by D. M. Quincy
His jaw hardened at her dismissal, as if she were his mistress and he a mere boot boy. “No.”
Her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”
“As you should.” He came to his feet, emotion swirling in his chest. “We are nowhere near finished, and I do not appreciate being dismissed.” It was not up to her to determine when it was done between them. It was far from over.
“Is that so?” An expression of polite boredom settled on her face. “I cannot imagine what there is left to say between us.”
He stepped closer, pulled Lilliana into his arms, and kissed her for all he was worth.
Author’s Note
As hard as it is to believe, arsenic was used for a variety of purposes in eighteenth-century England. The substance could be found in all sorts of everyday items, including clothing, candles, curtains, and wallpaper dyes, because it produced a vibrant shade of green known as “arsenic green.” Workers in the factories that produced these dyes, as well as the artisans who used products containing them, often suffered from arsenic poisoning.
Also, like the character of Gordon Davis in this novel, people voluntarily took arsenic for health reasons. Many were convinced the poison improved their health by giving them an energy boost. Cosmetics and face washes containing arsenic were believed to improve complexions.
Murder in Bloomsbury was loosely inspired by a fascinating murder case that riveted Scotland in the mid-1800s. Madeleine Smith, the daughter of a wealthy, well-regarded architect, was accused of poisoning her working-class lover. What made her trial even more scandalous was a series of passionate letters that revealed very intimate details of her secret love affair with Emile L’Anglier, a factory clerk.
Once Madeleine accepted that her father would never allow her to marry Emile, she became engaged to a wealthy merchant and neighbor. Emile did not take her rejection well and threatened to show their intimate letters to Madeleine’s father. Emile died shortly afterward after complaining of terrible stomach pains; an autopsy showed he’d been poisoned. (The introduction of syphilis in Murder in Bloomsbury is my own invention.)
Madeleine was arrested and put on trial for Emile’s murder. The verdict was “not proven,” and public opinion was split on whether Madeleine got away with murder or was framed by her vengeful ex-lover. I was fascinated to find the transcript of the entire trial online and borrowed liberally from courtroom testimony and Emile’s actual autopsy results. I also referred to Madeleine and Emile’s authentic letters when penning Elizabeth and Gordon’s fictional missives to each other.
If you’re interested in reading more about the Madeleine Smith case, you can find the entire court report online at murderpedia.org.
A few final notes . . . I must acknowledge the extraordinary people who helped make this book possible. My editor, Faith Black Ross, is a dream to work with and makes the editing process a breeze. My agent, Kevan Lyon, guides my professional affairs with an expertise and tenacity that make me continually grateful that she’s in my corner. My friend Megann Yaqub is always there for me when I need help keeping a story on track. She and Joanna Shupe each read the earliest versions of Murder in Bloomsbury and gave me their valuable input. Thank you!
The wonderful community of readers, bloggers, booksellers, and author buddies all contribute to making writing and publishing such a joy in my life. I love hearing from readers and bloggers. Please keep those messages coming! And thank you for taking the time to spend a few hours in Atlas’s world.