Waiting seemed to take an eternity. From above came the monotonous thud as the men dug through the dirt, and then hit the stone. Not long after that, a soft boom vibrated the air around us and made me jump."Small charge," Seth said. "Just enough to break through the stone. Frank has a way with dynamite."Then from below, a gunshot, followed by three more fired in rapid succession. I jumped and glanced to Seth."Shouldn't we go in? They need our help," I said.He ground his jaw, but held his ground. "I can't risk more men without knowing what's in there. We wait."I wanted to dash in after the brave young men. How could he stand here, while a few feet away his soldiers needed our help? He reached out and took my hand, holding me at his side and drawing my gaze again."This is what it means to lead, to balance two lives against many more. I don't issue the command to wait lightly, but I have faith in Jack and Jake's abilities."Time stretched, and my heartbeat struggled to fill t

It was a quiet trip back through the country lanes to the estate. I was lost in my thoughts, worried about father and how to deal with Step-mother. I expected to find my scant belongings scattered over the cobbles in the yard when I returned.Seth stroked the back of my hand in comforting circles. "The War Office is extremely interested in employing you, if you're looking for another occupation and could stomach working with me?"I had to smile at that. Yes, I think I could stomach working alongside the Duke of Leithfield, especially if it involved cramped quarters with him holding me close. But the idea of leaving made my mind stutter, like a vermin cut off from the queen. That would leave father at home, and my friends exposed to her toxicity. Could I chase my own career and leave them all behind? I longed deeply for freedom, but part of me couldn't do it. Not until I removed her from our lives. Somehow."Let me make it through today first, and then we can discuss it." My smile dr

PART TWO: Alice, the PlayerElla. In turmoil.Seth deMage, the Duke of Leithfield, is a dreamy kisser. You don't have to take my word for it; an article in the newspaper rated the top kissers in England. Seth was ranked number three. The Prince of Wales cheated him out of the top spot, and really, I think the fact Edward is the future king coloured the woman's impression. Number two on the list was Rudolph Valentino, who shouldn't count since he is American.While I adored being in the arms of the third-best kisser in England, my mind wandered?through no fault of Seth's, lest anyone think his lips failed to hold my attention. No, the fault was entirely mine. I had a rather pressing problem on my mind. A bigger problem than his marriage proposal of a few minutes before.Worry nagged at me and flowed through my limbs, fighting against the desire building with his kiss. The two emotions fought a dirty battle in my mind and pulled me even further from where my heart wanted to be, wit

I spent a restless night tossing and turning in a bed that felt too big, isolated in a cavernous room that threw unfamiliar shadows. As a young child I loved that room, but as an adult, it seemed overwhelming. I missed the cramped space I shared with Alice, but she practically chased me back down the stairs when I tried to follow her.I awoke to birdsong as the sparrows rose from the hedges and set out to pluck worms from the damp ground. Normally I would jump from bed, don my uniform and rub the sleep from my eyes while I started an endless round of meaningless chores. But today there were no fires to set, no coal to polish, no step-sisters to wait upon, and no tightrope to walk as I waited for someone to pull it out from under my feet.Instead, I stretched my arms and wiggled my toes, and then stared at the wallpaper. Perhaps a change would help me re-settle into my own room? I couldn't help thinking of it as Louise's room and I expected her to burst in, scream, and chase me out wi

That night, even as I settled under the blankets safe in my room, Millicent deMage's black gaze was etched into my mind. Whenever I closed my eyes she was there, staring, often with Elizabeth at her side. Two evil women whispered of secrets only they knew and taunted me with their superior knowledge. The idea of Millicent being a witch layered over my troubled thoughts as I tried to discern meaning in the war we fought.At least I had plenty to occupy my daylight hours. The grandfather clock marked off the hours that turned into days as I worked at Seth's side at Serenity House, while Henry and Alice kept the farm running. Father improved daily and now joined us for meals. I worked my way through the mountain of information being sent in from around Southeast England. Every small town, village, and parish had bundled up their sad history and sent it to us.But eating at me every day was the constant waiting, and inactivity seemed to have consumed my life.We waited for Elizabeth to