Prologue

T he Vale twins, still rather pleased with themselves over the success of their first family meeting, were reluctant to go to bed.

At the age of fifteen, they were the youngest of the siblings and yet sensed the troubled spirits of their elders, rippling only just beneath the surface. In their opinions—they usually matched—this stemmed from secret loneliness. Since returning to Black Hill House, the Vales had all found a certain purpose and security, even contentment, in being together. But the twins understood that this could only be temporary, that for true happiness, their brothers and sisters needed to spread their wings and seize more from life. The upcoming ball at the Blackhaven assembly rooms was the perfect beginning for this quest, and the twins had just persuaded all their siblings to attend, even providing extra reasons for the reluctant among them.

As they retreated at last toward their own bedchambers, Leona murmured, "Let's see who is still awake and worrying," and darted left at the top of the landing.

All was in darkness, apart from her own flickering candle. Satisfied, she was about to turn back to Lawrence when, for the sake of thoroughness, she decided to just glance around the corner to Cornelius's chamber.

Cornelius was the hardest working of them all. Having trained since boyhood to be a land steward, he had now taken on the whole neglected estate of Black Hill, on behalf of their eldest brother, Sir Julius Vale, and worked from dawn until dusk. Cornelius rose early and retired early, and Leona fully expected him to be sound asleep.

However, a distinct light showed beneath the door of the half-hidden little chamber Cornelius had chosen. Leona hesitated, then hurried back to her twin.

"There's a light in Cornel's room," she whispered.

Lawrence frowned. "Perhaps he's fallen asleep and left the candles burning. We should make sure."

"He won't like being wakened," Leona warned.

"He won't like setting fire to his bed, either." Lawrence brushed past her, strode along the passage, and scratched at Cornelius's door.

Greeted by silence, he raised his hand to knock more peremptorily, while Leona reached for the latch.

"Yes?" said a surprised voice from within.

The twins exchanged glances. Leona lifted the latch, and Lawrence pushed open the door.

Cornelius, in his shirt sleeves with his waving brown hair rumpled, sat at his desk in the lamplight, surrounded by papers and notebooks. He looked both tired and distracted.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Nothing," Leona said. "We just saw your light and were worried you'd fallen asleep. Are you still busy?"

Cornelius stood up, just a little too quickly, and bent to retrieve a fallen piece of paper from the floor. Throwing it on the desk, he came toward them. Like all the Vale males, he was tall and somewhat imposing. On top of which, his scowl was ferocious.

"Just finishing up," he snapped. "It's you two who should be in bed. You are on garden duty tomorrow."

"So we are," Lawrence said peaceably. "At least we know now you do stay up later than ten of the clock, so you will go the ball, won't you?"

"I have said I will." He took hold of the door above Lawrence's head and shooed them out. "Bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," they chorused, and walked back along the passage until they stood outside their own rooms.

"He is hiding something," Leona said.

"Undoubtedly."

"Perhaps we need to find out what… or is that rude?"

"Rude," Lawrence said. "Everyone needs some privacy, and God knows he works harder than any of us. He deserves to be happy. On the other hand"—he frowned—"Cornel has depths . And he is too serious. We should keep an eye on him."

"Agreed."