Deanna Raybourn - Night of a Thousand Stars

New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn returns with a Jazz Age tale of grand adventure

On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat’s wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father’s quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.

With only her feisty lady’s maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels incognita—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. Danger abounds beneath the canopies of the silken city, and Poppy finds herself in the perilous sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan—one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear.

“Raybourn skillfully balances humor and earnest, deadly drama, creating well-drawn characters and a rich setting.”

—Publishers Weekly on Dark Road to Darjeeling

Praise for the novels of Deanna Raybourn Praise Booklist Title Page Dedication Quote One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty-One Twenty-Two Acknowledgments Reader’s Guide Questions for Discussion A Conversation with Deanna Raybourn Copyright

“Raybourn’s first-class storytelling is evident…

Readers will quickly find themselves embarking on an

unforgettable journey that fans both old and new are sure to savor.”

—Library Journal on City of Jasmine

“With a strong and unique voice, Deanna Raybourn

creates unforgettable characters in a richly detailed world.

This is storytelling at its most compelling.”

—Nora Roberts, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Raybourn skillfully balances humor and earnest, deadly drama, creating well-drawn characters and a rich setting.”

—Publishers Weekly on Dark Road to Darjeeling

“A great choice for mystery, historical fiction and/or romance readers.”

—Library Journal on Silent on the Moor

“Raybourn…delightfully evokes the language, tension

and sweeping grandeur of 19th-century gothic novels.”

—Publishers Weekly on The Dead Travel Fast

“Raybourn expertly evokes late-nineteenth-century colonial India

in this rollicking good read, distinguished by its delightful lady detective and her colorful family.”

—Booklist on Dark Road to Darjeeling

“[A] perfectly executed debut… Deft historical detailing

[and] sparkling first-person narration.”

—Publishers Weekly on Silent in the Grave, starred review

“A sassy heroine and a masterful, secretive hero. Fans of

romantic mystery could ask no more—except the promised sequel.”

—Kirkus Reviews on Silent in the Grave

Also by Deanna Raybourn Booklist Title Page Dedication Quote One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty-One Twenty-Two Acknowledgments Reader’s Guide Questions for Discussion A Conversation with Deanna Raybourn Copyright

Historical Fiction

City of Jasmine

Whisper of Jasmine*

A Spear of Summer Grass

Far in the Wilds*

The Lady Julia Grey series

Silent in the Grave

Silent in the Sanctuary

Silent on the Moor

The Dead Travel Fast

Dark Road to Darjeeling

The Dark Enquiry

Silent Night*

Midsummer Night*

Twelfth Night*

And watch for Bonfire Night*, available soon from Harlequin MIRA!

*Digital Novellas

Night of a

Thousand

Stars

Deanna Raybourn

www.mirabooks.co.uk

For Caitlin—

another beautiful girl from an eccentric family making her way in the world.

They would have reached the nursery in time had it not been that the little stars were watching them. Once again the stars blew the window open, and that smallest star of all called out:

“Cave, Peter!”

Then Peter knew that there was not a moment to lose.

“Come,” he cried imperiously, and soared out at once into the night, followed by John and Michael and Wendy.

Mr. and Mrs. Darling and Nana rushed into the nursery but it was too late. The birds were flown.

—Peter and Wendy, J. M. Barrie

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn returns with a Jazz Age tale of grand adventure On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat’s wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father’s quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems. With only her feisty lady’s maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels incognita—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. Danger abounds beneath the canopies of the silken city, and Poppy finds herself in the perilous sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan—one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear. “Raybourn skillfully balances humor and earnest, deadly drama, creating well-drawn characters and a rich setting.” —Publishers Weekly on Dark Road to Darjeeling

Praise

Booklist

Title Page

Dedication

Quote

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Acknowledgments

Reader’s Guide

Questions for Discussion

A Conversation with Deanna Raybourn

Copyright

One

March 1920

“I say, if you’re running away from your wedding, you’re going about it quite wrong.”

I paused with my leg out the window, satin wedding gown hitched up above my knees. A layer of tulle floated over my face, obscuring my view. I shoved it aside to find a tall, bespectacled young man standing behind me. His expression was serious, but there was an unmistakable gleam in his eyes that was distinctly at odds with his clerical garb.

“Oh! Are you the curate? I know you can’t be the vicar. I met him last night at the rehearsal and he’s simply ancient. Looks like Methuselah’s godfather. You’re awfully young to be a priest, aren’t you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“But I’m wearing a dog collar. I must be,” he protested. “And as I said, if you’re running away, you’ve gone about it quite stupidly.”

“I have not,” I returned hotly. “I managed to elude both my mother and my future mother-in-law, and if you think that was easy, I’d like to sell you a bridge in Brooklyn.”

“Brooklyn? Where on earth is that?”

I rolled my eyes heavenward. “New York. Where I live.”