Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Hampshire, England

Summer 1812

"It's as though I never went away. How long has it been? A year? It's like nothing's changed," Johanna Follett said, peering out of the carriage window as it drove through the village of Wilton-Saint Mary, past the spire of the church in the early afternoon.

Her Aunt Marian smiled at her from across the compartment.

"A year to the day. But you've changed, Johanna. When we left, you were a shy, retiring butterfly, but now you've spread your wings. I'm very proud of you," she said, and Johanna smiled.

She was returning from a year abroad with her aunt. It had been a remarkable experience—traveling through Europe, and experiencing other countries and cultures far removed from her own. Venice, Florence, Rome...Johanna had so many memories, and she could not wait to share her stories with her parents and brother.

"I hope they haven't forgotten me. No...I'm being silly. They wouldn't have forgotten me. But you're right, Aunt Marian—I'm the one who's changed," Johanna said, struck by the sudden realization of just how profound that change had been.

When she had been traveling, the world had unfolded before her in a set of endless possibilities. The people she had met, the places she had seen—all of it had served to bring her out of her shell, and she wondered what her parents and brother would think of this change that had come about. Returning home, she was faced with the prospect of what to do next, and what would be expected of her—of a new beginning.

"You're being very philosophical, Johanna. Your parents are looking forward to seeing you. I'm certain of that. Look, we're here now," Johanna's aunt said.

The carriage had turned into the gates of Wilton Grange, Johanna's father's modest estate on the edge of the village. He was the local squire—the Baron Hadley—whose family had held the manor of Wilton since medieval times. It was a handsome house—added to and extended to over the years, most recently during the reign of Queen Anne—and was surrounded by a lush, mature garden.

"Oh, I'm so pleased to see the gardens looking so lovely. I've missed them. The Italian peninsula was so dry. Beautiful, of course. But I missed the lushness of an English garden," Johanna said, peering out of the window.

Botany was one of her chief interests, and since her youth, she had taken a practical and hands-on approach to the matter of gardening, much to the amusement of the gardener, Mr. Wilson, who was even now pruning the climbing rose above the door.

"Oh, look, there's Mr. Wilson. Don't the roses look beautiful? I have so many ideas after seeing the gardens at Villa d'Este," Johanna said.

The sound of their arrival had brought her parents to the door, and they both waved excitedly as the carriage pulled up outside.

"Oh, Johanna...we weren't expecting you until tomorrow. What a wonderful surprise," Johanna's mother said, hurrying to embrace Johanna as she and her aunt climbed down from the carriage.

"Mother, Father...I'm so pleased to be back," Johanna exclaimed as her father, too, embraced her.

"We've missed you. It hasn't been the same without you," he said, and Johanna smiled.

"I've missed you, too. But what adventures we've had. Haven't we, Aunt Marian?" Johanna said, turning to her aunt, who smiled.

"And I'm sure they'd be better told over a nice cup of tea, especially after such a long journey," she said, and Johanna's parents ushered them inside.

The gardener nodded as Johanna passed, handing her a rose from his prunings.

"I've taken good care of your garden, Miss Follett, but I'm sure you'll be making a thorough inspection," he said, and Johanna smiled.

"I'm sure you've done a wonderful job, Mr. Wilson. It looks beautiful. You'd have loved the gardens of the Italian peninsula—the scent on a warm day was like heaven itself," she replied.

Inside, the house was pleasantly cool. It was a warm day, and Johanna was greeted by the familiar scent of wood polish and her mother's perfume. There was a comforting familiarity about returning home, and Johanna was glad to see nothing had really changed, save for the minor rearrangement of certain ornaments. Her parents and aunt were already in the drawing room, but Johanna paused before entering, allowing herself a moment to remember the last time she had stood in the hallway.

I was a different person then. I've certainly grown up a lot—and I can speak French a lot better than I ever could before, she thought to herself.

But it was not just her French that had improved. Johanna had grown up. She had left Wilton Grange as a silly, immature youngster—by her own admittance. But she had returned with a new perspective on the world.

"Johanna, come into the drawing room, won't you? We're having tea," her mother called out, and entering the drawing room, Johanna found her aunt and parents sitting by the open doors leading onto the terrace at the back of the house.

"Come and sit down, Johanna, and tell us all about your adventures," Johanna's father said.

"But where's Roger? I thought he'd be here to greet me," Johanna said, referring to her older brother.

"He's out on business—for me. Besides, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow, Johanna. Come along," her father said.

"Oh, but I don't know where to start—you can test me on my French and my Latin. I've learned so much. Reading all those inscriptions in the ancient ruins we visited. And the people we met—it's extraordinary to think how other people live their lives. I don't think I really knew anything about the world until now," Johanna replied, brimming with excitement at the thought of all she had learned and experienced.

Her mother bid her to sit, and Johanna sat down with them and glanced at her aunt, who smiled.

"There's so much to tell, isn't there, Johanna? We've crossed Europe and made it as far as the Greek islands," she said.

Johanna's mother shook her head.

"I don't know where you get your spirit of adventure from, Marian. We're like chalk and cheese. I don't remember the last time I left the district, though we'll have to be brave and go up to London soon, won't we?" she said, glancing at Johanna, who did not know why there was any need for them to go up to London.

"Will we?" she asked, and her mother nodded.

"Yes, for the Season. But we can talk about that later. We want to hear all about your adventures. From the beginning," Johanna's mother said.

Johanna was curious about her mother's words—she did not want to go to London for the Season, and there had been no mention of their doing so in her mother's letter. She knew what the London Season meant, and the thought of it—of marriage—filled her with foreboding. But with her parents waiting eagerly for tales of her adventures, Johanna put the thought aside, taking a sip of tea, and beginning at the beginning.

"Well, it all started in Paris, I suppose…" she began.

***

"Oh, I feel as though I've traveled across Europe myself in the past few hours. What a wonderful time you've had, Johanna, and it was so good of you to take her, Marian. I'd have been no good—the heat, the language, the food…" Johanna's mother said, shaking her head and laughing.

"She was no trouble at all. I'd gladly do it all again. Johanna was the best of traveling companions. I'll miss her," Johanna's aunt said, smiling at Johanna, who smiled back at her and nodded.

She would miss her aunt, too. The two of them had got on well, and there had never been a cross word between them during their travels. Johanna would miss their shared spirit of adventure, and she hoped the journey they had now returned from would not be their last. But Johanna and her mother had always got on well, too, and Johanna was pleased to be home, despite her thoughts as to what the future now held.

"Ah, here's Roger now. You'll have to repeat the story," Johanna's father said as the sound of horses' hooves could be heard on the gravel outside.

Johanna had missed her brother terribly. They were as much friends as siblings, and she had written to him often during her travels, telling him of the wonderful places she was seeing, and how excited she was at the prospect of telling him all about her adventures. A moment later, the drawing room door opened, and Roger appeared, looking surprised to find Johanna and their aunt taking tea.

"Johanna, how wonderful—you're back. We weren't expecting you until tomorrow," he exclaimed as Johanna flung herself into his arms.

He seemed older—he was older, but only by a year. But his appearance was that of a man, rather than a youth. His hair had grown, and he now had a beard, neatly clipped. There was no mistaking their relationship—both had inherited their father's jet-black hair and their mother's blue eyes.

"We got back earlier than we expected. But it's wonderful to see you. We have so much to tell you about," Johanna said, glancing at her aunt, who smiled.

"But I think I'll let you do that, Johanna. I need a lie down after our journey," she said, and Johanna's mother now fussed around her sister, insisting she go upstairs and rest before dinner.

"And you'll want to rest, too, Johanna," she said, but Johanna shook her head.

"No...really, Mother. I'm quite all right. I want to talk to Roger," Johanna said, smiling at her brother, who smiled back at her.

"Let's go and sit in the garden—under the oak tree. Where we always used to sit, before you went off gallivanting halfway across the world," Roger said, and Johanna smiled and nodded as she took her brother's arm and the two of them left the drawing room for the garden.

At the far end of the lawn, behind the house, was an oak tree—an ancient oak tree, far older than the house and its grounds. Johanna had always loved to sit beneath it on warm days, sheltered by the dappled shade of its branches, and now she and Roger did so once again. It felt like a true homecoming—almost as though she had never left.

"And now I've told you of my adventures, what of your own? What business were you out on for father? I thought you'd always vowed never to get involved in all of that. You've certainly changed your tune," Johanna said, when they had sat down beneath the shady boughs of the oak tree.

Roger sighed and shook his head.

"Father hasn't been well. He keeps it to himself, of course. But he gets tired very easily, and he's growing thinner with every passing day. I realized I was being selfish in holding back from the responsibility that was mine. Like it or not, I'll inherit the title, and far better for me to learn under father's guidance than to be thrust into it in the event of…" Roger said, his words trailing off as he spoke.

Johanna nodded. She had noticed her father had lost a lot of weight since the last time she had seen him. He had always had a healthy complexion—round-faced and jovial. But his features had become gaunt, and there was a pale look to him, as much as he appeared in good spirits.

"He probably doesn't want to worry Mother," Johanna said, and Roger nodded.

"Yes, I think you're right. But whatever happens, I want to take my duties seriously. I've grown up in this past year. I think you have, too. And that's why Mother is taking you to London for the Season...I mean...I'm sure she's mentioned it," Roger said, looking suddenly worried, as though he had said the wrong thing.

Johanna raised her eyebrows.

"She mentioned the London Season, but not the reason—though I'm sure I can guess. London Seasons mean marriage, don't they? Or do you know differently? I hope so, because I don't want to get married," Johanna said, adopting a defiant tone.

Roger smiled.

"They want you to get married, Johanna. They've been talking about it for months. You and Mother are going up to London for the Season. You'll go to balls and parties, dinners and picnics. And the hope is…" he began, but Johanna interrupted him.

"The hope is I'll find a husband? I see." Johanna said.

She had not expected to return home and find herself immediately thrust into society, but now she understood why her parents had not objected to her aunt's suggestion of accompanying her on her journey across Europe. Her travels had given Johanna a maturity she had not possessed before, and with so many interesting tales to tell, she would not be short of matters to converse on. Her parents had clearly seen her tour of Europe as preparation for the task of finding a husband—a finishing school for the shy, retiring butterfly of her aunt's description, and now they were to put their plans into action.

"They just want you to be happy, Johanna. As do I. It's what you deserve. Neither of them is getting any younger, and I think they feel...Well, it's their duty to see you married," Roger said.

But if Johanna's travels had taught her anything, it was the importance of an independent spirit. Her Aunt Marian was not married, and in her example, Johanna had seen a different possibility for what her life might be.

"But I've never really given much thought to getting married. Well, I suppose I have, but I don't know if I want to, Johanna said, and her brother smiled.

"You don't have to marry the first man who comes along. Just promise me you'll think about it. You'll please the Parker sisters at least," he said, and Johanna groaned.

"Oh, I was hoping they might've disappeared off to London—didn't they want a Season of their own? They're not still causing trouble, are they?" Johanna asked.

Her brother smiled.

"Don't give them a second thought, Johanna. When have they ever not sought to cause trouble? Besides, once you go to London for your Season, you won't have them to contend with. They're just jealous women—it's no wonder they can't find husbands for themselves, despite forever looking," he replied.

"Yes...well, I just hope I don't bump into them. That's all. But right now, I'm eager to go out on a ride. Is Pegasus well?" she asked.

Pegasus was Johanna's horse, and she was eager to see him again, for she had missed riding during her time in Europe and had asked her brother to keep him exercised. Roger smiled.

"He's stubborn. He doesn't like me riding him—not at all. But I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you. Shall I come with you?" he said, but Johanna shook her head.

"No—thank you. I want to ride out on my own. It's what I've missed the most—apart from you and Mother and Father, of course. And the garden," Johanna said, and her brother laughed.

"I'll see you later—and remember what I said, don't give the Parker sisters a second though," he replied.

Johanna nodded, and then she made her way to the stable, finding Pegasus being brushed down by her father's groom, Andrew.

"Ah, the wanderer returns," he said, tipping his cap, as Johanna ran her hand along Pegasus' silky-smooth back.

The horse whinnied, nuzzling his head into hers, and Johanna kissed his nose, fondling his ears as she did so.

"Oh, Andrew, how pleased I am to see him—and you, of course. I've missed being in the saddle," she said, and the groom smiled.

"You're the only one who can ride him properly, Miss Follett," he said, and Johanna laughed.

"Then I'd better get him saddled," she said, eager to feel the wind in her hair and know she was home.