Secrets of a Summer Night, 1

Prologue

London, 1841

Although Annabelle Peyton had been warned all her life never to take money from strangers, she made an exception one day …and quickly discovered why she should have heeded her mother’s advice.

 It was one of her brother Jeremy’s rare holidays from school, and as was their habit, he and Annabelle had gone to see the latest panorama show in Leicester Square. It had taken two weeks of household economy to save the money necessary to pay for the tickets. As the only surviving offspring of the Peyton family, Annabelle and her younger brother had always been unusually close despite the ten - year difference in their ages. Childhood illnesses had taken the two infants who had been born after Annabelle, neither of them having lived to see their first birthday.

 “Annabelle,” Jeremy said as he returned from the panorama ticket stand, “do you have any more money?”

Secrets of a Summer Night, Sinopsis

 

Keadaan keluarganya yang miskin meski berdarah bangsawan membuat Annabelle Peyton dihadapkan pada dilema terbesar dalam hidupnya: menjadi wanita simpanan pria bangsawan yang sudah menikah, atau menikah dengan rakyat biasa dan menanggalkan status kebangsawanannya. Bersama ketiga temannya, Annabelle menyusun rencana untuk memikat Lord Kendall yang lajang lagi kaya. Sialnya, rencana mereka sedikit terhambat karena kehadiran Simon Hunt, anak tukang daging yang kini sukses menapaki tangga sosial dengan menjadi salah satu orang terkaya di Inggris. Sekuat tenaga Annabelle berusaha menampik Simon dan berkonsentrasi pada usahanya menjadi Lady Kendall. Hingga pada suatu malam musim panas, Annabelle menyerah pada godaan yang ditawarkan Simon dan menyadari tak ada tempat lain yang pas baginya selain di sisi Simon.

Secrets of a Summer Night, 1

A Rogue by Any Other Name #7

Dear M—

I’ve just seen you off, and I came inside straightaway to write.

I haven’t anything to say, really, nothing that every other person in Surrey hasn’t already said. It seems silly to say, “I am sorry,” doesn’t it? Of course, everyone is sorry. It’s horrible, what’s happened.

I am not only sorry for your loss, however; I am sorry that we were not able to talk when you were home. I am sorry that I could not attend the funeral . . . it’s a stupid rule, and I wish I had been born a male so I could have been there (I plan to have a chat with Vicar Compton regarding that idiocy). I am sorry I could not be—more of a friend.

I am here now, on the page, where girls are allowed. Please write when you have time. Or inclination.

Your friend—P

Needham Manor, April 1816

No reply

 

Surely there had never been a longer carriage ride than this—four interminable, deathly silent hours from Surrey to London. Penelope would rather have been trapped in a mail coach with Olivia and a collection of ladies’ magazines.