by: Charlene Bell Dietz
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Artemesia Publishing, LLC
Move over Susan B. Anthony. There’s an unsung woman asking for the vote 224 years before you, and murderous rebels and bigoted gentlemen can’t prevent spinster Lady Margaret Brent from wielding her power to defend Maryland settlers from plunder and obliteration.
Lady Margaret Brent, compelled to right wrongs, risks her life by illegally educating English women, placing her family at risk. She fights to have a voice, yet her father and brothers exclude her from discussions. Worried the kings’ men may know of her illegal activities, she flees to the New World where she can enjoy religious tolerance and own land, believing she will be allowed a voice. Once in Maryland, she presents cases in provincial court where she’s hired as the first American woman attorney, but there she uncovers perilous actions, prompting her to build a fort to shield those within from being murdered. Can Margaret Brent’s integrity and ingenuity protect Maryland from being destroyed?
Fulke, the eldest and shortest brother, spoke. “Cecil, I know you have an urgent purpose for coming here tonight. Your carriage and horse stand unattended outside our door, you’ve arrived unannounced, and all the while your manners cause you to bide your time to play the social card.”
Cecil, the second Lord Baltimore, surveyed his Brent cousins’ faces. After a brief hesitation, he said to their father, “Richard, your family may be under the scrutiny of the king. If you’ve a way to hear the latest news, and you already know these things, then I hope to God you’re making plans. However, I suspect living so far away you haven’t heard the terribleness of it all. Since King Charles dissolved Parliament, he’s ruling uncontrolled.”
Richard held his hand up for Cecil to stop talking. Her father stood. “Dary, stoke the fire once more, then you may retire after you ask Pip to attend Lord Baltimore’s horse and carriage.” Margaret understood her father’s desire to keep whatever Cecil might say within the family. She nodded to Crissa, dismissing her for the evening.
“Will you be wanting more wine, your Lord?” Pursell removed the empty bottles.
“Thank you, Pursell. Please leave the other bottles on the table.”
Richard made some superfluous comments until the door shut behind the butler, house boy, and the young maid. Margaret’s brothers huddled in their own conversation.
Richard scowled. “The king’s eye falls on my family because Catherine, Eleanor, and Elizabeth have become nuns, a clear statement about the family’s distasteful view of the Church of England. My daughters must do what’s in their hearts.” He sighed. “The obvious is the obvious. My sons and my attendance at church seem no longer enough to placate the crown.”
Giles nodded to his brothers. “You can wager our fines won’t be enough to satisfy the crown either. The Brent estates are in danger—”
Their father scoffed. “I have protected my lands from the king’s sequestration. Admington and Stoke have safely been signed over to relatives.”
“Father,” Fulke said, “your fourteen-year lease to protect Lark Stoke ended last year.”
“Ah, time, time, time.” Richard shrugged. “I have other lands the king can take for his damnable two thirds.”
Lord Baltimore shifted in his chair, flexing his fingers. “There’s more. Your name sake Richard and his writings—it pains me to say he’ll no longer be fined, but next imprisoned.”
Margaret watched Cecil start to say something else—instead he took a sip of wine.
He believes prison may not be the worst of what might happen to Richard.
Cecil glanced up at Margaret. After a moment, he set his goblet down, strode over, and took Margaret’s hand. Holding it gently, he stared down at her, looked at her father and brothers, then cleared his throat, probably full of words he didn’t want to say.
“Dear lady, some tell me they fear for your safety.” He lowered his voice. “Rumors say since the Pope banned Mary Ward’s institution, you’ve now taken up the call and are visiting Catholics in hiding.”
Richard cocked his head. “What’s this you say? Mary Ward?”
Margaret’s blood chilled.
If he knew the whole of it, the mathematical and Latin lessons, the reading of the actual bible instead of prayer books sanctioned for women—gathering in the homes to sew and study.
“Margaret,” Cecil said, “consider your family. If certain people hear of this all your lives will be in peril. Your family, nor I, would wish to see you swing from the gallows.”
Cecil, the second Lord Baltimore, surveyed his Brent cousins’ faces. After a brief hesitation, he said to their father, “Richard, your family may be under the scrutiny of the king. If you’ve a way to hear the latest news, and you already know these things, then I hope to God you’re making plans. However, I suspect living so far away you haven’t heard the terribleness of it all. Since King Charles dissolved Parliament, he’s ruling uncontrolled.”
Richard held his hand up for Cecil to stop talking. Her father stood. “Dary, stoke the fire once more, then you may retire after you ask Pip to attend Lord Baltimore’s horse and carriage.” Margaret understood her father’s desire to keep whatever Cecil might say within the family. She nodded to Crissa, dismissing her for the evening.
“Will you be wanting more wine, your Lord?” Pursell removed the empty bottles.
“Thank you, Pursell. Please leave the other bottles on the table.”
Richard made some superfluous comments until the door shut behind the butler, house boy, and the young maid. Margaret’s brothers huddled in their own conversation.
Richard scowled. “The king’s eye falls on my family because Catherine, Eleanor, and Elizabeth have become nuns, a clear statement about the family’s distasteful view of the Church of England. My daughters must do what’s in their hearts.” He sighed. “The obvious is the obvious. My sons and my attendance at church seem no longer enough to placate the crown.”
Giles nodded to his brothers. “You can wager our fines won’t be enough to satisfy the crown either. The Brent estates are in danger—”
Their father scoffed. “I have protected my lands from the king’s sequestration. Admington and Stoke have safely been signed over to relatives.”
“Father,” Fulke said, “your fourteen-year lease to protect Lark Stoke ended last year.”
“Ah, time, time, time.” Richard shrugged. “I have other lands the king can take for his damnable two thirds.”
Lord Baltimore shifted in his chair, flexing his fingers. “There’s more. Your name sake Richard and his writings—it pains me to say he’ll no longer be fined, but next imprisoned.”
Margaret watched Cecil start to say something else—instead he took a sip of wine.
He believes prison may not be the worst of what might happen to Richard.
Cecil glanced up at Margaret. After a moment, he set his goblet down, strode over, and took Margaret’s hand. Holding it gently, he stared down at her, looked at her father and brothers, then cleared his throat, probably full of words he didn’t want to say.
“Dear lady, some tell me they fear for your safety.” He lowered his voice. “Rumors say since the Pope banned Mary Ward’s institution, you’ve now taken up the call and are visiting Catholics in hiding.”
Richard cocked his head. “What’s this you say? Mary Ward?”
Margaret’s blood chilled.
If he knew the whole of it, the mathematical and Latin lessons, the reading of the actual bible instead of prayer books sanctioned for women—gathering in the homes to sew and study.
“Margaret,” Cecil said, “consider your family. If certain people hear of this all your lives will be in peril. Your family, nor I, would wish to see you swing from the gallows.”
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Thank you for featuring today's book.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteThe cover looks great. Sounds like a really good story.
ReplyDeleteMarcy, covers all stress out authors and publishers. So much thought and creativity goes into the the making. However, I absolutely love what Artemesia Publishing came up with to showcase my Spinster Heroine. I'm so please you like it.
DeleteThe Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor by Charlene Bell Dietz is a fascinating historical fiction novel that brings to life the intriguing dynamics of relationships and societal norms in a bygone era. It's a great read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your endorsement of the book, Edgar! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteEdgar, thank you for reading my story, and thank you for such high praise. I really do appreciate your doing this, but I'm even more pleased you enjoyed my work. Do you favor historical fiction?
DeleteThis looks like a great read.
ReplyDeleteSherry, I hope if you do read it, you'll get back to me and let me know what you enjoyed most.
DeleteSorry, didn't mean to publish this anonymously
DeleteThis sounds like an amazing read, love strong women characters.
ReplyDeleteLeonie T, I'm evidently addicted to strong, independent, and intelligent women as protagonist. I found in my research, men look at women as needing protection. If there's something they don't really know about (like who built Spinster Lady Margaret Brent's fort) they assume the governor or some man built it for her. Nope! As a woman alone, in a hostile new country, I'm sure if she had enough gumption to travel across the treacherous ocean, she'd have enough sense to build her own fort. Such fun, this researching stuff. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteKim, I tried to comment on the 12th, but I couldn't navigate the system. Sorry. Thank you all for such nice words about my story, and thank you, Kim, for hosting my book!
ReplyDeleteSorry about that Charlene. Thank you so much for stopping by. You're very welcome.
DeleteI like everything about this - genre title and cover!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this.
Love that the story is set in Maryland. Sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeletelooks like a fun one
ReplyDeleteDo you ever write in more than one genre?
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get your ideas for writing?
ReplyDeleteDo you reward yourself with something special when finishing a book?
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a brilliant novel. Thanks for hosting this tour.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
ReplyDeleteWhat to you, are the most important elements of good writing?
ReplyDeleteI think I would have a hard time putting this book down after starting to read it.
ReplyDeleteDid you get a lot of encouragement when you decided to become an author?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever started a book that you decided not to finish?
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired you to write this book?
ReplyDeleteHow do you come up with names for the characters?
ReplyDeleteWhat part of the book was the most fun to write?
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading the excerpt- well done!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite author and/or genre?
ReplyDeleteDoes writing energize or exhaust you?
ReplyDeleteDid you ever write a book that made you cry?
ReplyDeleteWhat advice do you have for writers?
ReplyDeleteHow many books have you written and which is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteHow did you decide on the cover for this book?
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