Love Lost in Time (Victorian Time-Travel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

herself from the dreamy thoughts and clicked a couple of pictures on her cell phone as she wandered through the enormous room. Gingerly, she r an her fingers across the wooden high back chairs. These were indeed antique, but she couldn’t quite date them. She highly doubted they were the original chairs the duke and duchess sat their wealthy bottoms on, mainly because they probably perished in the house fire. From her research and knowledge of the era, she calculated these particular chairs to be made in the early 1900’s.
    The tour guide moved to the adjoining room, what looked to be one of the many drawing rooms on the first floor. Another heavily decorated room with furniture that appeared to be from the early 1900’s. She rolled her eyes. Buckland Manor needed to hire her to redecorate these rooms with more authentic-looking pieces.
    “This was the room where the family gathered that fateful night,” Nigel conti nued the unbelievable tale. “This place has been remodeled since then, of course, but thankfully there was no major damage from the fire.” He pointed to the window facing west. “It was at this very window where a large rock came through with a death threat written on a piece of paper wrapped around it. Within minutes, the mob attacked, setting fire to most of the rooms on the ground floor. As I’d mentioned, the Merrick family perished that night, except for the daughter, Lady Georgiana, but because of her injuries she died a few years later. Lord Brimhall’s widow lived in the house for three years, but then had to sell the estate when her finances became depleted.”
    Halle shook her head. That didn’t sound right. Quickly, she raised her hand and asked, “Why did Edward’s wife remain in the house? Wouldn’t the property have passed to someone in Edward’s family line?”
    Nigel gave her a dark, bewildered look. He shrugged. “I think she stayed in the house to be Lady Georgiana’s companion. They were now sisters by marriage, and it is said they were inseparable after their harrowing ordeal.”
    Halle nodded, accepting his answer.
    A guest amongst their group raised a hand. “Did they ever find out why the mob attacked?”
    “Rumors have it,” Nigel said, “that it was the second brother, Lord Andrew, who was the mastermind in all of this. He had paid these men to attack the manor.”
    From behind Halle, she heard a deep, irritated grumble. She glanced over her shoulder. The man she’d talked to outside —Drew Merrick—stood just inside the door. Lines of anger marred his sickly face, making his mouth tight as he glared at the tour guide.
    “Why would the second son want to kill his family?” another guest from the small crowd asked, and H alle rested her attention back on the tour guide.
    “Once again,” Nigel continued, “the rumors indicate that the second son was out of favor with his parents. He was rebellious and caused problems, coveting his brother’s title and all that went with it.”
    Halle frowned. Not another story about a younger brother coveting a title. Yet, there was something in the back of her mind telling her this story couldn’t possibly be right. If the younger brother was the so-called mastermind, then why had he died as well?
    She took another glance at Drew who seemed to have the same disagreement as she. His hands bunched by his side, and his chest rose and fell quickly. Not only did he appear angry, but saddened as if he’d experienced a great loss in his life as well.
    She turned back to Nigel. What was it about this tale that didn’t ring true? Sure, she didn’t know these people, but usually second sons of the aristocracy didn’t murder their whole family.
    Waving, she tried to get the guide’s attention again. When Nigel met her gaze, she voiced her opinion. “Why would they suspect Lord Andrew? I know in their time they didn’t have forensic science like we do that helps solve murders, but just because he was rebellious and flaunted his