The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

Author:Lindsay Harrel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2019-01-04T05:00:00+00:00

23

EMILY

JUNE 1858

I closed the book I was reading and sighed. The main character had ended up with the right woman.

My shoulders slumped as I leaned against a chair in the sitting room. If only real life mirrored fiction.

Enough of this drudgery and dwelling on things I could not change.

The children were on an outing with their mother, so I had the rare afternoon to myself. I’d thought reading would brighten my mood, but perhaps I’d have better luck with the great outdoors.

Outside my window, the London sky was painted a striking color—if I stared at it long enough, shades of purple began to appear. Tiny wisps of clouds teased me with the way they flitted through the sky, changing shape and becoming whatever they wished to be.

I hooked my cape over my dress and left the room, maneuvering down the hallway and through the door that led to the small garden behind the house.

The light from the outdoors exploded all around. Blankets of colorful flowers greeted me. Spring had asked winter to step aside and had fully bloomed in its place.

After a few moments of walking, enjoying the breeze upon my cheeks and the bright splashes of evergreen grass and bluebells, I stopped at a plant with beautiful white flowers hanging down like bells. Struck by their beauty and their alluring fragrance, I reached out to touch one. But then I recalled something Edward had told me when I had first seen them at his family’s estate in the country: “The plant is called angel’s trumpet. However, do not be fooled by how stunning it is. The blooms are poisonous.”

I heard raised voices around the bend, one of them Edward’s. My hand dropped, and I walked quickly toward them. Were Rosamond and Edward arguing? I couldn’t keep glee from being my first emotion at the thought.

As I came upon the scene, I slowed my pace. It was not Rosamond but Louisa who was crying and yelling at her brother. When she saw me, she put a hand over her mouth and hurried past, leaving Edward standing there, a hand gripping the back of his neck.

“What’s happened?” I strode forward. “Is someone ill?” I had never seen Louisa act that way and could not imagine what else would have caused such behavior.

“No, nothing like that.” Edward blew out a breath and paced.

“What then?”

“Charles Miller has made an offer of marriage to Louisa, and she fancies herself in love with him.” Edward practically growled the words. “Has she said anything to you about him? Have you noticed them together much?”

“Not any more than a handful of other men who have paid attention to her. Louisa is a beautiful girl.”

“Beautiful and naive.” Edward started down the garden path, hands clutched behind his back.

I hurried to match his steps. “I suppose I’m not seeing the problem. I know your parents had intended for her to look for a husband next year, but it’s a good match, is it not?” The Millers were one of the wealthiest families in all of England, and Charles was considered to be devastatingly handsome.

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