time is it?” Halle asked.
“Five forty.”
“Then let’s hurry and hope we haven’t missed a lot.”
Trying to act like a gentleman, Colin held an elbow out for each woman. Halle wanted to laugh, but refrained. At least he was trying. And although he wore clothes similar to Andrew’s, poor Colin just didn’t look as good as Andrew had the other night.
Excitement rushed through her as they approached large ballroom where the reenactment would take place. She couldn’t wait to see Andrew. He’d be extremely handsome in his Victorian clothes. But more than that, she wanted to witness desire smoldering in his gaze when he looked her over as he’d done the other night when he first saw her wearing this gown. Never had she felt more beautiful than at that moment.
She’d missed him, and she wanted desperately to see him and tell him what she read in his father’s journal. Apparently, his father was quite obsessed with the same tree Andrew had been working around since she first spotted him. The more she thought about what she read—how the duke was always talking about the tree—she wondered if the jewels really were buried here as Andrew had suspected.
As she walked into the great room with her friends, she could see they hadn’t started the reenactment yet. Thankfully everyone was fashionably late.
Many other guests spilled in through the doorways, dressed in similar costumes. Being the picky historical freak—as Sam had so nicely put it—Halle could tell some of these people didn’t know the difference between the Regency and Victorian eras. Nonetheless, she tried to look past it and enjoy herself tonight.
Refreshments were set out on a long buffet table. In the corner of the room, a small orchestra tuned their instruments. She couldn’t wait to reenact the Merrick family’s last night alive, wondering exactly how the staff would be able to pull it off. And…who was going to play Andrew. Would it be the very man the story was about? She seriously doubted it since he didn’t look like the young man in the portrait any longer.
Scanning the room slowly, she searched for him, and to her great disappointment, could not see him anywhere. He promised he’d be here tonight. Strange how much she wanted to see his reaction to her attire. But, if she would admit the truth, she was infatuated with him and wanted to be with him tonight. Nothing would please her more—except maybe finding her father. Then again, being with Andrew would definitely please her more.
“Hal, how is Drew doing? He hasn’t looked well lately.”
Halle moved her gaze back to Samantha. “Yes, I noticed that, too. Last night he was coughing up blood.”
“Blood?” Sam gasped. “That’s really not good at all.”
“I know, but he promised me he’d see a doctor soon.”
Samantha sat in silence for a few moments. Her forehead creased as her gaze narrowed on the table in front of them. “I’ve been reading a book about Henry VII, and how he was poisoned.” She placed her hand on Halle’s. “It’s strange, but Drew’s symptoms and King Henry’s are alike. Henry was losing his hair, and his face held a grayish tone. He was weak, and he coughed. In that era, the doctors thought it was consumption. But now we know he was poisoned.”
Halle’s heart sank as worry encased her. “Oh, my gosh. Sam, I think you’re right, but who would want to poison a sweet man like Drew?”
Nigel stepped into the room, picked up a champagne flute and tapped his spoon against the glass, making it chime. Although Halle wanted to talk to Samantha more about Henry VIII, she kept her attention on Nigel.
After everyone had quieted, he proceeded to explain the events of the evening. As Halle studied him, she could tell he wasn’t feeling well this evening. He cleared his throat a lot, and took sips of his drink more than she figured he should. He also took long pauses as if he tried to catch his breath.
More guests wandered into the room,
“Five forty.”
“Then let’s hurry and hope we haven’t missed a lot.”
Trying to act like a gentleman, Colin held an elbow out for each woman. Halle wanted to laugh, but refrained. At least he was trying. And although he wore clothes similar to Andrew’s, poor Colin just didn’t look as good as Andrew had the other night.
Excitement rushed through her as they approached large ballroom where the reenactment would take place. She couldn’t wait to see Andrew. He’d be extremely handsome in his Victorian clothes. But more than that, she wanted to witness desire smoldering in his gaze when he looked her over as he’d done the other night when he first saw her wearing this gown. Never had she felt more beautiful than at that moment.
She’d missed him, and she wanted desperately to see him and tell him what she read in his father’s journal. Apparently, his father was quite obsessed with the same tree Andrew had been working around since she first spotted him. The more she thought about what she read—how the duke was always talking about the tree—she wondered if the jewels really were buried here as Andrew had suspected.
As she walked into the great room with her friends, she could see they hadn’t started the reenactment yet. Thankfully everyone was fashionably late.
Many other guests spilled in through the doorways, dressed in similar costumes. Being the picky historical freak—as Sam had so nicely put it—Halle could tell some of these people didn’t know the difference between the Regency and Victorian eras. Nonetheless, she tried to look past it and enjoy herself tonight.
Refreshments were set out on a long buffet table. In the corner of the room, a small orchestra tuned their instruments. She couldn’t wait to reenact the Merrick family’s last night alive, wondering exactly how the staff would be able to pull it off. And…who was going to play Andrew. Would it be the very man the story was about? She seriously doubted it since he didn’t look like the young man in the portrait any longer.
Scanning the room slowly, she searched for him, and to her great disappointment, could not see him anywhere. He promised he’d be here tonight. Strange how much she wanted to see his reaction to her attire. But, if she would admit the truth, she was infatuated with him and wanted to be with him tonight. Nothing would please her more—except maybe finding her father. Then again, being with Andrew would definitely please her more.
“Hal, how is Drew doing? He hasn’t looked well lately.”
Halle moved her gaze back to Samantha. “Yes, I noticed that, too. Last night he was coughing up blood.”
“Blood?” Sam gasped. “That’s really not good at all.”
“I know, but he promised me he’d see a doctor soon.”
Samantha sat in silence for a few moments. Her forehead creased as her gaze narrowed on the table in front of them. “I’ve been reading a book about Henry VII, and how he was poisoned.” She placed her hand on Halle’s. “It’s strange, but Drew’s symptoms and King Henry’s are alike. Henry was losing his hair, and his face held a grayish tone. He was weak, and he coughed. In that era, the doctors thought it was consumption. But now we know he was poisoned.”
Halle’s heart sank as worry encased her. “Oh, my gosh. Sam, I think you’re right, but who would want to poison a sweet man like Drew?”
Nigel stepped into the room, picked up a champagne flute and tapped his spoon against the glass, making it chime. Although Halle wanted to talk to Samantha more about Henry VIII, she kept her attention on Nigel.
After everyone had quieted, he proceeded to explain the events of the evening. As Halle studied him, she could tell he wasn’t feeling well this evening. He cleared his throat a lot, and took sips of his drink more than she figured he should. He also took long pauses as if he tried to catch his breath.
More guests wandered into the room,
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