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 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 | 339 |
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Common terms and phrases
abduction aguardiente Ashbourne asked Aunt Lucy baron baron's murder began believe Belvedere Bishop's Folly bloody brow butterflies Butterleigh caravan child cigarillo Clutterthorpe color Colosso dear death doubt Edmund de Clare entirely expression eyes face father fellow fingers finished gave gaze gesture glance hair hand Harbottle head heard held histone Huxley Isaid Itold knew Lady Cordelia leave lepidopterist Lily lips London look Lord Rosemorran lordship marriage married matter mean Miss Speedwell Mornaday Morpho mother mouth moved never newspaper nodded Paddington Station Perhaps pocket pointed Prince of Wales professor putout realized rebenque reminded replied returned rose Salome Scotland Yard seemed shook shoulder shrugged sigh Sir Hugo Sir Rupert smile sort speak specimens spoke stared tell Templeton-Vane tent thing thought told took traveling show uncle Veronica voice wanted woman word