The Secrets of Colchester Hall: A Gothic Regency Romance by Sophie Barnes

Author:Sophie Barnes [Barnes, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sophie Barnes
Published: 2021-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

“What will you do?” Lucy asked Angelica the following afternoon. They’d been divided into groups of four—she was with Lucy and both their mothers— and were presently on their way to the music room in search of their next clue. While Angelica did not like Mrs. Essex, she had to give her credit for creating a well-planned treasure hunt. The riddles required a great deal of thought to solve them.

“About what?” Angelica and Lucy trailed behind, allowing their mothers to hurry ahead like eager young girls. It was quite entertaining to watch, and it allowed Angelica and Lucy to speak more privately with each other.

“Lord Sterling, of course. He will ask you to stay and then he will ask you to be his wife. Have you decided on your answer yet?”

Angelica sighed. She gave her friend a tentative look. “I’m not certain. On one hand, I must marry him for my mother’s sake, but on the other I do not wish to remain here one day longer than necessary.”

“I don’t know why you dislike this house so much. Most women would be honored to call it their home. But whatever your reason may be, does it really matter where you live as long as you’re getting him? Is he not worth sacrificing your taste in a home?”

Angelica gave her a deadpan stare. “I’m not in love with him, Lucy. It’s a bit too soon to be speaking of sacrifices and such.”

“Are you sure? That look in your eyes yesterday when we left the bookshop—”

Angelica cleared her throat. They’d entered the music room and the last thing she wanted was for her mother to be provided with additional reasons for getting Angelica to the altar. At least not until she’d made up her mind about what she wanted for herself and figured out her options. If there was even more than one to consider.

Thankfully, Lucy fell silent and broke away from Angelica in order to help search for the next clue. They eventually found it inside the piano and, upon deciphering it, headed toward the conservatory.

“Do you think you could grow to love him?” Lucy asked when they were once again able to speak discretely.

“I do not know.” Or so she told herself, but the truth... The truth was she feared she might already be on her way to losing her heart and… “I cannot risk it. Not yet.”

Not until she understood what she was getting herself into.

Lucy grinned, oblivious to Angelica’s turmoil. “I’m not sure love is something one can control. You simply…fall.”

This was followed by a sigh – an extremely telling one.

“My goodness,” Angelica murmured. Lucy’s lack of interest in Randolph suddenly made so much sense. “Who is he?”

“What?” Lucy glanced about quickly, her eyes no longer glazed over with longing but sharpened by panic.

Angelica drew a bit closer to her friend and lowered her voice to an almost inaudible whisper. “Who are you in love with?”

A wash of red colored Lucy’s cheeks. She stammered a bit, then managed to compose herself and say, “Mr.

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