Prologue
BETRAY NOT THE HEART!
Cameron Hall
Tidewater Virginia
June 1776
“Amanda!”
The door to the bedroom burst open just as she heard the distant thunder of the cannon upon the sea. Amanda leapt up from her bedcovers and dreams to streak across the polished floor to the full-length windows. There were ships in the harbor. Flying the British colors.
Danielle stood behind her. Another cannon boomed; Amanda saw the explosion of black powder upon the sea.
“It’s Lord Dunmore! Aiming at the house!” Amanda gasped. She swung around to see that Danielle was watching her, her dark eyes condemning.
“Aye, ‘Highness.’ He’s come for revenge against Cameron—no matter what service you’ve offered him.”
Amanda’s eyes flashed in offense at Danielle’s blunt words while fury reigned in her heart. She had fulfilled her part of every bargain she had ever made with the royal governor. And still he was threatening Cameron Hall. After fleeing Williamsburg, he had asserted his royal vengeance from the sea, destroying so much of the coast! And now he was here.
Fear struck her heart. He knew! He knew about the weapons and powder that had been brought to the dock. He knew…
Butshehad not told him! She would never have gone so far. There had not been anything left to threaten her with, and she could not have done so…not now. Not against…Eric.
“Amanda—”
“Shush! I have to act quickly!”
Amanda ran to her wardrobe. “Help me!” she commanded Danielle sharply. She stepped from her nightgown, her fingers trembling as she tried to tie the knots of her corset.
Danielle came at last behind her. “What do you intend to do?”
“Send the slaves and servants and workers into the forest. I’ll go out and speak with Dunmore—”
“And if your father is with him? Or Lord Tarryton?”
“God’s blood!” she swore in panic, as no lady should. But the events of the last two years of her life had prevented her from being the lady she might have been. She stared hard at Danielle before the woman could offer reproach. “Stop! I cannot think—”
“You should have thought before taking on the role of spy, milady!” Danielle told her woefully.
“Leave off, mam’selle!” Amanda commanded her. She chose a shift and gown and quickly pulled them over her head, then stumbled into her garters and stockings. She gazed across the room to the now-empty bed and shivered in sudden fear of what was to come. What had she done? Should she be praying for British defeat or victory at this moment?
She didn’t dare think. “My shoes,” she murmured, sliding her feet into a pair of black leather slippers with rhinestone buckles. “Now, Danielle—” she began, but broke off. A British officer was standing in her bedroom doorway. Lord Robert Tarryton. She realized instantly that he had ridden in while the attack had been staged upon the sea.
“Hello, Amanda.” He paused for a moment, looking her over from head to toe, then taunted, “Ah, Highness! You are a sight. I feel that I have waited a long time to claim you.”
“You cannotclaimme,” she told him flatly, despising him.
She stood warily watching the man. He was handsome, with light hair and light eyes and beautiful lean features. Once she had thought him the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Then she had come to notice that there was a twist to his smile which marred his good looks, for there was a hint of cruelty to it.
Alas, she had discovered the truth of the man too late.
“We’ve come for you,” he said.
Her heart quickened with horror. “I will not go with you.”
“What? The Tory princess is suddenly casting her fate with the rebels? Don’t be a fool. They say that Cameron knows you alerted us. Take care, lady! My touch would be ever more gentle than his!” Robert spoke swiftly as he moved into the room. He looked from the elegant bed to the wardrobe and the tables and the graceful length of the windows, and his jaw twisted further with some inner rage. The essence of the man who owned the room remained. And something of his power. Perhaps it disturbed Robert, Amanda thought.
