Will a shocking mystery lead Henrietta to her one true love?Henrietta is now Lady Chaucer and her life is about to become a whole lot worse. Lord Chaucer is cruel, hate-filled, and determined to shrink her life until he has complete control. Everything she has ever dreamed about is gone in a moment.Until she wakes up the next morning in a completely different house, finds out her husband is dead … finds out her husband is dead – and that she had the knife.
Mr. Francis Newton knows he shouldn’t be falling for Lady Chaucer, but he cannot control his heart. To make matters worse, he is the one that he found her at the scene of the crime. She does not remember a thing, and Francis is certain that she was not the murderer. Determined to help Lady Chaucer, he, along with his two dear friends, try to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Will Francis be able to help Lady Chaucer? And what about his own heart?
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During the 19th Century in England, Miss Henrietta Reapson was raised by a hateful, cruel, domineering father and given by him into a marriage with Lord Chaucer, a man just as hateful. A chance meeting with Mr. Francis Newton during her wedding celebration sets the stage for a love story hidden within a mystery.
I quickly became hooked on finding the answers to Henrietta’s dilemma. I thoroughly enjoyed this short novel and am looking forward to more of the same quality of writing in her future work.
I am so excited to read this who-done-it murder mystery taking place during the Regency period! And the author does not disappoint!
Miss Henrietta Reapson’s cruel, controlling, overly-critical father arranged for her marriage to Viscount Chaucer, a man 15 years old than she! Rude and inconsiderate, Lord Chaucer tried to immediately get her to leave, despite their not having thanked their guests and shown proper courtesy. She tried to explain, and he gave her 3 minutes to say goodbye – then he left her and went out to his carriage. Her face flaring with embarrassment, Henrietta then had to listen to her father’s harsh criticism for her not being with her husband! Her mother, filled with anxiety and fear for her, tried to hurry her along. When she was in the carriage, Lord Chaucer berated her for being longer than his 3-minute limit, and he smacked her across the face! Apparently he was the very same type as her father. No freedom, unequivocal obedience, no love. He would not allow her to even think that she might be his equal! He owned her completely.
At the wedding breakfast, Lord Chaucer isolated Henrietta from her mother deliberately, keeping the seat next to her empty. He finally went off to get drunk and she has a whispered talk, in complete terror, with her sister. She then went to the library to compose her feelings. As soon as the door closed in the dim room, she collapsed on the floor in wretched tears. She cried over every single fear and pain, and cried out softly that she had no way out of this horrible life. But a man’s voice said there was always a way. She was terrified that he would tell her husband how she acted, and especially in front of her husband’s guest! But he told her he would not. He introduced himself as Francis Newton, a man once wrongly accused of crimes he had not done, then a full pardon and restitution when the truth was discovered later. He didn’t really know Lord Chaucer but was invited as something notorious to be talked about. They spent hours discussing whatever they wished, his compassion giving her comfort, until she had to leave. Looking into his eyes, she began to cry again and hastened away to her fate.
Francis returned to his own townhouse in London as Viscount Wickton, a close and dear friend, joined him, concerned at his melancholy appearance. Francis told him how upset he was about Lady Chaucer’s situation. Lord Wickton teased him but saw that he was absolutely serious about her welfare. So he said they should call on the couple and be certain she is all right. Francis excused himself to write a note giving her a plan of escape if she became endangered. Lord Wickton stayed with the food and helped himself to a late breakfast.
The butler at Chaucer’s residence, extremely nervous and frowning, would not allow them to see Lord or Lady Chaucer, claiming that she was ill. Lord Wickton used his softest, disarming voice and said they had to give their congratulations for the Lady to pass on to her husband or he would think them rude – and they walked into the house to look for her. The butler ran to gather footmen and again tried to stop their search, but Lord Wickton distracted them while Francis checked the library. It was dark, no one appeared to be there, so he opened the dark curtains – and saw a man’s arm outstretched on the floor. He found Lady Chaucer unconscious in a chair, horribly pale, with a bloody knife on her lap. The man had been stabbed and was dead. Having been through his own trauma of false accusations, he grabbed her up and ran out the side door to save her reputation. Wrapping her in a sheet, he told Lord Wickton’s startled footman and driver to take her back to his townhouse and he would be there shortly. Now what would he do? How could he prove the Lady’s innocence? He was sure that she had not murdered her husband – but who did? What had happened?
This was such an intriguing story! A genuine, hard-core mystery to solve within the confines of very proper Regency societal rules! I loved it! The story line was fast-paced and held the reader’s attention at all times! The characters were amazing, not the type normally found in such genteel reading material. I was so impressed with the honor and courage shown by Francis and the trust and friendship of his two dear friends who would stand by his side and try to save Lady Chaucer. You will not want to miss this amazing book!
An entertaining short sweet well written enjoyable read. The characters are engaging. My free opinion. Thanks
Do you enjoy intrigue, mystery, villains, and heroes? Do you like heart stopping action and suspense? Can true love overcome pure evil? This is the book for you! This is not for everyone as there is violence and blood. I recommend this book and author:) Happy reading:)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this story. The pain that Henrietta had to endure before finding her love was grueling. But to end up with her love was what all HEAs are for!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A marriage to a cruel and abusive man, just like her father. Henrietta has been physically, emotionally and intellectually repressed and oppressed by her father. She was never good enough. Little did she know she would find the strength and fortitude to endure the betrayal and machinations of her new husband and father with the help of three unexpected friends. A very good read.
This book is part of the Weddings & Scandals series. A well written story that has drama, suspense,danger, a very evil man she was married to, and romance. A book that held my interest until the end. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Henrietta is forced to marry an old man who is as vile as her father, each who thought women should bow to their every whim or be beaten.
On her wedding day she meets a gentleman who shows her great compassion as she is terrified of her new husband and has left their wedding breakfast to prepare herself for what is to come.
Oh but from there things get interesting and will captivate you until the very end!!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story will grip you in its clutches from start to end, there are so many twists and turns, your head will spin! Just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, boom, you’re proven wrong. Henrietta, who has just been forced to become Lady Chaucer, is not looking forward to her wedding night because Lord Chaucer is a very cruel man. She drinks some brandy to try to calm her nerves and then remembers nothing of what happened after that.
Mr. Francis Newton, a guest at the wedding, finds Henrietta passed out in a chair, a bloody knife on her lap and the body of her husband on the floor nearby. He removes her from the scene and brings her to the home of his good friends, just knowing that she had nothing to do with the murder and that she is somehow being framed.
While looking for clues as to what really happened that night, Henrietta and Francis find themselves attracted to each other and I just loved how sweet they are to each other. Will they ever be free to love one another and start a new life together?!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.