Prologue
May 1, 1851
Flynn Hollister leaned against the corner of the ancient church in the village of Woolshire, smiling as the May Day parade approached the grassy area behind the building. The May Pole stood tall in the center of the field, waiting for the Morris dancers, which would be led by the lovely girl at the head of the parade. The Queen of May Day, Violet Weatherby.
The black-haired beauty wore a lovely white gown and flowers in her hair, and her green eyes sparkled as she caught his gaze, her red lips tilting up in invitation.
He’d been infatuated with her for years, but he was leaving tomorrow. His father had bought him a captain’s commission in the army. The thought of leaving his home and everything he knew behind didn’t sit well with him. The entire thing didn’t sit well with him, truth be told. He’d much rather go to university and study botany, but his father, the Earl of Darlington, had been insistent that as the second son, Flynn should make a career of the Army, as his own brother had done decades before.
Flynn desperately wanted to forge a connection with Violet before he left. He wanted to write to her while he was gone. If he could keep in touch with her, it would make him feel just a little less alone.
As the girls came closer, he smiled at the sight of Daisy, Violet’s younger sister. She was an awkward girl of fifteen, four years younger than he and Violet, but he enjoyed her very much. She shared his love of growing things, and they’d spent many hours together in the vast gardens that surrounded Darlington House. Her hair was not nearly as dark as Violet’s, and her eyes were brown instead of green, but she was lovely nonetheless, and he enjoyed seeing her dressed up in her May Day finery.
At last, the girls came to a stop in front of the Maypole and took up their ribbons, proceeding to circle the pole in a dance as old as time, or at least as old as England. He grinned a bit at the thought of the pagan rituals that had once been associated with this festival, now completely watered down beneath a varnish of British respectability. In another age, he would have simply chased Violet into the woods, told her how much he wanted her, and hopefully, she would have willingly submitted...
He cut the thought off, a bit ashamed of having such thoughts about such a gently bred girl, and forced himself to instead watch the lovely girls dance, knowing there would be nothing following the dance but food and tame festivity. But that was fine. He wanted more than a quick passionate encounter from Violet anyway. He wanted a future with her. He wanted her to be his wife.
Somehow, before the end of the day, he had to get her alone and tell her so.
* * *
DAISY WEATHERBY PUSHEDimpatiently at the crown of flowers that hung in her hair, trailing limp petals in front of her eyes and obscuring her view of the simply awful sight in front of her. She’d seen her older sister, Violet, sneak away from the May Day celebrations that were still in full swing in the field behind the church and had followed her, knowing that Violet was up to no good. Since her sister had just been crowned Queen of May Day, she wouldn’t be leaving the adoration of her adoring court unless it was to meet some man.
What Daisyhadn’tsuspected was that the man in question would be the only one that she herself was interested in. Flynn Hollister, the second son of the local lord, Earl Darlington, had been Daisy’s secret obsession for years now, and she’d only told one person of her secret love for him—Violet!
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she hastily scrubbed them away, hating that she always cried when she was angry. Because shewasangry. Absolutely, completely enraged.
Was it not enough that Violet was prettier, older, more popular? Everyone had always loved Violet, while Daisy was dismissed as the bookish, quiet, less-attractive Weatherby girl.
Violet could easily have charmed any man at the May Day celebration, so why was she sneaking off into the trees with Flynn Hollister? Daisy was almost certain that her sister was doing this just to prove that she could. It seemed that no matter how much attention Violet received, she was always greedy for more.
Flynn’s golden hair gleamed in the sunlight as he leaned forward to whisper something in Violet’s ear. She laughed, a bright, tinkling sound that filled the small clearing. Daisy couldn’t hear what they were saying, so she crept closer, still dashing away angry tears.
Why did he have to be so handsome? He was tall and broad-shouldered, his features so beautifully carved that he looked like a Roman statue come to life. His eyes reminded her of the sky at dusk, a deep azure she could stare into forever if given a chance. But it wasn’t his masculine beauty that had drawn her to him. She loved him because he was funny, smart, and above all,kind. Though he was already a man of nineteen, he still took the time to talk to his fifteen-year-old neighbor. They’d worked in his family’s gardens together, and he’d listened to her go on and on about flowers and shrubs. He’d shown her the kittens in his family’s stables, and they’d spent one day last summer sitting by the pond that lay on the border of his family’s vast estate and her family’s much smaller one, talking about all manner of things.
She’d known that she never truly had a chance of earning his love. She was too young, too plain with her dull brown hair and thin shapeless body. But she’d still hoped that in a few years, when she hopefully blossomed into a woman, he would finallyseeher, not just as the neighbor girl but as someone he could love.
Violet knew all of that, and so her actions right now could only be construed as a betrayal. Besides, Daisy knew for a fact that Violet had her own eyes set on Flynn’s older brother Heath, the heir. Violet hoped her beauty would gain her a title, and she would never settle for a second son.
Daisy was only a dozen yards away from them now, still creeping forward, when Violet laughed again, tucking a strand of her midnight hair behind her ear, the lovely crown of flowers atop her head somehow still looking as fresh as when she’d put them on this morning. Her green eyes sparkled as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Flynn’s, kissing him so long and deep that Daisy found herself sinking to her knees, her rage finally giving way to sorrow.
Now that Violet had kissed Flynn that way, Daisy knew that any slim chance she’d ever had with him had vanished. She could never compete with Violet’s beauty and charm. Flynn had fallen into Violet’s web, and he’d probably never find his way out of the sticky trap.
After what seemed like an eternity, Violet stepped away, obviously aware of the power she held over Flynn. “That was nice,” she told him, with another of those tinkling laughs. “I hope we can do it again sometime soon.”
She turned to go, but Flynn caught her hand, pulling her back toward him. “Violet, I’m leaving tomorrow. My father has bought me a commission in the Army. I don’t know when I’ll next be home.”
Daisy put her hand to her chest, her eyes filling with tears.Oh, no!
Violet frowned, the teasing light going out of her eyes as even she seemed to realize how serious this was with talk of war looming on the horizon. “Oh, Flynn, I didn’t know.”
He sighed and scrubbed his free hand through his golden hair. “I’ve been enchanted with you for so long, Violet. Please tell me that you care for me as I care for you.”
From her vantage point, Daisy could see the sudden guilt and regret that crossed her sister’s face. But after an awkward pause, Violet lowered her gaze, probably so he wouldn’t see the truth in her eyes. “Of course, I care, Flynn. Of course, I do.”
A huge smile broke out across Flynn’s face, and he suddenly pulled Violet into his arms and hugged her tightly. “It would mean a great deal to me if I knew you were here... waiting for me. Just as soon as I’m granted leave, I’ll come home, and perhaps we can talk about courting.”
Biting her lip, Violet gave a jerky nod. “Of course, Flynn. I will be thinking of you every day that you’re gone.”
