Pearls

by Colin Falconer

  'It does not belong to me.'

  'Your husband?'

  'Nor my husband. It was found in the late Mister McKenzie's pearl box. I intend to put in a strong box for his daughter until she reaches a majority. She can decide then what she will do with it.'

  'I see. I was sorry to hear about Mister McKenzie. He was a brave man. Do you think he knew about the pearl when he went down after your son?'

  'Of course. No one else would have put it in the box. He was the only one with the key. He must have found that very day.'

  'A tragedy.'

  'The Japanese have a saying, Mister Ellies. I cannot die unless it is my day to die. It was his day to die. Rare that a man can save a life and still leave a legacy like this behind him. I'll never see the like again. If you had shaved him down to nothing for all his faults you would still have had a pearl at the end of it. Thank you for your time, Mister Ellies. I shall leave a cheque for you in the morning.'

  Ellies nodded and gave her the pearl. She put it back in her purse and left. He put his pipe in his mouth and lifted the shade, watched the comings and goings on Bitter Moon Lane. He had heard so many stories in this room. He only wished that one day he might get to tell them.

  THE END

  Latest Release by Colin Falconer

  Isabella

  She was taught to obey.

  Now she has learned to rebel.

  Purchase

  Read a short excerpt below

  “You will love this man. Do you understand? You will love him, serve him and obey him in all things. This is your duty to me and to France. Am I clear?”

  Isabella is twelve years old, pretty, bony and awkward. She keeps her eyes on the floor and nods her head.

  Her father, the King of France, is the most handsome man she has ever seen. In the purple, he is magnificent. His eyes are glacial; a nod from him is benediction, one frown can chill her bone-deep.

  He puts his hands on the arms of her chair and leans in. A comma of hair falls over one eye. He rewards her now with a rare smile. “He is a great king, Isabella, and a handsome husband. You are fortunate.”

  A log cracks in the hearth.

  She raises her eyes. He strokes her cheek with the back of his hand. “You will not disgrace me.”

  She shakes her head.

  “Much is dependent on this union.”

  Her, breathless: “I will not disappoint you.”

  Phillip goes to the fire and stands with his back to it, warming himself. It is the heart of winter and this is as cold and draughty a castle as she has ever been in. She can smell the sea. There is ice in the air.

  “If he has cause to reprove you, you will listen and obey him. If he is angry, you shall be kind. If he is dismissive, you shall be attentive. Cherish him, give him your attentions. Be sweet, gentle and amiable. Patience is your byword. You will make him love you.”

  He stares at her. He can stand like this for an eternity; fix a look on his face as if he is carved from marble. It is unnerving.

  “No matter the provocation.”

  “Provocation?”

  “What do you know of Edward?”

  “He is King of England. His father was a great warrior. They say Edward is tall and as fine a prince as England ever had.” (Though it is hard for her to imagine a finer king than her father, or a more handsome man.) She has always promised herself she will have a man just like him: as fair, as strong, as feared.

  “Your new husband disputes Gascony with me. One road leads to war. A less thorny path leads to the day when my grandson-to-be inherits the throne of my most ancient enemy.”

  “What provocation?” Isabella said.

  Phillip frowns.

  “You mentioned provocation, Father.”

  “Did I? I meant nothing by it. Tomorrow you will be Queen of England. Remember always that you are also a daughter of France. Make me proud, Isabella.”

  He nods to her nurse and she is taken from the room.

  She can barely contain her excitement. She has rehearsed this moment in her mind for years. A handsome prince, a throne, estates: it is what she was born for. From tomorrow she will live her life at the side of a great king.

  Happiness is assured.

  Purchase

  SERIES BY COLIN FALCONER

  THE OPEIUM SERIES

  From the jungles of the Golden Triangle to the tenements of sixties Hong Kong, from colonial Saigon to the skies of northern Laos, romance and horror collide in a stunning novel of passion and greed and breath-taking action.

  Purchase

  Or you can email Jen Talty at jentalty@coolgus.com and purchase the entire series for just ($12.99) - that’s a saving of 50%!

  Read a short excerpt below

  Vientiane, April, 1959

  Noelle thought she would have noticed him even if he hadn't driven his Packard through the front bar of the Hotel Constellation.

  He was outrageously handsome, even when he was drunk. He had blue-black hair, with a pronounced widow's peak, swept straight back from the forehead, and the damndest blue eyes. His skin was olive dark and there was a reed-thin black moustache on his top lip. He wore a white linen suit, an affectation usually reserved for visiting potentates and ambassadors. It looked as natural on the Corsican as his own skin. Underneath the suit he was wearing a black silk shirt.

  The bar was open to the street, so there were no walls to absorb the impact; but the unexpected arrival of a large burgundy red American automobile with massive rear fins quickly scattered the occupants, who were mostly bored foreign correspondents and diplomats. The chrome bumper bar splintered several rattan tables and chairs, and demolished half of the bamboo bar. Dusty bottles of Vermouth, Byrrh and black rum toppled off the shelves and shattered on the floor.

  There was a deathly silence.

  Then Baptiste Crocé leaned out from the driver's side and beckoned the startled Lao barman. 'I'll have a large cognac,' he said in French.

  There was a ripple of applause from the western journalists, who were also drunk. Any madness was a welcome diversion. At that moment Baptiste saw Noelle, stood on the bench seat of the Packard, and gave her a low bow.

  'Imbecile,' Noelle's escort muttered. 'He's drunk. A disgrace.'

  Marcel Rivelini was her father's choice for her escort that evening; he certainly would not have been hers. He was one of his business associates from Bangkok, wealthy, sophisticated and insufferable. He was also almost as old as her father. I would not have minded that so much if he had a sense of humour, she thought.

  The barman brought the Corsican his cognac. He raised the glass towards her in salute and climbed out of the Packard. He made his way, a little unsteadily, across the bar towards them. Rivelini looked tense.

  This should be interesting.

  'May I have the pleasure of this dance?'

  Noelle smiled. 'But monsieur, there is no music,' she said.

  'That is beside the point, mademoiselle. All I want is the exquisite pleasure of having such a lovely young woman in my arms.'

  Rivelini stood up and punched him under the jaw. The Corsican fell backwards, breaking another rattan table. There was a hiss of disappointment from the gathered journalists.

  Noelle stood up.

  'I'm sorry if he offended you,' Rivelini said to her.

  Noelle threw her Pernod at him. He gasped in surprise, staring in horror at the stain on his silk shirt. The journalists cheered again.

  'You little bitch,' he muttered.

  Noelle pushed him in the chest, harder than she intended. He fell backwards, his legs tangled in his chair, and landed in a sprawl among the tables. He twisted his knee as he fell.

  Noelle knelt down beside the Corsican.

  'Are you all right?' she said.

  He was bleeding from the lip. He felt around the inside of his mouth with his tongue. 'Are any teeth missing?' he said.

  'You're lucky he didn't kill you. He's a gangster from Bangkok. Are you crazy?'

  'Look
, my suit's ruined. Bastard.'

  'Here, I'll help you up. You're drunk.'

  'Just a little.' As she held out her hand he pulled her towards him. 'But not so drunk that I don't know I've just met the most beautiful woman in Asia.'

  'Get back in the car.'

  Rivelini had struggled to his feet. His knee would not take his weight and he had to lean on a table for support. 'Where are you going?'

  'Thank you for an entertaining evening, Marcel,' she said and helped the Corsican into the Packard. Then, to a final chorus of cheers from the journalists, she got behind the wheel and reversed out. A rattan chair was tangled in the rear bumper and got dragged along behind as she drove off down the street.

  Purchase

  NAKED SERIES

  Will Magdalena ever see Reyes again? How will she survive in Miami?

  Purchase

  Or you can email Jen Talty at jentalty@coolgus.com and purchase the entire series for just ($12.99) - that’s a saving of 50%!

  JERUSALEM SERIES

  Will Rishou ever see Sarah again? Can Netanel and his father escape the coming holocaust?

  Purchase

  Or you can email Jen Talty at jentalty@coolgus.com and purchase the entire series for just ($12.99) - that’s a saving of 50%!

  More by Colin Falconer

  New Historical Fiction by Colin Falconer

  The Famous Woman Series

  'Falconer's grasp of period and places is almost flawless ... He's my kind of writer.' - Peter Corris, The Australian

  Purchase

  “His work takes the reader through a never-ending labyrinth of twists and turns that grips and entertains. Get this book. It is a magnificent piece of work!” – History and Women

  Purchase

  “Spectacular historical fiction blazing with intrigue, romance and dramatic action” --Booklist

  Purchase

  "A page-turner . . . This peek behind the walls of the seraglio will seduce lovers of large-scale historical fiction." - Booklist

  Purchase

  “... a rollicking historical tale of love and revenge rendered in rich detail by a master of the genre.” - Booklover

  Purchase

  Ebook Short Stories

  "If you haven’t read one of Colin Falconer’s novels, then I promise you are in for a real roller-coaster ride …’ Mirella Patzer, Historical Novel Review

  Purchase

  'It was the year I broke a bone in my leg, the year I got my first kiss and the year Jesus got himself shot.'

  One dead Japanese pearl diver is starting to smell. A big, slow Filipino crewman is making trouble in Sheba Lane. And a beautiful girl called Amy O'Rourke has stirred his dreams.

  Purchase

  Other Historicals

  Santa Maria, the Solomon Islands, 1941.

  According to Father Goode, the worst thing Corrigan ever did was impregnate his housekeeper during the Sunday service.

  Purchase

  Other Books by Colin Falconers

  What is the most terrible secret a father could hide from his daughter?

  Purchase

  “Nick Davis first saw Daniela Simonici in the American Bar of the Athenee Palace Hotel in Bucharest in June of 1940. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The city was full of beautiful women, penniless countesses and fox-furred demi-mondaines looking to be rescued, and until that moment he had spared them only an appreciative glance. But this woman was different . . .”

  Purchase

  “I just figured what with guns going off and things blowing up, there’d be plenty of deep truths and penetrating insights.” --P.J. O’Rourke, Holidays in Hell

  Purchase

  'Falconer, whose books have been translated into 17 languages over the last 25 years, has spun together a fiction which will appeal to readers of all ages. With several twists to keep the reader engaged until the very last, Silk Road is sure to find its way onto the bookshelves of lovers of a thrilling tale.' - Liverpool Daily Post

  Purchase

  Purchase

  “Colin Falconer is one of those historical fiction authors that takes a subject and not only researches it thoroughly but also has the talent to take you to the heart of the matter whilst making you feel that you’re seeing history being made at the time of the events. As with his other work the story has a cracking pace, the lead character Philip of Vercy believable and when blended with religious heresy alongside crusade, makes for an edge of your seat read. Add to this top notch prose a wonderfully almost cinematic feel to the story and of course a lead character that you can really get behind and all in it’s a wonderful read. Great stuff.” - Dros Delnoch, Falcatta Times

  About the Author

  Colin Falconer has published over 40 books in the last 26 years. HAREM was an enormous bestseller in Germany, selling over 200,000 copies.

  AZTEC stayed on the bestseller lists in Mexico for four months.

  He is a bestseller in Eastern Europe and his work has sold into translation in 23 countries.

  He did not write for over five years but returned to publishing in 2010 with the release of SILK ROAD and STIGMATA the following year. ISABELLA was published in 2013. NAKED IN HAVANA and NAKED IN LA, the first two books in a trilogy set in the sixties, was published in November.

  He likens his fiction most closely to Ken Follett - books with romance and high adventure, drawn from many periods of history.

  His latest legacy novel is due for release by Atlantic London in January, 2014 and St Martins Press, in New York in August 2014.

  "A page-turner . . . This peek behind the walls of the seraglio will seduce lovers of large-scale historical fiction." - Booklist

  "A wonderful story ... not just a rehash of history but rather a refreshing look at this clever and charismatic leader ... pulsating with the passion of a woman."- Womens Weekly Book of the Month

  "Makes dry history into a real rip-roaring read. In Falconer's hands, Cleopatra is a smart, sexy and sassy heroine." - Australian Womens Forum Book of the Month

  'Falconer's Cleopatra is vulnerable, intelligent and liberated, defined by her wit as much as her beauty" - Publishers Weekly

  "Falconer paints an enthralling fictional portrait of the one of the most powerful and beguiling women of all ages." - Margaret Flanagan, American Library Association

  "Falconer's grasp of period and places is almost flawless ... He's my kind of writer." - Peter Corris, The Australian

  "Falconer weaves a pacy story of obsession, love, greed and corruption ... Really well done." - Sydney Morning Herald

  'Murder, scandal and romance all play their part . . . plausible and engrossing.' - Woman's Day

  'If you haven't read one of Colin Falconer's novels, then I promise you are in for a real roller-coaster ride of never ending intrigue with both these novels.' - History and Women

  Each chapter ends with a gripping cliff-hanger that makes the book irresistible and unputdownable." - Mirella Patzer, Historical Novel Review

  'A magisterial tale.' - UK Daily Mail

  'Falconer, whose books have been translated into 17 languages over the last 25 years, has spun together a fiction which will appeal to readers of all ages. With several twists to keep the reader engaged until the very last, Silk Road is sure to find its way onto the bookshelves of lovers of a thrilling tale." - Liverpool Daily Post

  "It's wonderfully written, the characters gripping and with an epic story to unfurl within, it's one that keeps you going from the start to the end." - Dros Delnoch, Falcatta Times.

  "I enjoyed his storytelling voice so much that, had this book been say, set in modern times, the intriguing main characters would still have been able to pull it off. Thoroughly recommended.' - Bookbag

  "... Silk Road then is a highly recommended read. Falconer demonstrates exceptional characterization ...' Bookgeeks

  '... an epic and eventful journey that spans a huge swathe of the middle and far east, and it is one that provides action, romance, and beautifully descriptive
writing by the cartload." - Des Greene, Novel Suggestions

  'This epic adventure story is ... living history at its best, fictionalized yet immensely believable.' Alan Gold, Good Reading.

  'Loved, loved, loved this novel. Riveting!' - Historical Novel Review

  "Beautifully written in typical Falconer style with plenty of snap and sharpness, and wonderfully researched, I enjoyed every page of this book." - Great Historicals

  Falconer's descriptive narrative is exquisite at times. Each short chapter opens with a flowing brush of words that paint precisely, yet mellifluously, in a manner that is almost poetic. - Historical Writers Association

  Honest reviews are important to an author. Please feel free to leave an honest review a Amazon or Goodreads. Thank you.

  To find out more about Colin Falconer, please visit his website at: http://colinfalconer.org. You can also follow Colin on Twitter and Facebook as well as signing up on his Author Central Page on Amazon where you will be notified about his latest releases.

  Copyright

  Cool Gus Publishing

  http://coolgus.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance of fictional characters to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.