Prologue

Prologue

1811

Amelia felt the wind whip around her, making her hair fly across her face. Frustrated, she brushed it aside, but it didn’t stay put. Instead, it blinded her from what she was trying to do.

It was already annoying that there were knots in the string, so she wouldn’t be able to fly the kite properly, but now her hair was getting involved. Amelia regretted asking for her hair to be styled down today; it certainly wasn’t helping her.

“How are you with that knot, Amelia?” Nanny Beth asked, appearing at her side. “Do you need any help?”

“I’m fine,” Amelia said quickly. “It’s nothing.”

“Are you sure? If you want, I can get your father…”

“No, don’t worry about it. I almost have it.”

The reality was that Amelia hadn’t had it at all, and she was really stuck. The knot was tight, and she wasn’t able to get her fingers into it properly. But she was loath to ask her nanny for help. It would just make her feel like she was still a small child. Her father kept thinking that his daughter still needed a nanny at the age of fourteen. Much as Amelia was fond of Nanny Beth, she was fed up with being treated like a little girl.

She was going to get this kite fixed and flying on her own. No one else was going to help her.

Nanny Beth’s expression said she didn’t really believe her charge would be able to fix everything. But she nodded and stepped back.

“All right. I’ll leave you to it. But if you need anything…”

“I’m sure I can manage. Thank you, Nanny Beth!” Amelia snapped. Then she realized what she had said and bit her lip. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to…”

“I understand where you’re coming from, darling.” Nanny Beth didn’t seem upset that she had been snapped at. “You’re growing up. You need to find things out for yourself.”

Amelia sighed.

“At least you understand me. I don’t know why my parents can’t see that as well.”

“They’re just concerned about you and want to make sure you’re safe, Amelia,” Nanny Beth replied.

“And you don’t need to lie to me, Nanny Beth. They just don’t want me to grow up.”

Her parents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Downe, were loving people, but they tended to be a little overbearing with their only daughter. Her older brother, Robert, was treated differently, but he had been thirteen when Amelia was born.

Things would have been different for him, given that he was a grown man and didn’t need to be parented. Amelia knew that her parents had been desperate for a daughter, and after several miscarriages and losing another daughter when she was just six months old, they were blessed with her. She could understand how much they wanted her.

But what she didn’t understand, or like, was how they treated her. It was like she was spun glass, and she would shatter if she did something out of the ordinary. Even things that a girl like her would be doing were treated with worry and lots of questions. Amelia wished they would stop because it often sucked the joy out of what she wanted to do.

How they had allowed her to fly a kite during their picnic in the park, Amelia had no idea. But she was going to make the most of it, even with the knots in the string.

“I’m sure things will change soon,” Nanny Beth said. “You are approaching womanhood…”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I’ll be very happy when they realize that I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.” Amelia sighed, picking again at the knot. “Robert says they are just like this, and they did something similar to him when he was my age.”

“They did. Robert didn’t like it, either. I remember it back then as well.” Nanny Beth brushed her gray hair out of her eyes. The wind was managing to take it out of her tight bun. “Things were tough back then as well, going through losing all those potential children, plus their baby girl. I can understand why they’re like this around you, but…”

“But it doesn’t make me feel any better,” Amelia grumbled. “I wish they would stop.”

And she wished that she could get the kite to work. The wind was perfect for flying a kite, and Amelia wanted to play. Her parents were nearby and didn’t want her to play with the kite for too long. Before she knew it, she would be told to sit down, and she wouldn’t be able to fly it at all.

“Well, I’ll go back to your parents and leave you to it.” Nanny Beth gave her a gentle smile and squeezed Amelia’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll have it up and going in no time. But you’d better be quick because I can hear your mother complaining already.”

Amelia groaned. Lady Downe was always complaining about something. She was probably going to say that they should head home because it was too cold and windy for a picnic. Something that had been the marchioness’ idea in the first place.

Amelia didn’t want to complain, but she had been looking forward to this. It wasn’t often that she got to spend time with her parents—her father was always in the study and her mother was focused on social engagements with her friends—and she wanted to make the most of it. It was at times like this that she could forget that they were overbearing people. They loved her, no mistake about it, but Amelia felt suffocated.

What was wrong with being independent?

Her fingers were beginning to hurt as Amelia tugged at the string. It wasn’t going anywhere. How could she fly a kite like this? She sat on the grass, taking a moment to calm down and figure it out. It would, essentially, fly with a knot in the string, but not as well. Amelia wouldn’t allow it; something about seeing that knot would make her feel agitated. She wasn’t sure why, but small things like that would put her on edge.

“Are you all right?”

Amelia looked up, and then further up. A tall person with black curly hair was towering over her. His head blocked out the sun, so she couldn’t see his face, with the sun peeking out and making her eyes hurt. Amelia was a little unnerved by how he stood over her, and she scrambled to her feet.

“I…I’m fine.” She dusted herself down, feeling slightly flustered. “I’m just trying to get my kite to fly.”

“I see.” His eyes drifted to the kite at her feet. “Anything the matter?”

Amelia got a proper look at him, and she momentarily couldn’t speak. He wasn’t a boy, but he didn’t look that old. He had to be eighteen or nineteen, or thereabouts. And he was very handsome. Gray eyes focused on her, strong, smooth features and a friendly smile that made Amelia weak at the knees.

What on earth was wrong with her? Why was she reacting like this?

“It’s just the string,” she said lamely. “I want to untangle it so I can fly it, but it just won’t come undone.”

“You can fly a kite with a knot…”

“I know I can!” Amelia flinched when she realized that she was snapping at a stranger. “I just…I prefer it without knots. Oh, Lord…”

“You can fix it for her, Edmund.”

This sudden new voice made Amelia jump. A girl a little younger than her with long black hair appeared at the side of the young man, her hair delicately made up on her head and under her hat. She was holding onto the hat as the wind whipped around them. It would be typical that the wind would get stronger at this point.

“You can fix anything, can’t you?” the girl said, prodding the young man in the side before smiling at Amelia. “My brother is very good at these sorts of things.”

“I don’t know about that…” Edmund began, but the girl ignored him.

“Why don’t you let him sort it out? It should only take a moment.”

Amelia wanted to turn them down and say she could manage on her own, especially after she had told Nanny Beth that she didn’t need the help, but she couldn’t stop staring at Edmund. There was something about him that made her unsure about what she was doing. She was in a daze, and it was shocking. Amelia suddenly didn’t want him to leave.

Still in a daze, she nodded and gave him a sheepish smile.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she said with a squeak, which made Edmund raise his eyebrows. “I mean, I hope…”

“It shouldn’t take much. I’m good with knots.” Edmund smiled at her, and Amelia felt a little dizzy seeing it. “Don’t worry about it.”

As he stepped around Amelia and crouched by the kite, the little girl gave Amelia a beaming smile.

“I’m Mathilda,” she said, holding out a hand. “Mathilda Prescott. This is my older brother Edmund.”

“I’m Amelia Everly.” Amelia shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Do you normally come to this park?”

“A few times. Edmund has been away, so this is the first time in ages I have to spend time with him.” Mathilda pointed at the maid standing nearby, a timid, petite woman with pale red hair. “This is June, my nanny.”

June gave Amelia a nod and a smile as she came to stand beside her charge.

“Are you here alone?” she asked.

“No, I’m with my parents and nanny.” Amelia pointed toward where her parents had set up their picnic. “Mother wanted a picnic, so we came here, and I wanted to fly my kite.”

“It’s a perfect day for it. I’m sure Lord Silverton will be able to sort it out.”

“Lord Silverton?” Amelia frowned. “Who’s that?”

“My brother,” Mathilda replied. “Our father is the Duke of Blackwood. Edmund is the heir, the Earl of Silverton.”

They were children of a duke? Amelia hadn’t met many children because her parents kept her home, wanting her to focus on her studies and not get hurt by playing with other children. The only time she was around them for more than a couple of hours was when they had guests at their country estate. Even then, that wasn’t often.

And for them to be the Duke of Blackwood’s children?

“Do your parents know where you are?” Amelia asked.

Mathilda grinned.

“Edmund is nineteen. He’s more than old enough to look after me. And I’m eleven, so I’m not so little.”

“Try telling that to my parents at my age,” Amelia muttered.

She noticed how the nanny was looking at her and fought back the urge to explain. She didn’t want to sound like a whiny brat who couldn’t be grateful. What she might find annoying, other people considered normal. Amelia didn’t want to look like she was complaining.

And she was getting help from someone who looked really handsome and seemed to be a nice person. Amelia found that she didn’t want him to go. Not just yet.

There was something seriously wrong with her head.

***

Edmund managed to undo the knot after a few tugs. It had been done up to the point that he was surprised Amelia’s fingers hadn’t been ripped to shreds. But he got it untangled and straightened out the kite.

“There we go. All done.” He stood up and gave her a nod. “Just be careful with it, all right? With this wind, your little self will be taken right around the park if a gust comes along at the wrong moment.”

The little girl snorted and drew herself up, lifting her chin defiantly.

“I am fourteen years of age,” she said. “I may be short, but I’m not little.”

“Oh. I…” Edmund cleared his throat. “Forgive me, I thought you were younger than Mathilda.”

Mathilda giggled and shook her head.

“Honestly, Eddie, you really need to not jump to conclusions. You keep telling me not to do that, don’t you?”

Edmund felt like he was a child again and getting it wrong. If he was trying to defend himself, he would certainly have guessed that Amelia was a lot younger. She was petite, shorter than June, and her body a little more plump than it was supposed to be. She carried it well, though. Her auburn hair was long, very long, almost down to her waist. She looked like she was struggling to keep it away from her face, which was round and pale with a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

She was a cute little thing, but she certainly didn’t look fourteen.

“Shall we try the kite out?” Mathilda asked, making Edmund jump. “See if it flies?”

“Oh. Right.” Edmund picked up the handle and held it out to Amelia. “Do you want to hold on? Or do you want to launch the kite?”

“I’ll hold on.” Amelia carefully plucked the handle from Edmund’s fingers, not looking him in the eye. “I’m not that weak.”

“That’s not…” Edmund sighed and went to the kite, which lay on the grass. He picked it up. “Ready?”

Just as he spoke, there was a stronger gust that flicked Amelia’s hair across her face, but she held onto the kite handle. Edmund ran with the wind for a moment, and then he threw the kite into the air. It caught the wind and lifted up into the sky. Amelia held on tightly, and then she was flying it. She grinned, her joy evident.

“It’s working! It’s working!”

Edmund laughed at her joy. It was really sweet to see her looking happy. He watched as the kite flew and did circles above their heads. Now that it had caught onto the gusts as they went past, the kite didn’t want to come back down. It twisted and dived before rising up again; all the while, Amelia held on. She didn’t look like she was in any trouble, so Edmund let her carry on.

“Amelia!”

The exasperated tone had everyone looking around. There was a couple on a picnic blanket on the grass not far away, along with a thin, gray-haired woman wearing a maid’s uniform. The finely dressed woman waved at Amelia with an impatience that was palpable. She didn’t look happy.

“Come along! You should be having your lunch! Stop playing with that silly kite, and get over here!”

Amelia’s shoulders dropped, and Edmund saw her grip loosening on the kite handle. Hurrying forward, he caught it before it got caught in the wind and managed to bring the kite down to the ground. Mathilda peered at the people on the blanket.

“Who are those people?” she asked.

“Mathilda, there’s no need to be so rude,” June warned. “Those are Lady Amelia’s parents.”

Amelia nodded.

“Yes.”

Edmund could see that she didn’t seem too happy about it. It was like the life had been taken out of her. She looked like a different person.

“Perhaps we should walk on and leave Lady Amelia with her family,” he said slowly, winding the string in on the kite, keeping it as neat as he could.

Amelia looked dejected about that. But Mathilda shook her head.

“No! Why don’t we join Amelia?”

Edmund blinked. Had he heard his sister correctly? Nanny June looked equally stunned by what she had said.

“Lady Mathilda, we do not invite ourselves to join other parties like that. It’s very impolite.”

“I don’t mind if you join us,” Amelia said suddenly. Her expression had perked up a bit. “That is, if you don’t mind as well.”

“Will your parents allow it?” Edmund asked, frowning over at Amelia’s mother. She was looking more annoyed that Amelia wasn’t joining her so quickly. “Your mother doesn’t look too happy.”

“She looks like that normally,” Amelia said off-handedly. “Let me go and ask.”

Before Edmund could respond, she had run away toward the picnic. Edmund watched her go, noting that both of her parents weren’t looking happy. He doubted that she was going to get an answer she liked.

“I have a feeling that you’re not going to get a good answer,” Nanny June said.

“Why not?” Mathilda asked.

“Because that’s the Marquess and Marchioness of Downe. A very wealthy family but not particularly pleasant people. They’re a private family.”

Edmund had heard about them. The marquess occasionally visited the club in London that Edmund frequented as well. He sometimes played cards, but mostly, he sat in the corner with a few friends, just listening. Edmund had heard a few things about the marquess, but he couldn’t make up his mind if he was a rude man or simply quiet.

“Then we’d better not get our hopes up with waiting for a positive answer,” Edmund said as he took Mathilda’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Wait a minute!” His little sister pulled away from him. “I want to see what the answer is.”

“And if it’s a no?”

“Then I’ll give up and come with you. But I like Amelia.”

Edmund arched an eyebrow.

“You’ve barely said a word to her.”

“It doesn’t matter. I like her, and I want to get to know her better,” Mathilda said firmly, sticking out her lower lip. “What’s wrong with wanting to make a new friend?”

Edmund didn’t see anything wrong with it, but he highly doubted that they would be able to maintain some sort of friendship with Amelia. Her parents were very selective about who they let into their circle, and Edmund knew that his father and the marquess weren’t on good terms. If he knew which family they were from, then there was a chance that any interaction between them would be blocked.

He didn’t want to get Mathilda’s hopes up. His sister liked everyone and wanted to be their friend. Edmund wished that he was as innocent as Mathilda again.

Then Amelia was running back, her red hair flying out behind her. She looked like a little hellion charging into battle. Edmund had to fight back his laughter at the surprising imagery. There was something fiery about her under everything. She had spirit.

Her parents hadn’t managed to crush that.

“They initially said no,” Amelia panted as she joined them. “But Nanny Beth said that it wouldn’t hurt for me to sit and talk to someone.”

“And they said yes to that?” Edmund said in surprise.

“Sort of. Nanny Beth is setting up a separate picnic for us.” Amelia pointed to the gray-haired woman, who was unfolding another blanket. “As long as we’re in the same vicinity as my parents, they’ll tolerate it.”

Edmund noted the slight emphasis on the word ‘tolerated’ and the roll of her eyes. Mathilda, however, didn’t notice this and looked happy as she bounced up and down.

“Can we join her, Edmund? Can we?”

Edmund looked at Nanny June, who simply smiled at him.

“I don’t think it can hurt.”

She did have a point. Edmund was just worried about the tenuous link between his father and Amelia’s. If he knew, he wouldn’t be impressed. But with Amelia standing before them, looking eager for them to join her, Edmund couldn’t bring himself to say no. There was something different about her. Like she was a breath of fresh air. She was nearer Mathilda’s age, but there was a maturity about her that was coming through. Edmund was intrigued.

Maybe sitting with her for a little while wouldn’t do any harm to them. And it would make Mathilda happy.

“All right. Let’s sit down and have something to eat. I’m sure Mathilda’s stomach is going to start growling in a minute.”

“That’s not fair!” Mathilda protested. “Your stomach makes louder noises than mine!”

Amelia made a noise, and Edmund saw her hiding her mouth with her hand, but her eyes were twinkling. Then she composed herself before lowering her hand, although the smile in her eyes was still there.

“How about we make sure you two settle one conversation with some food in your belly? Then maybe you can have a proper talk.”

Edmund couldn’t help but smile back. There was something infectious about her smile. Her emotions went all over the place, but he had a feeling that she hadn’t been told how to control her emotions properly. She was still young, so that would be something she would learn eventually.

But he still found it refreshing.

“Then let’s settle one argument, then,” he said, taking Mathilda’s hand. “I’m getting hungrier the more we talk.”

“You’re always hungry,” Mathilda teased.

“Now, now, Mathilda,” Nanny June admonished gently, although she was smiling. “There’s no need to be rude to your elders like this.”

“And what about being rude to your youngers?” Mathilda shot back.

Amelia laughed, and Edmund couldn’t hold his laughter back, either. He tugged his sister onto the grass, picking up the kite as he passed. At least his sister was in a good mood, and Amelia seemed happy with her eager attitude. Hopefully, they would get along.

Edmund wanted to take his sister home with a smile on her face.