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    The Merchant's Daughter
    The Merchant's Daughter
    The Merchant's Daughter
    Ebook358 pages5 hours

    The Merchant's Daughter

    By Melanie Dickerson

    4/5

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    An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf’s bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateNov 29, 2011
    ISBN9780310727620
    Author

    Melanie Dickerson

    Melanie Dickerson is a New York Times bestselling author and two-time Christy Award winner. Melanie spends her time daydreaming, researching the most fascinating historical time periods, and writing and editing her happily-ever-afters. Visit her online at MelanieDickerson.com; Facebook: @MelanieDickersonBooks; Twitter: @MelanieAuthor; Instagram: @melaniedickerson123.

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    Reviews for The Merchant's Daughter

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    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: This was an adorable retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast.Opening Sentence: Annabel sat in the kitchen shelling peas into a kettle at her feet.The Review: Annabel was once the daughter of a very wealthy merchant, but 3 years ago her father lost all of their money when his ships crashed. Shortly after that he died from the pestilence. Her mother and brother refused to do their share in the village and they had no money to pay the debt they owned the Lord. Now as their punishment, one member of the family has to go and work as a servant for three years in the Lord’s house to pay off their debt. There is one other way for Annabel’s family to get out of their current predicament and that is for Annabel to marry the scary old Bailiff. Bailiff Tom was once a good friend to Annabel’s father and his wife passed away a few years ago. Annabel always thought he was a kind man until he started to make passes at her, and when she refused he tried to force her. Annabel decides that it would be much better to be a servant then to marry the Bailiff. So she travels to the house of the new Lord and offers up her services.It turns out that the new Lord is actually quite young and unmarried, but he had an accident years ago that left scars on his face and took out one of his eyes. He also has a terrible temper and can be quite beastly. Annabel doesn’t mind being a servant but she does have to see Bailiff Tom everyday and he always makes her very uncomfortable. She tries to never go anywhere alone so he can’t make advances towards her. She also has a chance to get to know the Lord Le Wyse much better and she is eventually able to see past his horrible temper and see that he is quite a gentle man. Annabel never planned to marry, but the more she gets to know Lord Le Wyse it makes her doubt her decision.Annabel is a wonderful character that was very easy to connect with. She is a beautiful girl both inside and out. Her dream for most of her life was to become a nun so she could read the Holy Bible for herself. Ever since her father died she has tried to do everything she can to help take care of her ungrateful family. Her oldest brother wants her to marry well so he can be lazy and not have to work, her other brother says that he is always ill and really can’t do anything to help. Then there is her mother who is accustomed to an easy life and she doesn’t want to have to do any hard labor either. Annabel has a good heart and she isn’t afraid to work hard. She also tries to see the good in everything even when she is in a dire situation. She is a very good character to strive to be like.Lord Le Wyse is a bitter man that has had a past filled with lots of heartache. There was an accident that left his faced scared and his left hand maimed. Most people that look upon him find him to be rather hideous and he has a temper to match. He was married a few years back to a very beautiful girl that betrayed him and only married him for his money. Because he truly loved his wife her betrayal hurt him deeply and he has been bitter towards women ever since, especially beautiful women. When he meets Annabel his first impression is that she is very attractive so at once he doesn’t trust her, but as he gets to know her he realizes how wrong he has been all these years. He thought that no one could ever love him, but as he lets Annabel enter his heart. She starts to heal some of the wounds he has carried around for all these years.This was a great retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I loved that it was set in England in the 1300’s. The author really captured the true meaning of the classic fairytale, which is that it doesn’t matter what you look like but what is inside that counts. I loved the writing and I found the story very intriguing. The character development was great and I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. This is the first book I have read by Melanie Dickerson, but I would love to read more from her. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fairytale retellings, or is a fan of Beauty and the Beast.Notable Scene:Anger surged through her. She gave a sudden tug at her arm and, managing to maneuver around Tom, she stood in the doorway. He let go with a shove, sending Annabel falling backward through the door. She struggled to right herself as she fell, and landed on her hip in the dusty street.Hooves pounded toward her, and a horse’s high-pitched whinny sounded above her head. Annabel raised her arm to protect herself.Just inches away, the horse danced to a halt, snorting and throwing dirt into her face. The animal’s hot breath ruffled her hair. Dust clogged her nose and throat and made her cough.The rider dismounted. “What are you doing?”The man’s voice and accent were unfamiliar. Her hair had fallen in front of her eyes, making it difficult to see the hands that slipped under her arms and hauled her to her feet. She pulled away, looking around on the ground for her headscarf. Darting a glance a t the butcher shop doorway, she saw Bailiff Tom lurking in the shadows. She wiped his vile saliva from her face with her sleeve.“Throwing yourself in front of a galloping horse?” The stranger’s voice reminded her of a snarling animal in its pitch and intensity. “We could have both been killed.”Shiny black boots waited beside her. Even the stranger’s stance showed his irritation.Finally seeing her scarf, she bent and snatched it from the dirt.Her eyes traveled from his expensive leather boots to his broad chest. He wore the most elegant clothing she’d seen since the last time she visited London with her father-a red velvet doublet and gold-embroidered shirtsleeves-a vast departure from the dull gray and brown of the villagers’ coarse woolens.She beat the dust from her skirt as anger boiled up inside her. It wasn’t her fault she’d fallen in front of his horse. Did he think she had tossed herself into the street? First that disgusting lecher Bailiff Tom, and now this stranger … Her gaze finally met his face and she stifled a gasp.FTC Advisory: Zondervan provided me with a copy of The Merchant’s Daughter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful story set in the 1300's!This was a little predictable but was so well written with interesting events that it was worthy of five stars!The story is of a maiden whose family fell on hard times because of the death and demise of the father and his wealth.Her two lazy sibling brothers refused to work. Her mother convinced herself she was too feeble to work. A man Anabel felt to be despicable and old enough to be her father, sought for her hand in marriage which her elder brother granted against her wishes. In her community, a brother didn't have the power to force a sister to marry. However, her two siblings and her mother felt this was the perfect solution to their problems. When their tax debt came due, Annabel volunteered herself to the new, feared land Lord as an indentured servant to pay for their debts.The events began to unfold.I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway and am very grateful to them and the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this and add it to my library.It is cleanly written so great for Young Adult reading as well.I recommend this to all Book Clubs! Great discussion points to it
    • 5/5
      An awesome retelling of Beauty and the Beast
    • 4/5
      My favorite of her books. Made me want to read the rest of them. I love that her books incorporate historical fiction and fairy tales. I would recommend this book and author to anyone who reads historical fiction books. This story gives us a different perspective on the story of Beauty and the Beast.
    • 5/5
      This was a beautiful story. It was nice to read a love story that wasn't all about the sexual tension, but rather about learning a person. This story is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it also had overtones of Cinderella.

      Aside from Ranulf, my favorite character was Eustacia. She was like a fairy godmother to both Ranulf and Annabel, without the "magic." She was a mother figure, but also a wise woman in seeing and cultivating the potential between Ranulf and Annabel.

      Although this is definitely a Christian teen novel, it should also appeal to readers of all beliefs because it is true to the time period. God was central to everyday life in the 1300's. The reading of the Bible between Ranulf and Annabel is akin to striving for knowledge and internal peace. It is what brings them together and gives them an opportunity to learn about one another.

      In addition to highlighting how wonderful religion can be when shared in love, between two people, it also addressed how religion can be skewed by closed hearts.
    • 2/5
      What can I say? I like torturing myself.In this instalment of the Fairy tale retellings with a super preachy religious undertone we have the docile and lovely Annabel who is found indentured to the merciless Lord Ranulf. After her father passed, her mother and siblings refuse to do their part and participate in the annual harvest. Their debt to the county (or something like that) has accumulated so much over the years that the family must either pay up or send one of their members to serve off the debt. If she doesn't do something Annabel's mother was going to marry her off to a scummy dude that was willing to pay the debt in exchange for her hand in marriage. So off she goes to the castle very much to the dismay of her mother and one of her brothers.Then I'm sorry to say but I literally can't remember what happens next. All I can remember is that Annabel was very religious I'm pretty sure she moaned in ecstasy the first time Ranulf let her read his bible to him...I kid. Something happens and the scum bag that wanted her to marry him rallies up a bunch of people with pitchforks to force Lord Ranulf out of town so that they don't have to pay taxes anymore but all Annabel does is tell them "no guys, he's actually really kind and caring" and they all tearfully agree and put the pitchforks down then apologize. As far as characters go I wasn't a big fan of either Ranulf or Annabel but at least I wasn't disappointed in Annabel. She was the same from the beginning to end and what you see is what you get. She's a really sweet girl but it got kind of boring, I mean, I can't remember what significant events happened to her and she's the main character. This one had a nice romance but it was super boring. The only reason I rated this one higher than the first book is because I wasn't screaming in frustration or anger. It wasn't bad but honestly it's probably because I can't remember what happened hahaha.
    • 3/5
      It is a little difficult for me to seem over-critical of this book after having engaged in an online 'conversation' with the author, and expressed praise of her research- and also because I like her, but I feel I must be truthful and objective in terms of my opinion and response to the book.

      The storyline was good and this is a sweet and compelling Romance novel with a fairly original concept. I don’t well remember the Disney story of Beauty and the Beast except for talking candlesticks and fairies, and you won’t find any of that here. Dickerson instead opts for a more realistic version of the fairy tale set in an actual historical time and place- in this case 14th century England. The themes of the hero finding reconciliation and peace with God and man through true love were well presented, and seemed to fit in well with the transformation of the beast in the tale. The heroine Annabel's elaation at reading the Bible in her own laugauge for the first time was quite believable without seeming contrived.
      Mrs Dickerson to her credit is also willing to at least mention concepts such as sin and the necessity of repentance, which some Christian authors may shy away from, or avoid altogether.

      The hero Lord Ranulf (the beast) is likeable enough and is sufficiently tough, courageous and manly to be appealing. Yet somehow I could not imagine a Medieval nobleman risking his life to save a servant girl from a wolf (which was how he got his disfiguring scars) and the very scenario itself seemed all the more implausible because wolves were likely all but extinct in England by the 14th century.
      I think it would have been more plausible for Ranulf's scars and injuries to have been battle wounds- and this scenario could still have allowed for the heroism and self-sacrifice of his saving another person.

      Also it seemed rather unlikely that a nobleman, even one seeking to leave his past behind in an obscure and remote place like Ranulf was in the novel, would not have any soldiers or guards in his employment, and so would be left and the mercy of a peasant mob planning to attack his manor.

      Some have complained that the heroine Annabel has no flaws and is too perfect. Whilst she could be a little to goody-goody sometimes, I did not find this was the case all the time as she did get angry, jealous, and could be stubborn. I also did not see anything historically implausible about a 14th century woman of the merchant class being literate in Latin or English.

      The level of historical accuracy, authenticity and research seemed rather inconsistent in some places, as some passages seemed a lot stronger than others in this regard. The scenes referring to the ‘Hallmote’ (local community court) and customs or laws governing regarding duties for peasants, and the investigations of an itinerant bailiff appeared accurate and show that the author has done her research in these areas.
      The references to Annabel usign honey to treat burns was also interesting in hindsight, after having learned that it was indeed used to treat cuts or open wounds in this period, and may have been effective.

      However, the descriptions of people washing clothes with soap and water, and then hanging them on a washing line seemed rather out of place in a medieval setting and rather let the side down. It was supposedly the medieval practice of laying clothes out to dry on the grass or the lawn that is rise to the term ‘laundry’ after all.
      Also the novel was set only 4 years after the coming of Black Death which killed almost half the population of Britain in the space of a year or two.
      For this reason the passing references to characters having died of the plague and the almost blasé attitude towards it by some characters did not seem to be fitting.

      Of course, dwelling on the subject too much could make the novel seem morbid and depressing, I felt that it was almost not taken seriously enough , treating it almost as just another disease which came and went rather than arguably tyhe worst Biomedical disaster in British history which almost depopulated large areas of the country and left entire estates, or parts of them untended.

      The writing style was something of an issue for me it simply seemed rather over simplistic with hints of amateurism places. This is only the author’s second novel, so perhaps such is to be expected but it seemed that the author was not making the device of “show don’t tell” in her writing. Thus we are told the “she felt” thus or “he felt” like this, and the adverb “a bit” crops up over a dozen times.
      Perhaps these problems will be ironed out as the author hones her skills, but they were very noticeable in places, and sometimes made it seem as though the novel could have been written by a teenager, though as this series was aimed at teenagers, perhaps the writing style was intentionally simplified to make it more accessible for them.

      As a British reader, reading a book in which Medieval English characters use modern American Idioms such as ‘go tell’ or ‘go see’ instead of British equivalents like ‘go and tell’ or ‘go and see’ is a little problematic and frustrating, yet it is an almost inevitable consequence of reading a novel written by an American who is not familiar which such linguistic nuances.
      By and large, the language of the medieval characters was plausible, or at least passable, and though in some places it did seem a little too modern, there did not seem to be many modern words and phrases which stood out.

      I finished this novel with rather mixed feelings, it was enjoyable enough and certainly readable but it fell rather below my expectations were which were perhaps too high as an adult approaching a romance novel aimed at teenage girls. I may well read more of this author’s work, but with such considerations in mind.
    • 4/5
      The opening paragraph or two of this week are really on the rocky side. Don’t worry, though, it picks up. As I read them, I was worried that the whole book would follow in that same vein but luckily the author soon found her feet.The original premise is that Annabel’s family have been shirking their duty in the fields for three years now, since their merchant father’s death, and with the new lord coming to the village they’re going to have to pay up. Annabel is determined that she’ll show the villagers that she’s willing to pull her weight and that they shouldn’t hold her in contempt. If this was so important to her, I couldn’t help but wonder why she had never bothered to go against her family’s wishes in those three years if the villagers’ opinion of her mattered that much. I suppose that really that was just there to show that Annabel is not haughty like the other members of her family and to get her into Lord Ranulf’s service. When Ranulf is introduced, he is described as being a muscular man with one brown eye (he lost the other one and wears a patch over it), brown hair and a big, bushy beard. Also, all he ever does is bellow. For a while, his speech tag is almost exclusively “he bellowed”. All I could think of was Brian Blessed playing King Richard IV in the first series of Blackadder. Not at all flattering, but there’s the brown hair and eyes, the big, bushy beard and the inability to talk at anything less than an ear-splitting bellow. There’s a difference of about 20 years in age, but that’s only a small matter! The man depicted on the book cover is very different to this, of course, but nothing could shift this image for me throughout the whole book.The story is set in the mediaeval period, in the 1300s. The author’s attention to detail is admirable and it lent a realistic air to everything that you don’t always find in stories set in the Middle Ages. This meant that I was able to slip into the story very easily and quickly got caught up in events. It also made this religious side of the story easier to accept. I hadn’t realised that this was Christian fiction when I started the book but it soon became obvious. However, I have read books written in the 1100s and there is often a fixation on religion. Here it stems from Annabel’s desire to read the Bible. She wants to read it so much that she also wants to enter a convent to study it. Thankfully, the religious message was not so strong as to segregate me as a secular reader, though I would have liked to have seen more of them bonding over other things (in the same vein as Ranulf’s burns) rather than the bonding mostly happening over shared religious beliefs.Her family, of course, aren’t quite keen on this idea and they’d much rather sell her off to the Bailiff in exchange for their debt being paid off for them. I have two things that it’s worth mentioning here and I’m going to start with the family. Really, I didn’t feel that they were used enough. They were there in the beginning to set the scene but then after that, other than one short confrontation and then later a minor appearance by one of the brothers, they don’t reappear. I would have liked to have seen how their circumstances changed, or even how they tried to weigh in on Annabel’s budding friendship with the new lord, but they’re just ignored. As for the Bailiff, he’s only ever depicted in a bad light – as a pervert and a sleaze and unkempt bully – and yet all of the other villagers are willing to follow him. None of his good points are ever shown and so when I’m expected to just accept that the other villagers like the guy, I can’t suspend my disbelief that far because I’ve not been given anything to go on for it. At least in the Disney movie, Gaston was shown as being charismatic and very handsome to explain why he’s able to wrap all the villagers around his little finger.Annabel goes into service for Lord Ranulf as a way of wriggling out of the marriage that her family is trying to force on her. Ranulf, of course, saves her from it, but Bailiff Tom isn’t going to take this refusal lying down and he gets up to all sorts of evil schemes to try to get the wife he desires. Ranulf has been hurt by a woman before and he’s promised himself that he’ll never fall in love again, but it would seem that he has his work cut out for him to keep that promise when he meets Annabel. They bond over reading the Bible and the slow burning romance between them was a real joy. Both parties are aware of their feelings for the other but neither is willing to act on them.Annabel herself is a bit on the perfect side with the author focusing on her good side so much as to totally eclipse the tiny hints of flaws that we occasionally see. I also didn’t like how she thought about the other men – Gilbert was too much – especially when she felt revulsion at the mere prospect of him touching her. It should have been left at just Bailiff Tom. Ranulf is much more rounded. Once he’d got past all his bellowing he quickly became the sort of character that pulls at your heart strings as you root for them in every aspect.If you’re in the mood for some clean historical romance and a bit of fairy tale magic, this book is the perfect choice.
    • 5/5
      The Merchant’s Daughter gives me something to look forward to in young adult historical fiction novels. I had never been a real fan of the genre until now. In Melanie Dickerson’s writing, I was able to traverse time and space and land in 1352 Glynval, England. Words, actions, morals, and customs created a sense of authenticity within the novel that helped me to better understand the characters and their flaws.The characters of The Merchant’s Daughter captured my heart from the time they were introduced until the very ending of the story, even afterwards. Annabel was young but strong willed. She ran from gossip and under the new Lord, Ranulf le Wyse, did her very best to repay the debt she and her family accrued. I sympathized with Annabel throughout the story because she, as Lord le Wyse so graciously describes her, was “the most beautiful, virtuous, courageous creature” in the small town and did not deserve to be treated as harshly as she was treated at times. As for Lord le Wyse, he was misunderstood but truly had a soft heart. He was vulnerable and understanding and just as “Annabel’s chest ached for her lord’s fate”, I had a hard time getting over how hateful and judgmental the townspeople were towards him.Ranulf and Annabel’s falling in love was inevitable. From the first moments of their meeting it seemed as though they were doomed to face each other on opposite sides of the battle line, but time and circumstances brought them close and held them together. Their final confessions of love to one another made the sweetest scene of all the novel; a scene that calls to be read a few times before you can move on to finish the story.The Merchant’s Daughter is inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and while the novel’s connection to the classic fairy tale is strong, there is more to the story than a retelling of unexpectedly finding love. The Merchant’s Daughter is shadowed by suspicion and mystery as a young girl defines her faith in God and love.*paperback provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
    • 4/5
      ***E-Edition Provided by NETGALLEY*** A timeless, faith-based take on a classic fairy-tale. The story takes us to the end of the thirteenth century. To Annabel, who was once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is now struggling with her mother and two brothers to survive after her father's passing. When Annabel's family skips out on their duties as townsfolk, Annabel is the one who consequently has to pay the price to the new King, Lord Ranulf. It is ruled that Annabel must spend three years as a servant to Lord Ranulf, who is rumored to be mean and monstrous looking. Almost Beastly in appearance. As she has done all her life, Annabel does not take her Master at face value. Rather she sees the beauty in his heart that he tries so well to hide, and with a little coaxing and a lot of prayer, both Annabel and Ranulf are rewarded with something neither of them expected; Love. Having never before read any version of 'Beauty and the Beast', I went into this book with an open mind. I think that may have helped me love this re-telling so much. Author Melanie Dickerson writes in a way that you feel transported back in time with the proper customs used by the characters as they address each other. Now, because this version was faith-based, I think the way that Annabel and Ranulf used the Bible as a guidance related to the story perfectly and didn't seem too 'pushy'. A very well written story that makes for a great read.
    • 5/5
      5 STARSI read a great story that not only had a happy ending, but helped me as well with the scriptures that were shared. Its a clean old fashioned romance. I would definately read more from Melanie Dickerson.Annabel, her two older brothers and her mom where on trial for not working the land for the last 3 years. When Annabel father was alive they were rich and spoiled. With her fathers death and loss of his ships they were poor.Her brother accepted the baliff offer of marrying Annabel forgiving thier debt.Annabel did not want to marry someone old as her father and would rather she worked their family debt by being a servant for 3 years to the new Lord Ranulf.Annabel dream was to join a nunnery and be able to study the bible for herself.Lord Ranulf has scars and injuries from saving a servant from a wild animal. His wife and child died 3 years ago. He is building a big home and brought of workers when he moved to the area. Lord Ranulf also lost his eye in the accident and asked if anyone could read. Annabel finally volunteered to read to him. He wanted someone to read the bible to him.So Annabel got her prayers of reading in the bible.Tom the Bayliff would not stop trying to force her to marry him.The story touched me and left me feeling good. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.
    • 4/5
      This book, set in the mid-1300’s in England, is a loose retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and The Beast, but which also reminds me in parts of Jane Eyre.Annabel, age 17, comes from a family that only values her for what she can get for them if she marries a rich person. Her mother keeps selecting the most egregious potential matches, and finally Annabel decides her best recourse is to try to get into a nunnery. Besides, she wants very much to read the Holy Writ for herself, but her local priest won’t allow it because she is a female.Annabel’s family won't give up on marrying her off, however. They need money, and they aren't much interested in working for it. So far they have avoided working their land, by paying bribes to the previous lord. But when a new lord who is not corrupt takes over, Lord Ranulf de Wyse, this no longer works, and a jury of peers determines that someone in Annabel’s family must work for 3 years for the new lord without recompense. Annabel volunteers, even though the lord is reputed to be a “beast,” having been disfigured by the attack of a wolf some years before. Moreover, he was betrayed by his first wife, who was even more beastly on the inside than he is on the outside, and now he wants nothing to do with women, even one so good and kind and beautiful as Annabel.Because Lord de Wyse was blinded in one eye by the wolf, he asks Annabel to read to him, and when she finds out that it is the Bible he wants read, she is ecstatic. Soon, they both look forward to their nightly readings, and not just because of the Bible. But though Annabel has discovered that Ranulf is a kindly man, the townspeople think differently, taking his mandated cessation of bribes and rapes as an insult to them. They want his death, and they intend to make it happen.Evaluation: This is a charming tale, made more appealing to me by the two messages it imparts. One is that inward beauty is more important than outward appearances. The significance of this message as told by this author is that the "beast" doesn't change to a handsome man in the end; rather, he becomes handsome to Annabel just as he is, because of her love for him. The second message is also a modern one, and that concerns the empowerment of women. Annabel is perhaps the strongest character in the book, and that's a beautiful thing to find in a fairy tale. Sure the story is otherwise predictable, but it goes in a direction the reader wants it to, so that wasn’t a problem for this reader. This would make a fine book for a tween or teen.
    • 1/5
      I’m going to begin this review of a warning and a list. Here’s the warning: This review is a negative opinion of this book. If that troubles you, move along.Here’s the list:1. I love fairy-tale retellings.2. I love a good, solid inspirational read.3. I love strong heroine’s.Unfortunately, this book was only one of the three. It was a fairy-tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. While it was a Christian retelling, it bordered more on the preachy, in your face side of Christianity, and the heroine… well… I’ll talk about that in a bit.First of all – here’s something that really annoyed me – as in, made me so angry I couldn’t sleep last night in thinking about it. I felt as if Annabel was being used as a pawn, or rather – her “calling” to be a nun was just a set-up to make it seem as if she wasn’t going to actually end up with the “Beast”, Ranulf. It felt forced – all her speaking of the Holy Writ, the huge passages of Bible verses being read, the constant protesting, and yearning to be a nun. It felt forced, unrealistic, and made me uncomfortable to read.Now, as for Annabel herself – seriously, I’m amazed the girl can even stand up straight enough to walk in this story. No. backbone. at. all. Her one method of standing up for herself is to carry a knife around – but when push comes to shove, she can’t even use it – and THEN.. she carries that martyrish guilt around when something bad does happen to the guy she intended to use it on, thinking it was her fault for wanting to defend herself in the first place.HELLO. THIS IS NOT THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO SEND TO YOUNG WOMEN OUT THERE.What happened to having a good, Christian woman with strength, character, and integrity? If she wants to be a nun, follow through! If she wants to protect herself, have her do it – why does she need to hide behind the britches of a man who has to do her dirty work for her? And furthermore – what is the big deal about telling someone what happened?(I’m not even going to talk about the bait and switch pulled here because, God-forbid, a bad guy actually get his just desserts in a book)Oh my gosh, I’m angry just writing this review, and I swear I was finally calmed down when I started to write it. Y’all, I tossed and turned last night, railing against the messages being broadcast in this book.Basically – if you want your daughter/sister/cousin/niece to believe that she must be protected by a man, that she should feel guilt for wanting to defend herself from being RAPED, that she should be wishy-washy in her goals for herself, because who knows – the right guy might just come along! Then this is the book to give them.As for me – I’m going to find a Christian book that treats women with respect.
    • 4/5
      The Merchant's Daughter is an adaption of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast that contains resemblances to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. We have the ugly, deformed male character and the beautiful female protagonist. The circumstances to which Annabel goes to Lord Ranulf le Wyse is unmistakably similar to Belle's circumstances in Beauty and the Beast. Reading a novel that is similar to a fairytale, I couldn't help but compare both. By the end of The Merchant's Daughter (I completed it in less than 2.5 hours), I found myself liking the story even more than the Beauty and the Beast story.Firstly, there is the Christian element in the story. It's no secret that I enjoy reading good Christian YA fiction. There is plenty of Bible reading done in the story, and secular readers wouldn't be able to give it a miss since the Bible reading sessions play an important role in the plot development. A glimpse to the treatment of clergy during the Middle Ages is given an important place in the book. I read quite a few literature books involving the Middle Ages era, and the depiction given of clergy in The Merchant's Daughter is accurate.Then, there is plenty of "control" in the romance part of the story. When Annabel and Lord Ranulf finally cemented their relationship, it was in perfect timing. I liked the way the romance was not rushed. It was slowly revealed bit by bit and that made the story even more enjoyable. The surprises when it comes to romance in this story is endless.Lastly, Lord Ranulf doesn't magically change to Mr. Perfect Looks. I don't want to give away too much of the story here, but suffice to say that once a person looks revolting, he is very likely to look the same unless the fairy godmother waves her wand over him. Although The Merchant's Daughter is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it is the real version of the fairytale.Annabel is the vulnerable heroine in the story. Bailiff Tom put out all the stops to make Annabel become his wife. At such, Annabel needs a protector. Logic would say that Lord Ranulf becomes Annabel's protector when the incident waiting to happened happens. True and not true. This causes the story to be even more interesting. Beneath Lord Ranulf's harshness, he is actually quite a nice person. Just because he's deformed, it doesn't mean that he has no feelings and a conscience. Bailiff Tom is a character every reader can easily dislike. There is nothing good about him. Right from the first mention of him, a reader can easily gauge that he is a shady character. No surprises there.If anything, The Merchant's Daughter is one of the best medieval romance books I've read so far. Combined with a thrilling action and romance that complements the sometimes subtle historic setting and lifestyle lessons, it is light enough for anyone looking for a clean, leisure romance story. Additionally, the Christian message is brought across strongly, but not aggressively.
    • 4/5
      "The Merchant's Daughter" is the second Christian book I have read by Melanie Dickerson. I want to be clear in my review that the book is Christian fiction and readers should be aware of this going in. I love fairy tales and was very interested to read this book since it is based on Beauty and the Beast. In this story a new lord has taken residence in a medieval village. He is grouchy and disfigured and he acts quite beastly. Annabel must work as the Lord's servant for three years to pay off her family's debt. She knows her family was wrong and chooses the servant responsibilities over her other option which was marrying an old bailiff who is mean and insistent upon her. As time goes by, Annabel sees how wonderful Lord Ranulf is and knows that his disfigurement and scars were because of selfless acts he did to protect people under his station. Annabel wants nothing more than to read the Bible and maybe go into a convent eventually. When Lord Ranulf asks him to read to him aloud from the Bible each night, Annabel couldn't be happier. Of course there has to be some kind of drama to the story so the Bailiff ends up becoming the evil guy who incites the villagers to attack Lord Ranulf. He also continues to harass Annabel at every opportunity. Things come to a head there when Bailiff Tom is injured when someone comes to save Annabel from his advances. Enter a coroner with some tough questions.So the plot was okay. The story moved at a brisk pace and the writing style is very pleasant. I loved the atmosphere and the historical details. But unfortunately too many of the plot pieces were exactly the same as in Dickerson's previous novel, "The Healer's Apprentice". The two books were far to similar to each other and I was disappointed by the lack of unique characters and plot devices in this book. Poor, Christian, pretty and innocent girl? Check. Secretive, strong leader? Check. Bad guy who likes the girl but is super icky? Check. Friend who saves you but you swear to keep the secret? Check. I will say that the Christian theme is more heavy handed in this book as the couple reads from the Bible each night and I actually found I preferred that to the first book. In "Healer's Apprentice", the religious themes weren't overt until the end and it really came out suddenly and strongly. I complained with the first book that I hated that there was no action by our main characters and they sat around and just prayed for God to help them. In this book, Annabel does call on God to be with her, but she takes action upon herself and I found that refreshing and more realistic.This book ended up ok. I liked reading it but I was never overly impressed. I had the vague "been there, read that" feeling throughout the entire thing. Still the book is clean and sweet and I can see many people enjoying this one.
    • 5/5
      The Merchant's Daughter was a compelling read that had a creative twist on the infamous fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. I fell in love with the characters. The intro of the family situation that led to her being an indentured servant was a bit tedious, but once she entered the service of Lord Ranulf, the pacing picked up and I was enthralled with the story until I finished the last page. I read this novel quickly, but not because it was a simple story. I loved the depth of emotion and the character arc. I wanted to smack bailiff Tom for being such a slimy jerk and for causing so much trouble for everyone. I felt Annabelle's frustration as she could not do much about it without causing more difficulty for herself and others. Thankfully Lord Ranulf was a decent man who protected his servants.I felt Lord Ranulf's pain from his past and loved when the author placed the reader in his point of view. I enjoyed watching him go from gruff and defensive, to softening as she read the Holy Writ to him. Once again, Melanie Dickerson shows the reader how beautiful a person's tender spirit is, and how that can soften even the hardest of hearts. Annabelle wasn't just comely on the outside, which, as she said, caused her more trouble than anything else. Lord Ranulf wanted to judge her as shallow because she was beautiful, but he learned that for some women beauty is truly more than skin deep. Annabelle was a wonderful heroine with a precious personality. She wasn't a wimp, though. She was a fighter, but she did everything with dignity. She exemplified a beautiful spirit as her faith grew from reading the Bible. She protected those she loved.My heart was gladdened when Annabelle realized that she had feelings of love for Lord Ranulf, and they were good rather than something to be afraid of. I thought that was well done. I loved how they both concluded that they must tell the truth. I didn't feel like the communication was contrived at all, nor did their relationship feel forced. It developed naturally and in a way that made my heart warm. And those kisses were well worth the wait! This would be a great book for teens to show them that beauty isn't recognized by a good man through flirting or enticing ways, but depth of spirit and character. A soft spoken woman with honor and integrity will attract a good man more than any of the things the world says will draw the attention of men--at least not the kind of attention most woman want--which is the kind resulting in love. This story does a great job of illustrating true beauty. Loved this novel!
    • 5/5
      "The Merchant's Daughter", by Melanie Dickerson, is a very well-written and thoughtful historical romance. However, it is also an inspirational romance, written in such a compelling manner that the reader's own longings for spiritual answers are stirred just as are those of the characters in the story. Set in mid-1300s England, the story line very much makes us aware of the strictures of the feudal and judicial systems of the era. Superstition warred with religious faith, and brave were those who sought out the word of God. Anabel Chapman is a young woman who longs to read the Bible, and to live out her days in a nunnery. She thinks not of marrying, but of living a devout life. Her father was a rich merchant who lost his shipping fortune and then died when a virulent illness affected many in their home village. Anabel's mother and brothers resisted working to pay their debts to the feudal system, and when the new lord comes to claim his lands, they must pay him for their years of sloth. The payment due is for one family member to serve the new lord for three years as a servant. Anabel seizes the opportunity to leave her idle, dependent family and to avoid marrying the loathsome and persistent Bailiff Tom. The new lord, Ranulf Le Wyse, disfigured and maimed by an attacking wolf, is said to be "beastly" in both looks and temper. Rumor-mongers claim he is cursed and that he brings an ill wind with him to the village. Anabel and Ranulf's first meeting is unexpected and unpleasant, but she later comes to see that he has been greatly misjudged. Her gentleness and unaffected beauty warm his cold heart and do much to change his mistrust of women. Anabel is overjoyed when Ranulf asks her to read to him from the Bible each evening. The more she reads, the more she wants to learn of the Lord's teachings and holy word. Despite all that he has suffered in his life, Ranulf has never completely turned away from his faith. Seeing the genuine spiritual yearning in Anabel reaffirms his own love of God. As their friendship and mutual respect begins to grow, so does the jealousy and malicious intent of others out to do them harm. Will their spiritual strengths and genuine love for each other be strong enough to defeat their enemies and lead to a lifetime of happiness? I very much enjoyed "The Merchant's Daughter", and I also look forward to reading "The Healer's Apprentice" from the talented Melanie Dickerson. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever."Psalm 28:7-9
    • 4/5
      I’m a sucker for fairytale retellings and when I saw that The Merchant’s Daughter was from a Christian author and publisher, I knew I had to read it. The Merchant’s Daughter is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in England during the fourteenth century.As the title implies, Annabel was born the daughter of a wealthy merchant and was raised with money and privilege. The story suggests that Annabel’s father doted on her and indulged her, even allowing her to learn to read which was rare for most people and especially for women at that time. Annabel’s family looses their wealth when their ships are lost at sea and her father dies from the plague. Now 17-years-old, Annabel gets lots of unwanted attention from men who want to take advantage of her beauty and the idea that she must be desperate to marry so she can return to the lifestyle she was accustomed to.Annabel’s mother and two older brothers are selfish, lazy and manipulative. In order to save the family home, Annabel volunteers to become an indentured servant to lord of the area, Ranulf, the story’s ‘beast.’ Ranulf is a rich man who has been scarred from a childhood encounter with a wolf. His first wife married him for his money and then rejected and cheated on him, telling him that no woman could ever love him because of how he looks. Ranulf is angry, bitter and especially unkind to Annabel because, like his wife, she is pretty. Annabel hates the kind of lecherous attention she gets from men and wants to go to a convent where she can read and study the bible. Both characters feel intense betrayal from their families and both need to love and be loved in order to be made whole.Annabel and Ranulf are very likable and you root for them to find happiness after so much loss and betrayal. The romance between these two is well developed as we see how they get to know each other’s hearts through Annabel’s nightly Bible readings to Ranulf. There are very strong Christian elements throughout the story as we see how God heals both physical and emotional hurts and how He wants what’s best for us; we only have to trust Him. This being a story of Beauty and the Beast, we also see how a person’s good character always trumps the physical appearance. The Merchant’s Daughter is a quick and romantic read that I recommend to anyone who likes sweet love stories, fairytales or Christian fiction. I enjoyed this and look forward to other books by Dickerson.Content: Kissing, attempted rape and some violence. My Rating: Really Good!
    • 5/5
      Review originally published on my blog awordsworth.blogspot.comAnnabel's father was a wealthy merchant, who lost everything - including his life. His family, unused to working, simply didn't, even though there was no way to pay the "nonworking fee" to the often-absent Lord. When new Lord Ranulf decides to move to the village to make his home there, Annabel's family faces either a hefty fine or three-years of indentured labor by one member of the family. Seeing a chance to help her family, while also escaping the very unwelcome advances of Bailiff Tom, Annabel goes to the Manor House and offers herself and her services. And so begins the heart of the story.Lord Ranulf is a man of mystery with a dark past and quick-fire temper - though also a surprising tendency towards heroism. Annabel is a girl whose dearest wish is to escape to a convent and become a nun - where she can read the Word of God for herself. The villagers are (in general) skeptical, judgmental and superstitious, their priest's weekly sermons filled with condemnation and warnings against the evil seductions of women. Bailiff Tom is a skeeze holding a deep grudge against Annabel for refusing to marry him, and Annabel's brothers are equally as detestable. It's an interesting, colorful cast of characters and by trick of the narration we get to see both Lord Ranulf and Annabel's thoughts - thus watching as they both struggle to understand the other, and what is going on around them.I really, really, really enjoyed The Merchant's Daughter. I felt the historical context to be very fitting, and Annabel's struggles to understand herself and her interactions with the community - especially Lord Ranulf - make a lot of sense when viewed within that context. Every week she is told by the church that she, as a woman, is evil and a stumbling block to man. Women are disdained (although their labor is certainly very welcome!), yet once Annabel does gain access to the Scriptures, and reads them for herself - she discovers there's more to life. And more to God. Her journey is one of both spiritual and emotional development, and when her moment comes at last, I cheered for her. Lord Ranulf has a compelling story of his own, and watching them grow together? Yup, everything this Beauty and the Beast-loving girl could ask for.
    • 5/5
      The death of her father changed Annabel Chapman's life drastically. Unable to pay her family's debts and unwilling to marry the much older Baliff Tom, Annabel is forced into indentured servitude to the gruff Lord Ranulf le Wyse. Her intention is become a nun after serving her term under Ranulf, but as she encounters Ranulf, she finds herself sometimes pleasantly surprised. As Annabel struggles with her feelings, she witnesses an incident that could place Ranulf in danger. Will the truth preserve or destroy their lives? Is Annabel willing to give up her dream in exchange for an uncertain future?The Merchant's Daughter is the first book I've read by Melanie Dickerson and I'll definitely be looking for more. Maybe it is because the story has a less common sort of historical setting, but I loved the setting and it was part of what really hooked my attention, even before the characters and storyline did. All characters were authentic, which is something important to me when I'm reading a book. The romance, struggles and action created a charming story. I would definitely read The Merchant's Daughter again.I'm not sure why this was categorized as Young Adult (YA) Fiction. Annabel Chapman is a young woman, but I think this book could appeal to far more than the YA market – historical romance, historical fiction, romantic fiction. I recommend to anyone looking for a clean historical romance.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advanced reading copy of this book free from Zondervan Publishers as part of their blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
    • 3/5
      I had very little expectations going into this, simply because I knew very little about the book or its author. The summary sounded good though, and when I had the opportunity to read this via NetGalley I decided to give it a go. I am very glad I did. This was a fantastic fairy-tale retelling that perfectly blended together God, romance, and historical issues. From the beginning, I admired Annabel. She does everything for her family without acknowledgment, respect, or respite from them. When her brothers become determined to marry her off to the lecherous bailiff in order to save them from debt, she instead ends up indentured to the beastly, Ranulf. Ranulf’s is gruff and tough. He definitely has his issues in the beginning, but slowly with Annabel’s help he begins to change. I loved the relationship between the two of them. The fact that it grew so naturally, and without the all too common symptoms of “insta-love” was absolutely refreshing. Some will probably choose not to read this because of its somewhat Christian nature. I feel, however, that the religious elements felt like a natural part of the story. At no point did I feel like I was being preached at. I actually found it to be very inspiring and uplifting. I could completely understand and relate to Annabel’s questions about God. I also loved that this was a retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales, Beauty & the Beast. I did not realize it at first, but as the story progressed the parallels became stronger. The way the author took the fairy tale, but blended it into a story all her own was marvelous. Overall, I was very impressed with this book, and would definitely recommend it. Fans of a good, clean romance will love this. Fans of Entwined by Heather Dixon or Beastly by Alex Flinn are likely to enjoy this as well. This is definitely a book worth your time.
    • 4/5
      The author creates a beautiful setting, and characters I couldn’t get enough of. The twists and turns kept me turning pages and wanting more.
    • 4/5
      I love Beauty and the Beast and this retelling is wonderful. I normally do not like historic fiction, this I did not want to put down.Set in England during the 1300’s, The Merchant’s Daughter had a real feel for the time period. The characters were complex and the story never dragged. I liked how the heroine Annabelle was strong and brave but all the while searching to understand God better.This is one story I would recommend to teens and women alike. It is a clean, Christian romance and I give it 4 stars.
    • 1/5
      Humourless, religious claptrap.
    • 4/5
      not as good as the healers apprentice (and closer to the fairy tale), but I enjoyed this book.
    • 4/5
      Okay so a few things you need to bear in mind before embarking on this very soppy but beautifully written novel.

      One, don't expect originality because it isn't. It's regurgitated romance at its finest. Think Beauty and the Beast meets Jane Eyre, add a bit of plot alterations and WHAM you have The Merchant's Daughter.

      I read this in less than a day it was that good, I just couldn't put it down. And that is only because I like both the above mentioned stories, so if you don't, this might not be for you.

      Firstly, bear with me because I read this a few weeks ago so the names are a bit fuzzy, but the MC Annabel was once a Merchant's daughter who then by cruel circumstance and a bit of clever plot twisting to spark the inevitable romance, ends up working for the feared and deformed Lord Ranulf. She is at first terrified by the prospect but after he does his (surprise surprise) knight in shining armor impersonation, she starts to consider that her working under him would be better than marrying the disgusting, slimy Bailiff Tom.

      Her family are a bunch of idiots who you instantly despise and continue to the more indifferent and unfeeling and plain selfish they are towards Annabel. A bit of Cinderella mixed in there I think.

      And Bailiff Tom is in my opinion a bit of a cardboard cut out for a villain but he certainly gave me the creeps and I understood why he was the way he was. The anger and annoyance at being rejected by her, thinking she's lucky to have him and believing she fancies herself superior to him.

      This book is cliche and it is unoriginal but it has a magical element about it that just lets you get swept away in all its gooey loveliness that you can't help but fall for its farfetched, OTT designs. I loved it.

      Annabel is a sweet and wonderfully written character. I loved her innocence and then her determination. I liked how she was humble about Lord Ranulf's feelings for her (Jane Eyre copycat) and how she was sweet to everyone. But also fought back too when the occasion called for it.

      Lord Ranulf was my favourite character by far. He did remind me a lot of Mr Rochester but he was even more harsher and haunted if that's even possible. Because you had moments where it was from his POV you truly saw his self-loathing and how tortured this man was. How rejected he felt by his deceased wife. How angry he was, and how he hated himself in and out. How his soul and heart had been blackened. He saved a servant from being killed by a wolf only to get mauled himself. His scars show his goodness yet people reject him, judging him as something beastly and something to invoke terror, though if you really knew him, you'd know his disfigurement proved the exact opposite.
      Which is what Annabel discovers the more she learns about him and spends time with him.

      And here is my major annoyance. I'm a religious person. I believe in God so at first I thought the mention of God and the Bible and her desire to go to a nunnery was interesting and quite fresh. In those times it was quite an openly discussed and expressed belief. To believe in God. And the way Melanie Dickerson wrote this made me feel like I was really there in that century. Something historical fiction writers don't quite do for me. Not as much as she did. So to begin with I liked it.

      But then after several scenes it just became a bit grating. I liked how they both found peace through her reading the Bible. How she found a sense of calm being beside him and reading, and how he found his soul lifting with the words. How it brought back his faith in himself, in God and in life. And as his love for her grew so did his spirit.

      They both found their own salvation through reading it together, and being near each other. And I understood why it was done and the Bible and belief in God was emphasized, but just every now and again I thought maybe she could have toned it down. And that's saying a lot when coming from me.

      I think it bothered me when she still wanted to go to the nunnery even after it was plain for all to see EXCEPT HERSELF that she loved Lord Ranulf. It was as if she knew but she just didn't want to see it. Oh he doesn't love me, what's the point? HE DOES. IT'S SOOOOO OBVIOUS HE DOES. HE TOLD YOU HE DID. Read between the lines, girl!

      So then when she began talking about her duty to God and questioning her calling, asking herself all these inward questions about the roles of a woman, and believing that being a nun is higher in God's eyes than being a married woman, I was like, why can't she keep her faith AND be married?? Surely it's good to do both?? Why does she have to suppress her happiness and live a life of solitude to be closer to God when every inch of her being is telling her not to? I just got to a point where I wanted to shake her.

      Then things looked up. She realized at the very last second when she thought she was going to lose Lord Ranulf that she couldn't imagine life without him and that swayed her decision to stay. Took you long enough, I say.

      Overall I loved this book and it was only after I read it that I thought of what annoyed me or what its faults were, in MY opinion. And now I'm reading The Healer's Apprentice and I'm seeing almost the same plotline, just with different characters with a slightly different background but the main points are pretty much the same. I don't mind but as soon as I read the part where Lord Hamlin was pleasantly surprised by Rose owning a Bible and being able to read Latin I just thought, er... MEGA deja vu.

      Hope the plot changes so I don't feel like I've read the same book twice. But if you like that sort of thing, then you shouldn't mind that too much and just enjoy the ride.

      Luckily for me, I do.

      4 out of 5 stars for this.

      Melanie Dickerson has won me over as a talented writer. I'll be looking out for her from now on.
    • 5/5
      Melanie writes a book that is hard to put down. She weaves suspense and romance beautifully while still keeping God at the forefront.
    • 5/5
      My friend and I read this book together! We enjoyed it so much! It was fantastic retelling of beauty and the beast! Melanie Dickerson NAILED IT!!!
    • 5/5
      This interpretation of Beauty and the Beast was well written and did a good job of adapting the story to a historical romance that did not involve fantasy elements. This version takes place in England during the mid 1300's and unlike in most versions the character of Beauty has 2 brothers and a mother instead of 2 sisters and her father. I thought the author did a good job of showing the inner emotions of both Annabel and Lord Ranulf le Wyse.
    • 5/5
      I

    Book preview

    The Merchant's Daughter - Melanie Dickerson

    Chapter

    1

    August 1352, Glynval, England.

    Annabel sat in the kitchen shelling peas in to a kettle at her feet. A bead of sweat tickled her hairline while only the barest puff of warm air came through the open door.

    Annabel!

    Her brother called from the main house. As she hurried to finish shelling the pea pod in her hand and see what Edward wanted, the pot over the fire began to boil over. She jumped up, banging her shin on the iron kettle on the floor.

    Snatching a cloth from the table, she used it to pull the boiling pot toward her and away from the fire. But as the pot swung forward on its hook, the cloth slipped and her thumb touched the lid. She jerked back. Spying the bucket of water she had used to wash the peas, she plunged her hand into it.

    Annabel! Edward yelled again.

    He thinks he doesn’t have to help with the work, but I should abandon my task and come running whenever he calls.

    She blew on her burning thumb as she hurried from the kitchen.

    Edward stood propped against the wall in the spacious front room of their stone house, scraping under his fingernails with a sharp stick. When he lifted his head, his green eyes fixed her with a hard look. Mother was summoned this morning to appear before the hallmote.

    I know that. The manorial court, or hallmote, was being held today, and a jury of twelve men from their village of Glynval would decide the penalty for her family’s neglect of their duties.

    The new lord is coming to Glynval. Even if the hallmote is lenient, I’ve heard he is far from forgiving. What will happen to us? To you? He thrust the stick at her face.

    Annabel bit back annoyance at her brother’s derisive tone. For the past three years he had stood by, just like the rest of her family, refusing to do any of their required work in the fields, putting them all in this situation.

    I’ve decided to help with the harvest this year. She crossed her arms as her brother moved closer to her. We should all help.

    "Do you want to end up sleeping in ditches and begging bread? Help with the harvest? It’s too late to start doing your share now, little sister. He flung the words at her, jabbing his stick in her direction with each phrase. If you are wise, you will try to think whose bread you need to butter to see that you have a home after today."

    Annabel’s back stiffened, and she prepared for whatever offensive thing her brother would say next.

    We have to fend for ourselves. You’re seventeen years old now and well beyond the age of accountability. Maybe you know of someone who might marry you. Do you?

    Nay, I do not. She glared back at him, wishing she could think of a scathing retort.

    He began rolling the stick between his fingers, smirking at it. But there is someone. Someone who is prepared to smooth over our trouble with the new lord and pay the fines so we don’t have to work in our lord’s fields.

    Her brother wasn’t concerned about her, she knew — he wanted to solve his own troubles by throwing her to the wolves. But which wolf was he planning on throwing her to?

    A pleased smile spread over Edward’s thin lips. I am speaking of Bailiff Tom.

    Bailiff Tom? He’s as old as Father! Annabel’s face burned at the notion. She tried to think of some dignified reply, but the words tumbled out. If you think … for one moment that I — She clenched her jaw to stop herself.

    He has been widowed these three years. Surely you’ve seen him look at you with the eye of one who is looking for a wife.

    She had seen the bailiff once or twice with a lecherous sneer on his pinched face — and been thoroughly disgusted that a friend of her father’s would stare at her that way. Marry Bailiff Tom? She would rather sleep in a ditch.

    You will marry him, because there’s no other way. Edward leaned over her, his eyes cold and dark. Besides, where will you get a better offer of marriage than from the bailiff?

    I won’t marry him. Annabel spoke through clenched teeth. If Father were still alive, he’d never force me to marry Bailiff Tom.

    Her brother turned his attention back to cleaning his nails. I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. I’ve already told the bailiff yes.

    Heat climbed up her neck and burned her cheeks. How dare you?

    Don’t look at me like that, dear sister. I had no choice. The new lord arrived in Glynval last night, and the reeve came this morning when you were out picking peas, summoning Mother to come to the manor house. Something had to be done to help our poor family. He gave her a simpering grin. Oh, I nearly forgot. Mother wants you to go to the village, to the butcher, and get us a goose for dinner. Her brother raised his brows in challenge.

    She glared at him then lifted her nose in the air, as if her life weren’t teetering on the edge of a cliff. At least this errand would get her away from Edward and give her time to think. Snatching the piece of delicate white linen from a wooden peg by the door, she wrapped it around her head, securing all loose hair away from her face, and tied it at the nape of her neck. She jerked the door open and flung it closed behind her.

    The pain in her thumb drew her notice to the new red blister. She blew on it as she started down the lane toward Glynval and William Wagge’s butcher shop.

    Spending the last of their money on a goose on the day their fate was being decided by a jury of their fellow villagers. Pathetic.

    They would be penniless outcasts tomorrow if Mother couldn’t persuade the jury to have mercy on them. But could they truly hope for leniency from a village that resented them for not doing their share of the work?

    Her family did not deserve mercy. Father had been a wealthy merchant, fully able to pay the censum so that his wife and children did not have to do the lord’s required fieldwork during harvest and at other times of labor shortage. But they were left destitute when his ships were destroyed in a storm, and shortly after that, he died in the pestilence. Even as the family of a freeman, due to their inability to pay the censum, they were now required to perform some of the same duties and work as the villeins. But her mother had insisted her health was poor and she was unable to work, and in her typical manner, she also announced her children should not have to do such menial work as harvesting grain.

    For three years her family shirked their duties and went unpunished, kept safe by the old lord’s corrupt steward, who managed to postpone their fines.

    But with the new lord arriving, Annabel had a feeling her family’s comeuppance was due in full. Bailiff Tom’s offer was proof enough. The bailiff, an old family friend, was using their lapse to his advantage, holding their predicament over them to force Annabel to marry him.

    She shuddered.

    The path to Glynval was empty, and Annabel realized most of the adults of the village would be at the hallmote to watch and see how each case played out, who won their complaint against whom, and what the ale brewers’ fines would be. She usually stayed away from the proceedings, but today she would go to see how her family fared with the twelve jurors. Whatever the jurors assessed, whatever the fine or punishment, it would be supported and upheld not only by the lord’s steward but also by the assembled villagers.

    Lost in her thoughts, Annabel was surprised to see a form emerge from the shadow of the trees around the bend in the road. The figure progressed haltingly toward her, his right hip twisting at an abnormal angle with each step he took. Stephen Blundel.

    She smiled at her friend. Having grown up with her, Stephen was more like a brother to her than her own blood brothers were. Stephen lifted his hand and waved.

    At that moment, seven ragged, barefoot boys crept out from the trees and surrounded him. The malicious looks on their faces made her heart thump in her throat. Stephen neither flinched nor altered his pace, as though he did not see them.

    With a flick of his wrist, the tallest boy sent a small stone flying. Then they all hurled rocks at Stephen, shouting ugly names at him. Dragging his foot along the ground and snickering, one of them mimicked Stephen’s crooked stride.

    Annabel tried to read Stephen’s expression, but he stared straight ahead, his jaw set.

    Frustration with the morning’s events surged through her. Get away! she screamed at the boys. She bent and dug her fingers into the dirt as she snatched up some rocks of her own. You leave him alone or I’ll — ! She drew back her fist full of rocks and aimed them at the largest boy, the leader.

    The boys scattered and halted a few feet away then formed a circle around her.

    Turning on her heel, she tried to face them all at once and pin them down with her glare. They were younger than her, but some of the boys were tall enough to look Annabel in the eyes.

    She checked over her shoulder. Stephen’s awkward gait had taken him far down the road, but he stopped and turned around. He frowned, probably waiting to see if she would need his help, and perhaps a little embarrassed that she had defended him.

    The young ruffians began laughing and sneering at her.

    Trying to hurt someone who’d never hurt you, Annabel accused. For shame.

    The tallest boy crossed his arms, his tattered sleeves flapping. His bare legs were brown with filth. My mother says you won’t be so high and holy, Annabel Chapman, now that our lord is here. Woe to the Chapmans. The rest of the boys took up the chant. Woe to the Chapmans. Woe to the Chapmans. Woe to the Chapmans.

    She stomped through the circle of boys, staring straight ahead as Stephen had done. The boys continued their taunts and insults, but she held her head erect and pretended to ignore them. They drifted down the road, launching a few weak insults at Stephen as they rounded the bend, their gloating laughter disappearing with them.

    Stephen was coming toward her. She waited for him to catch up.

    I’ll walk with you, Stephen said, giving her a sympathetic lift of his brows. Are you going to the hallmote?

    Annabel nodded. I have to go to the butcher’s to get a goose for Mother, but I thought I might see how my family fares in the court first. She tried to look unworried, but she couldn’t fool her friend. They walked together down the dusty road.

    My mother is waiting for me at home to help her patch a leak in the roof. But I will stay with you at the hallmote if you need me, Stephen offered.

    No, I’d rather you didn’t stay. Annabel’s cheeks heated at the thought of her friend seeing her family’s name scorned and abused in front of nearly everyone they knew. She’d rather bear her shame alone. I’ll be fine.

    The two of them passed an old woman bent over the field of beans next to the road. Let her not notice me, Annabel prayed as she ducked her head.

    The older woman straightened as much as the hump in her back allowed and leveled her narrowed gaze at Annabel. A Chapman. It will be your turn to tend the fields now that the new master has come, dearie! She cackled a high-pitched laugh.

    Annabel stared at the ground. Today wasn’t the first time she’d experienced the villagers’ contempt, but she blushed again at what must be going through Stephen’s mind.

    It seemed to take forever to walk past the woman, for her lingering laughter to fade away. Stephen said softly, Don’t let it bother you.

    Annabel tried to smile and say something flippant, but she couldn’t think of anything. Dread slowed her feet. Fear crept up her spine and gripped her around the throat as she came closer to the place where her family’s fate would be decided. She imagined each person at the hallmote today, derision and glee mingling on their face, as they too anticipated her family’s reckoning.

    Annabel stopped and faced Stephen. You better go on back home. Give your mother my love. She gave him a little wave and started to turn away.

    You always have a home with us, Stephen said.

    Thank you. She waved again as she walked toward her fate. His words seemed to emphasize even more the trouble she was in.

    She would refuse to marry Bailiff Tom, of course, and under church law no one could force her to marry. But by doing so her family would lose the only offer of help they were likely to receive — Tom’s offer to pay the lord for the work the Chapmans had not done. The lord would get what was owed him, one way or another. Would the jury order that their home be seized and given to the lord? Or would they devise some other punishment? The old lord had lived far away and never came to Glynval, choosing to send his steward instead, a man who accepted bribes. But the new lord, it was rumored, had come to Glynval to build a proper house and live here. His new steward would make sure he received all that was owed to him.

    Annabel shivered at the thought of the new lord, Lord le Wyse. He was getting harder to force from her mind.

    The hairs on the back of her neck prickled as she remembered the things she’d heard about him. Exaggerations, surely. He couldn’t be as frightening as people said. But they would all soon find out.

    As she rounded another curve in the road, the houses and shops of Glynval came into view. Each wattle-and-daub structure was made of white plaster and a thatched roof. Chicken coops, looking just like the houses, only smaller, crowded in the backyards along with slick, muddy pigsties full of snorting swine. The animals filled the air with their pungent stench. Annabel wrinkled her nose and hurried on, forcing herself to go to the manorial court meeting first before going on to the butcher’s to get the goose. Besides, the butcher is probably at the hallmote with everyone else.

    She passed quickly through the main road of the village, which was also nearly deserted. She turned down the lane that led to the manor house, a structure more like a hall than a house. The upper floor was one big room where the hallmote was held in bad weather. But today, as the weather was fine, though a bit hot and cloudy, the court would be held outside in the courtyard.

    She walked up to the outskirts of the crowd unnoticed and pushed through to see the jurors standing or squatting in a group off to the left. Only two men were sitting — the clerk, who was busy writing on a long strip of parchment, and another man Annabel guessed to be the lord’s new steward, who was in charge of the meeting. The steward and clerk would probably only stay long enough to conduct the hallmote and then leave in the morning, off to see to Lord le Wyse’s other holdings.

    When the clerk had finished writing, he stood up and proclaimed, John Maynard complains of John, son of Robert Smith. Then he sat down.

    John Maynard came forward and described, in great detail, an argument he had with John, son of Robert Smith, which resulted from a missing chicken he claimed John stole from him, killed, and ate. John Maynard also brought five men with him who swore on the holy relics either that they knew what he was saying was true or that he was a trustworthy man. John, son of Robert Smith, had failed to bring his own oath helpers.

    While the case was being decided, a man near Annabel kept looking at her out of the corner of his eye and then nudging his neighbor with his elbow and motioning at Annabel with his head.

    Had her family’s case already been decided? She looked around but didn’t see any friendly face she could ask.

    Finally, the case of the missing chicken was decided in favor of the complainant, John Maynard. The jury fined John, the son of Robert Smith, four pence for stealing and consuming the chicken. Four pence was a heavy fine, but chickens were valuable.

    The clerk announced the next case. The steward of Lord Ranulf le Wyse accuses Roberta Chapman and her three grown children, Edward, Durand, and Annabel Chapman, of shirking all their required fieldwork, harvest work, and boon work for the three years past, as of this Michaelmas.

    Annabel felt her face grow hot as she kept her eyes focused on the jury members and the steward. She felt as if everyone was staring at her, but she didn’t want to look around to confirm her suspicions.

    Mother came forward and stood in front of the entire assemblage of villagers. She looked tense, her lips bloodless and pursed, but defiant. Oh, Mother, please don’t make it worse.

    The steward called the reeve forward to attest that this accusation was true.

    Annabel was surprised Bailiff Tom wasn’t there also, either to confirm or deny that her family had not done the work required of them.

    The reeve confirmed the accusation, and her mother refused to deny it. The jury conferred for only a few moments, then the foreman turned to the steward and his clerk and said, The jurors find that the Chapmans are all equally guilty and therefore must pay sixty pence per person, totaling two hundred forty pence, or twenty shillings.

    The entire assembly gasped.

    Annabel felt sick. She had never heard of a fine anywhere near that amount. It was impossible. Her mother’s defiant expression, however, never wavered.

    Roberta Chapman, are you or your children able to pay this fine?

    No, sir steward.

    Jury, the Chapmans are not able to pay their fine. What will be their alternative penalty?

    The jury huddled together. Annabel watched them, unable to walk away until she learned her family’s fate. She should have gone straight to the butcher shop instead. More people were staring at her, and she took a step back, partially hiding behind the miller’s overfed son.

    Finally the jury foreman broke away from the other eleven and stepped forward. Sir steward, the jury says that Roberta Chapman, who is not able to pay the fine of two hundred forty pence, will send one of her grown children to work as Lord le Wyse’s servant for the next three years, doing whatever tasks his lord deems fitting, to pay for the three years the family did not do their work. If they are unwilling, they will forfeit their home and property immediately to Lord le Wyse.

    Annabel backed away as murmurs of approval rose from the circle of villagers. Soon she was on the lane, heading back toward Glynval.

    Her face still burned from her family’s public humiliation, and she kept her gaze on the ground as she reentered the village, drawing her head covering closer around her face. A few more steps and she’d be inside the butcher’s shop and away from prying eyes.

    Annabel? Is that you?

    She recognized Margery’s voice and groaned. It would be impolite to ignore her, so she tried to smile. Good morning, Margery.

    Both girls had blue eyes, blonde hair, and evenly proportioned features, so people occasionally remarked that the two of them could be sisters, but Annabel hoped the resemblance was only physical. She always dreaded Margery’s embarrassing questions. Lately she was even harder to take, bragging and smirking at having married the wealthiest man in Glynval and remarking on the fact that Annabel was still unwed. But Annabel couldn’t imagine marrying such an old man. Or any man, truth be told.

    Margery caught Annabel by the arm and leaned close. Annabel leaned back to get away from the smell of garlic emanating from her.

    Have you heard the news? The girl placed a hand on her slightly protruding belly. I’ll be a mother before spring plowing! She giggled then stopped abruptly. She clamped her free hand over her mouth while her eyes widened and her face turned gray.

    Are you unwell? Annabel grasped the girl’s elbow and took a step away, afraid Margery would heave her breakfast on Annabel’s only pair of shoes.

    Margery took a deep, slow breath, then another, and lowered her hand from her mouth. That was nearly the third time today. She smiled in spite of her pallor.

    I’ve heard that dry bread eaten in the morning before you rise is helpful for the sickness.

    All is well with me, but I’m distressed for you. Margery’s brows drew together.

    Oh, I’m well. I’m on my way to the butcher’s and must hurry —

    All the people say your mother and brothers have played our lord very false. Some say you’ll all be turned out of your home, your mother put in the stocks — or worse. Where will you go? Do you have any other family who could take you in? She put one hand on her hip and pointed her finger at Annabel’s nose. You should marry. I hear Bailiff Tom is looking for a wife. Her eyes grew wide with excitement at her brilliant new idea.

    Annabel’s family deserved to be turned out of their house, as they’d not served their lord according to the law — and now that would indeed be their fate, as decreed by the hallmote, unless she or one of her brothers became Lord le Wyse’s servant. But Annabel had to feign confidence or risk Margery going on about Tom.

    When everyone sees how willing we are to begin doing our share of the work, I’m sure everything will be well. In fact, the jury only moments ago decided our punishment. One of my family will work for the lord in his manor.

    A visible shudder went through Margery. She whispered, I’ve heard the new lord is a beast.

    Nonsense. Annabel fixed her eyes on Margery, anxious to know if she had actually seen him.

    He has a beard and one of his arms is afflicted. He holds his arm up like this — Margery demonstrated by crooking her arm across her midsection. She drew nearer, until her lips were almost touching Annabel’s ear. And he has only one eye.

    One eye?

    He wears a black patch of leather over his missing eye, and a scar runs through his beard all the way to his chin. You saw him?

    I heard it from Butcher Wagge’s wife, who heard it from Joan Smith, and she heard it direct from Maud atte Water, who’s to be one of the dairy maids in the new lord’s buttery.

    You mustn’t believe everything you hear. She could not let Margery’s description frighten her. Maybe the new lord was only very ugly, and that was why people made up such horrific stories about his appearance.

    I must go now, Annabel said quickly, trying to walk away. May God favor your child and bless you. Good day.

    I’m sorry you’re in haste. You didn’t tell me what you’re going to do when they turn you out —

    We won’t be turned out. Good day. Determined to get away from Margery, Annabel headed straight for the butcher’s shop. As she hurried inside, she immediately collided with a man, her sundrenched eyes almost blinded inside the dark shop.

    So glad you could come.

    Annabel blinked as the man’s face came into focus. It was Bailiff Tom.

    The bailiff wrapped his hands around her upper arms.

    She looked up into his small-eyed, sharp-nosed face, and then down to the hands that were holding her arms unnecessarily. Even though he wasn’t a large man, he still loomed over her.

    Bailiff Tom’s greeting was odd, as if he had been expecting her. He must have arranged with Edward to send her to the butcher shop, where he’d be waiting for her. The realization made her feel sick.

    She straightened her shoulders and tried to free herself from his grip by taking a step back, but he did not let go. Pray excuse me. I was looking for the butcher.

    Are you sure? He chuckled in a way that made her stomach clench. His dark, oily hair hung below his ears. He leaned over her, and she smelled his sweaty odor. When had he last taken a bath? It was summer, after all. He couldn’t use the excuse that the water was too cold.

    The butcher’s not here, but I would be right pleased — he paused as though to emphasize the last word, reaching his rusty-looking hand toward her face — to help you.

    She jerked back to avoid his touch.

    He took a step toward her. She dodged away from him, but as he was still holding her arm, she couldn’t get away. He leaned so close she could smell his breath, see a black spot on a side tooth and black hairs protruding from his nose.

    Has your brother told you about my generous offer? His smile grew wide.

    Imaginary bugs crawled over her. Get your hand off me. She jerked out of his grasp and turned to leave.

    The bailiff leapt around her, pushing her back and blocking her way. He hovered over her with menacing eyes.

    I shall help you, help your whole family. Your brothers will be very disappointed in you if you say no to me.

    My mother is handling the situation, and I will not accept your offer.

    She tried to dodge around the man, but he moved another step and covered the doorway with his body.

    Let me pass.

    His leer made her clench her teeth.

    Tarry awhile. No need for haste. He grabbed her hand. I think of you, Annabel. With your mother about to get you all turned out of your house, you should marry me. I could take care of you, could keep your family from trouble with the new lord.

    Her eyes darted to the door.

    He grasped her arms again, and suddenly his lips were coming toward her mouth. Annabel turned her

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