A Taste for Nightshade: A NovelA historical novel of suspense, seasoned with recipes and remedies for broken hearts, THE PENNY HEART draws on age-old themes of cooking, trickery and revenge. Manchester 1809. Would-be industrialist Michael Croxon chases young street hawker Mary Jebb into a wretched warren after she cons his brother out of his money. In an unguarded moment he develops a suppressed attraction to the girl. After he bears witness in court against her, Mary sends him a Penny Heart token from the prison hulks bearing a strange verse, the reverse announcing that she will be transported for 7 years. Two years later, in order to build a manufactory, Michael has married awkward Jane Moore, who is overjoyed at her luck, but soon disappointed to learn it was only to gain her land. Meanwhile, Mary escapes from Botany Bay to be shipwrecked on the wild coast of New Zealand, where she loses her lover and the last of her scruples. Using her conning skills, Mary returns home and adopts the identity of 'Peg', the Croxon's cook at their lonely Hall. After Mary helps Jane compile a book of husband-pleasing recipes, Jane's new womanly wiles seem to earn Michael's affection. But when Jane discovers two matching Penny Heart love tokens that tell of banishment to the ends of the earth, she enters a world of deceit and double-crossing, and uncovers a tale of revenge that culminates in murder. |
Contents
Winter 1787 | 13 |
Summer 1792 | 33 |
Summer 1792 | 47 |
Summer 1792 | 55 |
Summer 1792 | 63 |
Summer 1792 | 73 |
Summer 1792 | 85 |
Summer 1792 | 97 |
November 1792 | 237 |
November 1792 | 253 |
November 1792 | 269 |
November 1792 | 283 |
November 1792 | 299 |
December 1792 | 319 |
December 1792 | 327 |
Spring 1793 | 349 |
September 1792 | 111 |
September 1792 | 125 |
September 1792 | 139 |
September 1792 | 153 |
October 1792 | 167 |
October 1792 | 177 |
October 1792 | 193 |
November 1792 | 209 |
November 1792 | 225 |
Summer 1793 | 363 |
August 1793 | 383 |
September 1793 | 395 |
September 1793 | 405 |
September 1793 | 417 |
Summer 1796 | 433 |
Acknowledgements | 455 |
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Common terms and phrases
Anne Anne’s asked Aunt Charlotte began beneath Botany Bay breath captain Charlie couldn’t Damn dark dear Delafosse Hall didn’t dish door Earlby eyes face father felt fingers fire girl glanced glass Golden Square gown Grace Grace Moore Greaves hair hand Harper head heard heart husband I’ve inside Jack Jack Pierce Jack’s John Francis kitchen knew leave letter lifted lips looked marriage married Mary Bryant Mary Jebb master mind mistress Mother Eve’s Secrets mouth never night nodded nutmeg o’clock once painted pakeha Palatine House Pease Pudding Peg’s Peter pound pulled returned screeving servant she’d shook sleep smile stairs stared stood sugar Sydney Cove tell there’s thought tiny told took turned voice waiting walls watched whispered Whitelow window woman women wondered words