A Curious BeginningThe New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries returns once more to Victorian England and introduces intrepid adventuress Veronica Speedwell.... London, 1887. After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth. |
Contents
Section 1 | 1 |
Section 2 | 9 |
Section 3 | 18 |
Section 4 | 27 |
Section 5 | 34 |
Section 6 | 46 |
Section 7 | 63 |
Section 8 | 72 |
Section 17 | 171 |
Section 18 | 186 |
Section 19 | 198 |
Section 20 | 212 |
Section 21 | 223 |
Section 22 | 232 |
Section 23 | 245 |
Section 24 | 256 |
Section 9 | 81 |
Section 10 | 93 |
Section 11 | 102 |
Section 12 | 115 |
Section 13 | 125 |
Section 14 | 139 |
Section 15 | 151 |
Section 16 | 163 |
Section 25 | 270 |
Section 26 | 284 |
Section 27 | 294 |
Section 28 | 309 |
Section 29 | 321 |
Section 30 | 343 |
Section 31 | 351 |
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Common terms and phrases
asked Aunt baron began believe better bloody brow butterflies carried child Clare close collection course danger dear death demanded door doubt entirely expected expression eyes face father fellow felt fingers finished gave gaze give glance hand head heard held Hugo interest keep knew Lady Cordelia least leave light lips live London look managed matter mean merely mind Miss Speedwell moment Mornaday mother mouth moved murder natural never nodded noticed once opened passed Perhaps pointed possible Prince professor question reached realized reason replied rest returned rose Scotland Yard seemed seen shook silent smile sort speak stepped Stoker surprised tell thing thought told tone took traveling turned understand Veronica voice wish woman