Chapter One
England, 1822
Silence was mostimportant. It could mean the difference between freedom and imprisonment.
Judith Faraday lifted on the tiptoes of her riding boots, the worn leather whispering against the polished wood floor, and crept out of her second-story bedroom. Her breath hitched, her ears attuned to the faintest sound as she inched down the corridor. The grand manor was shrouded in predawn stillness, and she strained to catch any rustling from the servants. But this early in the morning, the house was cloaked in silence. Each step was deliberate and cautious, her heart thudding in her chest like a frantic drum. She reached the top of the stairs, where the shadows pooled in the corners, deep and forbidding.
As she descended, her weight pressed onto a loose tread board, the creak slicing through the silence and reverberating off the high walls. With taut muscles, she froze as her breath caught in her throat. The echo seemed to linger, magnifying her presence in the sleeping house. Her pulse pounded louder, drowning out her thoughts.
She held her breath, ears straining to catch any sign of stirring, her senses heightened to the brink of pain. The wild beating of her heart was the only response, a stark reminder of the risk she was taking. She remained still, counting the seconds,until she was certain the silence was unbroken, and then she moved again, stealthy and determined.
Some might think Judith was rebellious, but it wasn’t in her nature to stand back and allow everyone to make decisions for her, especially now that she was almost in her twenty-third year. The large inheritance would take care of her for a while, along with her servants. She didn’t need anyone to be her guardian, especially someone she hadn’t seen since she was a child. Yet if she didn’t leave now, she’d become the ward to the Dowager Duchess of Kenbridge. Judith was certain the older woman didn’t remember the spitfire Judith had been as a youngster, or the poor woman wouldn’t be planning to bring her to Mayfair.
Rubbing her forehead to relieve the pressure of a headache, she tiptoed across the floor toward the back door, each step a careful, measured effort to remain silent. Frustration bubbled up inside her. What had Ma and Pa been thinking, entrusting her to the dowager? They had raised her to be self-reliant, instilling in her the values of independence and strength from a young age. She should be anticipating marriage, not becoming the ward of an elderly woman. The thought gnawed at her, adding to the tension already gripping her mind.
Judith remembered a few things about the Worthington family, but what stood out most was their ill-mannered son. Trey, the youngest, had tormented her endlessly with his cruel pranks. Though years had passed and he was surely a man by now—possibly even married with children—the mere thought of seeing him again sent a shiver down her spine. His mocking laughter and the sting of his tricks were etched in her memory, shadows of a past she wished she could erase.
Unfortunately, she was destined to see him sooner than she had hoped. As she recalled the dowager’s condolence letter, her heart sank. The woman had mentioned her own illness and informed Judith that her youngest son, Lord Trey, would bethe one to escort her to the Worthington estate. The words had practically leapt off the page, tightening the knot of anxiety in her chest. She could almost hear the disdain dripping in his voice and see the smug look in his eyes. The thought of facing him again, especially under such circumstances, made her stomach churn.
It would happen tomorrow. But she mustn’t allow her life to change in such a terrible way.
Finally reaching the stable, she took a glance back at the house. Curtains covered every window. The servants and, more importantly, her unwanted companion—assigned to stay beside her until the dowager took over—were still asleep and wouldn’t miss her for another hour. At least, that was her hope.
On the horizon, the waking sun peeked between the trees, casting rainbows of light through the morning mist. Judith saddled her mare with practiced ease, then vaulted onto the horse’s back. She urged the animal onto the road, the cool morning air stinging her cheeks as they picked up speed. The ribbons on her bonnet fluttered wildly in the breeze, and her cape flapped against her back, not as warm as she would have liked. But eventually, the sun would climb higher, warming the day and matching the heat inside her blooming in her chest at the thought of her new life with Alex, her soldier—and secret fiancé.
“Come, my sweet Pegasus,” she cooed to the mare. “Take me swiftly, but quietly, to my new life.”
With each powerful stride of the mare, she felt the distance between her and her old life stretching, the weight of her past lifting with every gallop. The countryside blurred around her, the wind carrying away her doubts and fears. Freedom and the promise of a future filled with love awaited her, just over the horizon, where Alex would be waiting with open arms.
She’d ridden about two miles when shouts echoed behind her in the distance. Her heart plummeted and she peeked over her shoulder. “No, please. You cannot find me.”
Judith groaned, crouched lower, and kicked her legs against the mare’s flanks. Noticing a different path off to one side, she urged her horse in that direction. Trees became thicker and the overhanging branches whipped at her face and tore off her bonnet, leaving it to fall to the ground. Her cape flew behind her as if she had wings. A few branches caught her riding habit, leaving tears in her sleeves and skirt. She didn’t care. The further she traveled without being spotted, the better.
The woodsman’s cottage came into view. Alex would be there waiting.
As she neared the cottage, Judith slowed the mare, her senses heightened and alert. Where was her beloved?
She patted the mare’s neck, feeling the warmth and sweat beneath her hand, and urged the horse toward the structure. The ramshackle shelter loomed ahead, its worn timbers and sagging roof promising at least some respite.
“Alex, my love?” she called.
Several agonizing seconds passed, her heartbeat still hammering in her chest. Suddenly, distant shouts pierced the morning air, sending a jolt of fear through her. Panic surged like ice through her veins. She had no doubt now—they had discovered her absence.
From behind, a horse neighed and branches snapped. She whipped around, clutching tightly to the reins, preparing to flee. Through the thicket, two horses came her way. As they rode closer, she could see her beloved wasn’t one of them. Both men wore black cloaks and knee boots as dark as midnight. Neither resembled nobility.
Please, Lord… Don’t make them highwaymen!
Holding in her panic, she kicked her heels against the horse’s sides, urging the mare into a run. The men behind her shouted, insisting she stop.
Judith slipped from one side of the saddle to the other, unaccustomed to the fast pace on a sidesaddle. The muscles in her thighs screamed from the strain of holding them against the horn, and her hands throbbed painfully from gripping the reins so tightly.
The thundering hooves grew closer, and she released a whimper. She didn’t dare look behind to see how close they were as the ground nearly shook from their approach.
Strong hands grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off the mare with a force that made her scream. Her fingers slipped from the reins as she was torn away from her horse. Immediately, she was pressed against the man holding her.
She had heard horror stories of what highwaymen did to women they held for ransom—tales that filled her with dread. Her mind raced, desperately searching for a way out as she struggled against their grip, her fear threatening to overwhelm her.
Judith’s heart cried as she watched her horse ride into the wooded area without her.Alex, where are you?
