Synopsis
London, 1885
Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple's blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe―a grieving widower and a member of Amelie's book club.
Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.
When a woman's body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman's husband―Harold Radcliffe―of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe's innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.
They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.
ADVANCE PRAISE
"Allen pairs a matchmaker and a detective in this charming Victorian romance. Allen expertly combines mystery and romance into a fast-paced tale complete with plenty of surprises and a central relationship founded on mutual admiration and respect. Readers are sure to appreciate the strong, well-shaded heroine and twisty plot." —Publishers Weekly
"Allen's chaste tale of Victorian romantic suspense will also appeal to historical mystery readers, and it would be great for mother-and-daughter reads. This has great appeal for teens who like historical fiction laced with mystery and romance." —Booklist
“I was immediately drawn into the characters’ lives and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of the romance.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine
A single lamp offered scant light over the trim green lawn, and as she stepped toward it, he called out to her. “Miss? Detective Baker, Criminal Investigations Division.”
She gasped and whirled around, clearly startled, only to stumble and land hard on the ground. As she attempted to stand, she stammered, “Leave me alone! I shall scream!”
He opened his jacket to reveal his badge. “I mean you no harm! I am a detective, and I must ask you a few questions. Here—” He extended his hand and took long strides toward her as she scrambled along the ground. “Stop!”
She finally obeyed, gulping down a breath. “What do you want with me? I’ve done nothing wrong. Rarely am I alone after dark, I mind my own business, and I . . . I do not walk the streets!”
He blinked. “Miss, I am hardly accusing you of anything, much less of walking the streets. Please, take my hand.”
He reached down and clasped her fingers, which were cold through her thin gloves. Her lips were blue, and she’d dropped her umbrella. Her hat had fallen off, and the rain made quick work of her coiffure. He might have known a moment’s pity if he didn’t suspect her of dubious association with a man he firmly believed was a criminal.
He pulled her to her feet, bracing her elbow as she stead-ied herself and shook her sodden skirt. She looked at him with dismay in her wide eyes, and then back down at her clothing, which was smeared with mud and dead leaves.
He picked up her umbrella and hat, handing them both to her, wary, as the look in her eyes shifted from fear to indignation.
“What is the meaning of this? I have done absolutely nothing wrong!” Even bedraggled, she was a pretty girl. Marie Verite Radcliffe had also been pretty. Radcliffe seemed to gravitate to-ward a certain type of woman, and Michael suspected the man’s handsome face and artificial charm went a long way toward aiding his efforts.
Michael was soaked to the skin. He’d foolishly left his umbrella at the Yard, and his hat shielded him only so much. “Come with me, just back a few steps into the trees.” He put one hand under her elbow again and extended the other. “As I said from the beginning, I only want to ask you a few questions.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she sniffled, fumbling with the closure on her reticule. She withdrew a lacy handkerchief and wiped her nose.
“Please, miss, I am drenched, it is late, and I am cold.”
She met his eyes for another prolonged moment before finally nodding once. “Only just right there,” she said as they began walking back to the trees.
“Of course.” He dropped his hand once they were better shielded from the rain. He removed his hat and ran a hand his hair with a sigh, shivering involuntarily at the cold droplets that slipped down his neck and soaked into his collar.
He let his breath out on a short sigh and offered the woman a tight smile. “Again, I am Detective Baker. Might I have the pleasure of your name?”
She shook her umbrella to the side, her eyes darting to his face and then away. “My name is Miss Amelie Hampton.” She attempted to place her hat on her head, but it wouldn’t stay. She muttered something under her breath.
Michael caught the soggy thing as it fell. “Haven’t you a hatpin?” he asked, handing it back to her.
“I forget them.” Her brows drew together in a light frown.
“Now, then, Miss Emily Hampton, is it?”
“AHmelie, not EMily.” She shook raindrops from her hat, frowning at the broken feather.
“‘Hampton’? As in the Hamptons?”
Her lips tightened. “I fear ours is the Notorious Branch of the Hampton family.” She paused, then hastily added, “I am not notorious, however! Quite the opposite. I am the picture of circumspection and obedience to the law.”
He frowned. “Miss Hampton, I’ll be brief. What is your association with Mr. Harold Radcliffe?”
She stared, mouth dropping open, and then she swallowed. She took the slightest of steps away from him, and he braced himself to pounce should she try again to run. His instincts had been correct; the young woman definitely knew Radcliffe.
She didn’t run, but shook her head. “I do not know what you mean.” Her eyes dropped from his face to his chest.
“I believe you do know what I mean. Perhaps you would be more comfortable continuing this conversation at the Yard.”
Her eyes were huge, and even in the dim light, he noted her additional pallor. He was growing less sympathetic by the moment. She knew Radcliffe, she was reluctant to reveal their relationship, and she was playing him for a fool. The innocent act was truly just that.
“No! No, I did not mean to learn his identity, truly! Or even see him. That is, I did not know beforehand who he would be, but just now I realized he was someone I recognized . . .” She trailed off and swallowed hard. “I wanted only to be sure the couple got on, that their meeting was agreeable. Miss Franklin has high hopes for this dinner, but she was afraid she would faint on the spot when meeting the gentleman. I wanted to be sure she was happy, and I couldn’t force myself to wait for her report tomorrow. I assure you, I never intended to learn anything beyond that!” She paused in her ramblings and took a breath. “Are you tailing Miss Franklin? Did her mother retain you?” She frowned. “Would the woman truly hire someone to follow her daughter?”
He looked at her in confusion. What was she babbling on about? “Explain yourself, please. Who is Miss Franklin, the young woman dining with Radcliffe?”
“You do not know who she is?” She blinked. “Then why . . . what is your purpose?”
He held to his patience by a thread. “Come with me.” He wrapped his fingers around her arm, deciding to hail a cab and cart her back to the Yard.
Chapter 4, Pages 26-29
AUTHOR BIO
Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of fifteen published novels and numerous novellas, which span genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. In 2005, her work won the Utah Best of State award, and she received a Whitney Award for My Fair Gentleman. She has presented at numerous writing conferences and events since her first book was released in 1999. Nancy received a BS in Elementary Education from Weber State University. She loves to read, write, travel, and research and enjoys spending time laughing with family and friends. She is married and the mother of three children.
Join the virtual book tour of THE MATCHMAKER’S LONELY HEART, Nancy Campbell Allen’s highly acclaimed historical novel, September 6-19, 2021. Thirty popular on-line influencers specializing in historical romance, mystery/suspense, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of its release with a spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in London, England.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Sept 06 Timeless Novels
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Sept 08 Robin Loves Reading
Sept 08 A Darn Good Read
Sept 08 Storeybook Reviews
Sept 08 Austenesque Reviews
Sept 09 Bookfoolery
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Sept 14 Rosanne E. Lortz
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Sept 14 Beauty in the Binding
Sept 15 All-of-a-Kind Mom
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Sept 16 From Pemberley to Milton
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