USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, and a wuxia-inspired duology. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.Her latest book, The Hollow of Fear, is the third entry in the gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series. All three books in the series have been selected by NPR as a Great Read of the year.
And by the way, English is her second language.
For the Historical Xmas event in 2012, I wrote a little scene set on a wintry terrace, a man and a woman having a chat on Christmas Eve. At the time I thought the scene was going to be a one-off. But sometimes a story proves deeper and more interesting than even its creator imagined. So in each subsequent year I added to the scene and this year I expand it yet again.
Please read Parts 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 first.
Please read Parts 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 first.
I am here because I needed to see the man who wrote me those incandescently beautiful letters. I needed to ask questions. And I needed answers.
So much need, so much restless, urgent need…
Slowly she turned around. “My lord, I came to ask why you are here.”
Almost as if by reflex he reached for his cigarette case, flipping the lid open. And then, perhaps remembering that he ought not to smoke in front of a lady, even if she had smoked in front of him, he shut it again, the sound just slightly too loud in the silence of the night. “This is the room I’ve been given.”
He wasn’t looking at her.
Which gave her more courage. “I mean, why are you here at my mother’s house? You haven’t come to her birthday celebrations in a while.”
He had stayed away in the years of her widowhood. But now he was here, in the one place he knew she would be.
“What is it you wish me to tell you, Lady Georgina?”
He seemed entirely absorbed in the lid of the cigarette case, his eyes on it, his index finger tracing over its embossed patterns. She allowed her gaze to linger over his profile, the long lashes, the sharp nose ridge, the faultless angle of the chin. And then to drop to his hand, to the tension in his hand as he caressed the heavy silver case.
“The truth, my lord.”
He snorted. “Is the truth not obvious enough?”
What was he admitting, that he wrote the letters—or that he had been in love with her?
She swallowed. “The truth of the past, yes. But that was years ago. What of now?”
He looked up. “Why do you want to know?”
Their eyes met. Heat shot through her, but she had no answer for him. Such intimate knowledge should be shared only with the hope of reciprocity, and not laid bare to appease the curiosity of someone who had been but a mere bystander in his life.
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I apologize. I should not have intruded on your privacy. I will leave you to your repose now.”
But she did not follow that with a dignified departure. Or any kind of departure. She stood where she was, breathing unevenly, her heart pounding in her ears. And then she looked up at him.
And she could swear that a jolt went through him. Once again their gazes held. And held. And held.
“I came to see you, Lady Georgina, if you must know,” he said, his words slow, flat, almost as if he spoke in a trance. “And to court you.”
Her fingertips shook. She gripped her hands together.
“I fought against falling in love with you—fought tooth and nail. It was no use, but my mind was made up. You were the only woman Elliot would ever love and I would do everything in my power to help him.
“And I was, am and would always be glad that he married the woman of his dreams. Your love was a beautiful thing to see and I know he treasured every single day he had with you.
“His death devastated me. Had he married anyone else, I would have leaned on his widow during that time. But with you I could not. I could not possibly allow his passing to be the thing that brought us closer. So I stayed away and grieved alone.
“Even after you reemerged in Society I kept my distance. I couldn’t be sure, if I courted you then, whether I’d be taking advantage of having been Elliott’s best friend, exploiting our shared memories.
“But by this Christmas enough time had passed. I meant to approach our reunion as if it were all new to me, as if I came here, saw you, and realized for the first time that I enjoyed your company for its own sake.” He laughed slightly. “But that wasn’t what happened.”
“No,” she murmured. “That wasn’t what happened.”
“but that’s the truth. All of it,” he said, sounding once again like himself. He looked at her, his eyes clear and almost…tender. “And now, my dear Lady Georgina, tell me why you are here in my room. And tell me the truth.”
So much need, so much restless, urgent need…
Slowly she turned around. “My lord, I came to ask why you are here.”
Almost as if by reflex he reached for his cigarette case, flipping the lid open. And then, perhaps remembering that he ought not to smoke in front of a lady, even if she had smoked in front of him, he shut it again, the sound just slightly too loud in the silence of the night. “This is the room I’ve been given.”
He wasn’t looking at her.
Which gave her more courage. “I mean, why are you here at my mother’s house? You haven’t come to her birthday celebrations in a while.”
He had stayed away in the years of her widowhood. But now he was here, in the one place he knew she would be.
“What is it you wish me to tell you, Lady Georgina?”
He seemed entirely absorbed in the lid of the cigarette case, his eyes on it, his index finger tracing over its embossed patterns. She allowed her gaze to linger over his profile, the long lashes, the sharp nose ridge, the faultless angle of the chin. And then to drop to his hand, to the tension in his hand as he caressed the heavy silver case.
“The truth, my lord.”
He snorted. “Is the truth not obvious enough?”
What was he admitting, that he wrote the letters—or that he had been in love with her?
She swallowed. “The truth of the past, yes. But that was years ago. What of now?”
He looked up. “Why do you want to know?”
Their eyes met. Heat shot through her, but she had no answer for him. Such intimate knowledge should be shared only with the hope of reciprocity, and not laid bare to appease the curiosity of someone who had been but a mere bystander in his life.
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I apologize. I should not have intruded on your privacy. I will leave you to your repose now.”
But she did not follow that with a dignified departure. Or any kind of departure. She stood where she was, breathing unevenly, her heart pounding in her ears. And then she looked up at him.
And she could swear that a jolt went through him. Once again their gazes held. And held. And held.
“I came to see you, Lady Georgina, if you must know,” he said, his words slow, flat, almost as if he spoke in a trance. “And to court you.”
Her fingertips shook. She gripped her hands together.
“I fought against falling in love with you—fought tooth and nail. It was no use, but my mind was made up. You were the only woman Elliot would ever love and I would do everything in my power to help him.
“And I was, am and would always be glad that he married the woman of his dreams. Your love was a beautiful thing to see and I know he treasured every single day he had with you.
“His death devastated me. Had he married anyone else, I would have leaned on his widow during that time. But with you I could not. I could not possibly allow his passing to be the thing that brought us closer. So I stayed away and grieved alone.
“Even after you reemerged in Society I kept my distance. I couldn’t be sure, if I courted you then, whether I’d be taking advantage of having been Elliott’s best friend, exploiting our shared memories.
“But by this Christmas enough time had passed. I meant to approach our reunion as if it were all new to me, as if I came here, saw you, and realized for the first time that I enjoyed your company for its own sake.” He laughed slightly. “But that wasn’t what happened.”
“No,” she murmured. “That wasn’t what happened.”
“but that’s the truth. All of it,” he said, sounding once again like himself. He looked at her, his eyes clear and almost…tender. “And now, my dear Lady Georgina, tell me why you are here in my room. And tell me the truth.”
Charlotte Holmes returns for a case that is far from elementary in the Victorian-set Lady Sherlock series from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.
Under the cover of “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes puts her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. Aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, Charlotte draws those in need to her and makes it her business to know what other people don’t.
When the estranged wife of her dear friend Lord Ingram is discovered dead on his estate, all signs point to him as the murderer. With Scotland Yard closing in, Charlotte goes under disguise to find out the truth.
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This sounds intriguing. I love a good mystery.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Sherry!!! I cannot wait to read!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great series!!
ReplyDeleteI love this remained Sherlock Holmes stories! 😁
ReplyDeleteGirls rule boys drool! 😋
Every year I wait for another addition to this story. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove this cover, this one is on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteGreat series!
ReplyDeleteJust read from Part 1 on. Now I have to wait a year more!
ReplyDeleteI am loving this cover!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover! merry christmas
ReplyDeleteI love this series and can't wait for the next book. If you haven't yet read Sherry Thomas, you're in for a real treat!
ReplyDeleteIntriguing can't wait to read this .
ReplyDeleteI honestly come back here every year since part 1 of this story just to read it. I am so mad that I have to wait the following year to read it but I can't seem to stop loving the story. I hope after you finish writing the parts, you would turn it into a book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry, thank you so much for sharing that excerpt....your book sounds fascinating!! Merry Christmas to you and yours! xo
ReplyDeleteI love this story, can't wait for next year's installment!
ReplyDeletesounds interesting - thanks for the chance to win. Happy holidays!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite book? What book of yours do you suggest a first time reader, should read first?
ReplyDeleteNow here's a book I would love to read!! Thank you so much for the chance, Sherry, and wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year xo
ReplyDelete