‘Can you give up the beauty of the moor for land of white clay?’ asked Talek.
Grace squeezed his arms against her in reassurance. ‘There is a different type of beauty in the clay lands. It is strange, alien and daunting . . . barren and desolate to the naked eye, yet productive and thriving when you come to know it. A conundrum made by man. But the real beauty is in the hearts of the people who live there and in the products it helps to create. And there is also another unique beauty that this place does not have.’
‘Which is?’
‘The life that it promises me.’
Talek kissed the crook of her neck. ‘A life of a clay miner’s wife?’
Grace rested the back of her head against his shoulder. ‘A life filled with love and passion.’
Talek laughed softly behind her. ‘There is a side to you that I’m just beginning to discover.’
Grace raised an eyebrow. ‘Is it a side that I should keep hidden?’
He turned her to face him and gently threaded his fingers through her hair.
‘Not from me, my auburn-haired beauty. Never from me.’
Grace reached around his neck to draw him closer. She brushed her lips gently against his. ‘Good,’ she murmured on a sigh, ‘for I have no intention of trying.’
THE END
Thank You
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read Daniel’s Daughter, and how Grace and Talek emerged from the web of lies spun around them to find in each other the goodness, trust and loyalty they both needed — and the love and passion they both desired.
After I finished writing The Captain’s Daughter, I always wondered what would happen if Janey’s baby, Grace, ever discovered that Daniel was not her real father. Now I feel I have closure and if you have already read The Captain’s Daughter, I hope you do too.
I always planned to use the China Clay industry as a backdrop, but Amelia’s character, Talek’s disabled sister, grew throughout the story. Inspired by some old Victorian photographs of wheelchair bound individuals, I realised Amelia had a tale of her own to tell, one of poor accessibility, isolation and intolerance. Today, it is hard to imagine just how cumbersome wheelchairs, or how inaccessible buildings, were in the Victorian era. Although charitable institutions and workhouses had sprung up to help the 'deaf and dumb', 'lunatics', 'idiots', 'epileptics', ‘defectives’ and 'the deformed', Victorian attitudes towards disability, as we can surmise from the terms they used, remained one of pity, discomfort and even fear.
Writing this novel has given me a new found respect for all those who, through campaigns, persistence, help and research, improved the access and opportunities for people living with a disability, so they can enjoy the same rights and opportunities as their peers and be valued for their abilities rather than excluded by their disability. I am aware this equal opportunity journey has not ended and I am mindful that any one of us, including me, could find ourselves a member of this largest minority group in the world. I am also mindful that we will benefit from the achievements made so far, instigated or inspired by those who suffered in the past.
Lastly, dear reader, if you enjoyed reading Grace, Talek and Amelia’s story, and the hurdles they faced to live the life they desired, I would be grateful if you would leave a review on the online retail site where you purchased it. It doesn’t have to be long as a single sentence would do. A collection of positive reviews are very important for the life of a book. They help influence purchasing choices, online distributors, and library and high street selection. Ultimately they will help Daniel’s Daughter to reach a wider audience so more people can read this Cornish tale.
Thank you once again for taking the time to read Daniel’s Daughter. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.
Love,
Victoria
P.S. The Cornish Tales series are linked by family ties; however each novel is a standalone tale and therefore they can be read in any order. If you have not read them yet, consider escaping the present and travelling back in time with me to Cornwall’s past. The characters are waiting for you there to bring their stories alive.
About the Author
Victoria Cornwall grew up on a dairy farm in Cornwall. She can trace her Cornish roots as far back as the 18th century and it is this background and heritage which is the inspiration for her Cornish based novels.
Victoria is married and has two grown up children. She likes to read and write historical fiction with a strong background story, but at its heart is the unmistakable emotion, even pain, of loving someone.
Following a fulfilling twenty-five year career as a nurse, a change in profession finally allowed her the time to write. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
For more information on Victoria:
https://twitter.com/VickieCornwall
www.facebook.com/victoria.cornwall.75
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Also by Victoria Cornwall
CORNISH TALES
The novel follows the story of the titular character, Daniel’s daughter, as she navigates the complexities of love, family, and societal expectations.
