Selwyn Place — Shelley Adina

A country house party. A broken friendship. A debt that must be paid in blood.

When Lady Emilie Selwyn invites Andrew and Lady Claire Malvern to her very first country house party, Claire is delighted to offer her help -- until she discovers that Peony Churchill is also on the guest list. But in supporting one friendship, perhaps she could repair another, and the rift between herself and Peony could be mended.

But when Andrew and Claire arrive at the manor, an unexpected guest is among their number. A guest with violent connections to an old crime in Claire's past. Revenge might be a dish best served cold, but Claire will not allow anything to chill dear Emilie's first foray into society. Even if it means that the Lady of Devices must come out of retirement ....

If you like old-fashioned adventure, brave women, clever children, and strong-willed chickens, you'll love this short story set in the Magnificent Devices world. Fangs for the Fantasy says Claire is “a wonderful main character (one of my favourites in the genre)” and the series has “a great sense of Victorian style and language that's both fun and beautiful to read.”