Tucksford, The Laxton Arms, May 27th — We had no need to cast lots yester-eve to choose who should entertain after supper tonight. Almost as soon as the Cook had finished his tale of the Devil and the Lady, the widow Dame Elizabeth called out above the hubbub and general hilarity. "Dear friends," she said, "for that is what I must perforce call you now, there being none of my family left alive. The cook has regaled us wit...

Bedefunde, June 29th — My name is Alice. I am 24 years old, and what most respectable folk would call a common whore. I believe I am quite comely with red lips and a complexion yet unmarked by disease and men seem to like to suckle on my ample bosom as they bury their cocks in the dark wetness between my thighs, before they release their hot seed into my cunt with much sighing and moaning and declarations of love. I have...

Prudence Lucas was an imprudent young woman approaching twenty-seven, almost too old to be marriageable. She had ample assets concealed within her modest day gown but no one to appreciate them. The militia Regiment had been stationed in Meryton since summer. Prudence had flirted outrageously with the officers but to no avail. After much scandal, Lydia Bennett had snapped up Whickham, and few eligible beaus remained. Prude...

Bawtry, The Swan, May 26th. A much more cheerful party reached Bawtry well before dusk after a brisk walk of about twenty four miles, having left the Lamb once we had broken our fast on bread, cheese and ale. The task of providing our night's entertainment fell on the cook, a jolly fat fellow, with a laugh like the bellow of a bull. We were starting to get to know each other better, and there was much chatter on the road,...

Introduction In the late Middle Ages the Black Death, the greatest and most deadly outbreak of infectious disease in history, ravaged Europe, eventually killing between one third and a half of the population. The disease, which is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, was carried by fleas living on the rats that were found in ports and on board ships, and humans were infected by the bite of a flea. Transmission may als...

"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" The imposing grandfather clock chimed twelve times as the crowd in the ballroom shouted "Happy New Year!" and began singing Auld Lang Syne. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot—" Delilah Davenport began, but was interrupted by an older gentleman spinning her around and kissing her full on the lips. "Why, Mr. Davenport!" she exclaimed in mock surprise. "How very f...

Prologue – 1924 He cautiously made his way down the narrow stone steps. He could sense the answer was here. All the rumours, the stories–he was finally going to discover the truth. Here, in this small building–in this hidden room–he would prove that it was all a lie; that there was no such thing as ghosts, or wit… It was the tiniest of sounds, but the hair instantly rose on the back of his neck. He turned, and the blood d...

Luke crouched in the corner of the building, bullets whizzing past him. It was a trap; he knew it now. The cattle rustlers had lured the US Marshalls to this stinking town and laid a trap. He watched as his commanding officer was shot right between the eyes. He wasn’t yellow or anything, he didn’t have a death wish. He had run to the first bit of cover he could find. He checked his revolver once more, he had a few bullets...