensitive and clever edit; to Gill Paul for taking time out of her own very busy writing schedule to read the draft and provide valuable input; and to Lorraine Green for her usual excellent and thoughtful copy edit. The encouragement of all of these people really buoys me up when I’m flagging.
Particular thanks to Tina Mitchell, for her very helpful insights into forensic science and protocols in the case of fire.
I also salute the lovely SWANs of the South West, who have provided so much fun, laughter, support and book gossip over the last year. Little did I know that leaving London would open up this rich vein of friendship and new comrades.
Thank you to my wonderful agent Lizzy Kremer, Agent of the Year 2016 – and every year, in my opinion – Harriet Moore, and all at David Higham Associates.
Thank you to my new neighbours and friends who have proved so supportive, in particular to everyone at Winstone’s Bookshop (Independent Bookseller of the Year 2016!). Also to the magnificent Marcus, manager of Waterstones in Yeovil. I’m very much enjoying being involved in West Country literary life; there is so much enthusiasm and interest in books and writing.
Thanks to those who contact me via Twitter and Facebook to send their support, it’s wonderful to hear when someone has read and enjoyed a book.
And of course, thank you to my family for all their love and encouragement, in particular to James, Barney and Tabby.
Lulu Taylor
Dorset 2016
THE WINTER CHILDREN
Behind a selfless act of kindness lie dark intentions
Olivia and Dan Felbeck’s dreams of a family are finally fulfilled on the birth of their twins. The longed-for babies mark a new and happy stage in their lives.
Soon after, Dan’s oldest friend, Francesca, offers them the chance to live at Renniston Hall, an Elizabethan house that she is renovating. They can stay rent-free in a small part of the unmodernized house, which was once a girls’ boarding school.
The couple accept, and just as they are enjoying the family life that they have craved for so long, Francesca arrives at the Hall and doesn’t seem to want to leave. What exactly happened between Dan and Francesca years ago at Cambridge? As Olivia wonders how well she knows her husband, she starts to suspect that her perfect life could be built on a lie.
Meanwhile, Renniston Hall holds dark mysteries of its own, and slowly the old house starts to surrender its long-held secrets . . .
Praise for Lulu Taylor
‘Utterly compelling. A really excellent winter’s story’
LUCY DIAMOND
Praise for Lulu Taylor
‘Utterly compelling. A really excellent winter’s story’
Lucy Diamond
‘Taylor is at the top of the chick-lit tree with her beautifully written, emotionally compelling stories, and this is perfectly timed for Christmas’
Daily Mail
‘[This] engrossing romantic saga is a hugely enjoyable, escapist treat’
Sunday Mirror
‘Pure indulgence and perfect reading for a dull January evening’
Sun
‘Wonderfully written . . . this indulgent read is totally irresistible’
Closer
‘A creepy story of obsession and deception. Very chilling’
Irish Sunday Mirror
‘A gripping psychological thriller’
Essentials
‘Engrossing, poignant and beautifully observed, it kept me turning the pages until the early hours of the morning’
Emma Lee-Potter
‘A thrilling, suspense-filled, twisted romantic novel that I definitely recommend’
www.jadepriscilla.com
‘The cold, snowy cover and winter setting make this a great stocking filler for your mum or sister’
thelittlewildwoodkitchen.com
‘The book is full of mystery and intrigue, successfully keeping me guessing until the very end . . . An evocative read, full of dramatic secrets that will make the reader gasp’
www.novelicious.com
‘A poignant, sophisticated and romantic love story’
www.handwrittengirl.com
THE
SNOW
ROSE
Lulu Taylor moved around the world as a child before her family settled in the Oxfordshire countryside. She studied English Literature at university and had a successful career in publishing before she became a writer. Her first novel, Heiresses, was published in 2007 and nominated for the RNA Readers’ Choice award. It was followed by Midnight Girls, Beautiful Creatures, Outrageous Fortune, The Winter Folly, The Snow Angel and The Winter Children. She lives in Dorset with her husband and two children.
By Lulu Taylor
Heiresses
Midnight Girls
Beautiful Creatures
Outrageous Fortune
The Winter Folly
The Snow Angel
The Winter Children
The Snow Rose
First published 2016 by Pan Books
This electronic edition published 2016 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-9100-8
Copyright © Lulu Taylor 2016
Cover images: people © PATSTOCK/Getty Images; background and border © Shutterstock
The right of Lulu
Taylor to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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