The Seeker Paperback - 2010

From the jacket flap

EXCERPT FROM CATALOG "The Shakers! Have you taken leave of your senses, Edwin? You can't seriously be considering joining the Shakers?" The words came out harsher than Charlotte Vance intended and Edwin Gilbey stepped back from her until the budding branches of the lilac bush behind him had to be poking holes in his dinner jacket. "Please, Charlotte. Calm yourself. You know I can't abide a scene." He shifted his eyes away from her face. Charlotte stared at Edwin in the light of the nearly full moon. Behind her the door opened and laughter mixed with music flowed out into the garden. "But Edwin," she said as sweetly as she could, "unless I am greatly mistaken, the Shakers have a ban on matrimony." Edwin almost looked at her face again. "You are not mistaken. The avoidance of such unions allows them to live in peace and harmony..." "But Edwin," she interrupted him, "we are to wed next month....We've talked of nothing else for years." "You've talked of nothing else. Perhaps it is time you listened for a change," he said. Then without waiting for her to say more, he stepped off the path to go around her as if even the touch of the ruffles on her hooped skirt should be avoided. She stared after him, astounded. When he opened the veranda door, the noise of the party drifted out to her. He stepped inside and snapped the door closed behind him, but through the glass door and window she could see the guests milling about. She was neglecting her hostess duties. Edwin could wait. She touched the pile of hair elaborately styled on top her head to be sure no strand had escaped its pins and started back toward the house. A man's deep voice stopped her before she had gone a dozen steps. "He must be an extremely foolish man to turn his back and run from such beauty."

Media reviews

Citations

• Booklist, 06/01/2010, Page 45
• Library Journal, 06/15/2010, Page 52
• Romantic Times, 07/01/2010, Page 74