Chapter Four

T here were dark clouds in the distance, but they didn’t deter Penelope. She knew it wouldn’t be long before her parents began packing the house for their move to London for the season. Her time to enjoy the Northumberland wilderness was limited.

In London, there would be no disappearing without a chaperone, and although the parks were pretty, they had nothing on the rugged coastline of Northumberland.

She ate her breakfast early and alone before slipping out through a side door, her cloak wrapped tightly around her against the autumn morning chill.

Her parents were accustomed to her vanishing for the day. As long as she didn’t get herself into trouble, they seemed to accept her need for a little freedom.

Although, her mother had remarked more than once that such freedom would be curtailed once she was married. Because – in her words – who wanted a wife disappearing all over the countryside?

And so, Penelope was determined to savour every moment she could in her beloved home county.

She kept a little boat in a cave just off Amblemouth Beach, which was only a short ride away. Occasionally, fishermen were on the beach, but they were used to seeing her and paid her no mind. Today, the beach was mercifully empty. She hauled her little vessel out and let the tide lift it from the sand. Her boots got wet as she climbed in, but she didn’t mind. Taking up the oars, she began to row out to sea.

She never had a destination on these excursions; she simply liked to feel free, bobbing on the ocean waves with no one around her.

When her arms grew tired, she let the boat drift, unwrapping the small package of biscuits she had brought along for such an occasion.

As she ate the cook’s sweet treats and breathed in the salty air, she thought life could not get much better than this. She felt free, with the world at her feet, nature unfurling in all its glory around her.

Perhaps she didn’t have to marry. Perhaps she could remain a spinster daughter, living at home with her parents and cherishing moments like this… But as she began to row again, glancing at the ominous clouds gathering above, she knew that wasn’t a realistic option. Either her parents would find her a match and push her into it, or she would eventually be left in the vulnerable position of her father passing away, leaving her and her mother without a home. There was a dower house, but staying there would rely on the goodwill of the heir – and she had no way of knowing if that could be counted upon.

No, marriage really was the only way to secure her future. She just needed to ensure she chose the right man; someone who wouldn’t make her feel trapped.

The wind began to pick up, making it harder to row, but Penelope didn’t panic. She had been out on her little boat in all kinds of weather and had never yet encountered serious trouble.

When the rain started, it was disheartening – the cold droplets soaked through her cloak quickly, leaving her shivering in the small vessel. Still, she rowed. The shoreline came into view, and though her arms ached, she reassured herself there would be plenty of time to rest in front of the fire that evening. After all, all that was expected of her was to complete some needlework, which was hardly taxing.

A sudden boom of thunder startled her, and her teeth chattered involuntarily. The storm seemed to have come from nowhere, leaving her wholly unprepared. The dark clouds in the distance had not seemed so threatening when she had left the shore…but now they were right above her. The winds intensified, tossing her backwards and forwards on the waves, and several times she feared the boat might capsize. She wanted to scream for help, but even in her panic, she knew it was pointless. There was no one around for miles, and even if there had been, her voice would have been lost to the wind.

Fighting against the waves, her hands grew colder and more numb. Then, a particularly vicious wave struck, knocking her over. She hit the floor of the boat hard, and everything went black.

◆◆◆

The storm which had raged overnight had blown itself out, leaving the air cooler but the sky clear and sunny. With all three of his sisters on their way back to London, James was pleased to have some time to himself, free to attend to his affairs without commentary or question.

He often swam in the sea during the summer months, and though autumn was well underway, it seemed as good a day as any for a swim. The weather could turn at any moment, and he liked to seize every opportunity.

Culross Cove was only a short ride from Dunloch Castle, and it was thankfully secluded. He disliked unnecessary conversation or the risk of a virtuous young miss stumbling upon him half-dressed, either entering or leaving the water.

But when he arrived at the beach, it wasn’t as empty as usual. A small wooden boat had washed ashore, and he hurried down to secure it, wondering if it had broken loose in the storm.

To his surprise, it wasn’t vacant. A sodden figure, her hair escaping its pins and her dress dripping wet, was curled up in the bottom of the boat. Swearing under his breath, he jumped aboard, lifting her into his arms. She was cold and deathly pale, and he couldn’t tell if she was alive or dead until he laid her out on the sand.

Once they were clear of the sea, he gently placed her on the dry sand and watched carefully for any signs of life. Suddenly, she coughed violently, half the ocean pouring from her mouth.

"That’s it," he said, hoping his tone was reassuring, though he had no idea what a girl like her was doing alone in a boat or what had led to this strange situation. "All is well."

She opened her eyes, and they widened in horror. He wasn’t sure whether it was the sight of him or her predicament that alarmed her. She certainly didn’t look like a fisherman’s wife. Even soaked, her clothes were far too fine for that.

"What on earth were you doing in a boat? Did you get caught in the storm?" he asked, tempering his words as he reminded himself she was, after all, a lady.

"I-I- took my boat out," she stammered, and he wondered if she’d hit her head, as she sounded rather like a simpleton.

"Who are you?" he asked, glancing towards where his horse was tethered. His swim would have to wait; he needed to get her back to the castle and warmed up if she was to have any chance of avoiding a dangerous chill. If she’d been out in that storm, she was lucky to be alive.

"I-I-" Her mouth opened and closed like a fish before she swallowed hard. "I’m not sure," she said, shivering even more violently.

"Well, you were a fool to go out in weather like that." James eyed the pitiful figure before sweeping her into his arms, her protests too feeble to resist. He would get her warm and dry – and then find out who she was and who on earth had allowed her to behave so recklessly.