《Love & Murder: An Eliza Winter Mystery》Anya
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Eliza was now determined to find out if Penelope had set off to Gretna Green to elope, or if her disappearance could be more sinister. She had her starting point, now she just had to find a picture of Penelope to take to the train stations.
After leaving the Tennyson's, she had the cab take her straight to the Vanderwahl's a few blocks away. She had wondered how to get Penelope's lady's maid alone and thought of excuses while stuck in traffic.
When they approached the Vanderwahl's brown brick two-story, she sent out her calling card. It was quickly declined as their butler informs Eliza that Lady Vanderwahl isn't home. Ecstatic, Eliza answers that she wishes to only speak to Anya about a brooch Eliza had lent to Penelope, saying she was desperate to retrieve it before her own mother returned home. Luckily, their butler bought the story and allows Eliza into the foyer. He ushers Anya upstairs and she could tell Anya was surprised to be called upon.
"Lady Eliza, I was told I could be of your assistance?" Anya asks curiously and Eliza darts her eyes to the butler who's still lurking nearby.
"Yes, you see I had lent Penelope my sapphire brooch a few weeks back and I realized I hadn't gotten it back. My mother will know it's missing, so I thought I'd pop by and see if you could retrieve it for me?" Eliza asks, but she can sense Anya isn't buying it.
She quickly shakes her head, "I'm not aware of any sapphire brooch my lady." Eliza wonders how to get Anya away from the butler so she can have a private conversation.
"Maybe I can draw it for you? Maybe if you saw it, you'd recognize it?" Eliza suggests and she tries to give Anya a look that conveyed, "Say yes!"
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"Oh? Um, yes. I suppose you can do that. I think there's paper in the drawing-room. Why don't I take you there?" Anya replies and Eliza quickly nods. She follows Anya's white bonnet to the side room and then looks behind her to make sure they are finally alone. As Anya crosses over to the secretary Eliza says, "I don't actually require parchment Anya, I was just hoping to have a private word with you." Anya stops and spins around to face Eliza.
"Oh? About what my lady?" She asks timidly. Eliza knows Anya probably hasn't been called upon to have a secret discussion before, so she's not sure how to go about it.
"I'd assume it's safe to say that the both of us probably know Penelope better than anyone else, so I thought I'd ask you if you have any idea of where she could be?" Eliza quickly asks, hoping they won't be disturbed by any other members of the Vanderwahl's staff. Anya looks hesitant and Eliza can tell there's something on her mind. Eliza adds, "Do you know of anyone she could be with? Perhaps...possibly in the countryside?" Eliza hints as much as possible while eyeing Anya, hoping she'll feel safe enough to share Penelope's secrets. Anya bites her lip while darting her eyes nervously around. Eliza can tell there's something she wants to say and she wishes she could take the petite woman by the shoulders and shake it out of her.
"I..." Anya starts and then twists her hands together.
"Yes..." Eliza teases, taking a half step closer to Anya.
"Lady Vanderwahl already asked me if I had any idea," Anya finally admits while shaking her head.
"Yes, I'm aware. However, I thought perhaps that you might know something Lady Vanderwahl wouldn't want to know. Something you could tell me though. Perhaps Penelope is off with someone she shouldn't be?" Eliza asks, pleading that Anya will give her something. Anya still looks tortured. Wondering what to say and what to hold back. She wonders what Lucy would do in the same position. "Anya, if you know something please tell me. I won't tell Lady Vanderwahl, I just need to know if Penelope is safe. That perhaps she's safe somewhere in the countryside...or maybe she wanted to venture up to Gretna Green?" Eliza hints again, basically spelling it out for the maid. She softens her green eyes to plead with Anya and finally, after much hand twisting Anya quietly says, "I think you know that Lady Penelope was up to something. It's just that...if she did in fact leave somewhere, she took nothing with her. Nothing at all my lady."
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"That would be most unusual yes? If she ran off with nothing?" Eliza asks and Anya nods. Eliza decides to become bolder.
"Anya, do you know who Penelope was sneaking around with? Do you have any idea?" Eliza asks. Anya quickly shakes her head, "I don't Lady Eliza, I only know it was someone she shouldn't have been. Lots of secrets Penelope was keeping. Even from me." Eliza wonders what else Anya could help her with. She doesn't seem to know much more than Eliza does. She wonders who else would know of Penelope's secrets and Eliza realizes she wouldn't tell her secrets to anyone, but she might write them down.
"Did Penelope keep a diary Anya?"
"Possibly. But if she did, I never seen it," Anya answers.
"Next time you tidy up her room, will you look to see if she hid one? Possibly under the mattress, in the headboard or any other secret hiding spot? She may have written down where she was off to," Eliza asks and Anya still looks hesitant.
"I don't know if I feel right rifling through Lady Penelope's things my lady," Anya answers and Eliza takes a step closer to her. Now close enough that she could reach out and grab Anya's trembling hands. Eliza knows the maids know everything, more than they'll ever admit to. Anya probably knows exactly where Penelope's diary is located, what color it is and how much parchment she has remaining.
"Anya, we are all very worried. Even if Penelope has done something that could potentially tarnish the Vanderwahl's name, we need to know she's safe. We need to know she's where she should be and not missing. I need your help Anya, I have no one else to turn to," Eliza pleads and she finally sees Anya drop her shoulders. She gives a reluctant nod and says, "I will check and let you know. I too am worried about her. She's done a lot of things a lady shouldn't, but this one is truly baffling. She's not one to vanish without a trace." Eliza nods. She hopes something will turn up and that Anya will be comfortable enough to bring it to Eliza. She can tell Anya is itching to leave, so Eliza finally says, "Thank you for your time Anya. I know we both want what is best for Penelope." Anya nods and turns to lead Eliza out of the drawing-room. Before they cross the threshold, Eliza spots a small pocket-sized photo of Penelope adorning the piano. She reaches out and silently plucks it off the shiny surface and stuffs it into her pocketbook.
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Rise
Su Xue, a woman in her mid 20s, is struggling both in paying rent and finding her path in life. Her latest stint has her trying to become a popular League of Legends streamer, though to poor results. One day, she is interrupted in the middle of a livestream by a surprise visit from her landlady. She is informed that she will be having a new roommate. The landlady’s nephew, Lin Feng, a 18 year old boy who has just transferred over to Shanghai for his last year of high school.Though initially opposed to it, Su Xue reluctantly agrees to the arrangement. She learns that the two share a common interest—League of Legends—and that he’s really amazing at the game. Lin Feng also reveals to her he wishes to become the best professional League of Legends player in the world.The next day. Lin Feng attends his first day of school as a transfer student at High School 13. He meets Ouyang and Yang Fan, and the trio find a common passion in League of Legends. Lin Feng is then introduced to Ren Rou, the president of the esports club with a fiery personality, and Tang Bingyao, a quiet bookworm with a love for money and a surprising talent for the game.A little about Lin Feng’s past is revealed. He was a once pro player, the youngest in history and a contender for the best player in the world. Until the finals of the Season 1 World Championship. There, he lost to his arch-rival, an equally brilliant Korean youth. That was the peak of his career, and also the turning point in his life. He stepped down from his team and disappeared from competitive play altogether. Now, after a four year long hiatus, he aims to make a comebackOver the next couple of weeks, Lin Feng learns about the upcoming Shanghai 16 School Tournament, and that his school’s esports club had performed especially poorly the previous year. He agrees to coach the club’s team and help them win the first place trophy this year. And so, he starts the members of the club out on an intense training bootcamp.Meanwhile, the Season 5 League of Legends World Championship is taking place at around the same time. Tian Tian, one of Lin Feng’s former teammates and best friend, is on one of the Chinese teams playing at Worlds. After a poor showing, he is on the verge of a mental breakdown. Lin Feng witnesses everything in a viewing party with the esports club members and becomes worried.On the day of the Shanghai 16 School tournament, Lin Feng reunites with Tian Tian on the phone. He tells Tian Tian he’s going to return to the professional scene, that he’s making a new team and plans to invite him. But Tian Tian has to vow not to give up at Worlds and keep winning. Tian Tian agrees, and Lin Feng promises he’ll fight alongside him. Lin Feng then heads into his match with renewed resolve, to climb from the bottom all the way back to the top, and overcome the rival that defeated him so many years ago.
8 1136Phoenix's Requiem
Painfully shy and conflict-averse, Yun Ruoyan is a scion to a noble house only in name, a puppet embroiled in political machinations beyond her ken. At the tender age of eighteen, poisoned and at death’s door, she finds herself thrown out into the streets. Her relatives have all been executed, betrayed by her dear husband and her cousin. With her dying breath, she curses her own weakness and swears revenge.When Yun Ruoyan awakens once more, she is thirteen, transported five years into the past by the will of the heavens. Her death-defying experience has changed her: no longer is she the malleable creature she once was. But more questions await at every corner—what is the truth behind the birthmark that disfigures her appearance? What are the circumstances surrounding her mother’s mysterious death?Will the phoenix rise from the ashes, or will she fall once more in thrall to fate?
8 646Poison Physician Consort
Follow Bai Luochu on a journey back to the peak as she reincarnates into the body of an orphaned daughter of the former great general of the Cloud Water Nation.With the Three Great Immortal Sects in front of her, her mortal enemies who caused her death, how would she rise to the top again?With her astounding medical skills and ability to create heaven defying poison, Bai Luochu heals the crippled meridians of her new body and attracts the attention of all three princes of the Cloud Water Nation!
8 1749Rebirth of a Fashionista: This Life Is Soo Last Season
Cinderella went from rags to riches, but when you are already at the top, fate is more than happy to kick you down. A car accident kicks off Sheng Jiaoyang's reverse Cinderella story by trapping her soul in the body of a poor girl, leaving her to succumb to fate and wait for her Prince Charming to come to her rescue -- obviously not!Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, Sheng Jiaoyang forges her own way back up to the upper echelons of society, clearing obstacles, taking revenges, and bagging her handsome and rich childhood friend on the way.If you are tired of reading about poor damsel in distress waiting for a man to rescue her, and wants a female lead that can carry herself to the top, Rebirth of A Fashionista is the novel for you!
8 274The Attack of the Wastrel
Her rebirth gave her a second chance at life. She was back with a vengeance and wanted to make those that had harmed her pay. But to those that helped her, she wanted to repay them. Her evil stepmother? She would slowly pull out her claws, one by one. Her evil stepsister? She would crush her pride. She thought that by getting her revenge for her past life, she would be happy in this life. However, she never would have thought that danger would chance upon her time and time again. The hatred from her clan and whether their bloodline would continue to exist, lay solely on her shoulders. Luckily, on this thorny path, someone had always been protecting her. "Third Prince, have you ever regretted being with me?" That person laughed lightly and peered at her with a loving yet weary look, "As long as I am together with you, I have no regrets."
8 1461Demoness's Art of Vengeance
Jun Xiaomo, notoriously known as “Lady Demoness”, finds herself chained and bound in a dungeon. Her hard-earned cultivation has been completely crippled, and she has no means of escape. Qin Shanshan, a lady she used to called her “close friend”, mocks Jun Xiaomo, revealing that Jun Xiaomo had been used by the people around her. Even her lover, Qin Lingyu was one of the masterminds scheming against her. Jun Xiaomo watches her life flash before her eyes and realizes that she had indeed blindly placed her trust in people. Her naivety had led to her current predicament. Jun Xiaomo wanted to end it all. However, she is determined to deliver a swan song. Over the hundreds of days tormented in that very dungeon, Jun Xiaomo had painstakingly painted a complicated formation array with her own blood. With a determined look, Jun Xiaomo burns her life force to activate the array. Her sole intent? To bring with her as many schemers to the gates of hell as she could. The bright red light from thearray intensified, and the end was nigh.…or was it? Jun Xiaomo opens her eyes and finds herself alive again; time had rewound right back to when she was sixteen years of age, albeit only at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. Armed with the knowledge and memories of her previous lifetime, Jun Xiaomo is determined to learn from her mistakes and bring retribution to those who so deserve…
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