The anger was gone, having been replaced with a bone deep weariness that Isobel had only ever encountered living on the streets. Still, despite her tiredness, restful sleep wouldn’t come at all that night, and she was reduced to restless dosing. She vaguely recalled waking several times during th...
The huge mound of paperwork that awaited him would take days to get through, but held little interest. His thoughts were very firmly locked on the events in Tipton Hollow. In particular, the latest revelation of several thefts from customers of Bentwhistle Funeral Directors. He couldn’t help but ...
Rain lashed relentlessly against the window panes when Prudence opened her bedroom shutters the next morning. The grey clouds that lurked over the house matched her darkened mood. She stood and stared out of the window for several moments, and wondered if she would ever find any peace while the f...
It was a mess. Even in the darkness, they could see the vast amount of bottles and barrels lying abandoned on the uneven dirt floor. Cobwebs covered practically every inch of ceiling. With no windows, the cavernous room had an eerie feel that made Archie shudder in distaste. “At least we know now...
His eyes popped open when he realised that someone was thumping on the front door. Suddenly, the reality of his situation slammed into him with such force that his head whipped around on the pillow. He stared in horror at Eloisa’s bare shoulder and closed his eyes as a blistering curse escaped hi...
He had never been so captivated by a woman before, so ensnared in her feminine allure that he couldn’t tear himself away, and that was the crux of the problem. That’s what pushed him to take another drink of the watered down brandy and settle back to watch the woman who intrigued him. She moved w...
Its glassy eyes shone red with the blood that trickled down from the open wound on its feathered chest, and dripped steadily off its beak. The small pool gathering on the kitchen floor made Francesca’s stomach lurch and she stared in horror at the harbinger of death. She was so shaken by the sigh...
Chairs had been tipped on their sides, floor boards tugged up. She watched as two Excise men began to rifle through the contents of the cupboard in the kitchen. “Are you alright?” Agnes was clearly shaken and barely answered her. They moved across the room, through the kitchen and stood to watch ...
His brother’s amusement at Harper’s request to borrow a suitable conveyance to take a lady to Moldton had only dimmed a little when Harper had reported that it had nothing to do with any personal interest in Arrabella Farthing, but was to satisfy his curiosity about his birth parents. In spite of...
He could see the two Guards standing just outside of the yard entrance where they had been before. Archie could appreciate why they had chosen that particular spot. The shadows protect them from prying eyes, and their vantage point provided them with a clear view of almost the entire length of th...
They charged up the stairs with as much stealth as a herd of cattle, brandishing everything from rakes to hunting rifles. They slammed to a halt at the top of the stairs and looked a little deflated that they had been denied their moment to shine as they took in the scene in the hallway. “We need...
It was a very long day, and an even longer night, for all of them - including the people outside who had remained, patiently waiting for news of one of their own. Night had fallen, and still Harriett remained unresponsive. The awful panting continued, and she had yet to re...
Beatrice whispered as they disappeared into the canopy of the trees again. “God, I hate this,” she added with a shiver as she studied the thick branches of the trees that seemed to loom menacingly over the driveway. “Either he does not wish to be seen – identified - or that wasn’t Richard Brownin...
So far, he had scoured the entire town from east to west, and north to south, but there was no sign of her. Nobody in the busy coaching yard had seen anyone who matched Tilly’s description. One of the stable lads had thought he had seen someone who looked vaguely like her, but hadn’t been sure, a...
She was struggling to walk properly and struggled to retain some of her dignity as she staggered through the door of the small coaching inn later that evening. Trying not to fidget, she stood just inside the door and waited patiently for Jamie to secure their rooms. Her chin tilted defiantly and ...
She shouldn’t be heading outside in weather like this for any reason. He should have gone, and would have if it wasn’t for the cursed injuries he now carried. Where had they come from? What was he doing here? Amelia hadn’t told him where she had found him, and when, and he hadn’t thought to ask. ...