Cyn

Rose Light is one of those stories that goes unexpected places.  The sexual content includes a foot fetish scene which was surpisingly erotic as I'd never read something like that before. The historic feel to the story was well researched and the author, a resident of Great Britain spent time in the location, studying the homes of the era.

In this excerpt, Rose has recently returned from her mother’s grave and has made dinner for her step-mother and step-sisters.

Take one wicked stepmother and two older, conniving sisters, and you may think you’ve heard this tale before. You haven’t -- not this way. Let Rose Light tell you her story.

~*~*~*~*~~*

The little ones sat in silence, their eyes shifting from one adult to another. Hatred and amusement as well as weariness lit their collective gaze. Charlotte and Regina were from Margaret’s first marriage. The others were her siblings, or so Margaret said. Rose supposed they meant her to disregard that they looked nothing like either her or her father. They were girls all: Elise, Jane, Emily and Georgina.

“Finish serving,” Margaret ordered.

Rose had only placed the main course on the table. She had not even taken her seat and already the great sow feasted. Rose brought the vegetables to the table and served the others. The only sound in the room was the great smacking of two rubbery lips as the pig masticated.

A sudden knock at the door froze them all. Surprised glances met each other and passed over. Rose would have wiped her hands on her apron and answered it, but to her amazement, Regina, possibly overcome by the sight of pork on her plate, did it for her. No doubt, Regina thought it was her benefactor. A wealthy man came to call on her and a promise of marriage hung in the air. Rose suspected he had already wed, but his gifts helped to keep the roof over their heads.

Much to Rose’s personal surprise, a young man she certainly recognized entered the house. Regina, no doubt taken aback, brought him into the kitchen with her. John Bennett removed his top hat and glanced around the occupants of the room. Rose hovered behind Charlotte who had risen, and so remained hidden.

“Forgive me,” he said. “I regret disturbing you. I am looking for a woman by the name of Rose Light.”

In shock, Charlotte looked over her shoulder directly at Rose and moved to the side, revealing her. At the same time, Regina turned her head and smirked at her. As was so often the case, her eyes looked lazy and evil. Rose stared at John Bennett as he inclined his head a little at the sight of her. Returning to her senses, Margaret must have realized that gravy and spittle adorned her chin. She mopped at her face with a napkin, and then stood.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she began.

John Bennett regarded her. “Sorry for what, madam?”

“For whatever it is that my ungrateful stepdaughter has done, sir.” She waved a hand in the air as though illustrating her explanation. The gesture seemed to encompass all things as though the hovel they lived in was Rose’s fault and no other.

John Bennett moved further into the room. He gripped his hat as though it were the only thing separating him from the inhabitants. Rose lifted an eyebrow at the way he nervously clung to it. Lifting her gaze to his face, a peculiar notion overcame her that he had seen her speculation. He turned to her stepmother. “I assure you, Madam Light, she has done nothing other than speaking unexpectedly and forcing me to face a truth I did not wish to hear. In that, she has done a stranger an act of kindness. I wished to see if there was some form of benevolence I could repay in like manner.”

His declaration seemed to stun everyone and they exchanged the same wandering glances of confusion before staring inanely at the table. Everyone, including John Bennett, shifted awkwardly – everyone except Rose.

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Aspen Mountain Press