CHAPTER 1

If boredom could be captured in a single painting, there could be no doubt my face currently expressed it perfectly. As the music played and the couples danced in the centre of the room, I side-eyed my reflection. I wished I could slip through that mirror and disappear. Since magic didn't exist, I would settle for escaping from the room for a few moments…correction, until everyone left.

My hopes of doing so unnoticed were foiled when Mother began manoeuvring towards me. Lady Catherine Sheppard displayed all the grace required for a rich lady with a title. She smiled politely, nodded her head, and moved so lightly across the polished floor that a swan would no doubt be envious.

I sighed while Mother remained out of earshot. My pursed lips and lack of a smile were at odds with everything Mother told me daily. With each glide she made towards me, I gripped the fan in my hand a little tighter.

"Smile Hannah darling, you want to attract a suitor, not send them running to Scotland," Mother said as she came to a stop beside me. She waved to a couple across the room. The man raised his glass while the lady smiled.

"There are four ladies for every gentleman tonight. I dare say a smile wouldn't do much except make me a copy of every other lady in the room." With a flick of my wrist, the fan opened. I had no intention of cooling myself, but it would serve well as a distraction, or perhaps a subtle attempt to encourage the candles to flare and catch the curtains alight. That at least would bring an end to the dreadful evening.

"Lord Harman isn't dancing. A smile in his direction would be of great benefit."

The grumble that escaped my lips drew a sharp glare from Mother. I knew why she continued to drop hints about Harman. He was indeed a lord with a large estate that generated a substantial income. The issue he faced was having no heir to continue his legacy, this despite marrying five ladies over the years. Three perished along with their babies in childbirth, one fell from the roof of the manor, and the last drowned in the river behind his estate while out for a walk. At least, those were the accepted stories regarding each of his wives; I personally had more than a passing suspicion regarding their misfortunes. The life he could provide came with great compromise for any young lady, since he was overweight, pushing sixty-five, and insisted on long, drawn-out conversations about pheasants.

"I do not feel inclined to smile, Mother," I replied.

"If you won't smile for him, then work harder to find someone of similar standing who is more to your liking. Otherwise, you'll be an old maid out on the street," Mother said. She turned away as the magistrate's wife approached.

With relief, I watched Mother become engaged in conversation. As the only child of my parents, the responsibility to keep the estate in family hands for generations to come fell to me. At eighteen, I hardly considered myself old, let alone a confirmed spinster.

Using the fan to cover my face, I cast my gaze around the room as the band played the final bars of the tune. The couples bowed to one another before some clapped. As they began to disperse from the floor, I seized the opportunity to slip out a side door.

The air outside felt like a whisper of freedom. While warm, it offered some relief from the stifling air, and company, inside the manor. Despite being surrounded by people, the manor felt so empty, even on nights like this.

Stepping up to the edge of the path, I looked out at the grounds of Frogmere Manor. Mother made sure that every blade of grass reflected London standards thanks to the head gardener and his team. The lawns spread out beyond the path I stood on, trimmed to perfection. The paths of pebbles were in perfect alignment and flowers that were the belles of the garden. Mother's pride and joy, however, was a hedge maze planted some years before that stood off to the side of the house.

"Not going in there as I'd probably get lost again," I murmured. It wasn't a lie either. When I was nine, I entered that maze and it took most of the day for me to find my way out. A memorable birthday for sure, but one I'd rather forget.

As I stood there, I heard laughter followed by hushing. Two ladies ran from one of the doors further down the side of the manor and into the maze, followed by a manservant carrying a lantern. More ladies giggled as they ran to join the others in the maze.

"Best not to go that way then."

With the call for couples to take their places for the next dance, I stepped away from the light of the windows and followed the path away from the house. I knew where I wanted to go—to the lake that sat at the bottom of the lawns. The solitude of the lake provided was exactly what I needed.

Soon, the path faded into the distance as I made my way down the little hill. When I turned to look back at the manor, I held my fingers up to fit the building between my thumb and index finger. Sadly, when I squished my fingers together, the manor remained standing.

Discarding my satin shoes on the grass, I stepped onto the little wooden jetty. The boards beneath my feet creaked as I did as I looked back again to reassure myself no one had witnessed my escape.

"It would seem I am in luck tonight."

Sitting down on the edge of the jetty, my feet dangled over the edge before inching out, aiming to step in the middle of the rowboat that gently bobbed in the water. I had done this dozens of times…during the day, but the moonlight made everything feel different. Still, when I slid down, I landed so softly in the boat even Mother couldn't have faulted it.

It took a moment to settle myself on the seat and adjust the oars. Ladies weren't meant to be able to row, but one summer when Mother was up in London, the gardener's son taught me the basics. If Mother hadn't returned early, I might have learnt how to swim better too.

Digging the oars into the water, I moved out onto the lake. It wasn't a real lake formed thousands of years ago. The story went that my ancestor created the lake as the river that flowed past the manor constantly overflowed. That, of course, was an unforgiveable action by the river and begged for correction.

Real or not, the lake now teamed with fish, frogs, and insects. Each year, birds migrated to and from it as well. The fish attracted locals from the town not far from the other side of the lake. Mother tolerated them as they kept the fish population down and she claimed it kept the water cleaner.

The distant lanterns from the town glowed in the night. Most of the buildings I could see were in darkness, a stark contrast to the manor with countless lanterns and candles burning brightly while the guests ate, danced, and drank a little more than they should.

The cotton industry had helped create the fortunes of many of the estates in the area. Frogmere was no exception, though the family traded as clothiers in the beginning before incorporating the manufacturing process as well. Mother owned one of the mills in town, though preferred to leave the running of it to the manager, Mr Bryson. As long as it turned a profit, she didn't interfere too much.

When I at last reached the centre of the lake, I looked up at the moon. It knew my secret, but thankfully would never tell. My hand reached into the pocket of the dress, something Mother didn't know I persuaded the dressmaker to add after Mother approved the design. Reticules were pretty, though I found them to be a nuisance.

"Let's have a look at you," I said.

I pulled the golden ball free of the fabric and turned it in my hand. The ball was my latest discovery while exploring the office of my uncle. He'd passed away before I turned a year old and the estate left to his sister, Mother, as he had no children. "If Mother knew I went into that room, I'd be married off to Mr Harman before I could blink."

My finger traced over the names engraved: Thomas and Rebekah. I leaned back, propping myself up with one hand behind me. Such a delicate-looking thing. I tossed the ball into the air before catching it again. I repeated that several times, watching the way the moonlight bounced off the polished surface.

"Wonder why he had it made. A fancy paperweight perhaps?" I mused. "Probably not, no flat bottom."

Another toss and I watched as it spun around before falling towards me. The smooth surface touched my fingertips before my hand missed it entirely. I scrambled to the edge of the boat just in time to see the ball plop into the lake.

"No!" I reached out in hopes of grabbing it before it sank to the bottom. The boat didn't appreciate my sudden movement and, with my body leaning out from it, began to flip.

My fingers gripped against the edge of the boat, but too late. I felt myself plunged into the cold water. It rose up around me as I sank. Kicking, I tried to swim to the surface, but the weight of the dress's fabric ensured my attempts were in vain.

I grasped at the back of the dress, trying to undo the buttons to rid myself of it. The surrounding water bubbled and ebbed. Glancing up, I saw a silhouetted figure swimming towards me. I placed my hand over my mouth to prevent myself from taking in any more water.

An arm reached out and grabbed me around the waist. Finally, I felt myself moving to the surface. When at last the cool night air greeted my face, I gasped for air.

"You're alive at least," a man said behind me.

I ignored the tone as he began to swim to the shore, dragging me with him. Of course, he did choose to take me to the opposite side from where I needed to be, but considering the state I was in, I doubted being on the town side would infuriate Mother any more when she discovered my night time adventure.

He dragged me out of the water and onto the bank before sitting beside me. I grimaced as water pooled on the surrounding grass, no doubt adding a lovely stain or two to the delicate fabric.

"Thank you," I said. The water-soaked clothes restricted me from moving too quickly. I opted instead to turn my head to look at my rescuer. He wore trousers that had been patched more than once, a shirt that had fluffy little balls on it in places. Clean-shaven, though his tousled brown hair would be considered too long in polite society.

"You're welcome, I guess," he said. "Don't you know how to swim?"

I looked away. Picking up the hem of my dress, I tried to squeeze out some of the water. "In shallow water, I am fine."

"What made you think taking a boat out into the middle of the lake at night was a good idea, then?"

The fabric remained stubbornly waterlogged. "I hadn't planned on falling into the water."

"Next time, plan your possibilities," he said. "I'll get you back to the manor, if you would accept help for the second time tonight."

My attempt to stand quickly would have resulted in a tumble back into the water if my rescuer's hand hadn't caught my arm. He held me as I stood shivering, but with feet firmly on the ground.

"The ball," I said, glancing back at the water.

"I don't think going dancing should be at the top of your list," he said.

"No, no. The ball. I had a little ball I dropped in the water. I need to get it back." I turned to look at him as his hand fell away. Now was the time to smile softly. "Please?"

He smiled and leaned forward. "If you're lucky, maybe a frog will offer to retrieve it in return for friendship."

"You've read the Grimm tales?" I heard my surprised tone and felt my cheeks redden.

"I've heard them. Plenty of frogs in the lake, I'm sure. Now, do you want my help to get back because I have to get home?"

"But I need the ball."

I watched as he held one hand out flat while pretending his other was a frog jumping on and off it.

"A gentleman would help a lady."

"A lady wouldn't have been in a boat, at night, by herself, on a lake."

Smiles were definitely not worth the time.

"Then I'll get it myself." I saw the twitch at the corner of his mouth as I turned back to look at the water.

"I have work tomorrow and I can't spend all night fishing you out of a lake. You get one rescue only."

My gaze remained on the water. "What if I paid you? A reward for retrieving it?"

"Miss, even if I said yes, at this hour of the night, it's going to make for hard work to find it."

"Day?" I asked.

"I can try when I finish work, maybe."

"Thank you." I paused, thinking of what to do next. "What's the easiest way for me to get back over there?"

"Birds would say fly."

"Something that keeps me on two feet might be a better idea."

"Something we can agree on." He looked at the lake before pointing to where the lake narrowed to the river, not far from the hedge maze. "There's a little footbridge down that way the servants use to get to town."