1638 precolonial Maryland

Margaret took a deep breath. Nothing she imagined in England prepared her for the hardships of living in Maryland territory. Crossing the treacherous ocean followed by sickness befalling newcomers foretold of coming trials. If she and Mary needed anything, they must make it themselves.

Today, Mary supervised the soap making outback, while Margaret, on her knees in the musky soil, finger nails chipped and hands raw like a common servant, tended to tender new plants. A mellow voice interrupted Margaret’s thoughts.

“Lady Margaret?” Jacob Cole’s servant stood at their gate. She fidgeted with her skirt and looked away.

Margaret stood, acknowledging the Wells girl while wiping her hands on her apron.

The Wells girl handed Margaret a covered basked smelling of cinnamon. She mumbled out sentences, covering her eyes with both hands. Margaret, ignoring the buzzing of flies and the damp heat of the morning sun, worked to untangle the girl’s words.

“If the river doesn’t take me, I shall have my baby alone. My time is up and will have to live with Master Cole. I shall never see my dear Tom again.” Tears poured.

“Yet, you do not look like you are about to have a baby. Why do you say your time is up?”

“Master Cole brought me here four years ago. He said after I had worked for him for four years, I wouldn’t owe him a tad more, and now he says I can’t leave, and so I might as well marry him. Lady Brent. I worked hard from early morning until after dark every day. My time is up. Even the devil would say this isn’t right.” She sniffed.

Margaret set her jaw. “Heaven help us if other masters here in Maryland treat their servants in this manner.”

“There’s nothing I can do.” She bit her lip. “I thought maybe the next time you talked with Governor Calvert you might say something on my behalf, and I pray my request is not one of cheekiness.”

“Mary.” Margaret called sharply across to the soap making group. “Would you please come here?”

When Mary finished saying something, she trotted over to the garden. “Hello, Carrie. Are you not feeling well—your face seems flushed?”

“So, you are acquainted with Carrie Wells?” Margaret studied her sister, slipped the basket from Carrie, and moved it into Mary’s hands. “She baked something for us, and I smell herbs to scent your soap.”

“Sometimes on Sundays after church Carrie walks with me in the woods and shows me barks, roots, and herbs that heal.” She glanced at the basket. “Why, these are lovely.” She glanced at the young woman, then put her hand on Carrie’s arm. “Are you still having trouble with Jacob Cole?”

“Jacob Cole is about to have troubles with her. Has Giles returned from Kent for Assembly today? Will both our brothers be at the meeting?” Margaret’s frogs roiled inside her.

How dare these men take advantage of their servants?

“I saw him and Fulke along with some other men heading to Lewger’s home earlier.”

“Come, Carrie Wells. We shall also attend Assembly.”

“But—Margaret,” Mary grabbed her arm. “Certainly, women would not be allowed—”

Margaret shrugged Mary away, snatched Carrie Wells by her hand, and stomped off down the path.

“Sister,” Mary called after her, “you must take off that filthy apron. You’re covered in soil.”

Margaret jerked it untied and slung it. “There is a difference between God’s soil and men’s dirt. Carrie Wells and I are about to sort this very thing out with all those fine gentlemen of Assembly.”

The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor
Genre: Historical Mystery
Release: February 2024
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

Murderous rebels and bigoted gentlemen can’t prevent spinster Lady Margaret Brent from wielding her power to defend Maryland settlers from plunder and obliteration.

Lady Margaret Brent is compelled to right wrongs. Under the rule of Charles I she risks her life by illegally educating English women, placing her family at risk. She fights to have a voice, yet her own father and brothers exclude her from discussions. Worried the king’s men may know of her illegal activities, she flees to the New World where she can enjoy religious tolerance and own land, believing she will be allowed a voice. Once in Maryland, she presents cases in provincial court where she’s hired as the first American woman attorney. While navigating the amorous attention of Governor Leonard Calvert Margaret discovers the rebellious actions of other colonists, prompting her to build a fort to shield those she loves from being murdered. Margaret will need to rely on her integrity and ingenuity to protect the fledgling colony of Maryland from being destroyed.

Meet the author
Charlene Bell Dietz’s latest award-winning novel The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor took 1st place in the New Mexico Press Women contest and won honors from the National Federation of Press Women. Her other novels in the Flapper-Scientist series have won numerous awards. The first two books in this series: The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur, and The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker each won Kirkus Reviews stars and were named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books. You can read her short stories in the 2016 RMFW, 2019 SWW and 2023SWW anthologies and her articles in Mystery and Suspense Magazine. Dietz, a retired educator, grew up in the Rocky Mountain area but now lives in the foothills in the central mountains of New Mexico. Connect with her on Facebook, on blog at inkydancestudios.com, or Twitter at @CharBellDietz.