Prologue

There are more than a few records of incidents occurring after which quite ordinary folk were rewarded by those of great importance.

One such incident resulted in the surprising promotion of a humble countryman, Hopper Trease, into a titled landowner. He might have been surprised, but he wasn’t stupid, and over the following generations, the Trease Estate (or Forest Grange as it became known), grew into a profitable and most respectable property, guided by the wisdom of its owner, now holding the tasteful title of Viscount of Lesser Banthorpe.

The current residents, Lord Hawthorn Trease, and his lovely wife Hazel, enjoyed their home, which had grown from a small stone house to a nicely comfortable country mansion over several generations, and had taken great and enthusiastic pleasure in filling it with their children.

All of whom, it must be said, continued the family tradition of bearing names belonging to trees.

Ashe, the eldest, had often wondered what would have happened had his parents been more fruitful, since there were only so many tree names that would work as Christian names as well. If there had been eight or nine children (thank God there weren’t), would his Papa have begun using shrubbery names? Would he have had a brother Gorse or a sister Rhododendron? He shuddered at the thought.

He did have a sister named Cherry, however, who was quite happy with her name. Also with her life at Forest Grange. Her recent visit to London had been irritating and not particularly interesting, although her Mama had done her best to introduce her to as many eligible gentlemen as possible.

Cherry, being quite stubborn and independent, had wrinkled her nose at them, glanced at her Mama in disgust, and swanned off with barely a nod of acknowledgement to any of the patient gentlemen awaiting a dance, a conversation, a cup of tea and a biscuit, or a chance at her fortune.

She was content at the Grange, and had set her mind on becoming a woman of intellect, planning on accumulating as much knowledge as she could about the forest in which she resided.

As far as she was concerned, annoying creatures such as men had no place in her future or in her dreams.

And if you think Fate could refuse a challenge like that? Well, you’re reading the wrong kind of story…