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I always said that when my eldest child left home I'd convert their bedroom into a library. I didn't - it's a guest room - but if I ever build my ideal house it will definitely have a large library. Book collections may be physically smaller now that we can store thousands of books on our ereaders but there's just something about shelves and shelves of hard copy books. Along with somewhere comfortable to sit and read, a mug of tea, and some snacks...
Where do you prefer to read? I pretty much built my ideal library into Strand of Faith as you can tell from this extract.
Leonie
When I woke, for just a moment I didn’t know where I was. I kept my eyes closed while I worked it out. I could remember feeling the edge of fear that meant the start of a nightmare, but I had no memory of the nightmare itself. Then I realised I was in the House library, a large, warm and welcoming room, stuffed with shelves and books, but also with comfortable armchairs, low tables and best of all, a number of cushioned window seats looking out over one of the courtyards. This afternoon, I’d found the books I was looking for and curled up on a window seat. But I was warm and safe and I must have dozed off.
As I stretched my mind out across the room, I spotted that Brother Prospero was there too, sitting with his back to me. I decided that I was safe to open my eyes, sit up and collect my books together. He turned round as I moved and smiled at me. He was more than good-looking enough already, but the smile lit up his whole face.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked. “I’ve dropped off just there before, it’s very comfortable.”
Without thinking I headed over to him. “I like it here,” I told him.
“Me, too,” he agreed. “What have you been reading?”
He reached towards my pile of books, which I’d put on the table. I felt a need to explain and defend them. “I wanted to know more about what’s important here. I’ve read the Bible, but I don’t understand it. Pedro suggested that one would help. And that one’s about the history of here, the Abbey and the House.”
He looked at both books. “They’re good choices,” he agreed. He tapped the first one. “If you want something after this or have any questions, Brother Matthew would be a good person to ask though anyone would help. And if you want a wider background to the history one, I could find you something.”
I murmured some thanks but he’d moved on to my other two books – one was romantic fiction, the other a children’s book.
“And these two?” he asked. “Pedro didn't recommend them?”
I shook my head, amused at the thought as he appeared to be, too. “No, there are so many books I didn't know where to start. I saw Lady Eleanor reading one by that author so I thought I'd try it.”
“Our powerful Seneschal likes romantic fiction, does she?” he asked, with a wide grin.
Had I given away something I shouldn’t? I moved on quickly to my final book. “That one just looked familiar. I thought perhaps I'd seen it as a small child.”
He nodded. “I wouldn't be surprised. It’s a classic bedtime story book. I used to enjoy it when I was a kid.” He looked at me. “Is that what you were reading when you fell asleep?”
“No,” I said slowly. “But when I was asleep, I thought I felt a nightmare. But I don’t remember it, and I’m still here.”
He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, like it was an everyday thing. I supposed maybe it was for all I knew.
“I felt the power at the start,” he said. “There’s a technique you can use to stop it then, if you're in the right place at the right time. It's not much use normally because you've only got about a minute, if that, before it’s too late. I just happened to be here at the right moment.”
Perhaps that was the answer to my nightmares – only sleep within arm’s reach of Prospero. I dismissed the idea as utterly impractical, if very attractive.
“You didn't do anything,” he reassured me. “The nightmare never reached that stage.”
I was going to ask him more about the nightmares but I heard a clock chime and realised I was supposed to be in the kitchens, so I made my excuses and left. I was relieved in a way; I liked being with Prospero but I always felt that I was going to tell him too much without thinking, things that were safer kept secret.
If you haven't read Strand of Faith and you'd like to know what happens next, get your free copy here.
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