Prologue
Tuscany, 1837
Fourteen-year-old Rose Calvertglared at her father. “I will not go.”
She paced back and forth in the villa where they were residing during one of their breaks from living at an excavation site. She couldn’t believe her father, who she loved more than anyone, wanted to send her to England. A place she’d never been to, and of all things, it was to turn her into a proper lady.
“I’m your father. You don’t have a choice. Digging around for artifacts and relics is not what your focus should be right now,” he stated firmly.
Her eyes flew to his face. He clenched his jaw and regarded her with a determined glint in his eyes. Benjamin Calvert was serious. Anger coursed through her. Rose wouldn’t do it. She would not attend a finishing school in London.
“I have let you run wild. You need to go to school.”
“You’ve hired the best tutors on the continent for me,” she snorted.
“I’m not talking about that type of education. I’m talking about what I promised your mother.”
Rose’s chest ached. Her mother had died three years ago, but she was still very much a part of her and her father’s life. She had told her father that they should return to London for a Season so Rose could see what it was like.
Somehow, he had decided that meant Rose needed to attend a finishing school in London. Her mother may have wanted her to see what a Season was like, but Rose doubted she wanted her to live in England. She herself had run away to marry her father and join him on his adventures in the study of history. Rose refused to believe her mother actually wanted her to live in England.
She’d always told her to learn, live, and explore. That had nothing to do with spending years in London. “Mother asked you to take me there for a Season—not once did she ever mention sending me there for years.”
“All ladies who have a Season have some type of etiquette training.”
Pain pierced her heart, but the fury in her was even more potent. “If you don’t want to take care of me, just say so!”
Her father blanched. Rose hated that she’d confessed her feelings, but why else would he want her to leave? He strode to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. Rose sniffled as tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t know what she would do if her father didn’t want her around.
“Rose, my greatest honor is caring for you,” he said, releasing her.
“No, it’s not. It’s the artifacts.”
Her father shook his head. “They matter to me a great deal, but nothing like you.”
She wiped her tears and runny nose. “Promise.”
“I swear. You should never doubt that. I just miss your mother so much, and I want to make sure I’m fulfilling everything she requested.”
No part of her wanted to go to England. She loved her life and wanted to continue to work with her father at various historical sites. “I would like to continue studying languages and other subjects with my tutors. Please, don’t make me go.”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Fine, but you must agree that someday you will have a Season in London. I can’t break my promise to your mother.”
Joy filled her. She would be able to stay with her father and continue her studies. Rose nodded vigorously, willing to agree to anything to avoid being sent to a finishing school. “I promise.”
Chapter One
The Desert, Syria– late September 1850– 13 years later
Rose Calvert wantedto throw something at her father. She couldn’t believe the news he’d just given her. He studied her, and she suspected he was trying to gauge her reaction to his shocking and manipulative plan. She stomped her foot in frustration, sending dust and sand everywhere within the tent. This tent was situated in the middle of the desert and at least a three-day ride from the Syrian port of Latakia. Any other woman would have seemed out of place, but Rose was completely at ease.
Her handsome father, Benjamin Calvert, coughed and waved the dust from his face. “You are creating a mess.”
She scowled, still unsure if she could speak without screaming. Instead, she did what her father wouldn’t expect; she calmly poured herself a cup of tea and sat down in one of his chairs. He continued to study her as if she were one of his artifacts, annoying her even more. Finally, he turned away and served himself a cup before taking the seat across from her.
“Have you told Thomas about this idea?”
Her father shook his head. “Thomas is heading farther south, looking for a site he believes is associated with more artifacts. He will not return for weeks.”
