Prologue

I t was a warm spring day. Not that Miss Emma Collins could go outside to enjoy it. She was stuck indoors in a classroom. She would much rather be anywhere else. But no. She had to attend a finishing school. Her mother had insisted upon it. Her debut would not even happen for a couple more years. Why should she bother with this school? What did she have to prove to anyone? She had pleaded with her brother Henry, the Viscount of Harcrest, to allow her to remain at home. It was ultimately his decision. He had told her to mind their mother. In this instance, she knew best. If mother said she needed refinement, then by God she must.

She hated Henry for that and vowed to get even with him. How could he have dismissed her concerns without even listening to what she had to say? How rude. So now she was at a finishing school so far from home, it would take weeks before she saw it. To make matters worse—almost no one liked her. Not that she had been given the opportunity to make friends. Most of the students hadn’t even given her a chance. From the moment she had arrived, they had snubbed her. There were two in particular that were the worst. Miss Harriett Smythe and Lady Arabella Jones. Harriett and Arabella had decided she was beneath their notice, and the rest of the students had followed their example.

Which made Emma even more miserable.

“That will be all girls,” Mrs. Ravenwood said. “I would like you to read Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors .” She stared at each one of them. “We will discuss it at length at our next meeting.”

Emma wrinkled her nose. She did not want to read. Not on such a fine day. But if she didn’t and came to class unprepared, Mrs. Ravenwood would flay her. Not literally, of course. But with a look and some well-placed words she would let her displeasure be known. Perhaps she could take the book outside. She could find a lovely spot to just relax and read. The Comedy of Errors was a play she had not previously read. It might even be enjoyable.

She gathered her belongings and went to her room. Her roommate was already there and sitting on her bed. Lady Fenella Carrick was a sweet girl. She had fiery red hair and pale green eyes. Freckles dotted her face and she had a shy smile. She was perhaps the only girl in the entire school that Emma liked. But then again, they had much in common. How could she not like her? The two pretentious girls that hated Emma seemed to dislike Fenella just as much.

“How was your literature class?” Fenella asked.

Emma sighed. “The same as always.”

“That bad?” Fenella scrunched up her nose. “Were they terrible then?”

They didn’t have all classes together. Fenella had deportment class while Emma went to literature. Emma wished that she had deportment with Fenella. Emma was unlucky in that she had many classes with Harriett and Arabella. Deportment was the worst class to have with those two.

“I am going to go outside to read,” Emma said. “And forget about them. At least as much as I am able to.”

“I wish you luck,” Fenella said. “Those two will not allow you to forget anything. They’re harpies those two.”

“I agree,” Emma said, then sighed. “But I have to try. We are all confined to this school. There is no escaping them.” She had written Henry again begging him to allow her to come home. He hadn’t replied. Her reckless brother had probably holed up in his club and was drinking away his life, or maybe he had a mistress now. He was a scoundrel and seemed to have many women wanting to share his bed. Not that he mentioned them. Her brother wasn’t that crude. No, the gossipmongers spread those tales. One day, he might stop being so reckless, but Emma had her doubts. “Are you going to stay here?” she asked Fenella.

“If you don’t mind,” she began. “I’d like to join you.”

“Of course,” Emma said. “I’d appreciate the company.” She scrunched up her nose. “At least with you.”

They strolled outside and through the gardens. They had a favorite spot. There was a large tree near the pond that gave them just enough shade not to bake in the warm sun, but enough light that they could read if they chose to. As they approached the pond, the echo of giggles greeted them. Fenella froze, and Emma stopped next to her. “It’s them, isn’t it?” Emma asked.

“I believe so,” Fenella replied.

“Should we turn back?” she asked.

They wouldn’t have any peace if they went to their usual place. Harriett and Arabella would make them miserable. It seemed as if that was their main purpose in life. To be irritants to those around them… Emma blew out a breath. This was not good. Not good at all.

“They probably won’t be here long,” Fenella suggested. “We could wait them out.”

“Do you think so?” She frowned. “I don’t know.” She hated being so indecisive, but those two girls were that awful.

“Let’s go,” Fenella ordered. “We cannot allow them to scare us away. Otherwise, they will do that every time we cross paths with them.” She glared at the Harriett and Arabella with contempt. “If we see them at a ball, are you going to be able to avoid them?”

“No,” she said. That would be unlikely to happen. “They would not allow it.”

“Then we cannot allow them to push us out of our favorite place. They know we come here. It is the only reason they are here. ”

Emma nodded. They headed toward the pond and the tree they liked to sit under. They never made it to the tree. Harriett and Arabella stepped in front of them.

“Where do you think you are going?” Harriett asked.

“Please move,” Fenella said. “Allow us to pass.”

“I don’t think so,” Arabella told her. She jutted her chin up in defiance. “We were here first. You leave.”

“You do not own the pond and its surroundings,” Emma told her. “We are welcome to relax here, the same as you.”

“I don’t think so,” Harriett said. “Go, or I promise you will regret interrupting us.”

Emma glared at them. “No. We plan to relax under that tree, and you two will not prevent that.”

Arabella glared at her. Then she got a gleam in her eye that worried Emma. “All right. Go sit by your tree.”

Emma and Fenella stepped past them. They didn’t get far before they were shoved from behind. They both went tumbling into the pond. Emma flailed and spat out water. Fenella sank, and fast. Emma stared at her friend and dropped everything. She dove under the water to help her. She kept sinking. Her skirts flared out and she struggled to get to the surface. Finally, Emma got a hold of her and she yanked at her skirt, then pulled it free. She thanked God that her skirt was a separate piece and not secured to her shirt. She pulled Fenella to the side of the pond.

“She’s not breathing,” Emma said.

Harriett and Arabella stared. Neither one of them was moving. “Go get help, you bloody fools,” Emma ordered.

Still, they didn’t move. She didn’t stop to make them get help. Instead, she focused on Fenella. She’d seen a servant breathe into another once, after they had nearly drowned. Emma didn’t know if it would help, but she had to try. She pinched Fenella’s nose and breathed into her mouth. After a few more attempts, she sputtered and spit out some water. Fenella’s breathing was ragged, but at least she was alive.

“What happened here?” Miss Ravenwood asked.

“She fell into the pond,” Harriett said. She had this innocent expression on her face, as if they hadn’t pushed them in.

“You two,” Miss Ravenwood said. “Go back to the school and tell the headmistress we need assistance. ”

She turned to Emma. “You saved her life,” Miss Ravenwood said. “Thank you.”

“She’s my friend,” Emma said softly. “I had to try.”

Miss Ravenwood nodded. “Go back to the school and change your gown. I’ll see to her from here.”

Emma did as she was told. But she didn’t want to leave Fenella. Especially as it was the last time, she saw her. After nearly drowning, she’d been sent home. Emma had no friends left there. But she had many enemies. The top two: Miss Harriett Smythe and Lady Arabella Jones, and she vowed one day those two would pay for almost killing Fenella.