All Chapters of Let's Create a Wonderland (book 3): Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Something was not right. Unrest flittered in Emiline Lucia’s stomach, prickling the hairs on the back of her neck as her carriage rocked to a halt outside the family’s two-story townhouse in Calais. Servants scampered from the house, carrying trunks as they loaded them on a coach.Curiosity, and determination to discover what was going on, enveloped her as panic settled in her chest. She gave her hand to the footman as he helped her down from her carriage, and headed toward the front door. Several French soldiers stood guard near the white wrap-around porch as if they expected trouble at any moment. They eyed her warily until she walked closer, and then their postures relaxed a bit. She was used to being surrounded by some kin

Can this day possibly get any worse?Emmie’s legs wobbled as she raised out of the mud pit she and her maid had been tossed into when the vehicle had thrown them. Her heartbeat still hammered out of control, and the spinning in her head hadn’t subsided. She glanced up the small slope to where the vehicle had rolled before stopping in the muck. One minute they were riding along just fine, and the next minute, the coach jerked fitfully and flipped over. Within seconds, the door had broken open, throwing both Emmie and Anna out.

Emmie stood behind Anna who sat on a stool facing her vanity table. The Crampton’s maid had already assisted in getting Anna ready for the ball, but Emmie was more particular in how she thought Anna’s hair should look. After the maid left, Emmie fixed Anna’s hair the right way.Anna wrung her hands against her middle as worry etched lines in her face. “Mr. and Mrs. Crampton are going to introduce me to their family and friends. Are you certain your father didn’t know anybody besides Mr. and Mrs. Crampton?”Emmie weaved a p

Once Gabe and Anna had walked away, Emmie released the breath she was holding and it came out in a gush. Thankfully, neither of them had seen her. Relief also poured through her, knowing that Anna had not let Gabe kiss her. Her maid played a role, and Lady Sarah would have not allowed a man to take the liberties in stealing a kiss…no matter how handsome he was.Then again, she had really never known any man as handsome as Gabe. And blast it all, it didn’t help that she kept seeing him in the water. Perhaps if she had been in Gabe’s arms, she would have been sorely tempted to let him place his lips on hers.

Gabe rose early in the morning and quickly dressed in his riding clothes, preparing to spend a leisurely afternoon doing nothing but enjoy his solitude in the countryside. It’d been two weeks since he’d come to visit his uncle, and restlessness and boredom began to consume Gabe’s mind. He’d led a busy life of spying these past few years and finding time for leisure was rarely heard of. Flying down the stairs, he hurried across the wooden floor as he made his way to the front door. When he neared his uncle’s study, Gabe slowed and treaded softly, hoping Henry wouldn’t see him. This was one time he did not want to be bothered. Unfortunately, Gabe’s wish