Deceptive Appearances

How deceptive appearances can be. A backyard gazebo is harmless--a pretty little structure in which to relax. So what if the gazebo has two doors? The back way will take you out the other side.

Or will it?

Here's Chapter One of my Regency time travel, Lady of the Stars.


Cheshire, England
Present Day

Now, where did that come from?

Caroline stood inside the gazebo and stared at its open back door.

This little round wooden open-air building with the pointed thatched roof was one of dozens of similar structures that dotted the extensive grounds of the famous resort, Thornbell Manor, where she was spending her holiday. For the past two days, she had explored the sizeable property of mere and moors, and visited every gazebo she encountered. Each one displayed its number on a metal tag over the doorless entry, and she made a game of writing down all their numbers to see how many there were.

But all the other gazebos had one entry. This one had two, the normal doorless opening on one side and an actual door on the other. How could she miss a back door in so small a structure, especially one in her own yard?

She settled the straps of her hot pink backpack more firmly over her shoulders and ran a hand over the door's cracked and weathered wood. This side of the gazebo appeared far older than the other side.

Although all the resort buildings looked old from a distance, they were really newly made with the latest materials, then "antiqued" to appear aged. She glanced at the nameplate on the lintel. Her eyebrows lifted. Number 1817? The other door was labeled twenty. The largest number she had seen in two days of gazebo-hopping was fifty-two.

She shook her head to clear her fanciful thoughts. Now was no time for mysteries. For once the English sky was blue and free of rain. Cheerful birdsong sounded and a pleasing odor of growing vegetation and damp earth rose around her. This summer day was too lovely and bright to waste, even if the air was still cool. With a little shiver, she tightened the belt of the long sweater she'd thrown over her jeans and tee shirt. She planned to visit quaint little Siddington, its outermost buildings framed by the gazebo's back door.

As she gazed at the charming scene before her, a tall man walked into her field of view. His face turned toward her and she gasped.

"Richard?" she whispered, her voice quavering. No, he couldn't be, but--"Richard!" Her voice rose to a shout and she hurtled through the back door. Cold air blasted over her and she shuddered, a premonition of dread snaking through her mind.

Lady of the Stars, Regency time travel, available from The Wild Rose Press.
Buy link here.

Thank you all,
Linda